The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section F, G and H (part 2 of 7)

The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section F, G and H (part 2 of 7)

Fit, a. [Compar. Fitter (?); superl. Fittest (?).] [OE. fit, fyt; cf. E. feat neat, elegant, well made, or icel. fitja to web, knit, OD. vitten to suit, square, Goth. ftjan to adorn. √77.] 1. Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by art; suited by character, qualitties, circumstances, education, etc.; qualified; competent; worthy.

That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in.

Shak.

Fit audience find, though few.

Milton.

2. Prepared; ready. [Obs.]

So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her quarry's strength should feel.

Fairfax.

3. Conformed to a standart of duty, properiety, or taste; convenient; meet; becoming; proper.

Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked?

Job xxxiv. 18.

Syn. -- Suitable; proper; appropriate; meet; becoming; expedient; congruous; correspondent; apposite; apt; adapted; prepared; qualified; competent; adequate.

Fit (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fitted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fitting (?).] 1. To make fit or suitable; to adapt to the purpose intended; to qualify; to put into a condition of readiness or preparation.

The time is fitted for the duty.

Burke.

The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature.

Macaulay.

2. To bring to a required form and size; to shape aright; to adapt to a model; to adjust; -- said especially of the work of a carpenter, machinist, tailor, etc.

The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with planes.

Is. xliv. 13.

3. To supply with something that is suitable or fit, or that is shaped and adjusted to the use required.

No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves.

Shak.

4. To be suitable to; to answer the requirements of; to be correctly shaped and adjusted to; as, if the coat fits you, put it on.

That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions.

Shak.

That time best fits the work.

Shak.

To fit out, to supply with necessaries or means; to furnish; to equip; as, to fit out a privateer. -- To fit up, to furnish with things suitable; to make proper for the reception or use of any person; to prepare; as, to fit up a room for a guest.

Fit (?), v. i. 1. To be proper or becoming.

Nor fits it to prolong the feast.

Pope.

2. To be adjusted to a particular shape or size; to suit; to be adapted; as, his coat fits very well.

Fit, n. 1. The quality of being fit; adjustment; adaptedness; as of dress to the person of the wearer.

2. (Mach.) (a) The coincidence of parts that come in contact. (b) The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly.

Fit rod (Shipbuilding), a gauge rod used to try the depth of a bolt hole in order to determine the length of the bolt required. Knight.

Fit, n. [AS. fit strife, fight; of uncertain origin. √ 77.] 1. A stroke or blow. [Obs. or R.]

Curse on that cross, quoth then the Sarazin, That keeps thy body from the bitter fit.

Spenser.

2. A sudden and violent attack of a disorder; a stroke of disease, as of epilepsy or apoplexy, which produces convulsions or unconsciousness; a convulsion; a paroxysm; hence, a period of exacerbation of a disease; in general, an attack of disease; as, a fit of sickness.

And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake.

Shak.

3. A mood of any kind which masters or possesses one for a time; a temporary, absorbing affection; a paroxysm; as, a fit of melancholy, of passion, or of laughter.

All fits of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain.

Swift.

The English, however, were on this subject prone to fits of jealously.

Macaulay.

4. A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity, or motion, followed by relaxation or inaction; an impulsive and irregular action.

The fits of the season.

Shak.

5. A darting point; a sudden emission. [R.]

A tongue of light, a fit of flame.

Coleridge.

By fits, By fits and starts, by intervals of action and repose; impulsively and irregularly; intermittently.

Fitch (?; 224), n.; pl. Fitches (#). [See Vetch.] 1. (Bot.) A vetch. [Obs.]

2. pl. (Bot.) A word found in the Authorized Version of the Bible, representing different Hebrew originals. In Isaiah xxviii. 25, 27, it means the black aromatic seeds of Nigella sativa, still used as a flavoring in the East. In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now reads spelt.

Fitch, n. [Contr. of fitched.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat; also, its fur.

Fitch"È (?), a. [Cf. F. fichÈ, lit. p. p. of ficher to fasten, OF. fichier to pierce. Cf. 1st Fish.] (Her.) Sharpened to a point; pointed.

Cross fitchÈ, a cross having the lower arm pointed.

Fitched (?), a. (her.) FitchÈ. [Also fiched.]

{ Fitch"et (?), Fitch"ew (?) }, n. [Cf. OF. fisseau, fissel, OD. fisse, visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome, E. fizz.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat (Putorius fútidus). See Polecat.

Fitch"y (?), a. Having fitches or vetches.

Fitch"y, a. [See FitchÈ.] (Her.) FitchÈ.

Fit"ful (?), a. [From 7th Fit.] Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable.

After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well.

Shak.

-- Fit"ful*ly, adv. -- Fit"ful*ness, n.

The victorious trumpet peal Dies fitfully away.

Macaulay.

{ Fith"el (?), Fith"ul (?) }, n. [OE. See Fiddle.] A fiddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fit"ly (?), adv. In a fit manner; suitably; properly; conveniently; as, a maxim fitly applied.

Fit"ment (?), n. The act of fitting; that which is proper or becoming; equipment. [Obs.] Shak.

Fit"ness, n. The state or quality of being fit; as, the fitness of measures or laws; a person's fitness for office.

Fitt (?), n. See 2d Fit.

Fit"ta*ble (?), a. Suitable; fit. [Obs.] Sherwood.

Fit"ted*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being fitted; adaptation. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Fit"ter (?), n. 1. One who fits or makes to fit; esp.: (a) One who tries on, and adjusts, articles of dress. (b) One who fits or adjusts the different parts of machinery to each other.

2. A coal broker who conducts the sales between the owner of a coal pit and the shipper. [Eng.] Simmonds.

Fit"ter, n. A little piece; a flitter; a flinder. [Obs.]

Where's the Frenchman? Alas, he's all fitters.

Beau. & Fl.

Fit"ting (?), n. Anything used in fitting up; especially (pl.), necessary fixtures or apparatus; as, the fittings of a church or study; gas fittings.

Fit"ting, a. Fit; appropriate; suitable; proper. -- Fit"ting*ly, adv. -- Fit"ting*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.

Fit"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Eryngium fútidum) supposed to be a remedy for fits.

Fitz (?), n. [OF. fils, filz, fiz, son, F. fils, L. filius. See Filial.] A son; -- used in compound names, to indicate paternity, esp. of the illegitimate sons of kings and princes of the blood; as, Fitzroy, the son of the king; Fitzclarence, the son of the duke of Clarence.

Five (?), a. [OE. fif, five, AS. ff, ffe; akin to D. vijf, OS. ff, OHG. finf, funf, G. f¸nf, Icel. fimm, Sw. & Sw. Dan. fem, Goth. fimf, Lith. penki, W. pump, OIr. cÛic, L. quinque, Gr. &?;, ∆ol. &?;, Skr. pa&?;can. √303. Cf. Fifth, Cinque, Pentagon, Punch the drink, Quinary.] Four and one added; one more than four.

<! p. 565 !>

Five nations (Ethnol.), a confederacy of the Huron-Iroquois Indians, consisting of five tribes: Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, and Senecas. They inhabited the region which is now the State of new York.

Five (fv), n. 1. The number next greater than four, and less than six; five units or objects.

Five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Matt. xxv. 2.

2. A symbol representing this number, as 5, or V.

Five"-fin`ger (?), n. 1. (Bot.) See Cinquefoil.

2. (Zoˆl.) A starfish with five rays, esp. Asterias rubens.

Five"fold` (?), a. & adv. In fives; consisting of five in one; five repeated; quintuple.

Five"-leaf` (?), n. Cinquefoil; five-finger.

{ Five"-leafed` (?), Five"-leaved` (?) }, a. (Bot.) Having five leaflets, as the Virginia creeper.

Five"ling (?), n. (Min.) A compound or twin crystal consisting of five individuals.

Fives (fvz), n. pl. A kind of play with a ball against a wall, resembling tennis; -- so named because three fives, or fifteen, are counted to the game. Smart.

Fives court, a place for playing fives.

Fives, n. [See Vives.] A disease of the glands under the ear in horses; the vives. Shak.

Five`-twen"ties (?), n. pl. Five- twenty bonds of the United States (bearing six per cent interest), issued in 1862, '64, and '65, redeemable after five and payable in twenty years.

Fix (fks), a. [OE., fr. L. fixus, p. p. of figere to fix; cf. F. fixe.] Fixed; solidified. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fix, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fixed (fkst); p. pr. & vb. n. Fixing.] [Cf. F. fixer.] 1. To make firm, stable, or fast; to set or place permanently; to fasten immovably; to establish; to implant; to secure; to make definite.

An ass's nole I fixed on his head.

Shak.

O, fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers May also fix their reverence.

Herbert.

His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

Ps. cxii. 7.

And fix far deeper in his head their stings.

Milton.

2. To hold steadily; to direct unwaveringly; to fasten, as the eye on an object, the attention on a speaker.

Sat fixed in thought the mighty Stagirite.

Pope.

One eye on death, and one full fix'd on heaven.

Young.

3. To transfix; to pierce. [Obs.] Sandys.

4. (Photog.) To render (an impression) permanent by treating with such applications as will make it insensible to the action of light. Abney.

5. To put in order; to arrange; to dispose of; to adjust; to set to rights; to set or place in the manner desired or most suitable; hence, to repair; as, to fix the clothes; to fix the furniture of a room. [Colloq. U.S.]

6. (Iron Manuf.) To line the hearth of (a puddling furnace) with fettling.

Syn. -- To arrange; prepare; adjust; place; establish; settle; determine.

Fix, v. i. 1. To become fixed; to settle or remain permanently; to cease from wandering; to rest.

Your kindness banishes your fear, Resolved to fix forever here.

Waller.

2. To become firm, so as to resist volatilization; to cease to flow or be fluid; to congeal; to become hard and malleable, as a metallic substance. Bacon.

To fix on, to settle the opinion or resolution about; to determine regarding; as, the contracting parties have fixed on certain leading points.

Fix, n. 1. A position of difficulty or embarassment; predicament; dilemma. [Colloq.]

Is he not living, then? No. is he dead, then? No, nor dead either. Poor Aroar can not live, and can not die, -- so that he is in an almighty fix.

De Quincey.

2. (Iron Manuf.) fettling. [U.S.]

Fix"a*ble (-*b'l), a. Capable of being fixed.

Fix*a"tion (fks*"shn), n. [Cf. F. fixation.] 1. The act of fixing, or the state of being fixed.

An unalterable fixation of resolution.

Killingbeck.

To light, created in the first day, God gave no proper place or fixation.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Marked stiffness or absolute fixation of a joint.

Quain.

A fixation and confinement of thought to a few objects.

Watts.

2. The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; -- said of gaseous elements.

3. The act or process of ceasing to be fluid and becoming firm. Glanvill.

4. A state of resistance to evaporation or volatilization by heat; -- said of metals. Bacon.

Fix"a*tive (?), n. That which serves to set or fix colors or drawings, as a mordant.

Fixed (fkst), a. 1. Securely placed or fastened; settled; established; firm; imovable; unalterable.

2. (Chem.) Stable; non- volatile.

Fixed air (Old Chem.), carbonic acid or carbon dioxide; -- so called by Dr. Black because it can be absorbed or fixed by strong bases. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Fixed alkali (Old Chem.), a non-volatile base, as soda, or potash, in distinction from the volatile alkali ammonia. -- Fixed ammunition (Mil.), a projectile and powder inclosed together in a case ready for loading. -- Fixed battery (Mil.), a battery which contains heavy guns and mortars intended to remain stationary; -- distinguished from movable battery. -- Fixed bodies, those which can not be volatilized or separated by a common menstruum, without great difficulty, as gold, platinum, lime, etc. -- Fixed capital. See the Note under Capital, n., 4. -- Fixed fact, a well established fact. [Colloq.] -- Fixed light, one which emits constant beams; -- distinguished from a flashing, revolving, or intermittent light. -- Fixed oils (Chem.), non-volatile, oily substances, as stearine and olein, which leave a permanent greasy stain, and which can not be distilled unchanged; -- distinguished from volatile or essential oils. -- Fixed pivot (Mil.), the fixed point about which any line of troops wheels. -- Fixed stars (Astron.), such stars as always retain nearly the same apparent position and distance with respect to each other, thus distinguished from planets and comets.

Fix"ed*ly (fks"d*l), adv. In a fixed, stable, or constant manner.

Fix"ed*ness, n. 1. The state or quality of being fixed; stability; steadfastness.

2. The quality of a body which resists evaporation or volatilization by heat; solidity; cohesion of parts; as, the fixedness of gold.

Fix*id"i*ty (fks*d"*t), n. Fixedness. [Obs.] Boyle.

Fix"ing (fks"ng), n. 1. The act or process of making fixed.

2. That which is fixed; a fixture.

3. pl. Arrangements; embellishments; trimmings; accompaniments. [Colloq. U.S.]

Fix"i*ty (-*t), n. [Cf. F. fixitÈ.] 1. Fixedness; as, fixity of tenure; also, that which is fixed.

2. Coherence of parts. Sir I. Newton.

Fix"ture (fks"tr; 135), n. [Cf. Fixure.] 1. That which is fixed or attached to something as a permanent appendage; as, the fixtures of a pump; the fixtures of a farm or of a dwelling, that is, the articles which a tenant may not take away.

2. State of being fixed; fixedness.

The firm fixture of thy foot.

Shak.

3. (Law) Anything of an accessory character annexed to houses and lands, so as to constitute a part of them. This term is, however, quite frequently used in the peculiar sense of personal chattels annexed to lands and tenements, but removable by the person annexing them, or his personal representatives. In this latter sense, the same things may be fixtures under some circumstances, and not fixtures under others. Wharton (Law Dict.). Bouvier.

This word is frequently substituted for fixure (formerly the word in common use) in new editions of old works.

Fix"ure (-r), n. [L. fixura a fastening, fr. figere to fix. See Fix, and cf. Fixture.] Fixed position; stable condition; firmness. [Obs.] Shak.

Fiz"gig` (fz"gg), n. A fishgig. [Obs.] Sandys.

Fiz"gig`, n. [Fizz + gig whirling thing.] A firework, made of damp powder, which makes a fizzing or hissing noise when it explodes.

Fiz"gig`, n. [See Gig a flirt.] A gadding, flirting girl. Gosson.

Fizz (fz), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzed (fzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzing.] [Cf. Icel. fsa to break wind, Dan. fise to foist, fizzle, OSw. fisa, G. fisten, feisten. Cf. Foist.] To make a hissing sound, as a burning fuse.

Fizz, n. A hissing sound; as, the fizz of a fly.

Fiz"zle (fz"z'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzled (-z'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzling (-zlng).] [See Fizz.] 1. To make a hissing sound.

It is the easiest thing, sir, to be done, As plain as fizzling.

B. Jonson.

2. To make a ridiculous failure in an undertaking. [Colloq. or Low]

To fizzle out, to burn with a hissing noise and then go out, like wet gunpowder; hence, to fail completely and ridiculously; to prove a failure. [Colloq.]

Fiz"zle, n. A failure or abortive effort. [Colloq.]

||Fjord (fyÙrd), n. See Fiord.

Flab"ber*gast (?), v. t. [Cf. Flap, and Aghast.] To astonish; to strike with wonder, esp. by extraordinary statements. [Jocular] Beaconsfield.

Flab`ber*gas*ta"tion (?), n. The state of being flabbergasted. [Jocular] London Punch.

Flab"bi*ly (?), adv. In a flabby manner.

Flab"bi*ness, n. Quality or state of being flabby.

Flab"by (?), a. [See Flap.] Yielding to the touch, and easily moved or shaken; hanging loose by its own weight; wanting firmness; flaccid; as, flabby flesh.

Fla"bel (?), n. [L. flabellum a fan, dim. of flabrum a breeze, fr. flare to blow.] A fan. [Obs.] Huloet.

Fla*bel"late (?), a. [L. flabellatus, p. p. of flabellare to fan, fr. flabellum. See Flabbel.] (Bot.) Flabelliform.

Flab`el*la"tion (?), n. The act of keeping fractured limbs cool by the use of a fan or some other contrivance. Dunglison.

Fla*bel"li*form (?), a. [L. flabellum a fan + -form: cf. F. flabeliforme.] Having the form of a fan; fan-shaped; flabellate.

Fla*bel"li*nerved` (?), a. [L. flabellum a fan + E. nerve.] (Bot.) Having many nerves diverging radiately from the base; -- said of a leaf.

||Fla*bel"lum (?), n. [L. See Flabel.] (Eccl.) A fan; especially, the ||fan carried before the pope on state occasions, made in ostrich and ||peacock feathers. Shipley.

Flab"ile (?), a. [L. flabilis.] Liable to be blown about. Bailey.

Flac"cid (?), a. [L. flaccidus, fr. flaccus flabby: cf. OF. flaccide.] Yielding to pressure for want of firmness and stiffness; soft and weak; limber; lax; drooping; flabby; as, a flaccid muscle; flaccid flesh.

Religious profession . . . has become flacced.

I. Taylor.

-- Flac"cid*ly (#), adv. -- Flac"cid*ness, n.

Flac*cid"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. flacciditÈ.] The state of being flaccid.

Flack"er (?), v. i. [OE. flakeren, fr. flacken to move quickly to and fro; cf. icel. flakka to rove about, AS. flacor fluttering, flying, G. flackern to flare, flicker.] To flutter, as a bird. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Flack"et (?), n. [OF. flasquet little flask, dim. of flasque a flask.] A barrel-shaped bottle; a flagon.

Flag (flg), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flagged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flagging (?).] [Cf. Icel. flaka to droop, hang loosely. Cf. Flacker, Flag an ensign.] 1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies; to be loose, yielding, limp.

As loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast.

T. Moore.

2. To droop; to grow spiritless; to lose vigor; to languish; as, the spirits flag; the streugth flags.

The pleasures of the town begin to flag.

Swift.

Syn. -- To droop; decline; fail; languish; pine.

Flag (flg), v. t. 1. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness; as, to flag the wings. prior.

2. To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of.

Nothing so flags the spirits.

Echard.

Flag, n. [Cf. LG. & G. flagge, Sw. flagg, Dan. flag, D. vlag. See Flag to hang loose.] 1. That which flags or hangs down loosely.

2. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; -- commonly attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval flag.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain hawks, owls, etc. (b) A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks. (c) The bushy tail of a dog, as of a setter.

Black flag. See under Black. -- Flag captain, Flag leutenant, etc., special officers attached to the flagship, as aids to the flag officer. -- Flag officer, the commander of a fleet or squadron; an admiral, or commodore. -- Flag of truse, a white flag carried or displayed to an enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some communication not hostile. -- Flag share, the flag officer's share of prize money. -- Flag station (Railroad), a station at which trains do not stop unless signaled to do so, by a flag hung out or waved. -- National flag, a flag of a particular country, on which some national emblem or device, is emblazoned. -- Red flag, a flag of a red color, displayed as a signal of danger or token of defiance; the emblem of anarchists. -- To dip, the flag, to mlower it and quickly restore it to its place; -- done as a mark of respect. -- To hang out the white flag, to ask truce or quarter, or, in some cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a white flag. -- To hang the flag half-mast high or half- staff, to raise it only half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of mourning. -- To strike, or lower, the flag, to haul it down, in token of respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender. -- Yellow flag, the quarantine flag of all nations; also carried at a vessel's fore, to denote that an infectious disease is on board.

Flag, v. t. [From Flag an ensign.] 1. To signal to with a flag; as, to flag a train.

2. To convey, as a message, by means of flag signals; as, to flag an order to troops or vessels at a distance.

Flag, n. [From Flag to hang loose, to bend down.] (Bot.) An aquatic plant, with long, ensiform leaves, belonging to either of the genera Iris and Acorus.

Cooper's flag, the cat-tail (Typha latifolia), the long leaves of which are placed between the staves of barrels to make the latter water-tight. -- Corn flag. See under 2d Corn. -- Flag broom, a coarse of broom, originally made of flags or rushes. -- Flag root, the root of the sweet flag. -- Sweet flag. See Calamus, n., 2.

Flag, v. t. To furnish or deck out with flags.

Flag, n. [Icel. flaga, cf. Icel. flag spot where a turf has been cut out, and E. flake layer, scale. Cf. Floe.] 1. A flat stone used for paving. Woodward.

2. (Geol.) Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers suitable for flagstones.

Flag, v. t. To lay with flags of flat stones.

The sides and floor are all flagged with . . . marble.

Sandys.

Flag"el*lant (?), n. [L. flagellans, p. p. of flagellare: cf.F. flagellant. See Flagellate.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a fanatical sect which flourished in Europe in the 13th and 14th centuries, and maintained that flagellation was of equal virtue with baptism and the sacrament; -- called also disciplinant.

||Flag`el*la"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.L. flagellatus, p. p. See ||Flagellate, v. t.] (Zoˆl.) An order of Infusoria, having one or two ||long, whiplike cilia, at the anterior end. It includes monads. See ||Infusoria, and Monad.

Flag"el*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flagellated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flagellating (?).] [L. flagellatus, p. p. of flagellare to scoure, fr. flagellum whip, dim. of flagrum whip, scoure; cf. fligere to strike. Cf. Flall.] To whip; to scourge; to flog.

Fla*gel"late (?), a. 1. Flagelliform.

2. (Zoˆl.) Of or pertaining to the Flagellata.

Flag`el*la"tion (?), n. [L. flagellatio: cf. F. flagellation.] A beating or flogging; a whipping; a scourging. Garth.

Flag"el*la`tor (?), n. One who practices flagellation; one who whips or scourges.

Fla*gel"li*form (?), a. [L. flagellum a whip + -form.] Shaped like a whiplash; long, slender, round, flexible, and (comming) tapering.

||Fla*gel"lum (?), n.; pl. E. Flagellums (#), L. Flagella (#). [L., a ||whip. See Flagellate, v. t.] 1. (Bot.) A young, flexible shoot of a ||plant; esp., the long trailing branch of a vine, or a slender branch ||in certain mosses.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) A long, whiplike cilium. See Flagellata. (b) An appendage of the reproductive apparatus of the snail. (c) A lashlike appendage of a crustacean, esp. the terminal ortion of the antennÊ and the epipodite of the maxilipeds. See Maxilliped.

<! p. 566 !>

Flag"eo*let` (?), n. [F. flageolet, dim. of OF. flaj&?;l (as if fr. a LL. flautio;us), of fla¸te, flahute, F. fl&?;te. See Flute.] (Mus.) A small wooden pipe, having six or more holes, and a mouthpiece inserted at one end. It produces a shrill sound, softer than of the piccolo flute, and is said to have superseded the old recorder.

Flageolet tones (Mus.), the naturel harmonics or overtones of stringed instruments.

Flag"gi*ness (?), n. The condition of being flaggy; laxity; limberness. Johnson.

Flag"ging (?), n. A pavement or sidewalk of flagstones; flagstones, collectively.

Flag"ging, a. Growing languid, weak, or spiritless; weakening; delaying. -- Flag"ging*ly, adv.

Flag"gy (?), a. 1. Weak; flexible; limber. "Flaggy wings." Spenser.

2. Tasteless; insipid; as, a flaggy apple. [Obs.] Bacon.

Flag"gy, a. [From 5th Flag.] Abounding with the plant called flag; as, a flaggy marsh.

Flag"i*tate (?), v. t. [L. flagitatus, p. p. of flagitare to demand. See Flagitious.] To importune; to demand fiercely or with passion. [Archaic] Carcyle.

Flag`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. flagitatio.] Importunity; urgent demand. [Archaic] Carlyle.

Fla*gi"tious (?), a. [L. flagitiosus, fr. flagitium a shameful or disgraceful act, orig., a burning desire, heat of passion, from flagitare to demand hotly, fiercely; cf. flagrare to burn, E. flagrant.] 1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; shameful; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.

Debauched principles and flagitious practices.

I. Taylor.

2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of persons. Pope.

3. Characterized by scandalous crimes or vices; as, flagitious times. Pope.

Syn. -- Atrocious; villainous; flagrant; heinous; corrupt; profligate; abandoned. See Atrocious.

-- Fla*gi"tious*ly, adv. -- Fla*gi"tious*ness, n.

A sentence so flagitiously unjust.

Macaulay.

Flag"man (?), n.; pl. Flagmen (&?;). One who makes signals with a flag.

Flag"on (?), n. [F. flacon, for flascon, fr. OF. flasche, from LL. flasco. See Flask.] A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.

A trencher of mutton chops, and a flagon of ale.

Macaulay.

Fla"grance (?), n. Flagrancy. Bp. Hall.

Fla"gran*cy (?), n.; pl. Flagrancies (#). [L. flagrantia a burning. See Flagrant.] 1. A burning; great heat; inflammation. [Obs.]

Lust causeth a flagrancy in the eyes.

Bacon.

2. The condition or quality of being flagrant; atrocity; heiniousness; enormity; excess. Steele.

Fla"grant (?), a. [L. flagrans, -antis, p. pr. of flagrate to burn, akin to Gr. &?;: cf. F. flagrant. Cf. Flame, Phlox.] 1. Flaming; inflamed; glowing; burning; ardent.

The beadle's lash still flagrant on their back.

Prior.

A young man yet flagrant from the lash of the executioner or the beadle.

De Quincey.

Flagrant desires and affections.

Hooker.

2. Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on hotly; raging.

A war the most powerful of the native tribes was flagrant.

Palfrey.

3. Flaming into notice; notorious; enormous; heinous; glaringly wicked.

Syn. -- Atrocious; flagitious; glaring. See Atrocious.

Fla"grant*ly, adv. In a flagrant manner.

Fla"grate (?), v. t. [L. flagrare, flagratum, v.i. & t., to burn.] To burn. [Obs.] Greenhill.

Fla*gra"tion (?), n. A conflagration. [Obs.]

Flag"ship` (?), n. (Naut.) The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.

Flag"staff` (?), n.; pl. -staves (&?;) or -staffs (&?;). A staff on which a flag is hoisted.

Flag"stone` (?), n. A flat stone used in paving, or any rock which will split into such stones. See Flag, a stone.

Flag"worm` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A worm or grub found among flags and sedge.

Flail (?), n. [L. flagellum whip, scourge, in LL., a threshing flail: cf. OF. flael, flaiel, F. flÈau. See Flagellum.] 1. An instrument for threshing or beating grain from the ear by hand, consisting of a wooden staff or handle, at the end of which a stouter and shorter pole or club, called a swipe, is so hung as to swing freely.

His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn.

Milton.

2. An ancient military weapon, like the common flail, often having the striking part armed with rows of spikes, or loaded. Fairholt.

No citizen thought himself safe unless he carried under his coat a small flail, loaded with lead, to brain the Popish assassins.

Macaulay.

Flail"y (?), a. Acting like a flail. [Obs.] Vicars.

Flain (?), obs. p. p. of Flay. Chaucer.

Flake (flk), n. [Cf. Icel. flaki, fleki, Dan. flage, D. vlaak.] 1. A paling; a hurdle. [prov. Eng.]

2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven, supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things.

You shall also, after they be ripe, neither suffer them to have straw nor fern under them, but lay them either upon some smooth table, boards, or flakes of wands, and they will last the longer.

English Husbandman.

3. (Naut.) A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand on in calking, etc.

Flake (flk), n. [Cf. Icel. flakna to flake off, split, flagna to flake off, Sw. flaga flaw, flake, flake plate, Dan. flage snowflake. Cf. Flag a flat stone.] 1. A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film; flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, tallow, or fish. "Lottle flakes of scurf." Addison.

Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat.

Evelyn.

2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a fire; a flash.

With flakes of ruddy fire.

Somerville.

3. (Bot.) A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the petals having large stripes.

Flake knife (ArchÊol.), a cutting instrument used by savage tribes, made of a flake or chip of hard stone. Tylor. -- Flake stand, the cooling tub or vessel of a still worm. Knight. -- Flake white. (Paint.) (a) The purest white lead, in the form of flakes or scales. (b) The trisnitrate of bismuth. Ure.

Flake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flaked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaking.] To form into flakes. Pope.

Flake, v. i. To separate in flakes; to peel or scale off.

Flak"i*ness (?), n. The state of being flaky.

Flak"y (?), a. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.

What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires!

Watts.

A flaky weight of winter's purest snows.

Wordsworth.

Flam (flm), n. [Cf. AS. fle·m, flm, flight. &radic; 84 . Cf. Flimflam.] A freak or whim; also, a falsehood; a lie; an illusory pretext; deception; delusion. [Obs.]

A perpetual abuse and flam upon posterity.

South.

Flam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flammed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flamming.] To deceive with a falsehood. [Obs.]

God is not to be flammed off with lies.

South.

Flam"beau (?); n.; pl. Flambeaux (#) or Flambeaus (#). [F., fr. OF. flambe flame, for flamble, from L. flammula a little flame, dim. of flamma flame. See Flame.] A flaming torch, esp. one made by combining together a number of thick wicks invested with a quick-burning substance (anciently, perhaps, wax; in modern times, pitch or the like); hence, any torch.

Flam*boy"ant (?), a. [F.] (Arch.) Characterized by waving or flamelike curves, as in the tracery of windows, etc.; -- said of the later (15th century) French Gothic style.

Flam*boy"er (?), n. [F. flamboyer to be bright.] (Bot.) A name given in the East and West Indies to certain trees with brilliant blossoms, probably species of CÊsalpinia.

Flame (flm), n. [OE. flame, flaume, flaumbe, OF. flame, flambe, F. flamme, fr. L. flamma, fr. flamma, fr. flagrare to burn. See Flagrant, and cf. Flamneau, Flamingo.] 1. A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.

2. Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing imagination; passionate excitement or anger. "In a flame of zeal severe." Milton.

Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow.

Pope.

Smit with the love of sister arts we came, And met congenial, mingling flame with flame.

Pope.

3. Ardor of affection; the passion of love. Coleridge.

4. A person beloved; a sweetheart. Thackeray.

Syn. -- Blaze; brightness; ardor. See Blaze.

Flame bridge, a bridge wall. See Bridge, n., 5. -- Flame color, brilliant orange or yellow. B. Jonson. -- Flame engine, an early name for the gas engine. -- Flame manometer, an instrument, invented by Koenig, to obtain graphic representation of the action of the human vocal organs. See Manometer. -- Flame reaction (Chem.), a method of testing for the presence of certain elements by the characteristic color imparted to a flame; as, sodium colors a flame yellow, potassium violet, lithium crimson, boracic acid green, etc. Cf. Spectrum analysis, under Spectrum. -- Flame tree (Bot.), a tree with showy scarlet flowers, as the Rhododendron arboreum in India, and the Brachychiton acerifolium of Australia.

Flame, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaming.] [OE. flamen, flaumben, F. flamber, OF. also, flamer. See Flame, n.] 1. To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies in combustion; to blaze.

The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame again.

Shak.

2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to be kindled with zeal or ardor.

He flamed with indignation.

Macaulay.

Flame, v. t. To kindle; to inflame; to excite.

And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly.

Spenser.

Flame"-col`ored (?), a. Of the color of flame; of a bright orange yellow color. Shak.

Flame"less, a. Destitute of flame. Sandys.

Flame"let (?), n. [Flame + - let.] A small flame.

The flamelets gleamed and flickered.

Longfellow.

Fla"men (?), n.; pl. E. Flammens (#), L. Flamines (#). [L.] (Rom. Antiq.) A priest devoted to the service of a particular god, from whom he received a distinguishing epithet. The most honored were those of Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus, called respectively Flamen Dialis, Flamen Martialis, and Flamen Quirinalis.

Affrights the flamens at their service quaint.

Milton.

Fla*min"e*ous (?), a. Pertaining to a flamen; flaminical.

Flam"ing (?), a. 1. Emitting flames; afire; blazing; consuming; illuminating.

2. Of the color of flame; high-colored; brilliant; dazzling. "In flaming yellow bright." Prior.

3. Ardent; passionate; burning with zeal; irrepressibly earnest; as, a flaming proclomation or harangue.

Flam"ing*ly, adv. In a flaming manner.

Fla*min"go (?), n.; pl. Flamingoes (#). [Sp. flamenco, cf. Pg. flamingo, Prov. flammant, F. flamant; prop. a p. pr. meaning flaming. So called in allusion to its color. See Flame.] (Zoˆl.) Any bird of the genus Phúnicopterus. The flamingoes have webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the European is P. antiquorum.

Fla*min"i*cal (?), a. Pertaining to a flamen. Milton.

Flam`ma*bil"ity (?), n. The quality of being flammable; inflammability. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Flam"ma*ble (?), a. Inflammable. [Obs.]

Flam*ma"tion (?), n. The act of setting in a flame or blaze. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.

Flam"me*ous (?), a. [L. flammeus from flamma flame.] Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, flame. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Flam*mif"er*ous (?), a. [L. flammifer; flamma flame + ferre to bear.] Producing flame.

Flam*miv"o*mous (?), a. [L. flammivomus; flamma flame + vomere to vomit.] Vomiting flames, as a volcano. W. Thompson. (1745).

Flam"mu*la`ted (?), a. [L. flammula little flame, dim. fr. flamma flame.] Of a reddish color.

Flam"y (?), a. [From Flame.] Flaming; blazing; flamelike; flame-colored; composed of flame. Pope.

Flanch (?), n.; pl. Flanches (#). [Prov. E., a projection, OF. flanche flank. See Flank.] 1. A flange. [R.]. (Her.) A bearing consisting of a segment of a circle encroaching on the field from the side.

Flanches are always in pairs. A pair of flanches is considered one of the subordinaries.

Flanched (?), a. (Her.) Having flanches; -- said of an escutcheon with those bearings.

Flan`co*nade" (?), n. [F.] (Fencing) A thrust in the side.

||Fla`neur" (?), n. [F., fr. fl‚ner to stroll.] One who strolls about ||aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer.

Flang (?), n. A miner's two- pointed pick.

Flange (flnj), n. [Prov. E. flange to project, flanch a projection. See Flanch, Flank.] 1. An external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange of an iron beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a car wheel (see Car wheel.); or for attachment to another object, as the flange on the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc. Knight.

2. A plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened to the pipe.

Blind flange, a plate for covering or closing the end of a pipe. -- Flange joint, a joint, as that of pipes, where the connecting pieces have flanges by which the parts are bolted together. Knight. - - Flange rail, a rail with a flange on one side, to keep wheels, etc. from running off. -- Flange turning, the process of forming a flange on a wrought iron plate by bending and hammering it when hot.

Flange, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanged (flnjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanging (fln"jng).] (Mach.) To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange.

Flange, v. i. To be bent into a flange.

Flanged (flnjd), a. Having a flange or flanges; as, a flanged wheel.

Flank (flk), n. [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n inserted. Cf. Flaccid, Flanch, Flange.] 1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the ribs and the hip. See Illust. of Beef.

2. (Mil.) (a) The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side.

When to right and left the front

Divided, and to either flank retired.

Milton.

(b) (Fort.) That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.

3. (Arch.) The side of any building. Brands.

4. That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies within the pitch line.

Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front or rear. -- Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen. -- Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other works, sweeping the ground in its front. -- Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing formed at a projecting angle with the line. -- Flank files, the first men on the right, and the last on the left, of a company, battalion, etc. -- Flank march, a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank. -- Flank movement, a change of march by an army, or portion of one, in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new position. -- Flanks of a frontier, salient points in a national boundary, strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion. -- Flank patrol, detachments acting independently of the column of an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.

<! p. 567 !>

Flank (flk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanked (flkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Flanking.] [Cf. F. flanquer. See Flank, n., and cf. Flanker, v. t.] 1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon.

Stately colonnades are flanked with trees.

Pitt.

2. To overlook or command the flank of; to secure or guard the flank of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to attack; the flank of.

Flank, v. i. 1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler.

2. To be posted on the side.

Flank"er (?), n. One who, or that which, flanks, as a skirmisher or a body of troops sent out upon the flanks of an army toguard a line of march, or a fort projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body.

They threw out flankers, and endeavored to dislodge their assailants.

W. Irwing.

Flank"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flankered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flankering.] [See Flank, v. t.] 1. To defend by lateral fortifications. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

2. To attack sideways. [Obs.] Evelyn.

Flan"nel (fln"nl), n. [F. flanelle, cf. OF. flaine a pillowcase, a mattress (?); fr. W. gwlanen flannel, fr. gwlan wool; prob. akin to E. wool. Cf. Wool.] A soft, nappy, woolen cloth, of loose texture. Shak.

Adam's flannel. (Bot.) See under Adam. -- Canton flannel, Cotton flannel. See Cotton flannel, under Cotton.

Flan"neled (?), a. Covered or wrapped in flannel.

Flan"nen (?), a. Made or consisting of flannel. [Obs.] "Flannen robes." Dryden.

Flap (?), n. [OE. flappe, flap, blow, bly-flap; cf. D. flap, and E. flap, v.] Anything broad and limber that hangs loose, or that is attached by one side or end and is easily moved; as, the flap of a garment.

A cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx.

Sir T. Browne.

2. A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.

3. The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made with it; as, the flap of a sail or of a wing.

4. pl. (Far.) A disease in the lips of horses.

Flap tile, a tile with a bent up portion, to turn a corner or catch a drip. -- Flap valve (Mech.), a valve which opens and shuts upon one hinged side; a clack valve.

Flap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flapping (?).] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. D. flappen, E. flap, n., flop, flippant, fillip.] 1. To beat with a flap; to strike.

Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings.

Pope.

2. To move, as something broad and flaplike; as, to flap the wings; to let fall, as the brim of a hat.

To flap in the mouth, to taunt. [Obs.] W. Cartwright.

Flap, v. i. 1. To move as do wings, or as something broad or loose; to fly with wings beating the air.

The crows flapped over by twos and threes.

Lowell.

2. To fall and hang like a flap, as the brim of a hat, or other broad thing. Gay.

Flap"drag`on (?), n. 1. A game in which the players catch raisins out burning brandy, and swallow them blazing. Johnson.

2. The thing thus caught and eaten. Johnson.

Cakes and ale, and flapdragons and mummer's plays, and all the happy sports of Christians night.

C. Kingsley.

Flap"drag`on, v. t. To swallow whole, as a flapdragon; to devour. [Obs.]

See how the sea flapdragoned it.

Shak.

Flap"-eared` (?), a. Having broad, loose, dependent ears. Shak.

Flap"jack` (?), n. 1. A fklat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or pacake.

2. A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover. [Prov. Eng.]

Flap"-mouthed` (?), a. Having broad, hangling lips. [R.] Shak.

Flap"per (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, flaps.

2. See Flipper. "The flapper of a porpoise." Buckley.

Flapper skate (Zoˆl.), a European skate (Raia intermedia).

Flare (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaring.] [Cf. Norw. flara to blaze, flame, adorn with tinsel, dial. Sw. flasa upp, and E. flash, or flacker.] 1. To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.

2. To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling or painfully bright light.

3. To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively bright or showy.

With ribbons pendant, flaring about her head.

Shak.

4. To be exposed to too much light. [Obs.]

Flaring in sunshine all the day.

Prior.

5. To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular; as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare.

To flare up, to become suddenly heated or excited; to burst into a passion. [Colloq.] Thackeray.

Flare, n. 1. An unsteady, broad, offensive light.

2. A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.

Flare, n. Leaf of lard. "Pig's flare." Dunglison.

Flare"-up` (?), n. A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute. [Colloq.]

Flar"ing (?), a. 1. That flares; flaming or blazing unsteadily; shining out with a dazzling light.

His [the sun's] flaring beams.

Milton.

2. Opening or speading outwards.

Flar"ing*ly, adv. In a flaring manner.

Flash (flsh), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed (flsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] [Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to blaze, E. flush, flare.] 1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.

2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or pass like a flash.

Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of unnumbered struggles.

Talfourd.

The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind.

M. Arnold.

A thought flashed through me, which I clothed in act.

Tennyson.

3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to rush hastily.

Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other.

Shak.

To flash in the pan, to fail of success. [Colloq.] See under Flash, a burst of light. Bartlett.

Syn. -- Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister. Flash differs from glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.

Flash (flsh), v. t. 1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame or light.

The chariot of paternal Deity, Flashing thick flames.

Milton.

2. To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on the mind.

3. (Glass Making) To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).

4. To trick up in a showy manner.

Limning and flashing it with various dyes.

A. Brewer.

5. [Perh. due to confusion between flash of light and plash, splash.] To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface; to splash. [Obs.]

He rudely flashed the waves about.

Spenser.

Flashed glass. See Flashing, n., 3.

Flash, n.; pl. Flashes (&?;). 1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of lightning.

2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary brightness or show.

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind.

Shak.

No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy.

Wirt.

3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief period.

The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash.

Bacon.

4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and giving a fictitious strength to liquors.

Flash light, or Flashing light, a kind of light shown by lighthouses, produced by the revolution of reflectors, so as to show a flash of light every few seconds, alternating with periods of dimness. Knight. -- Flash in the pan, the flashing of the priming in the pan of a flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence, sudden, spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.

Flash, a. 1. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash jewelry; flash finery.

2. Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as, flash people; flash men or women; -- applied especially to thieves, gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much cheap jewelry.

Flash house, a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel. "A gang of footpads, reveling with their favorite beauties at a flash house." Macaulay.

Flash, n. Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.

Flash, n. [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.] 1. A pool. [Prov. Eng.] Haliwell.

2. (Engineering) A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus bear them over the shoal.

Flash wheel (Mech.), a paddle wheel made to revolve in a breast or curved water way, by which water is lifted from the lower to the higher level.

Flash"board` (?), n. A board placed temporarily upon a milldam, to raise the water in the pond above its usual level; a flushboard. [U.S.]

Flash"er (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, flashes.

2. A man of more appearance of wit than reality.

3. (Zoˆl.) (a) A large sparoid fish of the Atlantic coast and all tropical seas (Lobotes Surinamensis). (b) The European red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio); -- called also flusher.

Flash"i*ly (?), adv. In a flashy manner; with empty show.

Flash"i*ness, n. The quality of being flashy.

Flash"ing, n. 1. (Engineering) The creation of an artifical flood by the sudden letting in of a body of water; -- called also flushing.

2. (Arch.) Pieces of metal, built into the joints of a wall, so as to lap over the edge of the gutters or to cover the edge of the roofing; also, similar pieces used to cover the valleys of roofs of slate, shingles, or the like. By extension, the metal covering of ridges and hips of roofs; also, in the United States, the protecting of angles and breaks in walls of frame houses with waterproof material, tarred paper, or the like. Cf. Filleting.

3. (Glass Making) (a) The reheating of an article at the furnace aperture during manufacture to restore its plastic condition; esp., the reheating of a globe of crown glass to allow it to assume a flat shape as it is rotated. (b) A mode of covering transparent white glass with a film of colored glass. Knight.

Flashing point (Chem.), that degree of temperature at which a volatile oil gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to burn, or flash, on the approach of a flame, used as a test of the comparative safety of oils, esp. kerosene; a flashing point of 100∞ F. is regarded as a fairly safe standard. The burning point of the oil is usually from ten to thirty degree above the flashing point of its vapor.

Flash"y (?), a. 1. Dazzling for a moment; making a momentary show of brilliancy; transitorily bright.

A little flashy and transient pleasure.

Barrow.

2. Fiery; vehement; impetuous.

A temper always flashy.

Burke.

3. Showy; gay; gaudy; as, a flashy dress.

4. Without taste or spirit.

Lean and flashy songs.

Milton.

Flask (?), n. [AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca, G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca, flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel, Gr. &?;, &?;, &?;. Cf. Flagon, Flasket.] 1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a flask of oil or wine.

2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of wrought iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat water in, etc.

3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] Bailey.

4. (Founding) The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand, etc., forming the mold used in a foundry; it consists of two or more parts; viz., the cope or top; sometimes, the cheeks, or middle part; and the drag, or bottom part. When there are one or more cheeks, the flask is called a three part flask, four part flask, etc.

Erlenmeyer flask, a thin glass flask, flat- bottomed and cone-shaped to allow of safely shaking its contents laterally without danger of spilling; -- so called from Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it. -- Florence flask. [From Florence in Italy.] (a) Same as Betty, n., 3. (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating solutions. -- Pocket flask, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered with metal or leather to protect it from breaking.

Flask"et (?), n. [Cf. W. fflasged a vessel of straw or wickerwork, fflasg flask, basket, and E. flask.] 1. A long, shallow basket, with two handles. [Eng.]

In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket.

Spenser.

2. A small flask.

3. A vessel in which viands are served. [Obs.] Pope.

Flat (?), a. [Compar. Flatter (?); superl. Flattest (?).] [Akin to Icel. flatr, Sw. flat, Dan. flad, OHG. flaz, and AS. flet floor, G. flˆtz stratum, layer.] 1. Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.

Though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk.

Milton.

2. Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence, fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.

What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat!

Milton.

I feel . . . my hopes all flat.

Milton.

3. (Fine Arts) Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of prominence and striking interest.

A large part of the work is, to me, very flat.

Coleridge.

4. Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to the taste.

5. Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit; monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.

How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world.

Shak.

6. Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed; dull; as, the market is flat.

7. Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.

Flat burglary as ever was committed.

Shak.

A great tobacco taker too, -- that's flat.

Marston.

8. (Mus.) (a) Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat. (b) Not sharp or shrill; not acute; as, a flat sound.

9. (Phonetics) Sonant; vocal; -- applied to any one of the sonant or vocal consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.

Flat arch. (Arch.) See under Arch, n., 2. (b). -- Flat cap, cap paper, not folded. See under Paper. -- Flat chasing, in fine art metal working, a mode of ornamenting silverware, etc., producing figures by dots and lines made with a punching tool. Knight. -- Flat chisel, a sculptor's chisel for smoothing. -- Flat file, a file wider than its thickness, and of rectangular section. See File. -- Flat nail, a small, sharp- pointed, wrought nail, with a flat, thin head, larger than a tack. Knight. -- Flat paper, paper which has not been folded. -- Flat rail, a railroad rail consisting of a simple flat bar spiked to a longitudinal sleeper. -- Flat rods (Mining), horizontal or inclined connecting rods, for transmitting motion to pump rods at a distance. Raymond. -- Flat rope, a rope made by plaiting instead of twisting; gasket; sennit. Some flat hoisting ropes, as for mining shafts, are made by sewing together a number of ropes, making a wide, flat band. Knight. -- Flat space. (Geom.) See Euclidian space. -- Flat stitch, the process of wood engraving. [Obs.] -- Flat tint (Painting), a coat of water color of one uniform shade. -- To fall flat (Fig.), to produce no effect; to fail in the intended effect; as, his speech fell flat.

Of all who fell by saber or by shot, Not one fell half so flat as Walter Scott.

Lord Erskine.

Flat (?), adv. 1. In a flat manner; directly; flatly.

Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty.

Herbert.

2. (Stock Exchange) Without allowance for accrued interest. [Broker's Cant]

<! p. 568 !>

Flat, n. 1. A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats.

Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising ground, than upon a flat.

Bacon.

2. A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a strand.

Half my power, this night Passing these flats, are taken by the tide.

Shak.

3. Something broad and flat in form; as: (a) A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught. (b) A straw hat, broad- brimmed and low-crowned. (c) (Railroad Mach.) A car without a roof, the body of which is a platform without sides; a platform car. (d) A platform on wheel, upon which emblematic designs, etc., are carried in processions.

4. The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a blade, as distinguished from its edge.

5. (Arch.) A floor, loft, or story in a building; especially, a floor of a house, which forms a complete residence in itself.

6. (Mining) A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein; also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal. Raymond.

7. A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull. [Colloq.]

Or if you can not make a speech, Because you are a flat.

Holmes.

8. (Mus.) A character [] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half step or semitone lower.

9. (Geom.) A homaloid space or extension.

Flat (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flatted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flatting (?).] 1. To make flat; to flatten; to level.

2. To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.

Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted.

Barrow.

3. To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in pitch by half a tone.

Flat, v. i. 1. To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fall to an even surface. Sir W. Temple.

2. (Mus.) To fall form the pitch.

To flat out, to fail from a promising beginning; to make a bad ending; to disappoint expectations. [Colloq.]

Flat"bill` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any bird of the genus Flatyrynchus. They belong to the family of flycatchers.

Flat"boat` (?), n. A boat with a flat bottom and square ends; -- used for the transportation of bulky freight, especially in shallow waters.

Flat"-bot`tomed (?), a. Having an even lower surface or bottom; as, a flat-bottomed boat.

Flat"-cap` (?), n. A kind of low- crowned cap formerly worn by all classes in England, and continued in London after disuse elsewhere; -- hence, a citizen of London. Marston.

Flat"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any fish of the family PleuronectidÊ; esp., the winter flounder (Pleuronectes Americanus). The flatfishes have the body flattened, swim on the side, and have eyes on one side, as the flounder, turbot, and halibut. See Flounder.

Flat" foot` (?). (Med.) A foot in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the entire sole of the foot rests upon the ground; also, the deformity, usually congential, exhibited by such a foot; splayfoot.

Flat"-foot`ed, a. 1. Having a flat foot, with little or no arch of the instep.

2. Firm-footed; determined. [Slang, U.S.]

Flat"head` (?), a. Characterized by flatness of head, especially that produced by artificial means, as a certain tribe of American Indians.

Flat"head`, n. (Ethnol.) A Chinook Indian. See Chinook, n., 1.

Flat"-head`ed (?), a. Having a head with a flattened top; as, a flat-headed nail.

Flat"i`ron (?), n. An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes.

Fla"tive (?), a. [L. flare, flatum to blow.] Producing wind; flatulent. [Obs.] A. Brewer.

Flat"ling (?), adv. [Flat, a. + adverbial suff. -ling.] With the flat side, as of a sword; flatlong; in a prostrate position. [Obs.] Spenser.

Flat"long (?; 115), adv. With the flat side downward; not edgewise. Shak.

Flat"ly, adv. In a flat manner; evenly; horizontally; without spirit; dully; frigidly; peremptorily; positively; plainly. "He flatly refused his aid." Sir P. Sidney.

He that does the works of religion slowly, flatly, and without appetite.

Jer. Taylor.

Flat"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being flat.

2. Eveness of surface; want of relief or prominence; the state of being plane or level.

3. Want of vivacity or spirit; prostration; dejection; depression.

4. Want of variety or flavor; dullness; insipidity.

5. Depression of tone; the state of being below the true pitch; -- opposed to sharpness or acuteness.

Fla*tour" (?), n. [OF.] A flatterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flat"ten (flt"t'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flattening.] [From Flat, a.] 1. To reduce to an even surface or one approaching evenness; to make flat; to level; to make plane.

2. To throw down; to bring to the ground; to prostrate; hence, to depress; to deject; to dispirit.

3. To make vapid or insipid; to render stale.

4. (Mus.) To lower the pitch of; to cause to sound less sharp; to let fall from the pitch.

To flatten a sail (Naut.), to set it more nearly fore-and-aft of the vessel. -- Flattening oven, in glass making, a heated chamber in which split glass cylinders are flattened for window glass.

Flat"ten, v. i. To become or grow flat, even, depressed, dull, vapid, spiritless, or depressed below pitch.

Flat"ter (flt"tr), n. 1. One who, or that which, makes flat or flattens.

2. (Metal Working) (a) A flat-faced fulling hammer. (b) A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat strips, as watch springs, etc.

Flat"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flattering.] [OE. flateren, cf. OD. flatteren; akin to G. flattern to flutter, Icel. fla&?;ra to fawn, flatter: cf. F. flatter. Cf. Flitter, Flutter, Flattery.] 1. To treat with praise or blandishments; to gratify or attempt to gratify the self-love or vanity of, esp. by artful and interested commendation or attentions; to blandish; to cajole; to wheedle.

When I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most flattered.

Shak.

A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet.

Prov. xxix. 5.

Others he flattered by asking their advice.

Prescott.

2. To raise hopes in; to encourage or favorable, but sometimes unfounded or deceitful, representations.

3. To portray too favorably; to give a too favorable idea of; as, his portrait flatters him.

Flat"ter, v. i. To use flattery or insincere praise.

If it may stand him more in stead to lie, Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or adjure.

Milton.

Flat"ter*er (?), n. One who flatters.

The most abject flaterers degenerate into the greatest tyrants.

Addison.

Flat"ter*ing, a. That flatters (in the various senses of the verb); as, a flattering speech.

Lay not that flattering unction to your soul.

Shak.

A flattering painter, who made it his care, To draw men as they ought be, not as they are.

Goldsmith.

Flat"ter*ing*ly, adv. With flattery.

Flat"ter*y (?), n.; pl. Flatteries (#). [OE. flaterie, OF. flaterie, F. flaterie, fr. flater to flatter, F. flatter; of uncertain origin. See Flatter, v. t.] The act or practice of flattering; the act of pleasing by artful commendation or compliments; adulation; false, insincere, or excessive praise.

Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present.

Rambler.

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.

Burke.

Syn. -- Adulation; compliment; obsequiousness. See Adulation.

Flat"ting (?), n. 1. The process or operation of making flat, as a cylinder of glass by opening it out.

2. A mode of painting,in which the paint, being mixed with turpentine, leaves the work without gloss. Gwilt.

3. A method of preserving gilding unburnished, by touching with size. Knolles.

4. The process of forming metal into sheets by passing it between rolls.

Flatting coat, a coat of paint so put on as to have no gloss. -- Flatting furnace. Same as flattening oven, under Flatten. -- Flatting mill. (a) A rolling mill producing sheet metal; esp., in mints, the ribbon from which the planchets are punched. (b) A mill in which grains of metal are flatted by steel rolls, and reduced to metallic dust, used for purposes of ornamentation.

Flat"tish (?), a. Somewhat flat. Woodward.

{ Flat"u*lence (?), Flat"u*len*cy (?) }, n. [Cf. F. flatulence.] The state or quality of being flatulent.

Flat"u*lent (?), a. [L. flatus a blowing, flatus ventris windiness, flatulence, fr. flare to blow: cf. F. flatulent. See Blow.] 1. Affected with flatus or gases generated in the alimentary canal; windy.

2. Generating, or tending to generate, wind in the stomach.

Vegetables abound more with aÎrial particles than animal substances, and therefore are more flatulent.

Arbuthnot.

3. Turgid with flatus; as, a flatulent tumor. Quincy.

4. Pretentious without substance or reality; puffy; empty; vain; as, a flatulent vanity.

He is too flatulent sometimes, and sometimes too dry.

Dryden.

Flat"u*lent*ly, adv. In a flatulent manner; with flatulence.

Flat`u*os"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. flatuositÈ.] Flatulence. [Obs.] Bacon.

Flat"u*ous (?), a. [Cf. F. flatueux.] Windy; generating wind. [Obs.] Bacon.

||Fla"tus (?), n.; pl. E. Flatuses (#), L. Flatus. [L., fr. flare to ||blow.] 1. A breath; a puff of wind. Clarke.

2. Wind or gas generated in the stomach or other cavities of the body. Quincy.

Flat"ware` (?), n. Articles for the table, as china or silverware, that are more or less flat, as distinguished from hollow ware. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Flat"wise` (?), a. or adv. With the flat side downward, or next to another object; not edgewise.

Flat"worm` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Any worm belonging to the Plathelminthes; also, sometimes applied to the planarians.

Flaun"drish (? or ?), a. Flemish. [Obs.]

Flaunt (fl‰nt or flnt; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flaunted; p. pr. & vb. n.. Flaunting.] [Cf. dial. G. flandern to flutter, wave; perh. akin to E. flatter, flutter.] To throw or spread out; to flutter; to move ostentatiously; as, a flaunting show.

You flaunt about the streets in your new gilt chariot.

Arbuthnot.

One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade.

Pope.

Flaunt, v. t. To display ostentatiously; to make an impudent show of.

Flaunt, n. Anything displayed for show. [Obs.]

In these my borrowed flaunts.

Shak.

Flaunt"ing*ly, adv. In a flaunting way.

Flau"tist (?), n. [It. flauto a flute See Flute.] A player on the flute; a flutist.

||Flau"to (flou"t), n. [It.] A flute.

Flaute piccolo (&?;) [It., little flute], an octave flute. -- Flauto traverso (&?;) [It., transverse flute], the German flute, held laterally, instead of being played, like the old fl˚te ‡ bec, with a mouth piece at the end.

Fla*van"i*line (? or ?; 104), n. [L. flavus yellow + E. aniline.] (Chem.) A yellow, crystalline, organic dyestuff, C16H14N2, of artifical production. It is a strong base, and is a complex derivative of aniline and quinoline.

Fla*ves"cent (?), a. [L. flavescens, p. pr. of flavescere to turn yellow.] Turning yellow; yellowish.

Fla*vic"o*mous (?), a. [L. flavicomus; flavus yellow + coma hair.] Having yellow hair. [R.]

Fla"vin (?), n. [L. flavus yellow.] (Chem.) A yellow, vegetable dyestuff, resembling quercitron.

Fla"vine (?; 104), n. (Chem.) A yellow, crystalline, organic base, C13H12N2O, obtained artificially.

Fla"vol (?), n. [L. flavus yellow + -oil.] (Chem.) A yellow, crystalline substance, obtained from anthraquinone, and regarded as a hydroxyl derivative of it.

Fla"vor (?), n. [OF. fleur, flaur (two syllables), odor, cf. F. fleurer to emit an odor, It. flatore a bad odor, prob. fr. L. flare to bow, whence the sense of exhalation. Cf. Blow.] [Written also flavour.] 1. That quality of anything which affects the smell; odor; fragrances; as, the flavor of a rose.

2. That quality of anything which affects the taste; that quality which gratifies the palate; relish; zest; savor; as, the flavor of food or drink.

3. That which imparts to anything a peculiar odor or taste, gratifying to the sense of smell, or the nicer perceptions of the palate; a substance which flavors.

4. That quality which gives character to any of the productions of literature or the fine arts.

Fla"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flavored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flavoring.] To give flavor to; to add something (as salt or a spice) to, to give character or zest.

Fla"vored (?), a. Having a distinct flavor; as, high-flavored wine.

Fla"vor*less (?), a. Without flavor; tasteless.

Fla"vor*ous (?), a. Imparting flavor; pleasant to the taste or smell; sapid. Dryden.

Fla"vous (?), a. [L. flavus.] Yellow. [Obs.]

Flaw (fl), n. [OE. flai, flaw flake; cf. Sw. flaga flaw, crack, breach, flake, D. vlaag gust of wind, Norw. flage, flaag, and E. flag a flat stone.] 1. A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or cohesion; as, a flaw in a knife or a vase.

This heart Shall break into a hundered thousand flaws.

Shak.

2. A defect; a fault; as, a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a will, in a deed, or in a statute.

Has not this also its flaws and its dark side?

South.

3. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel. [Obs.]

And deluges of armies from the town Came pouring in; I heard the mighty flaw.

Dryden.

4. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.

Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw.

Milton.

Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn.

Tennyson.

Syn. -- Blemish; fault; imperfection; spot; speck.

Flaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flawed (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Flawing.] 1. To crack; to make flaws in.

The brazen caldrons with the frosts are flawed.

Dryden.

2. To break; to violate; to make of no effect. [Obs.]

France hath flawed the league.

Shak.

Flaw"less, a. Free from flaws. Boyle.

Flawn (fln), n. [OF. flaon, F. flan, LL. flado, fr. OHG. flado, G. fladen, a sort of pancake; cf. Gr. &?; broad. See Place.] A sort of flat custard or pie. [Obs.] Tusser.

Flaw"ter (?), v. t. [Cf. Flay.] To scrape or pare, as a skin. [Obs.] Johnson.

Flaw"y (?), a. 1. Full of flaws or cracks; broken; defective; faulty. Johnson.

2. Subject to sudden flaws or gusts of wind.

Flax (flks), n. [AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G. flachs, and prob. to flechten to braid, plait,m twist, L. plectere to weave, plicare to fold, Gr. &?; to weave, plait. See Ply.] 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth, called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from the seed.

2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and cleaned by hatcheling or combing.

Earth flax (Min.), amianthus. -- Flax brake, a machine for removing the woody portion of flax from the fibrous. -- Flax comb, a hatchel, hackle, or heckle. -- Flax cotton, the fiber of flax, reduced by steeping in bicarbonate of soda and acidulated liquids, and prepared for bleaching and spinning like cotton. Knight. -- Flax dresser, one who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares it for the spinner. -- Flax mill, a mill or factory where flax is spun or linen manufactured. -- Flax puller, a machine for pulling flax plants in the field. -- Flax wench. (a) A woman who spins flax. [Obs.] (b) A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak. -- Mountain flax (Min.), amianthus. -- New Zealand flax (Bot.) See Flax- plant.

Flax"en (?), a. Made of flax; resembling flax or its fibers; of the color of flax; of a light soft straw color; fair and flowing, like flax or tow; as, flaxen thread; flaxen hair.

Flax"-plant` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant in new Zealand (Phormium tenax), allied to the lilies and aloes. The leaves are two inches wide and several feet long, and furnish a fiber which is used for making ropes, mats, and coarse cloth.

Flax"seed` (?), n. The seed of the flax; linseed.

Flax"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) See Toadflax.

Flax"y (?), a. Like flax; flaxen. Sir M. Sandys.

Flay (fl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flayed (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Flaying.] [OE. flean, flan, AS. fle·n; akin to D. vlaen, Icel. fl, Sw. flÂ, Dan. flaae, cf. Lith. pleszti to tear, plyszti, v.i., to burst, tear; perh. akin to E. flag a flat stone, flaw.] To skin; to strip off the skin or surface of; as, to flay an ox; to flay the green earth.

With her nails She 'll flay thy wolfish visage.

Shak.

<! p. 569 !>

Flay"er (?), n. One who strips off the skin.

Flea (fl), v. t. [See Flay.] To flay. [Obs.]

He will be fleaed first And horse collars made of's skin.

J. Fletcher.

Flea, n. [OE. fle, flee, AS. fle·, fle·h; akin to D. vtoo, OHG. flh, G. floh, Icel. fl, Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. &radic;84. See Flee.] (Zoˆl.) An insect belonging to the genus Pulex, of the order Aphaniptera. Fleas are destitute of wings, but have the power of leaping energetically. The bite is poisonous to most persons. The human flea (Pulex irritans), abundant in Europe, is rare in America, where the dog flea (P. canis) takes its place. See Aphaniptera, and Dog flea. See Illustration in Appendix.

A flea in the ear, an unwelcome hint or unexpected reply, annoying like a flea; an irritating repulse; as, to put a flea in one's ear; to go away with a flea in one's ear. -- Beach flea, Black flea, etc. See under Beach, etc.

Flea"bane` (?), n. (Bot.) One of various plants, supposed to have efficacy in driving away fleas. They belong, for the most part, to the genera Conyza, Erigeron, and Pulicaria.

Flea"-bee`tle (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A small beetle of the family HalticidÊ, of many species. They have strong posterior legs and leap like fleas. The turnip flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata) and that of the grapevine (Graptodera chalybea) are common injurious species.

Flea"-bite` (?), n. 1. The bite of a flea, or the red spot caused by the bite.

2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the bite of a flea. Harvey.

Flea"-bit`ten (?), a. 1. Bitten by a flea; as, a flea-bitten face.

2. White, flecked with minute dots of bay or sorrel; -- said of the color of a horse.

Fleagh (fl), obs. imp. of Fly.

Fleak (flk), n. A flake; a thread or twist. [Obs.]

Little long fleaks or threads of hemp.

Dr. H. More.

Fleak"ing, n. A light covering of reeds, over which the main covering is laid, in thatching houses. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Flea"-louse` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A jumping plant louse of the family PsyllidÊ, of many species. That of the pear tree is Psylla pyri.

Fleam (?), n. [F. flamme, OF. flieme, fr. LL. flevotomum, phlebotomum; cf. D. vlijm. See Phlebotomy.] (Surg. & Far.) A sharp instrument used for opening veins, lancing gums, etc.; a kind of lancet.

Fleam tooth, a tooth of a saw shaped like an isosceles triangle; a peg tooth. Knight.

Fleam"y (?), a. Bloody; clotted. [Obs. or Prov.]

Foamy bubbling of a fleamy brain.

Marston.

Flear (?), v. t. & i. See Fleer.

Flea"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) An herb used in medicine (Plantago Psyllium), named from the shape of its seeds. Loudon.

||FlËche (?), n. [F. flËche, prop., an arrow.] (Fort.) A simple ||fieldwork, consisting of two faces forming a salient angle pointing ||outward and open at the gorge.

Fleck (flk), n. A flake; also, a lock, as of wool. [Obs.] J. Martin.

Fleck (?), n. [Cf. Icel. flekkr; akin to Sw. fl‰ck, D. vlek, G. fleck, and perh. to E. flitch.] A spot; a streak; a speckle. "A sunny fleck." Longfellow.

Life is dashed with flecks of sin.

tennyson.

Fleck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flecked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flecking.] [Cf. Icel. flekka, Sw. fl‰cka, D. vlekken, vlakken, G. flecken. See Fleck, n.] To spot; to streak or stripe; to variegate; to dapple.

Both flecked with white, the true Arcadian strain.

Dryden.

A bird, a cloud, flecking the sunny air.

Trench.

Fleck"er (?), v. t. To fleck. Johnson.

Fleck"less, a. Without spot or blame. [R.]

My consnience will not count me fleckless.

Tennyson.

Flec"tion (?), n. [See Flexion.] 1. The act of bending, or state of being bent.

2. The variation of words by declension, comparison, or conjugation; inflection.

Flec"tion*al (?), a. Capable of, or pertaining to, flection or inflection.

A flectional word is a phrase in the bud.

Earle.

Flec"tor (?), n. A flexor.

Fled (?), imp. & p. p. of Flee.

Fledge (?), a. [OE. flegge, flygge; akin to D. vlug, G. fl¸gge, fl¸cke, OHG. flucchi, Icel. fleygr, and to E. fly. &radic;84. See Fly, v. i.] Feathered; furnished with feathers or wings; able to fly.

His shoulders, fledge with wings.

Milton.

Fledge, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Fledged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fledging.] 1. To furnish with feathers; to supply with the feathers necessary for flight.

The birds were not as yet fledged enough to shift for themselves.

L'Estrange.

2. To furnish or adorn with any soft covering.

Your master, whose chin is not yet fledged.

Shak.

Fledge"ling (?), n. A young bird just fledged.

Flee (fl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fled (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeing.] [OE. fleon, fleen, AS. fleÛn (imperf. fle·h); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. & OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. flja (imperf. fli), Dan. flye, Sw. fly (imperf. flydde), Goth. ˛liuhan. &radic;84. Cf. Flight.] To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or cowardly manner; to hasten off; -- usually with from. This is sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.

[He] cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke.

Shak.

Flee fornication.

1 Cor. vi. 18.

So fled his enemies my warlike father.

Shak.

When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. "Whither shall I fly to 'scape their hands?" Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5.

Fleece (fls), n. [OE. flees, AS. fleÛs; akin to D. flies, vlies .] 1. The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time.

Who shore me Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece.

Milton.

2. Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.

3. (Manuf.) The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.

Fleece wool, wool shorn from the sheep. -- Golden fleece. See under Golden.

Fleece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleeced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleecing.] 1. To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.

2. To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.

Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely fleeced.

Fuller.

3. To spread over as with wool. [R.] Thomson.

Fleeced (?), a. 1. Furnished with a fleece; as, a sheep is well fleeced. Spenser.

2. Stripped of a fleece; plundered; robbed.

Fleece"less (?), a. Without a fleece.

Flee"cer (?), n. One who fleeces or strips unjustly, especially by trickery or fraund. Prynne.

Flee"cy (?), a. Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. "Fleecy flocks." Prior.

Fleen (?), n. pl. Obs. pl. of Flea. Chaucer.

Fle"er (?), n. One who flees. Ld. Berners.

Fleer (?), [imp. & p. p. Fleered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleering.] [OE. flerien; cf. Scot. fleyr, Norw. flira to titter, giggle, laugh at nothing, MHG. vlerre, vlarre, a wide wound.] 1. To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to sneer; to mock; to gibe; as, to fleer and flout.

To fleer and scorn at our solemnity.

Shak.

2. To grin with an air of civility; to leer. [Obs.]

Grinning and fleering as though they went to a bear baiting.

Latimer.

Fleer, v. t. To mock; to flout at. Beau. & Fl.

Fleer, n. 1. A word or look of derision or mockery.

And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorn.

Shak.

2. A grin of civility; a leer. [Obs.]

A sly, treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers.

South.

Fleer"er (?), n. One who fleers. Beau. & Fl.

Fleer"ing*ly, adv. In a fleering manner.

Fleet (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeting.] [OE. fleten, fleoten, to swim, AS. fleÛtan to swim, float; akin to D. vlieten to flow, OS. fliotan, OHG. fliozzan, G. fliessen, Icel. fljta to float, flow, Sw. flyta, D. flyde, L. pluere to rain, Gr. &?; to sail, swim, float, Skr. plu to swim, sail. &radic;84. Cf. Fleet, n. & a., Float, Pluvial, Flow.] 1. To sail; to float. [Obs.]

And in frail wood on Adrian Gulf doth fleet.

Spenser.

2. To fly swiftly; to pass over quickly; to hasten; to flit as a light substance.

All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, . . . Dissolved on earth, fleet hither.

Milton.

3. (Naut.) To slip on the whelps or the barrel of a capstan or windlass; -- said of a cable or hawser.

Fleet, v. t. 1. To pass over rapidly; to skin the surface of; as, a ship that fleets the gulf. Spenser.

2. To hasten over; to cause to pass away lighty, or in mirth and joy.

Many young gentlemen flock to him, and fleet the time carelessly.

Shak.

3. (Naut.) (a) To draw apart the blocks of; -- said of a tackle. Totten.

(b) To cause to slip down the barrel of a capstan or windlass, as a rope or chain.

Fleet, a. [Compar. Fleeter (?); superl. Fleetest.] [Cf. Icel. flj&?;tr quick. See Fleet, v. i.] 1. Swift in motion; moving with velocity; light and quick in going from place to place; nimble.

In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong.

Milton.

2. Light; superficially thin; not penetrating deep, as soil. [Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.

Fleet, n. [OE. flete, fleote, AS. fleÛt ship, fr. fleÛtan to float, swim. See Fleet, v. i. and cf. Float.] A number of vessels in company, especially war vessels; also, the collective naval force of a country, etc.

Fleet captain, the senior aid of the admiral of a fleet, when a captain. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Fleet, n. [AS. fleÛt a place where vessels float, bay, river; akin to D. vliet rill, brook, G. fliess. See Fleet, v. i.] 1. A flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river; -- obsolete, except as a place name, -- as Fleet Street in London.

Together wove we nets to entrap the fish In floods and sedgy fleets.

Matthewes.

2. A former prison in London, which originally stood near a stream, the Fleet (now filled up).

Fleet parson, a clergyman of low character, in, or in the vicinity of, the Fleet prison, who was ready to unite persons in marriage (called Fleet marriage) at any hour, without public notice, witnesses, or consent of parents.

Fleet (?), v. t. [AS. flt cream, fr. fleÛtan to float. See Fleet, v. i.] To take the cream from; to skim. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.

Fleet"en (?), n. Fleeted or skimmed milk. [Obs.]

Fleeten face, a face of the color of fleeten, i. e., blanched; hence, a coward. "You know where you are, you fleeten face." Beau. & Fl.

Fleet"-foot` (?), a. Swift of foot. Shak.

Fleet"ing, a. Passing swiftly away; not durable; transient; transitory; as, the fleeting hours or moments.

Syn. -- Evanescent; ephemeral. See Transient.

Fleet"ing*ly, adv. In a fleeting manner; swiftly.

Fleet"ings (?), n. pl. A mixture of buttermilk and boiling whey; curds. [prov. Eng.] Wright.

Fleet"ly, adv. In a fleet manner; rapidly.

Fleet"ness, n. Swiftness; rapidity; velocity; celerity; speed; as, the fleetness of a horse or of time.

Fleigh (?), obs. imp. of Fly. Chaucer.

Fleme (?), v. t. [AS. flman, flman.] To banish; to drive out; to expel. [Obs.] "Appetite flemeth discretion." Chaucer.

Flem"er (?), n. One who, or that which, banishes or expels. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flem"ing (?), n. A native or inhabitant of Flanders.

Flem"ish (?), a. Pertaining to Flanders, or the Flemings. -- n. The language or dialect spoken by the Flemings; also, collectively, the people of Flanders.

Flemish accounts (Naut.), short or deficient accounts. [Humorous] Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Flemish beauty (Bot.), a well known pear. It is one of few kinds which have a red color on one side. -- Flemish bond. (Arch.) See Bond, n., 8. -- Flemish brick, a hard yellow paving brick. -- Flemish coil, a flat coil of rope with the end in the center and the turns lying against, without riding over, each other. -- Flemish eye (Naut.), an eye formed at the end of a rope by dividing the strands and lying them over each other. -- Flemish horse (Naut.), an additional footrope at the end of a yard.

Flench (?), v. t. Same as Flence.

Flense (?), v. t. [Cf. Dan. flense, D. vlensen, vlenzen, Scot. flinch.] To strip the blubber or skin from, as from a whale, seal, etc.

the flensed carcass of a fur seal.

U. S. Census (1880).

Flesh (?), n. [OE. flesch, flesc, AS. fl&?;sc; akin to OFries. flsk, D. vleesch, OS. fl&?;sk, OHG. fleisc, G. fleisch, Icel. & Dan. flesk lard, bacon, pork, Sw. fl‰sk.] 1. The aggregate of the muscles, fat, and other tissues which cover the framework of bones in man and other animals; especially, the muscles.

In composition it is mainly albuminous, but contains in adition a large number of crystalline bodies, such as creatin, xanthin, hypoxanthin, carnin, etc. It is also rich in phosphate of potash.

2. Animal food, in distinction from vegetable; meat; especially, the body of beasts and birds used as food, as distinguished from fish.

With roasted flesh, or milk, and wastel bread.

Chaucer.

3. The human body, as distinguished from the soul; the corporeal person.

As if this flesh, which walls about our life, Were brass impregnable.

Shak.

4. The human eace; mankind; humanity.

All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Gen. vi. 12.

5. Human nature: (a) In a good sense, tenderness of feeling; gentleness.

There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart.

Cowper.

(b) In a bad sense, tendency to transient or physical pleasure; desire for sensual gratification; carnality. (c) (Theol.) The character under the influence of animal propensities or selfish passions; the soul unmoved by spiritual influences.

6. Kindred; stock; race.

He is our brother and our flesh.

Gen. xxxvii. 27.

7. The soft, pulpy substance of fruit; also, that part of a root, fruit, and the like, which is fit to be eaten.

Flesh is often used adjectively or self-explaining compounds; as, flesh broth or flesh-broth; flesh brush or fleshbrush; flesh tint or flesh-tint; flesh wound.

After the flesh, after the manner of man; in a gross or earthly manner. "Ye judge after the flesh." John viii. 15. -- An arm of flesh, human strength or aid. -- Flesh and blood. See under Blood. -- Flesh broth, broth made by boiling flesh in water. -- Flesh fly (Zoˆl.), one of several species of flies whose larvÊ or maggots feed upon flesh, as the bluebottle fly; -- called also meat fly, carrion fly, and blowfly. See Blowly. -- Flesh meat, animal food. Swift. -- Flesh side, the side of a skin or hide which was next to the flesh; -- opposed to grain side. -- Flesh tint (Painting), a color used in painting to imitate the hue of the living body. -- Flesh worm (Zoˆl.), any insect larva of a flesh fly. See Flesh fly (above). -- Proud flesh. See under Proud. -- To be one flesh, to be closely united as in marriage; to become as one person. Gen. ii. 24.

Flesh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleshed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fleshing.] 1. To feed with flesh, as an incitement to further exertion; to initiate; -- from the practice of training hawks and dogs by feeding them with the first game they take, or other flesh. Hence, to use upon flesh (as a murderous weapon) so as to draw blood, especially for the first time.

Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword.

Shak.

The wild dog Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent.

Shak.

2. To glut; to satiate; hence, to harden, to accustom. "Fleshed in triumphs." Glanvill.

Old soldiers Fleshed in the spoils of Germany and France.

Beau. & Fl.

3. (Leather Manufacture) To remove flesh, membrance, etc., from, as from hides.

<! p. 570 !>

Fleshed (?), a. 1. Corpulent; fat; having flesh.

2. Glutted; satiated; initiated.

Fleshed with slaughter.

Dryden.

Flesh"er (?), n. 1. A butcher.

A flesher on a block had laid his whittle down.

Macaulay.

2. A two-handled, convex, blunt-edged knife, for scraping hides; a fleshing knife.

Flesh"hood (?), n. The state or condition of having a form of flesh; incarnation. [R.]

Thou, who hast thyself Endured this fleshhood.

Mrs. Browning.

Flesh"i*ness (?), n. The state of being fleshy; plumpness; corpulence; grossness. Milton.

Flesh"ings (?), n. pl. Flesh- colored tights, worn by actors and dancers. D. Jerrold.

Flesh"less, a. Destitute of flesh; lean. Carlyle.

Flesh"li*ness (?), n. The state of being fleshly; carnal passions and appetites. Spenser.

Flesh"ling (?), n. A person devoted to fleshly things. [Obs.] Spenser.

Flesh"ly (-l), a. [AS. flsclc.] 1. Of or pertaining to the flesh; corporeal. "Fleshly bondage." Denham.

2. Animal; not vegetable. Dryden.

3. Human; not celestial; not spiritual or divine. "Fleshly wisdom." 2 Cor. i. 12.

Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm And fragile arms.

Milton.

4. Carnal; wordly; lascivious.

Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.

1 Pet. ii. 11.

Flesh"ly, adv. In a fleshly manner; carnally; lasciviously. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flesh"ment (?), n. The act of fleshing, or the excitement attending a successful beginning. [R.] Shak.

Flesh"mon`ger (?), n. [AS. flsc mangere.] One who deals in flesh; hence, a pimp; a procurer; a pander. [R.] Shak.

Flesh"pot` (?), n. A pot or vessel in which flesh is cooked; hence (pl.), plenty; high living.

In the land of Egypt . . . we sat by the fleshpots, and . . . did eat bread to the full.

Ex. xvi. 3.

Flesh"quake` (?), n. A quaking or trembling of the flesh; a quiver. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Flesh"y (?), a. [Compar. Fleshier (?); superl. Fleshiest (?).] 1. Full of, or composed of, flesh; plump; corpulent; fat; gross.

The sole of his foot is fleshy.

Ray.

2. Human. [Obs.] "Fleshy tabernacle." Milton.

3. (Bot.) Composed of firm pulp; succulent; as, the houseleek, cactus, and agave are fleshy plants.

Flet (?), p. p. of Fleet. Skimmed. [Obs.]

Fletch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fletched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fletching.] [F. flËche arrow.] To feather, as an arrow. Bp. Warburton.

[Congress] fletched their complaint, by adding: "America loved his brother."

Bancroft.

Fletch"er (?), n. [OF. flechier.] One who fletches or feathers arrows; a manufacturer of bows and arrows. [Obs.] Mortimer.

Flete (?), v. i. [See Fleet, v. i.] To float; to swim. [Obs.] "Whether I sink or flete." Chaucer.

Fle*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L. fletifer; fletus a weeping (from flere, fletum, to weep) + ferre to bear.] Producing tears. [Obs.] Blount.

||Fleur`-de-lis` (?), n.; pl. Fleurs-de-lis (#). [F., flower of the ||lily. Cf. Flower-de-luce, Lily.] 1. (Bot.) The iris. See ||Flower-de-luce.

2. A conventional flower suggested by the iris, and having a form which fits it for the terminal decoration of a scepter, the ornaments of a crown, etc. It is also a heraldic bearing, and is identified with the royal arms and adornments of France.

Fleur"y (?), a. [F. fleuri covered with flowers, p. p. of fleurir. See Flourish.] (Her.) Finished at the ends with fleurs-de-lis; -- said esp. of a cross so decorated.

Flew (?), imp. of Fly.

Flewed (?), a. Having large flews. Shak.

Flews (?), n. pl. The pendulous or overhanging lateral parts of the upper lip of dogs, especially prominent in hounds; -- called also chaps. See Illust. of Bloodhound.

Flex (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flexing.] [L. flexus, p. p. of flectere to bend, perh. flectere and akin to falx sickle, E. falchion. Cf. Flinch.] To bend; as, to flex the arm.

Flex, n. Flax. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flex*an"i*mous (?), a. [L. flexanimus; flectere, flexum, to bend + animus mind.] Having power to change the mind. [Obs.] Howell.

Flex`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. flexibilitas: cf. F. flexibilite.] The state or quality of being flexible; flexibleness; pliancy; pliability; as, the flexibility of strips of hemlock, hickory, whalebone or metal, or of rays of light. Sir I. Newton.

All the flexibility of a veteran courtier.

Macaulay.

Flex"i*ble (?), a. [L. flexibilis: cf. F. flexible.] 1. Capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not stiff or brittle.

When the splitting wind Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks.

Shak.

2. Willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy and compliant; wavering.

Phocion was a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will of the people.

Bacon.

Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible.

Shak.

3. Capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible language.

This was a principle more flexible to their purpose.

Rogers.

Syn. -- Pliant; pliable; supple; tractable; manageable; ductile; obsequious; inconstant; wavering.

-- Flex"i*ble*ness, n. -- Flex"i*bly, adv.

Flex`i*cos"tate (?), a. [L. flexus bent + E. costate.] (Anat.) Having bent or curved ribs.

Flex"ile (?), a. [L. flexilis.] Flexible; pliant; pliable; easily bent; plastic; tractable. Wordsworth.

Flex"ion (?), n. [L. flexio: cf. F. flexion.] 1. The act of flexing or bending; a turning.

2. A bending; a part bent; a fold. Bacon.

3. (Gram.) Syntactical change of form of words, as by declension or conjugation; inflection.

Express the syntactical relations by flexion.

Sir W. Hamilton.

4. (Physiol.) The bending of a limb or joint; that motion of a joint which gives the distal member a continually decreasing angle with the axis of the proximal part; -- distinguished from extension.

Flex"or (?), n. [NL.] (Anat.) A muscle which bends or flexes any part; as, the flexors of the arm or the hand; -- opposed to extensor.

Flex"u*ose` (?; 135), a. Flexuous.

Flex"u*ous (?), a. [L. flexuosus, fr. flexus a bending, turning.] 1. Having turns, windings, or flexures.

2. (Bot.) Having alternate curvatures in opposite directions; bent in a zigzag manner.

3. Wavering; not steady; flickering. Bacon.

Flex"u*ral (?), a. [From Flexure.] Of, pertaining to, or resulting from, flexure; of the nature of, or characterized by, flexure; as, flexural elasticity.

Flex"ure (?; 135), n. [L. flexura.] 1. The act of flexing or bending; a turning or curving; flexion; hence, obsequious bowing or bending.

Will it give place to flexure and low bending?

Shak.

2. A turn; a bend; a fold; a curve.

Varying with the flexures of the valley through which it meandered.

British Quart. Rev.

3. (Zoˆl.) The last joint, or bend, of the wing of a bird.

4. (Astron.) The small distortion of an astronomical instrument caused by the weight of its parts; the amount to be added or substracted from the observed readings of the instrument to correct them for this distortion.

The flexure of a curve (Math.), the bending of a curve towards or from a straight line.

Flib"ber*gib (?), n. A sycophant. [Obs. & Humorous.] "Flatterers and flibbergibs." Latimer.

Flib"ber*ti*gib`bet (?), n. An imp. Shak.

||Fli`bus`tier" (?), n. [F.] A buccaneer; an American pirate. See ||Filibuster. [Obs.]

Flick (flk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flicked (flkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Flicking.] [Cf. Flicker.] To whip lightly or with a quick jerk; to flap; as, to flick a horse; to flick the dirt from boots. Thackeray.

Flick, n. A flitch; as, a flick of bacon.

Flick"er (-r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flickered (-rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Flickering.] [OE. flikeren, flekeren, to flutter, AS. flicerian, flicorian, cf. D. flikkeren to sparkle. &radic;84. Cf. Flacker.] 1. To flutter; to flap the wings without flying.

And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing.

Dryden.

2. To waver unsteadily, like a flame in a current of air, or when about to expire; as, the flickering light.

The shadows flicker to fro.

Tennyson.

Flick"er, n. 1. The act of wavering or of fluttering; fluctuation; sudden and brief increase of brightness; as, the last flicker of the dying flame.

2. (Zoˆl.) The golden-winged woodpecker (Colaptes auratus); -- so called from its spring note. Called also yellow-hammer, high-holder, pigeon woodpecker, and yucca.

The cackle of the flicker among the oaks.

Thoureau.

Flick"ering*ly, adv. In a flickering manner.

Flick"er*mouse` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) See Flittermouse.

Flidge (?), a. Fledged; fledge. [Obs.] Holland.

Flidge, v. i. To become fledged; to fledge. [Obs.]

Every day build their nests, every hour flidge.

R. Greene.

Fli"er (fl"r), n. [Form Fly, v.; cf. Flyer] 1. One who flies or flees; a runaway; a fugitive. Shak.

2. (Mach.) A fly. See Fly, n., 9, and 13 (b).

3. (Spinning) See Flyer, n., 5.

4. (Arch.) See Flyer, n., 4.

Flight (flt), n. [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fleÛgan to fly; cf. flyht a fleeing, fr. fleÛn to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt, G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan. flugt. &radic;84. See Flee, Fly.] 1. The act of flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings; volitation; mode or style of flying.

Like the night owl's lazy flight.

Shak.

2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape danger or expected evil; hasty departure.

Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.

Matt. xxiv. 20.

Fain by flight to save themselves.

Shak.

3. Lofty elevation and excursion; a mounting; a soaring; as, a flight of imagination, ambition, folly.

Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy.

Byron.

His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor.

Macaulay.

4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together; especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of arrows. Swift.

Swift flights of angels ministrant.

Milton.

Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts.

Shak.

5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another. Parker.

6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with it. See Shaft. [Obs.]

Challenged Cupid at the flight.

Shak.

Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have.

Beau. & Fl.

7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.

Flight feathers (Zoˆl.), the wing feathers of a bird, including the quills, coverts, and bastard wing. See Bird. -- To put to flight, To turn to flight, to compel to run away; to force to flee; to rout.

Syn. -- Pair; set. See Pair.

Flight"ed (?), a. 1. Taking flight; flying; -- used in composition. "Drowsy- flighted steeds." Milton.

2. (Her.) Feathered; -- said of arrows.

Flight"er (?), n. (Brewing) A horizontal vane revolving over the surface of wort in a cooler, to produce a circular current in the liquor. Knight.

Flight"i*ly (?), adv. In a flighty manner.

Flight"i*ness, n. The state or quality of being flighty.

The flightness of her temper.

Hawthorne.

Syn. -- Levity; giddiness; volatility; lightness; wildness; eccentricity. See Levity.

Flight"-shot` (?), n. The distance to which an arrow or flight may be shot; bowshot, -- about the fifth of a mile. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Within a flight-shot it inthe valley.

Evelyn.

Half a flight-shot from the king's oak.

Sir W. Scott.

Flight"y (?), a. 1. Fleeting; swift; transient.

The flighty purpose never is o'ertook, Unless the deed go with it.

Shak.

2. Indulging in flights, or wild and unrestrained sallies, of imagination, humor, caprice, etc.; given to disordered fancies and extravagant conduct; volatile; giddy; eccentric; slighty delirious.

Proofs of my flighty and paradoxical turn of mind.

Coleridge.

A harsh disciplinarian and a flighty enthusiast.

J. S. Harford.

Flim"flam (?), n. [Cf. Flam.] A freak; a trick; a lie. Beau. & Fl.

Flim"si*ly (?), adv. In a flimsy manner.

Flim"si*ness, n. The state or quality of being flimsy.

Flim"sy (?), a. [Compar. Flimsier (?); superl. Flimsiest.] [Cf. W. llymsi naked, bare, empty, sluggish, spiritless. Cf. Limsy.] Weak; feeble; limp; slight; vain; without strength or solidity; of loose and unsubstantial structure; without reason or plausibility; as, a flimsy argument, excuse, objection.

Proud of a vast extent of flimsy lines.

Pope.

All the flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain.

Sheridan.

Syn. -- Weak; feeble; superficial; shallow; vain.

Flim"sy, n. 1. Thin or transfer paper.

2. A bank note. [Slang, Eng.]

Flinch (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flinched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flinching.] [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. flÈchir, fr. L. flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by E. blench. Cf. Flex.] 1. To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or danger; to fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched from the combat.

A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear very rough usage without flinching or complaining.

Locke.

2. (Croquet) To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a tight croquet.

Flinch, n. The act of flinching.

Flinch"er (?), n. One who flinches or fails.

Flinch"ing*ly, adv. In a flinching manner.

Flin"der*mouse` (?), n.[OE. vlindre moth (cf. D. vlinder butterfly) + E. mouse. Cf. Flittermouse, Flinders.] (Zoˆl.) A bat; a flittermouse.

Flin"ders (?), n. pl. [Scot. flenders, flendris; perh. akin to E. flutter; cf. D. flenters rags, broken pieces.] Small pieces or splinters; fragments.

The tough ash spear, so stout and true, Into a thousand flinders flew.

Sir W. Scott.

Fling (flng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung (flng); p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging.] [OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. fl‰nga to romp, Dan. flenge to slash.] 1. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into the pond.

'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, Of kings makes peasants, and of peasants kings.

Dryden.

He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung.

Dryden.

I know thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of dishonor on it, It straight takes fire.

Addison.

2. To shed forth; to emit; to scatter.

The sun begins to fling His flaring beams.

Milton.

Every beam new transient colors flings.

Pope.

3. To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation.

His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him.

Walpole.

<! p. 571 !>

To fling about, to throw on all sides; to scatter. -- To fling away, to reject; to discard.

Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition.

Shak.

--To fling down. (a) To throw to the ground; esp., to throw in defiance, as formerly knights cast a glove into the arena as a challenge.

This question so flung down before the guests, . . . Was handed over by consent of all To me who had not spoken.

Tennyson.

(b) To overturn; to demolish; to ruin. -- To fling in, to throw in; not to charge in an account; as, in settling accounts, one party flings in a small sum, or a few days' work. -- To fling off, to baffle in the chase; to defeat of prey; also, to get rid of. Addison. -- To fling open, to throw open; to open suddenly or with violence; as, to fling open a door. -- To fling out, to utter; to speak in an abrupt or harsh manner; as, to fling out hard words against another. -- To fling up, to relinquish; to abandon; as, to fling up a design.

Fling (?), v. i. 1. To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and fling.

2. To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the scold began to flout and fling.

3. To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or spring with violence or haste.

And crop-full, out of doors he flings.

Milton.

I flung closer to his breast, As sword that, after battle, flings to sheath.

Mrs. Browning.

To fling out, to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and insinuations.

Fling, n. 1. A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the fling of a horse.

2. A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn; a gibe; a sarcasm.

I, who love to have a fling, Both at senate house and king.

Swift.

3. A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling.

4. A trifing matter; an object of contempt. [Obs.]

England were but a fling Save for the crooked stick and the gray goose wing.

Old Proverb.

To have one's fling, to enjoy one's self to the full; to have a season of dissipation. J. H. Newman. "When I was as young as you, I had my fling. I led a life of pleasure." D. Jerrold.

Fling"dust` (?), n. One who kicks up the dust; a streetwalker; a low manner. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Fling"er (?), n. One who flings; one who jeers.

Flint (?), n. [AS. flint, akin to Sw. flinta, Dan. flint; cf. OHG. flins flint, G. flinte gun (cf. E. flintlock), perh. akin to Gr. &?; brick. Cf. Plinth.] 1. (Min.) A massive, somewhat impure variety of quartz, in color usually of a gray to brown or nearly black, breaking with a conchoidal fracture and sharp edge. It is very hard, and strikes fire with steel.

2. A piece of flint for striking fire; -- formerly much used, esp. in the hammers of gun locks.

3. Anything extremely hard, unimpressible, and unyielding, like flint. "A heart of flint." Spenser.

Flint age. (Geol.) Same as Stone age, under Stone. -- Flint brick, a fire made principially of powdered silex. -- Flint glass. See in the Vocabulary. -- Flint implements (ArchÊol.), tools, etc., employed by men before the use of metals, such as axes, arrows, spears, knives, wedges, etc., which were commonly made of flint, but also of granite, jade, jasper, and other hard stones. -- Flint mill. (a) (Pottery) A mill in which flints are ground. (b) (Mining) An obsolete appliance for lighting the miner at his work, in which flints on a revolving wheel were made to produce a shower of sparks, which gave light, but did not inflame the fire damp. Knight. -- Flint stone, a hard, siliceous stone; a flint. -- Flint wall, a kind of wall, common in England, on the face of which are exposed the black surfaces of broken flints set in the mortar, with quions of masonry. -- Liquor of flints, a solution of silica, or flints, in potash. -- To skin a flint, to be capable of, or guilty of, any expedient or any meanness for making money. [Colloq.]

Flint" glass` (?). (Chem.) A soft, heavy, brilliant glass, consisting essentially of a silicate of lead and potassium. It is used for tableware, and for optical instruments, as prisms, its density giving a high degree of dispersive power; -- so called, because formerly the silica was obtained from pulverized flints. Called also crystal glass. Cf. Glass.

The concave or diverging half on an achromatic lens is usually made of flint glass.

Flint"-heart`ed (?), a. Hard- hearted. Shak.

Flint"i*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being flinty; hardness; cruelty. Beau. & Fl.

Flint"lock` (?), n. 1. A lock for a gun or pistol, having a flint fixed in the hammer, which on striking the steel ignites the priming.

2. A hand firearm fitted with a flintlock; esp., the old-fashioned musket of European and other armies.

Flint"ware` (?), n. A superior kind of earthenware into whose composition flint enters largely. Knight.

Flint"wood` (?), n. (Bot.) An Australian name for the very hard wood of the Eucalyptus piluralis.

Flint"y (?), a. [Compar. Flintier (?); superl. Flintiest.] Consisting of, composed of, abounding in, or resembling, flint; as, a flinty rock; flinty ground; a flinty heart.

Flinty rock, or Flinty state, a siliceous slate; -- basanite is here included. See Basanite.

Flip (?), n. [Cf. Prov. E. flip nimble, flippant, also, a slight blow. Cf. Flippant.] A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot iron.

Flip dog, an iron used, when heated, to warm flip.

Flip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flipped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flipping.] To toss or fillip; as, to flip up a cent.

As when your little ones Do 'twixt their fingers flip their cherry stones.

W. Browne.

Flipe (?), v. t. To turn inside out, or with the leg part back over the foot, as a stocking in pulling off or for putting on. [Scot.]

Flip"-flap` (?), n. [See Flip, and Flap.] The repeated stroke of something long and loose. Johnson.

Flip"-flap`, adv. With repeated strokes and noise, as of something long and loose. Ash.

Flip"pan*cy (?), n.[See Flippant.] The state or quality of being flippant.

This flippancy of language.

Bp. Hurd.

Flip"pant (?), a. [Prov. E. flip to move nimbly; cf. W. llipa soft, limber, pliant, or Icel. fleipa to babble, prattle. Cf. Flip, Fillip, Flap, Flipper.] 1. Of smooth, fluent, and rapid speech; speaking with ease and rapidity; having a voluble tongue; talkative.

It becometh good men, in such cases, to be flippant and free in their speech.

Barrow.

2. Speaking fluently and confidently, without knowledge or consideration; empty; trifling; inconsiderate; pert; petulant. "Flippant epilogues." Thomson.

To put flippant scorn to the blush.

I. Taylor.

A sort of flippant, vain discourse.

Burke.

Flip"pant, n. A flippant person. [R.] Tennyson.

Flip"pant*ly, adv. In a flippant manner.

Flip"pant*ness, n. State or quality of being flippant.

Flip"per (?), n. [Cf. Flip, Flippant.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A broad flat limb used for swimming, as those of seals, sea turtles, whales, etc.

2. (Naut.) The hand. [Slang]

Flirt (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flirting.] [Cf. AS. fleard trifle, folly, fleardian to trifle.] 1. To throw with a jerk or quick effort; to fling suddenly; as, they flirt water in each other's faces; he flirted a glove, or a handkerchief.

2. To toss or throw about; to move playfully to and fro; as, to flirt a fan.

3. To jeer at; to treat with contempt; to mock. [Obs.]

I am ashamed; I am scorned; I am flirted.

Beau. & Fl.

Flirt, v. i. 1. To run and dart about; to act with giddiness, or from a desire to attract notice; especially, to play the coquette; to play at courtship; to coquet; as, they flirt with the young men.

2. To utter contemptuous language, with an air of disdain; to jeer or gibe. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Flirt, n. 1. A sudden jerk; a quick throw or cast; a darting motion; hence, a jeer.

Several little flirts and vibrations.

Addison.

With many a flirt and flutter.

E. A. Poe.

2. [Cf. LG. flirtje, G. flirtchen. See Flirt, v. t.] One who flirts; esp., a woman who acts with giddiness, or plays at courtship; a coquette; a pert girl.

Several young flirts about town had a design to cast us out of the fashionable world.

Addison.

Flirt, a. Pert; wanton. [Obs.]

Flir*ta"tion (?), n. 1. Playing at courtship; coquetry.

The flirtations and jealousies of our ball rooms.

Macaulay.

Flirt"-gill` (?), n. A woman of light behavior; a gill-flirt. [Obs.] Shak.

You heard him take me up like a flirt- gill.

Beau. & Fl.

Flirt"i*gig (?), n. A wanton, pert girl. [Obs.]

Flirt"ing*ly, adv. In a flirting manner.

Flisk (?), v. i. To frisk; to skip; to caper. [Obs. Scot.] "The flisking flies." Gosson.

Flisk, n. A caper; a spring; a whim. [Scot.]

Flit (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flitted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flitting (?).] [OE. flitten, flutten, to carry away; cf. Icel. flytja, Sw. flytta, Dan. flytte. &radic;84. Cf. Fleet, v. i.] 1. To move with celerity through the air; to fly away with a rapid motion; to dart along; to fleet; as, a bird flits away; a cloud flits along.

A shadow flits before me.

Tennyson.

2. To flutter; to rove on the wing. Dryden.

3. To pass rapidly, as a light substance, from one place to another; to remove; to migrate.

It became a received opinion, that the souls of men, departing this life, did flit out of one body into some other.

Hooker.

4. To remove from one place or habitation to another. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.] Wright. Jamieson.

5. To be unstable; to be easily or often moved.

And the free soul to flitting air resigned.

Dryden.

Flit, a. Nimble; quick; swift. [Obs.] See Fleet.

Flitch (?), n.; pl. Flitches (#). [OE. flicche, flikke, AS. flicce, akin to Icel. flikki; cf. Icel. flk flap, tatter; perh. akin to E. fleck. Cf. Flick, n.] 1. The side of a hog salted and cured; a side of bacon. Swift.

2. One of several planks, smaller timbers, or iron plates, which are secured together, side by side, to make a large girder or built beam.

3. The outside piece of a sawed log; a slab. [Eng.]

Flite (?), v. i. [AS. fltan to strive, contend, quarrel; akin to G. fleiss industry.] To scold; to quarrel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.

Flit"ter (?), v. i. To flutter. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flit"ter, v. t. To flutter; to move quickly; as, to flitter the cards. [R.] Lowell.

Flit"ter, n. [Cf. G. flitter spangle, tinsel, flittern to make a tremulous motion, to glitter. Cf. Flitter, v. i.] A rag; a tatter; a small piece or fragment.

Flit"ter*mouse` (?), n. [Flitter, v.i. + mouse; cf. G. fledermaus, OHG. fledarms. Cf. Flickermouse, Flindermouse.] (Zoˆl.) A bat; -- called also flickermouse, flindermouse, and flintymouse.

Flit"tern (?), a. A term applied to the bark obtained from young oak trees. McElrath.

Flit"ti*ness (?), n. [From Flitty.] Unsteadiness; levity; lightness. [Obs.] Bp. Hopkins.

Flit"ting (?), n. 1. A flying with lightness and celerity; a fluttering.

2. A removal from one habitation to another. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

A neighbor had lent his cart for the flitting, and it was now standing loaded at the door, ready to move away.

Jeffrey.

Flit"ting*ly, adv. In a flitting manner.

Flit"ty (?), a. [From Flit.] Unstable; fluttering. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Flix (?), n. [Cf. Flax.] Down; fur. [Obs. or Eng.] J. Dyer.

Flix, n. The flux; dysentery. [Obs.] Udall.

Flix weed (Bot.), the Sisymbrium Sophia, a kind of hedge mustard, formerly used as a remedy for dysentery.

Flo (fl), n.; pl. Flon (fln). [AS. fl, fln.] An arrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Float (flt), n.[OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS. flota ship, fr. fleÛtan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet, G. floss raft, Icel. floti float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta. &radic; 84. See Fleet, v. i., and cf. Flotilla, Flotsam, Plover.] 1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the surface, or mark the place of, something. Specifically: (a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft. (b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats upon the water in a cistern or boiler. (c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and indicate the bite of a fish. (d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver.

This reform bill . . . had been used as a float by the conservative ministry.

J. P. Peters.

2. A float board. See Float board (below).

3. (Tempering) A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die. Knight.

4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] Bacon.

5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep. [Obs.] Mortimer.

6. (Plastering) The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is leveled and smoothed.

7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner. Knight.

8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for rasping off pegs inside a shoe.

9. A coal cart. [Eng.] Simmonds.

10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n.

Float board, one of the boards fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a steamer's paddle wheel; -- a vane. -- Float case (Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship. -- Float copper or gold (Mining), fine particles of metallic copper or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost. -- Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop. Raymond. -- Float stone (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface. -- Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1 (b).

Float, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floated; p. pr. & vb. n. Floating.] [OE. flotien, flotten, AS. flotian to float, swim, fr. fleÛtan. See Float, n.] 1. To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up.

The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground.

Milton.

Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated.

Dryden.

2. To move quietly or gently on the water, as a raft; to drift along; to move or glide without effort or impulse on the surface of a fluid, or through the air.

They stretch their broad plumes and float upon the wind.

Pope.

There seems a floating whisper on the hills.

Byron.

Float, v. t. 1. To cause to float; to cause to rest or move on the surface of a fluid; as, the tide floated the ship into the harbor.

Had floated that bell on the Inchcape rock.

Southey.

2. To flood; to overflow; to cover with water.

Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands.

Dryden.

3. (Plastering) To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the plastering is kept wet.

4. To support and sustain the credit of, as a commercial scheme or a joint-stock company, so as to enable it to go into, or continue in, operation.

Float"a*ble (?), a. That may be floated.

Float"age (?; 48), n. Same as Flotage.

Float*a"tion (?), n. See Flotation.

Float"er (?), n. 1. One who floats or swims.

2. A float for indicating the height of a liquid surface.

Float"ing, a. 1. Buoyed upon or in a fluid; a, the floating timbers of a wreck; floating motes in the air.

2. Free or lose from the usual attachment; as, the floating ribs in man and some other animals.

3. Not funded; not fixed, invested, or determined; as, floating capital; a floating debt.

Trade was at an end. Floating capital had been withdrawn in great masses from the island.

Macaulay.

Floating anchor (Naut.), a drag or sea anchor; drag sail. -- Floating battery (Mil.), a battery erected on rafts or the hulls of ships, chiefly for the defense of a coast or the bombardment of a place. -- Floating bridge. (a) A bridge consisting of rafts or timber, with a floor of plank, supported wholly by the water; a bateau bridge. See Bateau. (b) (Mil.) A kind of double bridge, the upper one projecting beyond the lower one, and capable of being moved forward by pulleys; -- used for carrying troops over narrow moats in attacking the outworks of a fort. (c) A kind of ferryboat which is guided and impelled by means of chains which are anchored on each side of a stream, and pass over wheels on the vessel, the wheels being driven by stream power. (d) The landing platform of a ferry dock. -- Floating cartilage (Med.), a cartilage which moves freely in the cavity of a joint, and often interferes with the functions of the latter. -- Floating dam. (a) An anchored dam. (b) A caisson used as a gate for a dry dock. -- Floating derrick, a derrick on a float for river and harbor use, in raising vessels, moving stone for harbor improvements, etc. -- Floating dock. (Naut.) See under Dock. -- Floating harbor, a breakwater of cages or booms, anchored and fastened together, and used as a protection to ships riding at anchor to leeward. Knight. -- Floating heart (Bot.), a small aquatic plant (Limnanthemum lacunosum) whose heart-shaped leaves float on the water of American ponds. -- Floating island, a dish for dessert, consisting of custard with floating masses of whipped cream or white of eggs. -- Floating kidney. (Med.) See Wandering kidney, under Wandering. -- Floating light, a light shown at the masthead of a vessel moored over sunken rocks, shoals, etc., to warn mariners of danger; a light-ship; also, a light erected on a buoy or floating stage. -- Floating liver. (Med.) See Wandering liver, under Wandering. -- Floating pier, a landing stage or pier which rises and falls with the tide. -- Floating ribs (Anat.), the lower or posterior ribs which are not connected with the others in front; in man they are the last two pairs. -- Floating screed (Plastering), a strip of plastering first laid on, to serve as a guide for the thickness of the coat. -- Floating threads (Weaving), threads which span several other threads without being interwoven with them, in a woven fabric.

<! p. 572 !>

Float"ing (?), n. 1. (Weaving) Floating threads. See Floating threads, above.

2. The second coat of three-coat plastering. Knight.

Float"ing*ly, adv. In a floating manner.

Float"y (?), a. Swimming on the surface; buoyant; light. Sir W. Raleigh.

Flo"bert (?), n. (Gun.) A small cartridge designed for target shooting; -- sometimes called ball cap.

Flobert rifle, a rifle adapted to the use of floberts.

Floc`cil*la"tion (?), n. [L. floccus a flock of wool. Cf. Flock of wool.] (Med.) A delirious picking of bedclothes by a sick person, as if to pick off flocks of wool; carphology; -- an alarming symptom in acute diseases. Dunglison.

Floc*cose" (?), a. [L. floccosus. Cf. 2d Flock, n.] 1. Spotted with small tufts like wool. Wright.

2. (Bot.) Having tufts of soft hairs, which are often deciduous.

Floc"cu*lar (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the flocculus.

Floc"cu*late (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flocculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Flocculating.] (Geol.) To aggregate into small lumps.

Floc"cu*late (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Furnished with tufts of curly hairs, as some insects.

Floc`cu*la"tion (?), n. (Geol.) The process by which small particles of fine soils and sediments aggregate into larger lumps.

Floc"cu*lence (?), n. The state of being flocculent.

Floc"cu*lent (?), a. [See Flock of wool.] 1. Clothed with small flocks or flakes; woolly. Gray.

2. (Zoˆl.) Applied to the down of newly hatched or unfledged birds.

||Floc"cu*lus (?), n.; pl. Flocculi (#). [NL., dim. of L. floccus a ||lock or flock of wool.] (Anat.) A small lobe in the under surface of ||the cerebellum, near the middle peduncle; the subpeduncular lobe.

||Floc"cus (?), n.; pl. Flocci (#). [L., a flock of wool.] 1. (Zoˆl.) ||(a) The tuft of hair terminating the tail of mammals. (b) A tuft of ||feathers on the head of young birds.

2. (Bot.) A woolly filament sometimes occuring with the sporules of certain fungi.

Flock (?), n. [AS. flocc flock, company; akin to Icel. flokkr crowd, Sw. flock, Dan. flok; prob. orig. used of flows, and akin to E. fly. See Fly.] 1. A company or collection of living creatures; -- especially applied to sheep and birds, rarely to persons or (except in the plural) to cattle and other large animals; as, a flock of ravenous fowl. Milton.

The heathen . . . came to Nicanor by flocks.

2 Macc. xiv. 14.

2. A Christian church or congregation; considered in their relation to the pastor, or minister in charge.

As half amazed, half frighted all his flock.

Tennyson.

Flock, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flocked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flocking.] To gather in companies or crowds.

Friends daily flock.

Dryden.

Flocking fowl (Zoˆl.), the greater scaup duck.

Flock, v. t. To flock to; to crowd. [Obs.]

Good fellows, trooping, flocked me so.

Taylor (1609).

Flock, n. [OE. flokke; cf. D. vlok, G. flocke, OHG. floccho, Icel. flki, perh. akin to E. flicker, flacker, or cf. L. floccus, F. floc.] 1. A lock of wool or hair.

I prythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point [pommel].

Shak.

2. Woolen or cotton refuse (sing. or pl.), old rags, etc., reduced to a degree of fineness by machinery, and used for stuffing unpholstered furniture.

3. Very fine, sifted, woolen refuse, especially that from shearing the nap of cloths, used as a coating for wall paper to give it a velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fiber used for a similar purpose.

Flock bed, a bed filled with flocks or locks of coarse wool, or pieces of cloth cut up fine. "Once a flock bed, but repaired with straw." Pope. -- Flock paper, paper coated with flock fixed with glue or size.

Flock, v. t. To coat with flock, as wall paper; to roughen the surface of (as glass) so as to give an appearance of being covered with fine flock.

Flock"ling, n. A lamb. [Obs.] Brome (1659).

Flock"ly, adv. In flocks; in crowds. [Obs.]

Flock"mel (?), adv. [AS. flocm&?;lum. See Meal part.] In a flock; in a body. [Obs.]

That flockmel on a day they to him went.

Chaucer.

Flock"y, a. Abounding with flocks; floccose.

Floe (fl), n. [Cf. Dan. flag af iis, iisflage, Sw. flaga, flake, isflaga, isflake. See Flag a flat stone.] A low, flat mass of floating ice.

Floe rat (Zoˆl.), a seal (Phoca fútida).

Flog (flg), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flogged (flgd); p. pr. & vb. n. Flogging (-gng).] [Cf. Scot. fleg blow, stroke, kick, AS. flocan to strike, or perh. fr. L. flagellare to whip. Cf. Flagellate.] To beat or strike with a rod or whip; to whip; to lash; to chastise with repeated blows.

Flog"ger (?), n. 1. One who flogs.

2. A kind of mallet for beating the bung stave of a cask to start the bung. Knight.

Flog"ging (?), a. & n. from Flog, v. t.

Flogging chisel (Mach.), a large cold chisel, used in chipping castings. -- Flogging hammer, a small sledge hammer used for striking a flogging chisel.

Flon (?), n. pl. See Flo. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flong (? or ?), obs. imp. & p. p. of Fling.

Flood (?), n. [OE. flod a flowing, stream, flood, AS. fld; akin to D. vloed, OS. fld, OHG. fluot, G. flut, Icel. fl, Sw. & Dan. flod, Goth. fldus; from the root of E. flow. &radic;80. See Flow, v. i.] 1. A great flow of water; a body of moving water; the flowing stream, as of a river; especially, a body of water, rising, swelling, and overflowing land not usually thus covered; a deluge; a freshet; an inundation.

A covenant never to destroy The earth again by flood.

Milton.

2. The flowing in of the tide; the semidiurnal swell or rise of water in the ocean; -- opposed to ebb; as, young flood; high flood.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

Shak.

3. A great flow or stream of any fluid substance; as, a flood of light; a flood of lava; hence, a great quantity widely diffused; an overflowing; a superabundance; as, a flood of bank notes; a flood of paper currency.

4. Menstrual disharge; menses. Harvey.

Flood anchor (Naut.) , the anchor by which a ship is held while the tide is rising. -- Flood fence, a fence so secured that it will not be swept away by a flood. -- Flood gate, a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing, a body of water; a tide gate. -- Flood mark, the mark or line to which the tide, or a flood, rises; high-water mark. -- Flood tide, the rising tide; -- opposed to ebb tide. -- The Flood, the deluge in the days of Noah.

Flood, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flooded; p. pr. & vb. n. Flooding.] 1. To overflow; to inundate; to deluge; as, the swollen river flooded the valley.

2. To cause or permit to be inundated; to fill or cover with water or other fluid; as, to flood arable land for irrigation; to fill to excess or to its full capacity; as, to flood a country with a depreciated currency.

Flood"age (?; 48), n. Inundation. [R.] Carlyle.

Flood"er (?), n. One who floods anything.

Flood"ing, n. The filling or covering with water or other fluid; overflow; inundation; the filling anything to excess.

2. (Med.) An abnormal or excessive discharge of blood from the uterus. Dunglison.

Flook (?), n. A fluke of an anchor.

{ Flook"an (?), Flu"kan (?) }, n. (Mining) See Flucan.

Flook"y (?), a. Fluky.

Floor (?), n. [AS. fl&?;r; akin to D. vloer, G. flur field, floor, entrance hall, Icel. fl&?;r floor of a cow stall, cf. Ir. & Gael. lar floor, ground, earth, W. llawr, perh. akin to L. planus level. Cf. Plain smooth.] 1. The bottom or lower part of any room; the part upon which we stand and upon which the movables in the room are supported.

2. The structure formed of beams, girders, etc., with proper covering, which divides a building horizontally into stories. Floor in sense 1 is, then, the upper surface of floor in sense 2.

3. The surface, or the platform, of a structure on which we walk or travel; as, the floor of a bridge.

4. A story of a building. See Story.

5. (Legislative Assemblies) (a) The part of the house assigned to the members. (b) The right to speak. [U.S.]

Instead of he has the floor, the English say, he is in possession of the house.

6. (Naut.) That part of the bottom of a vessel on each side of the keelson which is most nearly horizontal.

7. (Mining) (a) The rock underlying a stratified or nearly horizontal deposit. (b) A horizontal, flat ore body. Raymond.

Floor cloth, a heavy fabric, painted, varnished, or saturated, with waterproof material, for covering floors; oilcloth. -- Floor cramp, an implement for tightening the seams of floor boards before nailing them in position. -- Floor light, a frame with glass panes in a floor. -- Floor plan. (a) (Shipbuilding) A longitudinal section, showing a ship as divided at the water line. (b) (Arch.) A horizontal section, showing the thickness of the walls and partitions, arrangement of passages, apartments, and openings at the level of any floor of a house.

Floor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Floored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flooring.] 1. To cover with a floor; to furnish with a floor; as, to floor a house with pine boards.

2. To strike down or lay level with the floor; to knock down; hence, to silence by a conclusive answer or retort; as, to floor an opponent.

Floored or crushed by him.

Coleridge.

3. To finish or make an end of; as, to floor a college examination. [Colloq.]

I've floored my little-go work.

T. Hughes.

Floor"age (?; 48), n. Floor space.

Floor"er (?), n. Anything that floors or upsets a person, as a blow that knocks him down; a conclusive answer or retort; a task that exceeds one's abilities. [Colloq.]

Floor"heads`, n. pl. (Naut.) The upper extermities of the floor of a vessel.

Floor"ing, n. A platform; the bottom of a room; a floor; pavement. See Floor, n. Addison.

2. Material for the construction of a floor or floors.

Floor"less, a. Having no floor.

Floor"walk`er (?), n. One who walks about in a large retail store as an overseer and director. [U.S.]

Flop (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flopped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flopping.] [A variant of flap.] 1. To clap or strike, as a bird its wings, a fish its tail, etc.; to flap.

2. To turn suddenly, as something broad and flat. [Colloq.] Fielding.

Flop (?), v. i. 1. To strike about with something broad and flat, as a fish with its tail, or a bird with its wings; to rise and fall; as, the brim of a hat flops.

2. To fall, sink, or throw one's self, heavily, clumsily, and unexpectedly on the ground. [Colloq.] Dickens.

Flop, n. Act of flopping. [Colloq.] W. H. Russell.

Flop"py (?), n. Having a tendency to flop or flap; as, a floppy hat brim. G. Eliot.

Flop"wing` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The lapwing.

Flo"ra (?), n. [L., the goddess of flowers, from flos, floris, flower. See Flower.] 1. (Rom. Myth.) The goddess of flowers and spring.

2. (Bot.) The complete system of vegetable species growing without cultivation in a given locality, region, or period; a list or description of, or treatise on, such plants.

Flo"ral (?), a. [L. Floralis belonging to Flora: cf. F. floral. See Flora.] 1. Pertaining to Flora, or to flowers; made of flowers; as, floral games, wreaths.

2. (Bot.) Containing, or belonging to, a flower; as, a floral bud; a floral leaf; floral characters. Martyn.

Floral envelope (Bot.), the calyx and corolla, one or the other of which (mostly the corolla) may be wanting.

Flo"ral*ly, adv. In a floral manner.

Flo"ra*mour (?), n.[L. flos, floris, flower + amorlove.] The plant love-lies- bleeding. [Obs.] Prior.

Flo"ran (?), n. (Mining) Tin ore scarcely perceptible in the stone; tin ore stamped very fine. Pryce.

||Flo`rÈal" (?), n. [F. florÈal, fr. L. flos, floris, flower.] The ||eight month of the French republican calendar. It began April 20, and ||ended May 19. See VendÈmiare.

Flor"en (?), n. [LL. florenus. See Florin.] A cerain gold coin; a Florence. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Flor"ence (?), n. [From the city of Florence: cf. F. florence a kind of cloth, OF. florin.] 1. An ancient gold coin of the time of Edward III., of six shillings sterling value. Camden.

2. A kind of cloth. Johnson.

Florence flask. See under Flask. -- Florence oil, olive oil prepared in Florence.

Flor"en*tine (? or ?; 277), a. [L. Florentinus, fr. Florentia Florence: cf. F. florentin.] Belonging or relating to Florence, in Italy.

Florentine mosaic, a mosaic of hard or semiprecious stones, often so chosen and arranged that their natural colors represent leaves, flowers, and the like, inlaid in a background, usually of black or white marble.

Flor"en*tine, n. 1. A native or inhabitant of Florence, a city in Italy.

2. A kind of silk. Knight.

3. A kind of pudding or tart; a kind of meat pie. [Obs.]

Stealing custards, tarts, and florentines.

Beau. & Fl.

Flo*res"cence (?), n. [See Florescent.] (Bot.) A bursting into flower; a blossoming. Martyn.

Flo*res"cent (?), a. [L. florescens, p. pr. of florescere begin to blossom, incho. fr. florere to blossom, fr. flos, floris, flower. See Flower.] Expanding into flowers; blossoming.

Flo"ret (?), n. [OF. florete, F. fleurette, dim. of OF. lor, F. fleur. See Flower, and cf. Floweret, 3d Ferret.] 1. (Bot.) A little flower; one of the numerous little flowers which compose the head or anthodium in such flowers as the daisy, thistle, and dandelion. Gray.

2. [F. fleuret.] A foil; a blunt sword used in fencing. [Obs.] Cotgrave.

Flo"ri*age (?), n. [L. flos, floris, flower.] Bloom; blossom. [Obs.] J. Scott.

Flo"ri*a`ted (?), a. (Arch.) Having floral ornaments; as, floriated capitals of Gothic pillars.

Flo*ric"o*mous (?), a. [L. flos, floris, flower + coma hair.] Having the head adorned with flowers. [R.]

Flo`ri*cul"tur*al (? or ?; 135), a. Pertaining to the cultivation of flowering plants.

Flo"ri*cul`ture (? or ?; 135, 277), n. [L. flos, floris, flower + cultura culture.] The cultivation of flowering plants.

Flo`ri*cul"tur*ist (?), n. One skilled in the cultivation of flowers; a florist.

Flor"id (?), a. [L. floridus, fr. flos, floris, flower. See Flower.] 1. Covered with flowers; abounding in flowers; flowery. [R.]

Fruit from a pleasant and florid tree.

Jer. Taylor.

2. Bright in color; flushed with red; of a lively reddish color; as, a florid countenance.

3. Embellished with flowers of rhetoric; enriched to excess with figures; excessively ornate; as, a florid style; florid eloquence.

4. (Mus.) Flowery; ornamental; running in rapid melodic figures, divisions, or passages, as in variations; full of fioriture or little ornamentations.

Flor"i*da bean" (?). (Bot.) (a) The large, roundish, flattened seed of Mucuna urens. See under Bean. (b) One of the very large seeds of the Entada scandens.

||Flo*rid"e*Ê (?), n. pl. [NL., from L. flos, floris, a flower.] (Bot.) ||A subclass of algÊ including all the red or purplish seaweeds; the ||RhodospermeÊ of many authors; -- so called from the rosy or florid ||color of most of the species.

Flo*rid"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being florid; floridness. Floyer.

Flor"id*ly (?), adv. In a florid manner.

Flor"id*ness, n. The quality of being florid. Boyle.

Flo*rif"er*ous (?), a. [L. florifer; flos, floris, flower + ferre to bear; cf. F. florifËre.] Producing flowers. Blount.

<! p. 573 !>

Flo`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. flos, floris, flower + facere to make.] The act, process, or time of flowering; florescence.

Flo"ri*form (? or ?), a. [L. flos, floris, flower + -form: cf. F. floriforme.] Having the form of a flower; flower- shaped.

Flo"ri*ken (?), n. (Zoˆl.) An Indian bustard (Otis aurita). The Bengal floriken is Sypheotides Bengalensis. [Written also florikan, florikin, florican.]

Flo"ri*lege (?), n. [L. florilegus flower-culling; flos, floris, flower + legere to gather: cf. F. florilËge.] The act of gathering flowers.

Flo"ri*mer (?), n. (Bot.) See Floramour. [Obs.]

Flor"in (?), n. [F. florin, It. florino, orig., a Florentine coin, with a lily on it, fr. flore a flower, fr. L. flos. See Flower, and cf. Floren.] A silver coin of Florence, first struck in the twelfth century, and noted for its beauty. The name is given to different coins in different countries. The florin of England, first minted in 1849, is worth two shillings, or about 48 cents; the florin of the Netherlands, about 40 cents; of Austria, about 36 cents.

Flo"rist (? or ?; 277), n. [Cf. F. fleuriste, floriste, fr. F. fleur flower. See Flower.] 1. A cultivator of, or dealer in, flowers.

2. One who writes a flora, or an account of plants.

Flo*roon" (?), n. [F. fleuron. See Flower.] A border worked with flowers. Wright.

Flor"u*lent (?), a. [L. florulentus, fr. flos, floris, flower.] Flowery; blossoming. [Obs.] Blount.

Flos"cu*lar (?), a. (Bot.) Flosculous.

Flos`cu*la"ri*an (?), n. [From L. flosculus a floweret.] (Zoˆl.) One of a group of stalked rotifers, having ciliated tentacles around the lobed disk.

Flos*cule (?), n. [L. flosculus, dim. of flos flower: cf. F. floscule.] (Bot.) A floret.

Flos"cu*lous (?), a. (Bot.) Consisting of many gamopetalous florets.

||Flos`-fer"ri (?), n.[L., flower of iron.] (Min.) A variety of ||aragonite, occuring in delicate white coralloidal forms; -- common in ||beds of iron ore.

Flosh (?), n. [Cf. G. flˆsse a trough in which tin ore is washed.] (Metallurgy) A hopper-shaped box or &?;nortar in which ore is placed for the action of the stamps. Knight.

Floss (?; 195), n. [It. floscio flabby, soft, fr. L. fluxus flowing, loose, slack. See Flux, n.] 1. (Bot.) The slender styles of the pistillate flowers of maize; also called silk.

2. Untwisted filaments of silk, used in embroidering.

Floss silk, silk that has been twisted, and which retains its loose and downy character. It is much used in embroidery. Called also floxed silk. -- Floss thread, a kind of soft flaxen yarn or thread, used for embroidery; -- called also linen floss, and floss yarn. McElrath.

Floss, n. [Cf. G. floss a float.] 1. A small stream of water. [Eng.]

2. Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present.

Floss hole. (a) A hole at the back of a puddling furnace, at which the slags pass out. (b) The tap hole of a melting furnace. Knight.

Flos`si*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. Florification.] A flowering; florification. [R.] Craig.

Floss"y (?; 115), a. Pertaining to, made of, or resembling, floss; hence, light; downy.

||Flo"ta (?), n. [Sp. See Flotilla.] A fleet; especially, a &?;eet of ||Spanish ships which formerly sailed every year from Cadiz to Vera ||Cruz, in Mexico, to transport to Spain the production of Spanish ||America.

Flo"tage (?), n. [OF. flotage, F. flottage, fr. flotter to float.] 1. The state of floating.

2. That which floats on the sea or in rivers. [Written also floatage.]

Flo"tant (?), a. [OF. flotant, F. flottant, p. pr. of flotter to float.] (Her.) Represented as flying or streaming in the air; as, a banner flotant.

Flo*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. flottation a floating, flottaison water line, fr. flotter to float. See Flotilla.] 1. The act, process, or state of floating.

2. The science of floating bodies.

Center of flotation. (Shipbuilding) (a) The center of any given plane of flotation. (b) More commonly, the middle of the length of the load water line. Rankine. -- Plane, or Line, of flotation, the plane or line in which the horizontal surface of a fluid cuts a body floating in it. See Bearing, n., 9 (c). -- Surface of flotation (Shipbuilding), the imaginary surface which all the planes of flotation touch when a vessel rolls or pitches; the envelope of all such planes.

Flote (?), v. t. To fleet; to skim. [Obs.] Tusser.

Flote, n. [Cf. F. flot, L. fluctus; also cf. Float, n.] A wave. [Obs.] "The Mediterranean flote." Shak.

Flot"er*y (?), a. Wavy; flowing. [Obs.]

With flotery beard.

Chaucer.

Flo*til"la (?), n. [Sp. flotilla, dim. of flota fleet; akin to F. flotte, It. flotta, and F. flot wave, fr. L. fluctus, but prob. influenced by words akin to E. float. See Fluctuate, and cf. Float, n.] A little fleet, or a fleet of small vessels.

{ Flot"sam (?), Flot"son (?) }, n. [F. flotter to float. See FFlotilla, and cf. Jetsam.] (Law) Goods lost by shipwreck, and floating on the sea; -- in distinction from jetsam or jetson. Blackstone.

Flot"ten (?), p. p. of Flote, v. t. Skimmed. [Obs.]

Flounce (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flounced (flounst); p. pr. & vb. n. Flouncing (?).] [Cf. OSw. flunsa to immerge.] To throw the limbs and body one way and the other; to spring, turn, or twist with sudden effort or violence; to struggle, as a horse in mire; to flounder; to throw one's self with a jerk or spasm, often as in displeasure.

To flutter and flounce will do nothing but batter and bruise us.

Barrow.

With his broad fins and forky tail he laves The rising sirge, and flounces in the waves.

Addison.

Flounce (?), n. The act of floucing; a sudden, jerking motion of the body.

Flounce, n. [Cf. G. flaus, flausch, a tuft of wool or hair; akin to vliess, E. fleece; or perh. corrupted fr. rounce.] An ornamental appendage to the skirt of a woman's dress, consisting of a strip gathered and sewed on by its upper edge around the skirt, and left hanging.

Flounce, v. t. To deck with a flounce or flounces; as, to flounce a petticoat or a frock.

Floun"der (?), n. [Cf. Sw. flundra; akin to Dan. flynder, Icel. fly&?;ra, G. flunder, and perh. to E. flounder, v.i.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A flatfish of the family PleuronectidÊ, of many species.

The common English flounder is Pleuronectes flesus. There are several common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder (P. glabra); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus); the summer flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus), Atlantic coast; and the starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus).

2. (Bootmaking) A tool used in crimping boot fronts.

Floun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Floundering.] [Cf. D. flodderen to flap, splash through mire, E. flounce, v.i., and flounder the fish.] To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll, toss, and tumble; to flounce.

They have floundered on from blunder to blunder.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Floun"der, n. The act of floundering.

Flour (?), n. [F. fleur de farine the flower (i.e., the best) of meal, cf. Sp. flor de la harina superfine flour, Icel. fl¸r flower, flour. See Flower.] The finely ground meal of wheat, or of any other grain; especially, the finer part of meal separated by bolting; hence, the fine and soft powder of any substance; as, flour of emery; flour of mustard.

Flour bolt, in milling, a gauze-covered, revolving, cylindrical frame or reel, for sifting the flour from the refuse contained in the meal yielded by the stones. -- Flour box a tin box for scattering flour; a dredging box. -- Flour dredge or dredger, a flour box. -- Flour dresser, a mashine for sorting and distributing flour according to grades of fineness. -- Flour mill, a mill for grinding and sifting flour.

Flour, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Floured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flouring.] 1. To grind and bolt; to convert into flour; as, to flour wheat.

2. To sprinkle with flour.

Floured (?), p. a. Finely granulated; -- said of quicksilver which has been granulated by agitation during the amalgamation process. Raymond.

Flour"ish (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flourished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flourishing.] [OE. florisshen, flurisshen, OF. flurir, F. fleurir, fr. L. florere to bloom, fr. flos, floris, flower. See Flower, and - ish.] 1. To grow luxuriantly; to increase and enlarge, as a healthy growing plant; a thrive.

A tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly . . . soil.

Bp. Horne.

2. To be prosperous; to increase in wealth, honor, comfort, happiness, or whatever is desirable; to thrive; to be prominent and influental; specifically, of authors, painters, etc., to be in a state of activity or production.

When all the workers of iniquity do flourish.

Ps. xcii 7

Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of their wickedness.

Nelson.

We say Of those that held their heads above the crowd, They flourished then or then.

Tennyson.

3. To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty expressions; to be flowery.

They dilate . . . and flourish long on little incidents.

J. Watts.

4. To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and irregular motion.

Impetuous spread The stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.

Pope.

5. To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful, decorative figures.

6. To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of ornament or prelude.

Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?

Shak.

7. To boast; to vaunt; to brag. Pope.

Flour"ish, v. t. 1. To adorn with flowers orbeautiful figures, either natural or artificial; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish. [Obs.] Fenton.

2. To embellish with the flowers of diction; to adorn with rhetorical figures; to grace with ostentatious eloquence; to set off with a parade of words. [Obs.]

Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit.

Shak.

3. To move in bold or irregular figures; to swing about in circles or vibrations by way of show or triumph; to brandish.

And flourishes his blade in spite of me.

Shak.

4. To develop; to make thrive; to expand. [Obs.]

Bottoms of thread . . . which with a good needle, perhaps may be flourished into large works.

Bacon.

Flour"ish (?), n.; pl. Flourishes (&?;). 1. A flourishing condition; prosperity; vigor. [Archaic]

The Roman monarchy, in her highest flourish, never had the like.

Howell.

2. Decoration; ornament; beauty.

The flourish of his sober youth Was the pride of naked truth.

Crashaw.

3. Something made or performed in a fanciful, wanton, or vaunting manner, by way of ostentation, to excite admiration, etc.; ostentatious embellishment; ambitious copiousness or amplification; parade of words and figures; show; as, a flourish of rhetoric or of wit.

He lards with flourishes his long harangue.

Dryden.

4. A fanciful stroke of the pen or graver; a merely decorative figure.

The neat characters and flourishes of a Bible curiously printed.

Boyle.

5. A fantastic or decorative musical passage; a strain of triumph or bravado, not forming part of a regular musical composition; a cal; a fanfare.

A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums!

Shak.

6. The waving of a weapon or other thing; a brandishing; as, the flourish of a sword.

Flour"ish*er (?), n. One who flourishes.

Flour"ish*ing*ly, adv. In a flourishing manner; ostentatiously.

Flour"y (?), a. Of or resembling flour; mealy; covered with flour. Dickens.

Flout (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flouting.] [OD. fluyten to play the flute, to jeer, D. fluiten, fr. fluit, fr. French. See Flute.] To mock or insult; to treat with contempt.

Phillida flouts me.

Walton.

Three gaudy standards flout the pale blue sky.

Byron.

Flout, v. i. To practice mocking; to behave with contempt; to sneer; to fleer; -- often with at.

Fleer and gibe, and laugh and flout.

Swift.

Flout, n. A mock; an insult.

Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn.

Tennyson.

Flout"er (?), n. One who flouts; a mocker.

Flout"ing*ly, adv. With flouting; insultingly; as, to treat a lover floutingly.

Flow (fl), obs. imp. sing. of Fly, v. i. Chaucer.

Flow (fl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flowed (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Flowing.] [AS. flwan; akin to D. vloeijen, OHG. flawen to wash, Icel. fla to deluge, Gr. plw`ein to float, sail, and prob. ultimately to E. float, fleet. &radic;80. Cf. Flood.] 1. To move with a continual change of place among the particles or parts, as a fluid; to change place or circulate, as a liquid; as, rivers flow from springs and lakes; tears flow from the eyes.

2. To become liquid; to melt.

The mountains flowed down at thy presence.

Is. lxiv. 3.

3. To proceed; to issue forth; as, wealth flows from industry and economy.

Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions.

Milton.

4. To glide along smoothly, without harshness or asperties; as, a flowing period; flowing numbers; to sound smoothly to the ear; to be uttered easily.

Virgil is sweet and flowingin his hexameters.

Dryden.

5. To have or be in abundance; to abound; to full, so as to run or flow over; to be copious.

In that day . . . the hills shall flow with milk.

Joel iii. 18.

The exhilaration of a night that needed not the influence of the flowing bowl.

Prof. Wilson.

6. To hang loose and waving; as, a flowing mantle; flowing locks.

The imperial purple flowing in his train.

A. Hamilton.

7. To rise, as the tide; -- opposed to ebb; as, the tide flows twice in twenty-four hours.

The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between.

Shak.

8. To discharge blood in excess from the uterus.

Flow, v. t. 1. To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to flood.

2. To cover with varnish.

Flow, n. 1. A stream of water or other fluid; a current; as, a flow of water; a flow of blood.

2. A continuous movement of something abundant; as, a flow of words.

3. Any gentle, gradual movement or procedure of thought, diction, music, or the like, resembling the quiet, steady movement of a river; a stream.

The feast of reason and the flow of soul.

Pope.

4. The tidal setting in of the water from the ocean to the shore. See Ebb and flow, under Ebb.

5. A low-lying piece of watery land; -- called also flow moss and flow bog. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Flow"age (?; 48), n. An overflowing with water; also, the water which thus overflows.

Flow"en (?), obs. imp. pl. of Fly, v. i. Chaucer.

Flow"er (?), n. [OE. flour, OF. flour, flur, flor, F. fleur, fr. L. flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour, Flourish.] 1. In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the foliage.

2. (Bot.) That part of a plant destined to produce seed, and hence including one or both of the sexual organs; an organ or combination of the organs of reproduction, whether inclosed by a circle of foliar parts or not. A complete flower consists of two essential parts, the stamens and the pistil, and two floral envelopes, the corolla and callyx. In mosses the flowers consist of a few special leaves surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia. See Blossom, and Corolla.

<! p. 574 !>

If we examine a common flower, such for instance as a geranium, we shall find that it consists of: First, an outer envelope or calyx, sometimes tubular, sometimes consisting of separate leaves called sepals; secondly, an inner envelope or corolla, which is generally more or less colored, and which, like the calyx, is sometimes tubular, sometimes composed of separate leaves called petals; thirdly, one or more stamens, consisting of a stalk or filament and a head or anther, in which the pollen is produced; and fourthly, a pistil, which is situated in the center of the flower, and consists generally of three principal parts; one or more compartments at the base, each containing one or more seeds; the stalk or style; and the stigma, which in many familiar instances forms a small head, at the top of the style or ovary, and to which the pollen must find its way in order to fertilize the flower. Sir J. Lubbock.

3. The fairest, freshest, and choicest part of anything; as, the flower of an army, or of a family; the state or time of freshness and bloom; as, the flower of life, that is, youth.

The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more briefly contain.

Hooker.

The flower of the chivalry of all Spain.

Southey.

A simple maiden in her flower Is worth a hundred coats of arms.

Tennyson.

4. Grain pulverized; meal; flour. [Obs.]

The flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a sort of glue.

Arbuthnot.

5. pl. (Old Chem.) A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulphur.

6. A figure of speech; an ornament of style.

7. pl. (Print.) Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards, etc. W. Savage.

8. pl. Menstrual discharges. Lev. xv. 24.

Animal flower (Zoˆl.) See under Animal. -- Cut flowers, flowers cut from the stalk, as for making a bouquet. -- Flower bed, a plat in a garden for the cultivation of flowers. -- Flower beetle (Zoˆl.), any beetle which feeds upon flowers, esp. any one of numerous small species of the genus Meligethes, family NitidulidÊ, some of which are injurious to crops. - - Flower bird (Zoˆl.), an Australian bird of the genus Anthornis, allied to the honey eaters. -- Flower bud, an unopened flower. -- Flower clock, an assemblage of flowers which open and close at different hours of the day, thus indicating the time. -- Flower head (Bot.), a compound flower in which all the florets are sessile on their receptacle, as in the case of the daisy. -- Flower pecker (Zoˆl.), one of a family (DicÊidÊ) of small Indian and Australian birds. They resemble humming birds in habits. -- Flower piece. (a) A table ornament made of cut flowers. (b) (Fine Arts) A picture of flowers. -- Flower stalk (Bot.), the peduncle of a plant, or the stem that supports the flower or fructification.

Flow"er (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flowered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flowering.] [From the noun. Cf. Flourish.] 1. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce flowers; as, this plant flowers in June.

2. To come into the finest or fairest condition.

Their lusty and flowering age.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

When flowered my youthful spring.

Spenser.

3. To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.

That beer did flower a little.

Bacon.

4. To come off as flowers by sublimation. [Obs.]

Observations which have flowered off.

Milton.

Flow"er, v. t. To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as, flowered silk.

Flow"er*age (?; 48), n. State of flowers; flowers, collectively or in general. Tennyson.

Flow"er-de-luce" (?), n. [Corrupted fr. fleur-de-lis.] (Bot.) A genus of perennial herbs (Iris) with swordlike leaves and large three-petaled flowers often of very gay colors, but probably white in the plant first chosen for the royal French emblem.

There are nearly one hundred species, natives of the north temperate zone. Some of the best known are Iris Germanica, I. Florentina, I. Persica, I. sambucina, and the American I. versicolor, I. prismatica, etc.

Flow"er*er (?), n. A plant which flowers or blossoms.

Many hybrids are profuse and persistent flowerers.

Darwin.

Flow"er*et (?), n. A small flower; a floret. Shak.

Flow"er-fence` (?), n. (Bot.) A tropical leguminous bush (Poinciana, or CÊsalpinia, pulcherrima) with prickly branches, and showy yellow or red flowers; -- so named from its having been sometimes used for hedges in the West Indies. Baird.

Flow"er*ful (?), a. Abounding with flowers. Craig.

Flow"er-gen`tle (?), n. (Bot.) A species of amaranth (Amarantus melancholicus).

Flow"er*i*ness (?), n. The state of being flowery.

Flow"er*ing, a. (Bot.) Having conspicuous flowers; -- used as an epithet with many names of plants; as, flowering ash; flowering dogwood; flowering almond, etc.

Flowering fern, a genus of showy ferns (Osmunda), with conspicuous bivalvular sporangia. They usually grow in wet places. -- Flowering plants, plants which have stamens and pistils, and produce true seeds; phenogamous plants; -- distinguished from flowerless plants. -- Flowering rush, a European rushlike plant (Butomus umbellatus), with an umbel of rosy blossoms.

Flow"er*ing, n. 1. The act of blossoming, or the season when plants blossom; florification.

2. The act of adorning with flowers.

Flow"er*less, a. Having no flowers.

Flowerless plants, plants which have no true flowers, and produce no seeds; cryptogamous plants.

Flow"er*less*ness, n. State of being without flowers.

Flow"er*pot` (?), n. A vessel, commonly or earthenware, for earth in which plants are grown.

Flow"er*y (?), a. 1. Full of flowers; abounding with blossoms.

2. Highly embellished with figurative language; florid; as, a flowery style. Milton.

The flowery kingdom, China.

Flow"er*y-kir`tled (?), a. Dressed with garlands of flowers. [Poetic & Rare] Milton.

Flow"ing, a. That flows or for flowing (in various sense of the verb); gliding along smoothly; copious.

Flowing battery (Elec.), a battery which is kept constant by the flowing of the exciting liquid through the cell or cells. Knight. -- Flowing furnace, a furnace from which molten metal, can be drawn, as through a tap hole; a foundry cupola. -- Flowing sheet (Naut.), a sheet when eased off, or loosened to the wind, as when the wind is abaft the beam. Totten.

Flow"ing (?), a. & n. from Flow, v. i. & t.

Flow"ing*ly, adv. In a flowing manner.

Flow"ing*ness, n. Flowing tendency or quality; fluency. [R.] W. Nichols.

Flowk (? or ?), n. (Zoˆl.) See 1st Fluke.

Flown (?), p. p. of Fly; -- often used with the auxiliary verb to be; as, the birds are flown.

Flown, a. Flushed, inflated. [Supposed by some to be a mistake for blown or swoln.] Pope.

Then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.

Milton.

Floxed" silk` (?). See Floss silk, under Floss.

Floyte (?), n. & v. A variant of Flute. [Obs.]

Flu"ate (?), n. [Cf. F. fluate. See Fluor.] (Chem.) A fluoride. [Obs.]

Flu"a*vil (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon extracted from gutta-percha, as a yellow, resinous substance; -- called also fluanil.

Flu"can (?), n. (Mining) Soft clayey matter in the vein, or surrounding it. [Written also flookan, flukan, and fluccan.]

Fluc*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L. fluctus wave + -ferous.] Tending to produce waves. Blount.

Fluc*tis"o*nous (?), a. [L. fluctisonus; fluctus wave + sonus sound.] Sounding like waves.

Fluc`tu*a*bil"i*ty (?; 135), n. The capacity or ability to fluctuate. [R.] H. Walpole.

Fluc"tu*ant (?; 135), a. [L. fluctuans, p. pr. of fluctuare. See Fluctuate.] 1. Moving like a wave; wavering; (Med.) showing undulation or fluctuation; as, a fluctuant tumor.

2. Floating on the waves. [Obs.] Bacon.

Fluc"tu*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fluctuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fluctuating (?).] [L. fluctuatus, p. p. of fluctuare, to wave, fr. fluctus wave, fr. fluere, fluctum, to flow. See Fluent, and cf. Flotilla.] 1. To move as a wave; to roll hither and thither; to wave; to float backward and forward, as on waves; as, a fluctuating field of air. Blackmore.

2. To move now in one direction and now in another; to be wavering or unsteady; to be irresolute or undetermined; to vacillate.

Syn. -- To waver; vacillate; hesitate; scruple. -- To Fluctuate, Vacillate, Waver. -- Fluctuate is applied both to things and persons and denotes that they move as they are acted upon. The stocks fluctuate; a man fluctuates between conflicting influences. Vacillate and waver are applied to persons to represent them as acting themselves. A man vacillates when he goes backward and forward in his opinions and purposes, without any fixity of mind or principles. A man wavers when he shrinks back or hesitates at the approach of difficulty or danger. One who is fluctuating in his feelings is usually vacillating in resolve, and wavering in execution.

Fluc"tu*ate, v. t. To cause to move as a wave; to put in motion. [R.]

And fluctuate all the still perfume.

Tennyson.

Fluc`tu*a"tion (?), n. [L. fluctuatio; cf. F. fluctuation.] 1. A motion like that of waves; a moving in this and that direction; as, the fluctuations of the sea.

2. A wavering; unsteadiness; as, fluctuations of opinion; fluctuations of prices.

3. (Med.) The motion or undulation of a fluid collected in a natural or artifical cavity, which is felt when it is subjected to pressure or percussion. Dunglison.

Flue (?), n. [Cf. OF. flue a flowing, fr. fluer to flow, fr. L. fluere (cf. Fluent); a perh. a corruption of E. flute.] An inclosed passage way for establishing and directing a current of air, gases, etc.; an air passage; esp.: (a) A compartment or division of a chimney for conveying flame and smoke to the outer air. (b) A passage way for conducting a current of fresh, foul, or heated air from one place to another. (c) (Steam Boiler) A pipe or passage for conveying flame and hot gases through surrounding water in a boiler; -- distinguished from a tube which holds water and is surrounded by fire. Small flues are called fire tubes or simply tubes.

Flue boiler. See under Boiler. - - Flue bridge, the separating low wall between the flues and the laboratory of a reverberatory furnace. -- Flue plate (Steam Boiler), a plate to which the ends of the flues are fastened; -- called also flue sheet, tube sheet, and tube plate. -- Flue surface (Steam Boiler), the aggregate surface of flues exposed to flame or the hot gases.

Flue (?), n. [Cf. F. flou light, tender, G. flau weak, W. llwch dust. &radic;84.] Light down, such as rises from cotton, fur, etc.; very fine lint or hair. Dickens.

Flu"ence (?), n. Fluency. [Obs.] Milton.

Flu"en*cy (?), n. [L. fluentia: cf. F. fluence. See Fluent.] The quality of being fluent; smoothness; readiness of utterance; volubility.

The art of expressing with fluency and perspicuity.

Macaulay.

Flu"ent (?), a. [L. fluens, - entis, p. pr. of fluere to flow; cf. Gr. &?; to boil over. Cf. Fluctuate, Flux.] 1. Flowing or capable of flowing; liquid; glodding; easily moving.

2. Ready in the use of words; voluble; copious; having words at command; and uttering them with facility and smoothness; as, a fluent speaker; hence, flowing; voluble; smooth; -- said of language; as, fluent speech.

With most fluent utterance.

Denham.

Fluent as the flight of a swallow is the sultan's letter.

De Quincey.

Flu"ent, n. 1. A current of water; a stream. [Obs.]

2. [Cf. F. fluente.] (Math.) A variable quantity, considered as increasing or diminishing; -- called, in the modern calculus, the function or integral.

Flu"ent*ly, adv. In a fluent manner.

Flu"ent*ness, n. The quality of being fluent.

Flue"work` (?), n. (Mus.) A general name for organ stops in which the sound is caused by wind passing through a flue or fissure and striking an edge above; -- in distinction from reedwork.

Flue"y (?), a. [2d Flue.] Downy; fluffy. [R.]

Fluff (?), n. [Cf. 2d Flue. &radic;84.] Nap or down; flue; soft, downy feathers.

Fluff"y (?), a. [Compar. Fluffier (?); superl. Fluffiest.] Pertaining to, or resembling, fluff or nap; soft and downy. "The carpets were fluffy." Thackeray.

The present Barnacle . . . had a youthful aspect, and the fluffiest little whisker, perhaps, that ever was seen.

Dickens.

-- Fluff"i*ness, n.

||Fl¸"gel (?), n. [G., a wing.] (Mus.) A grand piano or a harpsichord, ||both being wing- shaped.

Flu"gel*man (?), n. [G. fl¸gelman.] (Mil.) Same as Fugleman.

Flu"id (fld), a. [L. fluidus, fr. fluere to flow: cf. F. fluide. See Fluent.] Having particles which easily move and change their relative position without a separation of the mass, and which easily yield to pressure; capable of flowing; liquid or gaseous.

Flu"id, n. A fluid substance; a body whose particles move easily among themselves.

Fluid is a generic term, including liquids and gases as species. Water, air, and steam are fluids. By analogy, the term is sometimes applied to electricity and magnetism, as in phrases electric fluid, magnetic fluid, though not strictly appropriate.

Fluid dram, or Fluid drachm, a measure of capacity equal to one eighth of a fluid ounce. -- Fluid ounce. (a) In the United States, a measure of capacity, in apothecaries' or wine measure, equal to one sixteenth of a pint or 29.57 cubic centimeters. This, for water, is about 1.04158 ounces avoirdupois, or 455.6 grains. (b) In England, a measure of capacity equal to the twentieth part of an imperial pint. For water, this is the weight of the avoirdupois ounce, or 437.5 grains. -- Fluids of the body. (Physiol.) The circulating blood and lymph, the chyle, the gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal juices, the saliva, bile, urine, aqueous humor, and muscle serum are the more important fluids of the body. The tissues themselves contain a large amount of combined water, so much, that an entire human body dried in vacuo with a very moderate degree of heat gives about 66 per cent of water. -- Burning fluid, Elastic fluid, Electric fluid, Magnetic fluid, etc. See under Burning, Elastic, etc.

Flu"id*al (?), a. Pertaining to a fluid, or to its flowing motion.

Fluidal structure (Geol.), the structure characteristic of certain volcanic rocks in which the arrangement of the minute crystals shows the lines of flow of thew molten material before solidification; -- also called fluxion structure.

Flu*id"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. fluiditÈ.] The quality of being fluid or capable of flowing; a liquid, aÎriform, or gaseous state; -- opposed to solidity.

It was this want of organization, this looseness and fluidity of the new movement, that made it penetrate through every class of society.

J. R. Green.

Flu"id*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fluidized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fluidizing.] To render fluid.

Flu"id*ness, n. The state of being fluid; fluidity.

Flu"id*ounce`, n. See Fluid ounce, under Fluid.

Flu"i*drachm` (?), n. See Fluid dram, under Fluid. Pharm. of the U. S.

Flu"kan (?), n. (Mining) Flucan.

Fluke (flk), n. [Cf. AS. flc a kind of flatfish, Icel. flki a kind of halibut.] 1. (Zoˆl.) The European flounder. See Flounder. [Written also fleuk, flook, and flowk]. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zoˆl.) A parasitic trematode worm of several species, having a flat, lanceolate body and two suckers. Two species (Fasciola hepatica and Distoma lanceolatum) are found in the livers of sheep, and produce the disease called rot. [1913 Webster]

<! p. 575 !>

Fluke (flk), n. [Cf. LG. flunk, flunka wing, the palm of an anchor; perh. akin to E. fly.] 1. The part of an anchor which fastens in the ground; a flook. See Anchor.

2. (Zoˆl.) One of the lobes of a whale's tail, so called from the resemblance to the fluke of an anchor.

3. An instrument for cleaning out a hole drilled in stone for blasting.

4. An accidental and favorable stroke at billiards (called a scratch in the United States); hence, any accidental or unexpected advantage; as, he won by a fluke. [Cant, Eng.] A. Trollope.

Fluke"worm` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) Same as 1st Fluke, 2.

Fluk"y (?), a. Formed like, or having, a fluke.

Flume (?), n. [Cf. OE. flum river, OF, flum, fr. L. flumen, fr. fluere to flow. &radic;84. See Fluent.] A stream; especially, a passage channel, or conduit for the water that drives a mill wheel; or an artifical channel of water for hydraulic or placer mining; also, a chute for conveying logs or lumber down a declivity.

Flu"mi*nous (?), a. [L. flumen, fluminis, river.] Pertaining to rivers; abounding in streama.

Flum"mer*y (?), n. [W. llumru, or llumruwd, a kind of food made of oatmeal steeped in water until it has turned sour, fr. llumrig harsh, raw, crude, fr. llum sharp, severe.] 1. A light kind of food, formerly made of flour or meal; a sort of pap.

Milk and flummery are very fit for children.

Locke.

2. Something insipid, or not worth having; empty compliment; trash; unsubstantial talk of writing.

The flummery of modern criticism.

J. Morley.

Flung (?), imp. & p. p. of Fling.

Flunk (flk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flunked (flkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Flunking.] [Cf. Funk.] To fail, as on a lesson; to back out, as from an undertaking, through fear.

Flunk, v. t. To fail in; to shirk, as a task or duty. [Colloq. U.S.]

Flunk, n. A failure or backing out; specifically (College cant), a total failure in a recitation. [U.S.]

Flun"ky (fl"k), n.; pl. Flunkies (- kz). [Prob. fr. or akin to flank.] [Written also flunkey.] 1. A contemptuous name for a liveried servant or a footman.

2. One who is obsequious or cringing; a snob.

3. One easily deceived in buying stocks; an inexperienced and unwary jobber. [Cant, U.S.]

Flun"ky*dom (?), n. The place or region of flunkies. C. Kingsley.

Flun"ly*ism (?), n. The quality or characteristics of a flunky; readiness to cringe to those who are superior in wealth or position; toadyism. Thackeray.

Flu"o- (&?;). (Chem.) A combining form indicating fluorine as an ingredient; as in fluosilicate, fluobenzene.

Flu`o*bo"rate (?), n. [Cf. F. fluoborate.] (Chem.) A salt of fluoboric acid; a fluoboride.

Flu`o*bo"ric (?), a. [Fluo- boric: cf. F. fluoborique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or consisting of, fluorine and boron.

Fluoridic acid (Chem.), a double fluoride, consisting essentially of a solution of boron fluoride, in hydrofluoric acid. It has strong acid properties, and is the type of the borofluorides. Called also borofluoric acid.

Flu`o*bo"ride (?), n. (Chem.) See Borofluoride.

{ Flu`o*ce"rine (?), Flu`o*ce"rite (?) }, n. [Fluo- + cerium.] (Min.) A fluoride of cerium, occuring near Fahlun in Sweden. Tynosite, from Colorado, is probably the same mineral.

Flu`o*hy"dric (?), a. [Fluo- + hydrogen.] (Chem.) See Hydrofluoric.

Flu`o*phos"phate (?), n. [Fluo- + phosphate.] (Chem.) A double salt of fluoric and phosphoric acids.

||Flu"or (?), n. [L., a flowing, fr. fluere to flow. See Fluent.] 1. A ||fluid state. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton.

2. Menstrual flux; catamenia; menses. [Obs.]

3. (Min.) See Fluorite.

||Flu"or albus (?). [L., white flow.] (Med.) The whites; leucorrhÊa.

Flu`or*an"thene (?), n. [Fluorene + anthracene.] (Chem.) A white crystalline hydrocarbon C15H10, of a complex structure, found as one ingredient of the higher boiling portion of coal tar.

Flu"or*a`ted (?), a. (Chem.) Combined with fluorine; subjected to the action of fluoride. [R.]

Flu`or*ene (?), n. (Chem.) A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C13H10 having a beautiful violet fluorescence; whence its name. It occurs in the higher boiling products of coal tar, and is obtained artificially.

Flu`o*res"ce*in (?), n. (Chem.) A yellowish red, crystalline substance, C20H12O5, produced by heating together phthalic anhydride and resorcin; -- so called, from the very brilliant yellowish green fluorescence of its alkaline solutions. It has acid properties, and its salts of the alkalies are known to the trade under the name of uranin.

Flu`o*res"cence (?), n. [From Fluor.] (Opt.) That property which some transparent bodies have of producing at their surface, or within their substance, light different in color from the mass of the material, as when green crystals of fluor spar afford blue reflections. It is due not to the difference in the color of a distinct surface layer, but to the power which the substance has of modifying the light incident upon it. The light emitted by fluorescent substances is in general of lower refrangibility than the incident light. Stockes.

Flu`o*res"cent (?), a. Having the property of fluorescence.

Flu`o*res"cin (?), n. (Chem.) A colorless, amorphous substance which is produced by the reduction of fluoresceÔn, and from which the latter may be formed by oxidation.

Flu*or"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. fluorique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, obtained from, or containing, fluorine.

Flu"or*ide (? or ?; 104), n. [Cf. F. fluoride.] (Chem.) A binary compound of fluorine with another element or radical.

Calcium fluoride (Min.), fluorite, CaF2. See Fluorite.

Flu"or*ine (fl"r*n or -n; 104), n. [NL. fluorina: cf. G. fluorin, F. fluorine. So called from its occurrence in the mineral fluorite.] (Chem.) A non-metallic, gaseous element, strongly acid or negative, and associated with chlorine, bromine, and iodine, in the halogen group of which it is the first member. It always occurs combined, is very active chemically, and possesses such an avidity for most elements, and silicon especially, that it can neither be prepared nor kept in glass vessels. If set free it immediately attacks the containing material, so that it was not isolated until 1886. It is a pungent, corrosive, colorless gas. Symbol F. Atomic weight 19.

Fluorine unites with hydrogen to form hydrofluoric acid, which is the agent employed in etching glass. It occurs naturally, principally combined as calcium fluoride in fluorite, and as a double fluoride of aluminium and sodium in cryolite.

Flu"or*ite (?), n. (Min.) Calcium fluoride, a mineral of many different colors, white, yellow, purple, green, red, etc., often very beautiful, crystallizing commonly in cubes with perfect octahedral cleavage; also massive. It is used as a flux. Some varieties are used for ornamental vessels. Also called fluor spar, or simply fluor.

Flu"or*oid (?), n. [Fluor + - oid.] (Crystallog.) A tetrahexahedron; -- so called because it is a common form of fluorite.

Flu*or"o*scope (?), n. [Fluorescence + -scope.] (Phys.) An instrument for observing or exhibiting fluorescence.

Flu"or*ous (?), a. Pertaining to fluor.

Flu"or spar` (?). (Min.) See Fluorite.

Flu`o*sil"i*cate (?), n. [Cf. F. fluosilicate.] (Chem.) A double fluoride of silicon and some other (usually basic) element or radical, regarded as a salt of fluosilicic acid; -- called also silicofluoride.

Flu`o*si*lic"ic (?), a. [Fluo- + silicic: cf. F. fluosilicique.] (Chem.) Composed of, or derived from, silicon and fluorine.

Fluosilicic acid, a double fluoride of hydrogen and silicon, H2F6Si, obtained in solution in water as a sour fuming liquid, and regarded as the type of the fluosilicates; -- called also silicofluoric acid, and hydrofluosilicic acid.

Flur"ried (?), a. Agitated; excited. -- Flur"ried*ly adv.

Flur"ry (?), n.; pl. Flurries (#). [Prov. E. flur to ruffle.] 1. A sudden and brief blast or gust; a light, temporary breeze; as, a flurry of wind.

2. A light shower or snowfall accompanied with wind.

Like a flurry of snow on the whistling wind.

Longfellow.

3. Violent agitation; commotion; bustle; hurry.

The racket and flurry of London.

Blakw. Mag.

4. The violent spasms of a dying whale.

Flur"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flurried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flurrying.] To put in a state of agitation; to excite or alarm. H. Swinburne.

Flurt (?), n. A flirt. [Obs.] Quarles.

Flush (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flushed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Flushing.] [Cf. OE. fluschen to fly up, penetrate, F. fluz a flowing, E. flux, dial. Sw. flossa to blaze, and E. flash; perh. influenced by blush. &radic;84.] 1. To flow and spread suddenly; to rush; as, blood flushes into the face.

The flushing noise of many waters.

Boyle.

It flushes violently out of the cock.

Mortimer.

2. To become suddenly suffused, as the cheeks; to turn red; to blush.

3. To snow red; to shine suddenly; to glow.

In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed.

Milton.

4. To start up suddenly; to take wing as a bird.

Flushing from one spray unto another.

W. Browne.

Flush, v. t. 1. To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with water; as, to flush the meadows; to flood for the purpose of cleaning; as, to flush a sewer.

2. To cause the blood to rush into (the face); to put to the blush, or to cause to glow with excitement.

Nor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek.

Gay.

Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, Flushing his brow.

Keats.

3. To make suddenly or temporarily red or rosy, as if suffused with blood.

How faintly flushed. how phantom fair, Was Monte Rosa, hanging there!

Tennyson.

4. To excite; to animate; to stir.

Such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition.

South.

5. To cause to start, as a hunter a bird. Nares.

To flush a joints (Masonry), to fill them in; to point the level; to make them flush.

Flush, n. 1. A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for cleansing purposes.

In manner of a wave or flush.

Ray.

2. A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty, or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.

The flush of angered shame.

Tennyson.

3. Any tinge of red color like that produced on the cheeks by a sudden rush of blood; as, the flush on the side of a peach; the flush on the clouds at sunset.

4. A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement. animation, etc.; as, a flush of joy.

5. A flock of birds suddenly started up or flushed.

6. [From F. or Sp. flux. Cf. Flux.] A hand of cards of the same suit.

Flush, a. 1. Full of vigor; fresh; glowing; bright.

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May.

Shak.

2. Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal; prodigal.

Lord Strut was not very flush in ready.

Arbuthnot.

3. (Arch. & Mech.) Unbroken or even in surface; on a level with the adjacent surface; forming a continuous surface; as, a flush panel; a flush joint.

4. (Card Playing) Consisting of cards of one suit.

Flush bolt. (a) A screw bolt whose head is countersunk, so as to be flush with a surface. (b) A sliding bolt let into the face or edge of a door, so as to be flush therewith. -- Flush deck. (Naut.) See under Deck, n., 1. -- Flush tank, a water tank which can be emptied rapidly for flushing drainpipes, etc.

Flush (?), adv. So as to be level or even.

Flush"board` (?), n. Same as Flashboard.

Flush"er (?), n. 1. A workman employed in cleaning sewers by flushing them with water.

2. (Zoˆl.) The red-backed shrike. See Flasher.

Flush"ing, n. 1. A heavy, coarse cloth manufactured from shoddy; -- commonly in the &?; [Eng.]

2. (Weaving) A surface formed of floating threads.

Flush"ing*ly, adv. In a flushing manner.

Flush"ness, n. The state of being flush; abundance.

Flus"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flustering.] [Cf. Icel. flaustra to be flustered, flaustr a fluster.] To make hot and rosy, as with drinking; to heat; hence, to throw into agitation and confusion; to confuse; to muddle.

His habit or flustering himself daily with claret.

Macaulay.

Flus"ter, v. i. To be in a heat or bustle; to be agitated and confused.

The flstering, vainglorious Greeks.

South.

Flus"ter, n. Heat or glow, as from drinking; agitation mingled with confusion; disorder.

Flus`ter*a"tion (?), n. The act of flustering, or the state of being flustered; fluster. [Colloq.]

Flus"trate (?), v. t. [See Fluster, v. t.] To fluster. [Colloq.] Spectator.

Flus*tra"tion (?), n. The act of flustrating; confusion; flurry. [Colloq.] Richardson.

Flute (?), n. [OE. floute, floite, fr. OF. fla¸te, flahute, flahuste, F. fl&?;te; cf. LL. flauta, D. fluit. See Flute, v. i.] 1. A musical wind instrument, consisting of a hollow cylinder or pipe, with holes along its length, stopped by the fingers or by keys which are opened by the fingers. The modern flute is closed at the upper end, and blown with the mouth at a lateral hole.

The breathing flute's soft notes are heard around.

Pope.

2. (Arch.) A channel of curved section; -- usually applied to one of a vertical series of such channels used to decorate columns and pilasters in classical architecture. See Illust. under Base, n.

3. A similar channel or groove made in wood or other material, esp. in plaited cloth, as in a lady's ruffle.

4. A long French breakfast roll. Simonds.

5. A stop in an organ, having a flutelike sound.

Flute bit, a boring tool for piercing ebony, rosewood, and other hard woods. -- Flute pipe, an organ pipe having a sharp lip or wind-cutter which imparts vibrations to the column of air in the pipe. Knight. [1913 Webster]

Flute (flt), n. [Cf. F. fl˚te a transport, D. fluit.] A kind of flyboat; a storeship.

Armed en fl˚te (&?;) (Nav.), partially armed.

Flute (?), v. i. [OE. flouten, floiten, OF. fla¸ter, fle¸ter, flouster, F. fl˚ter, cf. D. fluiten; ascribed to an assumed LL. flautare, flatuare, fr. L. flatus a blowing, fr. flare to blow. Cf. Flout, Flageolet, Flatulent.] To play on, or as on, a flute; to make a flutelike sound.

Flute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fluted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fluting (?).] 1. To play, whistle, or sing with a clear, soft note, like that of a flute.

Knaves are men, That lute and flute fantastic tenderness.

Tennyson.

The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee.

Emerson.

2. To form flutes or channels in, as in a column, a ruffle, etc.

||Fl˚te` ‡ bec" (?). [F.] (Mus.) A beak flute, an older form of the ||flute, played with a mouthpiece resembling a beak, and held like a ||flageolet.

Flut"ed (?), a. 1. Thin; fine; clear and mellow; flutelike; as, fluted notes. Busby.

2. Decorated with flutes; channeled; grooved; as, a fluted column; a fluted ruffle; a fluted spectrum.

Flute"mouth` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A fish of the genus Aulostoma, having a much elongated tubular snout.

Flut"er (?), n. 1. One who plays on the flute; a flutist or flautist.

2. One who makes grooves or flutings.

Flut"ing, n. Decoration by means of flutes or channels; a flute, or flutes collectively; as, the fluting of a column or pilaster; the fluting of a lady's ruffle.

Fluting iron, a laundry iron for fluting ruffles; -- called also Italian iron, or gaufering iron. Knight. -- Fluting lathe, a machine for forming spiral flutes, as on balusters, table legs, etc.

Flut"ist (?), n. [Cf. F. fl˚tiste.] A performer on the flute; a flautist. Busby.

<! p. 576 !>

2. To move with quick vibrations or undulations; as, a sail flutters in the wind; a fluttering fan.

3. To move about briskly, irregularly, or with great bustle and show, without much result.

No rag, no scrap, of all the beau, or wit, That once so fluttered, and that once so writ.

Pope.

4. To be in agitation; to move irregularly; to flucttuate; to be uncertainty.

Long we fluttered on the wings of doubtful success.

Howell.

His thoughts are very fluttering and wandering.

I. Watts.

Flut"ter (?), v. t. 1. To vibrate or move quickly; as, a bird flutters its wings.

2. To drive in disorder; to throw into confusion.

Like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli.

Shak.

Flut"ter, n. 1. The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion; vibration; as, the flutter of a fan.

The chirp and flutter of some single bird

Milnes. .

2. Hurry; tumult; agitation of the mind; confusion; disorder. Pope.

Flutter wheel, a water wheel placed below a fall or in a chute where rapidly moving water strikes the tips of the floats; -- so called from the spattering, and the fluttering noise it makes.

Flut"ter*er (?), n. One who, or that which, flutters.

Flut"ter*ing*ly, adv. In a fluttering manner.

Flut"y (?), a. Soft and clear in tone, like a flute.

Flu"vi*al (?), a. [L. fluvialis, from fluvius river, fr. fluere to flow: cf.F. fluvial. See Fluent.] Belonging to rivers; growing or living in streams or ponds; as, a fluvial plant.

Flu"vi*al*ist, n. One who exlpains geological phenomena by the action of streams. [R.]

Flu`vi*at"ic (?), a. [L. fluviaticus. See Fluvial.] Belonging to rivers or streams; fluviatile. Johnson.

Flu"vi*a*tile (?), a. [L. fluviatilis, fr. fluvius river: cf. F. fluviatile.] Belonging to rivers or streams; existing in or about rivers; produced by river action; fluvial; as, fluviatile starta, plants. Lyell.

Flu`vi*o-ma*rine" (?), a. [L. fluvius river + E. marine.] (Geol.) Formed by the joint action of a river and the sea, as deposits at the mouths of rivers.

Flux (flks), n. [L. fluxus, fr. fluere, fluxum, to flow: cf.F. flux. See Fluent, and cf. 1st & 2d Floss, Flush, n., 6.] 1. The act of flowing; a continuous moving on or passing by, as of a flowing stream; constant succession; change.

By the perpetual flux of the liquids, a great part of them is thrown out of the body.

Arbuthnot.

Her image has escaped the flux of things, And that same infant beauty that she wore Is fixed upon her now forevermore.

Trench.

Languages, like our bodies, are in a continual flux.

Felton.

2. The setting in of the tide toward the shore, -- the ebb being called the reflux.

3. The state of being liquid through heat; fusion.

4. (Chem. & Metal.) Any substance or mixture used to promote the fusion of metals or minerals, as alkalies, borax, lime, fluorite.

White flux is the residuum of the combustion of a mixture of equal parts of niter and tartar. It consists chiefly of the carbonate of potassium, and is white. -- Black flux is the ressiduum of the combustion of one part of niter and two of tartar, and consists essentially of a mixture of potassium carbonate and charcoal.

5. (Med.) (a) A fluid discharge from the bowels or other part; especially, an excessive and morbid discharge; as, the bloody flux or dysentery. See Bloody flux. (b) The matter thus discharged.

6. (Physics) The quantity of a fluid that crosses a unit area of a given surface in a unit of time.

Flux, a. [L. fluxus, p. p. of fluere. See Flux, n.] Flowing; unstable; inconstant; variable.

The flux nature of all things here.

Barrow.

Flux, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fluxed (flkst); p. pr. & vb. n. Fluxing.] 1. To affect, or bring to a certain state, by flux.

He might fashionably and genteelly . . . have been dueled or fluxed into another world.

South.

2. To cause to become fluid; to fuse. Kirwan.

3. (Med.) To cause a discharge from; to purge.

Flux*a"tion (?), n. The act of fluxing.

Flux`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. LL. fluxibilitas fluidity.] The quality of being fluxible. Hammond.

Flux"i*ble (?), a. [Cf.LL. fluxibilis fluid, OF. fluxible.] Capable of being melted or fused, as a mineral. Holland.

-- Flux"i*ble*ness, n.

Flux"ile (?), a. [L. fluxilis, a., fluid.] Fluxible. [R.]

Flux*il"i*ty (?), n. State of being fluxible.[Obs.]

Flux"ion (?), n. [Cf. F. fluxion.] The act of flowing. Cotgrave.

2. The matter that flows. Wiseman.

3. Fusion; the running of metals into a fluid state.

4. (Med.) An unnatural or excessive flow of blood or fluid toward any organ; a determination.

5. A constantly varying indication.

Less to be counted than the fluxions of sun dials.

De Quincey.

6. (Math.) (a) The infinitely small increase or decrease of a variable or flowing quantity in a certain infinitely small and constant period of time; the rate of variation of a fluent; an incerement; a differential. (b) pl. A method of analysis developed by Newton, and based on the conception of all magnitudes as generated by motion, and involving in their changes the notion of velocity or rate of change. Its results are the same as those of the differential and integral calculus, from which it differs little except in notation and logical method.

Flux"ion*al (?), a. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fluxion or fluxions; variable; inconstant.

The merely human,the temporary and fluxional.

Coleridge.

Fluxional structure (Geol.), fluidal structure.

Flux"ion*a*ry (?), a. 1. Fluxional. Berkeley.

2. (Med.) Pertaining to, or caused by, an increased flow of blood to a part; congestive; as, a fluxionary hemorrhage.

Flux"ion*ist, n. One skilled in fluxions. Berkeley.

Flux"ions (?), n. pl. (Math.) See Fluxion, 6(b).

Flux"ive (?), a. Flowing; also, wanting solidity. B. Jonson.

Flux"ure (?; 138), n. [L. fluxura a flowing.] 1. The quality of being fluid. [Obs.] Fielding.

2. Fluid matter. [Obs.] Drayton.

Fly (fl), v. i. [imp. Flew (fl); p. p. Flown (fln); p. pr. & vb. n. Flying.] [OE. fleen, fleen, fleyen, flegen, AS. fleÛgan; akin to D. vliegen, OHG. fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. fljga, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve, Goth. us-flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh. to L. pluma feather, E. plume. &radic;84. Cf. Fledge, Flight, Flock of animals.] 1. To move in or pass through the air with wings, as a bird.

2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be driven rapidly through the air by any impulse.

3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag.

Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

Job v. 7.

4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as, a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies.

Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race.

Milton.

The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on.

Bryant.

5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or a coward flies. See Note under Flee.

Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.

Milton.

Whither shall I fly to escape their hands ?

Shak.

6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a bomb flies apart.

To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a short time; -- said of the wind. -- To fly around, to move about in haste. [Colloq.] -- To fly at, to spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly. -- To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance; to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist. -- To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt. -- To fly on, to attack. -- To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence. -- To fly out. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to break out into license. -- To let fly. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. "A man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim." Addison. (b) (Naut.) To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets.

Fly, v. t. 1. To cause to fly or to float in the air, as a bird, a kite, a flag, etc.

The brave black flag I fly.

W. S. Gilbert.

2. To fly or flee from; to shun; to avoid.

Sleep flies the wretch.

Dryden.

To fly the favors of so good a king.

Shak.

3. To hunt with a hawk. [Obs.] Bacon.

To fly a kite (Com.), to raise money on commercial notes. [Cant or Slang]

Fly, n.; pl. Flies (flz). [OE. flie, flege, AS. flge, fleÛge, fr. fleÛgan to fly; akin to D. vlieg, OHG. flioga, G. fliege, Icel. & Sw. fluga, Dan. flue. &radic; 84. See Fly, v. i.] 1. (Zoˆl.) (a) Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly. (b) Any dipterous insect; as, the house fly; flesh fly; black fly. See Diptera, and Illust. in Append.

2. A hook dressed in imitation of a fly, -- used for fishing. "The fur-wrought fly." Gay.

3. A familiar spirit; a witch's attendant. [Obs.]

A trifling fly, none of your great familiars.

B. Jonson.

4. A parasite. [Obs.] Massinger.

5. A kind of light carriage for rapid transit, plying for hire and usually drawn by one horse. [Eng.]

6. The length of an extended flag from its staff; sometimes, the length from the "union" to the extreme end.

7. The part of a vane pointing the direction from which the wind blows.

8. (Naut.) That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the compass card. Totten.

9. (Mech.) (a) Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of the air, as in the striking part of a clock. (b) A heavy wheel, or cross arms with weights at the ends on a revolving axis, to regulate or equalize the motion of machinery by means of its inertia, where the power communicated, or the resistance to be overcome, is variable, as in the steam engine or the coining press. See Fly wheel (below).

10. (Knitting Machine) The piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch. Knight.

11. The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.

12. (Weaving) A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk. Knight.

13. (a) Formerly, the person who took the printed sheets from the press. (b) A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power to a power printing press for doing the same work.

14. The outer canvas of a tent with double top, usually drawn over the ridgepole, but so extended as to touch the roof of the tent at no other place.

15. One of the upper screens of a stage in a theater.

16. The fore flap of a bootee; also, a lap on trousers, overcoats, etc., to conceal a row of buttons.

17. (Baseball) A batted ball that flies to a considerable distance, usually high in the air, also called a fly ball; also, the flight of a ball so struck; as, it was caught on the fly.

Black fly, Cheese fly, Dragon fly, etc. See under Black, Cheese, etc. -- Fly agaric (Bot.), a mushroom (Agaricus muscarius), having a narcotic juice which, in sufficient quantities, is poisonous. -- Fly block (Naut.), a pulley whose position shifts to suit the working of the tackle with which it is connected; -- used in the hoisting tackle of yards. -- Fly board (Printing Press), the board on which printed sheets are deposited by the fly. -- Fly book, a case in the form of a book for anglers' flies. Kingsley. -- Fly cap, a cap with wings, formerly worn by women. -- Fly drill, a drill having a reciprocating motion controlled by a fly wheel, the driving power being applied by the hand through a cord winding in reverse directions upon the spindle as it rotates backward and forward. Knight. -- Fly fishing, the act or art of angling with a bait of natural or artificial flies. Walton. -- Fly flap, an implement for killing flies. -- Fly governor, a governor for regulating the speed of an engine, etc., by the resistance of vanes revolving in the air. -- Fly honeysuckle (Bot.), a plant of the honeysuckle genus (Lonicera), having a bushy stem and the flowers in pairs, as L. ciliata and L. Xylosteum. -- Fly hook, a fishhook supplied with an artificial fly. -- Fly leaf, an unprinted leaf at the beginning or end of a book, circular, programme, etc. -- Fly maggot, a maggot bred from the egg of a fly. Ray. -- Fly net, a screen to exclude insects. -- Fly nut (Mach.), a nut with wings; a thumb nut; a finger nut. -- Fly orchis (Bot.), a plant (Ophrys muscifera), whose flowers resemble flies. - - Fly paper, poisoned or sticky paper for killing flies that feed upon or are entangled by it. -- Fly powder, an arsenical powder used to poison flies. -- Fly press, a screw press for punching, embossing, etc., operated by hand and having a heavy fly. -- Fly rail, a bracket which turns out to support the hinged leaf of a table. -- Fly rod, a light fishing rod used in angling with a fly. -- Fly sheet, a small loose advertising sheet; a handbill. -- Fly snapper (Zoˆl.), an American bird (Phainopepla nitens), allied to the chatterers and shrikes. The male is glossy blue-black; the female brownish gray. -- Fly wheel (Mach.), a heavy wheel attached to machinery to equalize the movement (opposing any sudden acceleration by its inertia and any retardation by its momentum), and to accumulate or give out energy for a variable or intermitting resistance. See Fly, n., 9. -- On the fly (Baseball), still in the air; -- said of a batted ball caught before touching the ground..

Fly (?), a. Knowing; wide awake; fully understanding another's meaning. [Slang] Dickens.

flyaway adj. 1. frivolous; -- of people. serious Syn. -- flighty. [WordNet 1.5]

2. Tending to move away from a center, rather than remain in a compact group; -- used of hair or clothing or of small particles of matter. Light objects or particles readily taking a static electric charge may be moved apart by acquisition of a charge, or by approach of a charged object. Such a property is called flyaway. Syn. -- fluttering. [WordNet 1.5]

Fly"bane` (?), n. (Bot.) A kind of catchfly of the genus Silene; also, a poisonous mushroom (Agaricus muscarius); fly agaric.

Fly"-bit`ten (?), a. Marked by, or as if by, the bite of flies. Shak.

Fly"blow` (?), v. t. To deposit eggs upon, as a flesh fly does on meat; to cause to be maggoty; hence, to taint or contaminate, as if with flyblows. Bp. Srillingfleet.

Fly"blow`, n. (Zoˆl.) One of the eggs or young larvÊ deposited by a flesh fly, or blowfly.

Fly"blown` (?), a. Tainted or contaminated with flyblows; damaged; foul.

Wherever flyblown reputations were assembled.

Thackeray.

Fly"boat` (?), n. [Fly + boat: cf. D. vlieboot.] 1. (Naut.) A large Dutch coasting vessel.

Captain George Weymouth made a voyage of discovery to the northwest with two flyboats.

Purchas.

2. A kind of passenger boat formerly used on canals.

Fly"-case` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The covering of an insect, esp. the elytra of beetles.

Fly"catch`er (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of numerous species of birds that feed upon insects, which they take on the wing.

The true flycatchers of the Old World are Oscines, and belong to the family MuscicapidÊ, as the spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa grisola). The American flycatchers, or tyrant flycatchers, are Clamatores, and belong to the family TyrannidÊ, as the kingbird, pewee, crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), and the vermilion flycatcher or churinche (Pyrocephalus rubineus). Certain American flycatching warblers of the family SylvicolidÊ are also called flycatchers, as the Canadian flycatcher (Sylvania Canadensis), and the hooded flycatcher (S. mitrata). See Tyrant flycatcher.

Fly"-catch`ing, a. (Zoˆl.) Having the habit of catching insects on the wing.

Fly"er (?), n. [See Flier.] 1. One that uses wings.

2. The fly of a flag: See Fly, n., 6.

3. Anything that is scattered abroad in great numbers as a theatrical programme, an advertising leaf, etc.

4. (Arch.) One in a flight of steps which are parallel to each other(as in ordinary stairs), as distinguished from a winder.

5. The pair of arms attached to the spindle of a spinning frame, over which the thread passes to the bobbin; -- so called from their swift revolution. See Fly, n., 11.

6. The fan wheel that rotates the cap of a windmill as the wind veers. Internat. Cyc.

7. (Stock Jobbing) A small operation not involving ? considerable part of one's capital, or not in the line of one's ordinary business; a venture. [Cant] Bartlett.

Fly"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A California scorpÊnoid fish (Sebastichthys rhodochloris), having brilliant colors.

Fly"-fish, v. i. To angle, using flies for bait. Walton.

Fly"ing (?), a. [From Fly, v. i.] Moving in the air with, or as with, wings; moving lightly or rapidly; intended for rapid movement.

<! p. 577 !>

Flying army (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in motion, to cover its own garrisons and to keep the enemy in continual alarm. Farrow. --Flying artillery (Mil.), artillery trained to rapid evolutions, -- the men being either mounted or trained to spring upon the guns and caissons when they change position. -- Flying bridge, Flying camp. See under Bridge, and Camp. -- Flying buttress (Arch.), a contrivance for taking up the thrust of a roof or vault which can not be supported by ordinary buttresses. It consists of a straight bar of masonry, usually sloping, carried on an arch, and a solid pier or buttress sufficient to receive the thrust. The word is generally applied only to the straight bar with supporting arch. -- Flying colors, flags unfurled and waving in the air; hence: To come off with flying colors, to be victorious; to succeed thoroughly in an undertaking. -- Flying doe (Zoˆl.), a young female kangaroo. -- Flying dragon. (a) (Zoˆl.) See Dragon, 6. (b) A meteor. See under Dragon. -- Flying Dutchman. (a) A fabled Dutch mariner condemned for his crimes to sail the seas till the day of judgment. (b) A spectral ship. -- Flying fish. (Zoˆl.) See Flying fish, in the Vocabulary. -- Flying fox (Zoˆl.), the colugo. -- Flying frog (Zoˆl.), an East Indian tree frog of the genus Rhacophorus, having very large and broadly webbed feet, which serve as parachutes, and enable it to make very long leaps. -- Flying gurnard (Zoˆl.), a species of gurnard of the genus Cephalacanthus or Dactylopterus, with very large pectoral fins, said to be able to fly like the flying fish, but not for so great a distance. Three species are known; that of the Atlantic is Cephalacanthus volitans. -- Flying jib (Naut.), a sail extended outside of the standing jib, on the flying-jib boom. -- Flying-jib boom (Naut.), an extension of the jib boom. -- Flying kites (Naut.), light sails carried only in fine weather. -- Flying lemur. (Zoˆl.) See Colugo. -- Flying level (Civil Engin.), a reconnoissance level over the course of a projected road, canal, etc. -- Flying lizard. (Zoˆl.) See Dragon, n. 6. -- Flying machine, an apparatus for navigating the air; a form of balloon. -- Flying mouse (Zoˆl.), the opossum mouse (Acrobates pygmÊus), of Australia. It has lateral folds of skin, like the flying squirrels. -- Flying party (Mil.), a body of soldiers detailed to hover about an enemy. -- Flying phalanger (Zoˆl.), one of several species of small marsuupials of the genera Petaurus and Belideus, of Australia and New Guinea, having lateral folds like those of the flying squirrels. The sugar squirrel (B. sciureus), and the ariel (B. ariel), are the best known; -- called also squirrel petaurus and flying squirrel. See Sugar squirrel. -- Flying pinion, the fly of a clock. -- Flying sap (Mil.), the rapid construction of trenches (when the enemy's fire of case shot precludes the method of simple trenching), by means of gabions placed in juxtaposition and filled with earth. -- Flying shot, a shot fired at a moving object, as a bird on the wing. -- Flying spider. (Zoˆl.) See Ballooning spider. -- Flying squid (Zoˆl.), an oceanic squid (Ommastrephes, or Sthenoteuthis, Bartramii), abundant in the Gulf Stream, which is able to leap out of the water with such force that it often falls on the deck of a vessel. -- Flying squirrel (Zoˆl.) See Flying squirrel, in the Vocabulary. -- Flying start, a start in a sailing race in which the signal is given while the vessels are under way. -- Flying torch (Mil.), a torch attached to a long staff and used for signaling at night.

Fly"ing fish` (?). (Zoˆl.) A fish which is able to leap from the water, and fly a considerable distance by means of its large and long pectoral fins. These fishes belong to several species of the genus Exocútus, and are found in the warmer parts of all the oceans.

Fly"ing squir"rel (? or ?). (Zoˆl.) One of a group of squirrels, of the genera Pteromus and Sciuropterus, having parachute-like folds of skin extending from the fore to the hind legs, which enable them to make very long leaps.

The species of Pteromys are large, with bushy tails, and inhabit southern Asia and the East Indies; those of Sciuropterus are smaller, with flat tails, and inhabit the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America. The American species (Sciuropterus volucella) is also called Assapan. The Australian flying squirrels, or flying phalangers, are marsupials. See Flying phalanger (above).

Fly"man (?), n.; pl. Flymen (-men). The driver of a fly, or light public carriage.

Flysch (flsh), n. [A Swiss word, fr. G. fliessen to flow, melt.] (Geol.) A name given to the series of sandstones and schists overlying the true nummulitic formation in the Alps, and included in the Eocene Tertiary.

Fly"speck (fl?'sp?k), n. A speck or stain made by the excrement of a fly; hence, any insignificant dot.

Fly"speck (?), v. t. To soil with flyspecks.

Fly"trap (?), n. 1. A trap for catching flies. 2. (Bot.) A plant (DionÊa muscipula), called also Venus's flytrap, the leaves of which are fringed with stiff bristles, and fold together when certain hairs on their upper surface are touched, thus seizing insects that light on them. The insects so caught are afterwards digested by a secretion from the upper surface of the leaves.

Fnese (?), v. i. [AS. fn&?;san, gefn&?;san.] To breathe heavily; to snort. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fo (?), n. The Chinese name of Buddha.

Foal (fl), n. [OE. fole, AS. fola; akin to OHG. folo, G. fohlen, Goth. fula, Icel. foli, Sw. fÂle, Gr. pw^los, L. pullus a young animal. Cf. Filly, Poultry, Pullet.] (Zoˆ.) The young of any animal of the Horse family (EquidÊ); a colt; a filly.

Foal teeth (Zoˆl.), the first set of teeth of a horse. -- In foal, With foal, being with young; pregnant; -- said of a mare or she ass.

Foal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foaled (fld); p. pr. & vb. n. Foaling.] To bring forth (a colt); -- said of a mare or a she ass.

Foal, v. i. To bring forth young, as an animal of the horse kind.

Foal"foot` (-ft`), n. (Bot.) See Coltsfoot.

Foam (fm), n. [OE. fam, fom, AS. fm; akin to OHG. & G. feim.] The white substance, consisting of an aggregation of bubbles, which is formed on the surface of liquids, or in the mouth of an animal, by violent agitation or fermentation; froth; spume; scum; as, the foam of the sea.

Foam cock, in steam boilers, a cock at the water level, to blow off impurities.

Foam, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Foamed (fmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Foaming.] [AS. f?man. See Foam, n.] 1. To gather foam; to froth; as, the billows foam.

He foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth.

Mark ix. 18.

2. To form foam, or become filled with foam; -- said of a steam boiler when the water is unduly agitated and frothy, as because of chemical action.

Foam, v. t. To cause to foam; as, to foam the goblet; also (with out), to throw out with rage or violence, as foam. "Foaming out their own shame." Jude 13.

Foam"ing*ly (?), adv. With foam; frothily.

Foam"less, a. Having no foam.

Foam"y (-), a. Covered with foam; frothy; spumy.

Behold how high the foamy billows ride!

Dryden.

Fob (fb), n. [Cf. Prov. G. fuppe pocket.] A little pocket for a watch.

Fob chain, a short watch chain worn with a watch carried in the fob.

Fob (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fobbed (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Fobbing.] [Cf.Fop.]

1. To beat; to maul. [Obs.]

2. To cheat; to trick; to impose on. Shak.

To fob off, to shift off by an artifice; to put aside; to delude with a trick."A conspiracy of bishops could prostrate and fob off the right of the people." Milton.

Fo"cal (?), a. [Cf. F. focal. See Focus.] Belonging to,or concerning, a focus; as, a focal point.

Focal distance, or length, of a lens or mirror (Opt.), the distance of the focus from the surface of the lens or mirror, or more exactly, in the case of a lens, from its optical center. --Focal distance of a telescope, the distance of the image of an object from the object glass.

Fo`cal*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of focalizing or bringing to a focus, or the state of being focalized.

Fo"cal*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Focalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Focalizing (?).] To bring to a focus; to focus; to concentrate.

Light is focalized in the eye, sound in the ear.

De Quincey.

Foc"il*late (?), v. t. [L. focilatus, p. p. of focillare.] To nourish. [Obs.] Blount.

Foc`il*la"tion (?), n. Comfort; support. [Obs.]

Fo*cim"e*ter (?), n. [Focus + -meter.] (Photog.) An assisting instrument for focusing an object in or before a camera. Knight.

Fo"cus (?), n.; pl. E. Focuses (#), L. Foci (#). [L. focus hearth, fireplace; perh. akin to E. bake. Cf. Curfew, Fuel, Fusil the firearm.] 1. (Opt.) A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected or refracted, and at which the image is formed; as, the focus of a lens or mirror.

2. (Geom.) A point so related to a conic section and certain straight line called the directrix that the ratio of the distance between any point of the curve and the focus to the distance of the same point from the directrix is constant.

Thus, in the ellipse FGHKLM, A is the focus and CD the directrix, when the ratios FA:FE, GA:GD, MA:MC, etc., are all equal. So in the hyperbola, A is the focus and CD the directrix when the ratio HA:HK is constant for all points of the curve; and in the parabola, A is the focus and CD the directrix when the ratio BA:BC is constant. In the ellipse this ratio is less than unity, in the parabola equal to unity, and in the hyperbola greater than unity. The ellipse and hyperbola have each two foci, and two corresponding directrixes, and the parabola has one focus and one directrix. In the ellipse the sum of the two lines from any point of the curve to the two foci is constant; that is: AG+GB=AH+HB; and in the hyperbola the difference of the corresponding lines is constant. The diameter which passes through the foci of the ellipse is the major axis. The diameter which being produced passes through the foci of the hyperbola is the transverse axis. The middle point of the major or the transverse axis is the center of the curve. Certain other curves, as the lemniscate and the Cartesian ovals, have points called foci, possessing properties similar to those of the foci of conic sections. In an ellipse, rays of light coming from one focus, and reflected from the curve, proceed in lines directed toward the other; in an hyperbola, in lines directed from the other; in a parabola, rays from the focus, after reflection at the curve, proceed in lines parallel to the axis. Thus rays from A in the ellipse are reflected to B; rays from A in the hyperbola are reflected toward L and M away from B.

3. A central point; a point of concentration.

Aplanatic focus. (Opt.) See under Aplanatic. -- Conjugate focus (Opt.), the focus for rays which have a sensible divergence, as from a near object; -- so called because the positions of the object and its image are interchangeable. -- Focus tube (Phys.), a vacuum tube for Rúntgen rays in which the cathode rays are focused upon the anticathode, for intensifying the effect. -- Principal, or Solar, focus (Opt.), the focus for parallel rays.

Fo"cus (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Focused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Focusing.] To bring to a focus; to focalize; as, to focus a camera. R. Hunt.

Fod"der (fd"dr), n. [See 1st Fother.] A weight by which lead and some other metals were formerly sold, in England, varying from 19Ω to 24 cwt.; a fother. [Obs.]

Fod"der, n. [AS. fdder, fddor, fodder (also sheath case), fr. fda food; akin to D. voeder, OHG. fuotar, G. futter, Icel. fr, Sw. & Dan. foder. &radic;75. See Food and cf. Forage, Fur.] That which is fed out to cattle horses, and sheep, as hay, cornstalks, vegetables, etc.

Fod"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foddered (-drd); p. pr. & vb. n. Foddering.] To feed, as cattle, with dry food or cut grass, etc.; to furnish with hay, straw, oats, etc.

Fod"der*er (?), n. One who fodders cattle.

Fo"di*ent (?), a. [L. fodiens, p. pr. of fodere to dig.] Fitted for, or pertaining to, digging.

Fo"di*ent (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Fodientia.

Fo`di*en"ti*a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fodiens p. pr., digging.] (Zoˆl.) A group of African edentates including the aard-vark.

Foe (f), n. [OE. fo, fa, AS. fh hostile; prob. akin to E. fiend. &radic;81. See Fiend, and cf. Feud a quarrel.]

1. One who entertains personal enmity, hatred, grudge, or malice, against another; an enemy.

A man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Matt. x. 36

2. An enemy in war; a hostile army.

3. One who opposes on principle; an opponent; an adversary; an ill-wisher; as, a foe to religion.

A foe to received doctrines.

I. Watts

Foe (?), v. t. To treat as an enemy. [Obs.] Spenser.

Foe"hood (?), n. Enmity. Bp. Bedell.

Foe"man (f"man), n.; pl. Foemen (-men). [AS. fhman.] An enemy in war.

And the stern joy which warriors feel In foemen worthy of their steel.

Sir W. Scott

Fú"tal (?), a. Same as Fetal.

Fú*ta"tion (?), n. Same as Fetation.

Fú"ti*cide (?), n. Same as Feticide.

Fú"tor (?), n. Same as Fetor.

Fú"tus (?), n. Same as Fetus.

Fog (fg), n. [Cf. Scot. fog, fouge, moss, foggage rank grass, LL. fogagium, W. ffwg dry grass.] (Agric.) (a) A second growth of grass; aftergrass. (b) Dead or decaying grass remaining on land through the winter; -- called also foggage. [Prov.Eng.] Halliwell. Sometimes called, in New England, old tore. In Scotland, fog is a general name for moss.

Fog v. t. (Agric.) To pasture cattle on the fog, or aftergrass, of; to eat off the fog from.

Fog v. i. [Etymol. uncertain.] To practice in a small or mean way; to pettifog. [Obs.]

Where wouldst thou fog to get a fee?

Dryden.

Fog n. [Dan. sneefog snow falling thick, drift of snow, driving snow, cf. Icel. fok spray, snowdrift, fjk snowstorm, fjka to drift.] 1. Watery vapor condensed in the lower part of the atmosphere and disturbing its transparency. It differs from cloud only in being near the ground, and from mist in not approaching so nearly to fine rain. See Cloud.

2. A state of mental confusion.

Fog alarm, Fog bell, Fog horn, etc., a bell, horn, whistle or other contrivance that sounds an alarm, often automatically, near places of danger where visible signals would be hidden in thick weather. - - Fog bank, a mass of fog resting upon the sea, and resembling distant land. -- Fog ring, a bank of fog arranged in a circular form, -- often seen on the coast of Newfoundland.

Fog (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fogged (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Fogging (#).] To envelop, as with fog; to befog; to overcast; to darken; to obscure.

Fog (?), v. i. (Photog.) To show indistinctly or become indistinct, as the picture on a negative sometimes does in the process of development.

Foge (?), n. The Cornish name for a forge used for smelting tin. Raymond

Fo'gey (?), n. See Fogy.

Fog'gage (?; 48), n. (Agric.) See 1st Fog.

Fog'ger (?), n. One who fogs; a pettifogger. [Obs.]

A beggarly fogger.

Terence in English(1614)

Fog"gi*ly (?), adv. In a foggy manner; obscurely. Johnson.

Fog"gi*ness (?), n. The state of being foggy. Johnson.

Fog"gy (?), a. [Compar. Foggier (?); superl. Foggiest.] [From 4th Fog.] 1. Filled or abounding with fog, or watery exhalations; misty; as, a foggy atmosphere; a foggy morning. Shak.

<! p. 578 !>

2. Beclouded; dull; obscure; as, foggy ideas.

Your coarse, foggy, drowsy conceit.

Hayward.

Fo"gie (?), n. See Fogy.

Fog"less (?), a. Without fog; clear. Kane.

Fo"gy (?), n.; pl. Fogies (&?;). A dull old fellow; a person behind the times, over-conservative, or slow; -- usually preceded by old. [Written also fogie and fogey.] [Colloq.]

Notorious old bore; regular old fogy.

Thackeray.

The word is said to be connected with the German vogt, a guard or protector. By others it is regarded as a diminutive of folk (cf. D. volkje). It is defined by Jamieson, in his Scottish Dictionary, as "an invalid or garrison soldier," and is applied to the old soldiers of the Royal Hospital at Dublin, which is called the Fogies' Hospital. In the fixed habits of such persons we see the origin of the present use of the term. Sir F. Head.

Fo"gy*ism (?), n. The principles and conduct of a fogy. [Colloq.]

Foh (?), interj. [Cf. Faugh.] An exclamation of abhorrence or contempt; poh; fie. Shak.

Fo"hist (?), n. A Buddhist priest. See Fo.

Foi"ble (?), a. [OF. foible. See Feeble.] Weak; feeble. [Obs.] Lord Herbert.

Foi"ble (?), n. 1. A moral weakness; a failing; a weak point; a frailty.

A disposition radically noble and generous, clouded and overshadowed by superficial foibles.

De Quincey.

2. The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; -- opposed to forte. [Written also faible.]

Syn. -- Fault; imperfection; failing; weakness; infirmity; frailty; defect. See Fault.

Foil (foil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foiled (foild); p. pr. & vb. n. Foiling.] [F. fouler to tread or trample under one's feet, to press, oppress. See Full, v. t.] 1. To tread under foot; to trample.

King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down and foiled under foot.

Knoless.

Whom he did all to pieces breake and foyle, In filthy durt, and left so in the loathely soyle.

Spenser.

2. To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.

And by &?; mortal man at length am foiled.

Dryden.

Her long locks that foil the painter's power.

Byron.

3. To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase. Addison.

Foil, v. t. [See 6th File.] To defile; to soil. [Obs.]

Foil, n. 1. Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat; frustration; miscarriage. Milton.

Nor e'er was fate so near a foil.

Dryden.

2. A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point.

Blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not.

Shak.

Isocrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a word.

Mitford.

3. The track or trail of an animal.

To run a foil,to lead astray; to puzzle; -- alluding to the habits of some animals of running back over the same track to mislead their pursuers. Brewer.

Foil, n. [OE. foil leaf, OF. foil, fuil, fueil, foille, fueille, F. feuille, fr. L. folium, pl. folia; akin to Gr. &?; , and perh. to E. blade. Cf. Foliage, Folio.] 1. A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold foil.

2. (Jewelry) A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; -- employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and inferior stones. Ure.

3. Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or set off another thing to advantage.

As she a black silk cap on him began To set, for foil of his milk-white to serve.

Sir P. Sidney.

Hector has a foil to set him off.

Broome.

4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a looking-glass, to cause reflection.

5. (Arch.) The space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a rounded or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc. A group of foils is called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc., according to the number of arcs of which it is composed.

Foil stone, an imitation of a jewel or precious stone.

Foil"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being foiled.

Foil"er (?), n. One who foils or frustrates. Johnson.

Foil"ing, n. (Arch.) A foil. Simmonds.

Foil"ing, n. [Cf. F. foulÈes. See 1st Foil.] (Hunting) The track of game (as deer) in the grass.

Foin (foin), n. [F. fouine a marten.] 1. (Zoˆl.) The beech marten (Mustela foina). See Marten.

2. A kind of fur, black at the top on a whitish ground, taken from the ferret or weasel of the same name.[Obs.]

He came to the stake in a fair black gown furred and faced with foins.

Fuller.

Foin, v. i. [OE. foinen, foignen; of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. fouiner to push for eels with a spear, fr. F. fouine an eelspear, perh. fr. L. fodere to dig, thrust.] To thrust with a sword or spear; to lunge. [Obs.]

He stroke, he soused, he foynd, he hewed, he lashed.

Spenser.

They lash, they foin, they pass, they strive to bore Their corselets, and the thinnest parts explore.

Dryden.

Foin, v. t. To prick; to st?ng. [Obs.] Huloet.

Foin, n. A pass in fencing; a lunge. [Obs.] Shak.

Foin"er*y (?), n. Thrusting with the foil; fencing with the point, as distinguished from broadsword play. [Obs.] Marston.

Foin"ing*ly (?), adv. With a push or thrust. [Obs.]

Foi"son (?), n. [F. foison, fr. L. fusio a pouring, effusion. See Fusion.] Rich harvest; plenty; abundance. [Archaic] Lowell.

That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison.

Shak.

Foist (foist), n. [OF. fuste stick, boat, fr. L. fustis cudgel. Cf. 1st Fust.] A light and fast-sailing ship. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Foist, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Foisting.] [Cf. OD. vysten to fizzle, D. veesten, E. fizz, fitchet, bullfist.] To insert surreptitiously, wrongfully, or without warrant; to interpolate; to pass off (something spurious or counterfeit) as genuine, true, or worthy; -- usually followed by in.

Lest negligence or partiality might admit or foist in abuses and corruption.

R. Carew.

When a scripture has been corrupted . . . by a supposititious foisting of some words in.

South.

Foist, n. 1. A foister; a sharper. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

2. A trick or fraud; a swindle. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Foist"er (?), n. One who foists something surreptitiously; a falsifier. Mir. for Mag.

Foist"ied (?), a. [See 2d Fust.] Fusty. [Obs.]

Foist"i*ness (?), n. Fustiness; mustiness. [Obs.]

Foist"y (?), a. Fusty; musty. [Obs.] Johnson.

Fold (fld), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Folded; p. pr. & vb. n. Folding.] [OE. folden, falden, AS. fealdan; akin to OHG. faltan, faldan, G. falten, Icel. falda, Dan. folde, Sw. fÂlla, Goth. fal˛an, cf. Gr. di- pla`sios twofold, Skr. pua a fold. Cf. Fauteuil.] 1. To lap or lay in plaits or folds; to lay one part over another part of; to double; as, to fold cloth; to fold a letter. [1913 Webster]

As a vesture shalt thou fold them up.

Heb. i. 12.

2. To double or lay together, as the arms or the hands; as, he folds his arms in despair.

3. To inclose within folds or plaitings; to envelop; to infold; to clasp; to embrace.

A face folded in sorrow.

J. Webster.

We will descend and fold him in our arms.

Shak.

4. To cover or wrap up; to conceal.

Nor fold my fault in cleanly coined excuses.

Shak.

Fold, v. i. To become folded, plaited, or doubled; to close over another of the same kind; to double together; as, the leaves of the door fold. 1 Kings vi. 34.

Fold, n. [From Fold, v. In sense 2 AS. -feald, akin to fealdan to fold.] 1. A doubling,esp. of any flexible substance; a part laid over on another part; a plait; a plication.

Mummies . . . shrouded in a number of folds of linen.

Bacon.

Folds are most common in the rocks of mountainous regions.

J. D. Dana.

2. Times or repetitions; -- used with numerals, chiefly in composition, to denote multiplication or increase in a geometrical ratio, the doubling, tripling, etc., of anything; as, fourfold, four times, increased in a quadruple ratio, multiplied by four.

3. That which is folded together, or which infolds or envelops; embrace.

Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold.

Shak.

Fold net, a kind of net used in catching birds.

Fold, n. [OE. fald, fold, AS. fald, falod.] 1. An inclosure for sheep; a sheep pen.

Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold.

Milton.

2. A flock of sheep; figuratively, the Church or a church; as, Christ's fold.

There shall be one fold and one shepherd.

John x. 16.

The very whitest lamb in all my fold.

Tennyson.

3. A boundary; a limit. [Obs.] Creech.

Fold yard, an inclosure for sheep or cattle.

Fold, v. t. To confine in a fold, as sheep.

Fold, v. i. To confine sheep in a fold. [R.]

The star that bids the shepherd fold.

Milton.

Fold"age, (&?;) n. [See Fold inclosure, Faldage.] (O.Eng.Law.) See Faldage.

Fold"er (?), n. One who, or that which, folds; esp., a flat, knifelike instrument used for folding paper.

Fol"de*rol` (?), n. Nonsense. [Colloq.]

Fold"ing (?), n. 1. The act of making a fold or folds; also, a fold; a doubling; a plication.

The lower foldings of the vest.

Addison.

2. (Agric.) The keepig of sheep in inclosures on arable land, etc.

Folding boat, a portable boat made by stretching canvas, etc., over jointed framework, used in campaigning, and by tourists, etc. Ham. Nav. Encyc.

Folding chair, a chair which may be shut up compactly for carriage or stowage; a camp chair. -- Folding door, one of two or more doors filling a single and hung upon hinges.

Fold"less, a. Having no fold. Milman.

Fo`li*a"ceous (?), a. [L. foliaceus, fr. folium leaf.] 1. (Bot.) Belonging to, or having the texture or nature of, a leaf; having leaves intermixed with flowers; as, a foliaceous spike.

2. (Min.) Consisting of leaves or thin laminÊ; having the form of a leaf or plate; as, foliaceous spar.

3. (Zoˆl.) Leaflike in form or mode of growth; as, a foliaceous coral.

Fo"li*age (?), n. [OF. foillage, fueillage, F. feuillage, fr. OF. foille, fueille, fueil, F. feulle, leaf, L. folium. See 3d Foil, and cf. Foliation, Filemot.]

1. Leaves, collectively, as produced or arranged by nature; leafage; as, a tree or forest of beautiful foliage.

2. A cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches; especially, the representation of leaves, flowers, and branches, in architecture, intended to ornament and enrich capitals, friezes, pediments, etc.

Foliage plant (Bot.), any plant cultivated for the beauty of its leaves, as many kinds of Begonia and Coleus.

Fo"li*age (?), v. t. To adorn with foliage or the imitation of foliage; to form into the representation of leaves. [R.] Drummond.

Fo"li*aged (?), a. Furnished with foliage; leaved; as, the variously foliaged mulberry.

Fo"li*ar (?), a. (Bot.) Consisting of, or pertaining to, leaves; as, foliar appendages.

Foliar gap (Bot.), an opening in the fibrovascular system of a stem at the point of origin of a leaf. -- Foliar trace (Bot.), a particular fibrovascular bundle passing down into the stem from a leaf.

Fo"li*ate (&?;), a. [L. foliatus leaved, leafy, fr. folium leaf. See Foliage.] (Bot.) Furnished with leaves; leafy; as, a foliate stalk.

Foliate curve. (Geom.) Same as Folium.

Fo"li*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foliated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foliating (?).] 1. To beat into a leaf, or thin plate. Bacon.

2. To spread over with a thin coat of tin and quicksilver; as, to foliate a looking-glass.

Fo"li*a`ted (?), a. 1. Having leaves, or leaflike projections; as, a foliated shell.

2. (Arch.) Containing, or consisting of, foils; as, a foliated arch.

3. (Min.) Characterized by being separable into thin plates or folia; as, graphite has a foliated structure.

4. (Geol.) Laminated, but restricted to the variety of laminated structure found in crystalline schist, as mica schist, etc.; schistose.

5. Spread over with an amalgam of tin and quicksilver.

Foliated telluium. (Min.) See Nagyagite.

Fo"li*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. foliation.] 1. The process of forming into a leaf or leaves.

2. The manner in which the young leaves are dispo&?;ed within the bud.

The . . . foliation must be in relation to the stem.

De Quincey.

3. The act of beating a metal into a thin plate, leaf, foil, or lamina.

4. The act of coating with an amalgam of tin foil and quicksilver, as in making looking-glasses.

5. (Arch.) The enrichment of an opening by means of foils, arranged in trefoils, quatrefoils, etc.; also, one of the ornaments. See Tracery.

6. (Geol.) The property, possessed by some crystalline rocks, of dividing into plates or slabs, which is due to the cleavage structure of one of the constituents, as mica or hornblende. It may sometimes include slaty structure or cleavage, though the latter is usually independent of any mineral constituent, and transverse to the bedding, it having been produced by pressure.

Fo"li*a*ture (?), n. [L. foliatura foliage.] 1. Foliage; leafage. [Obs.] Shuckford.

2. The state of being beaten into foil. Johnson.

Fo"li*er (?), n. Goldsmith's foil. [R.] Sprat.

Fo*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L. folium leaf+ -ferous: cf. F. foliifËre.] Producing leaves. [Written also foliiferous.]

Fol"i*ly (?), a. Foolishly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fol"io (?), n.; pl. Folios (#). [Ablative of L. folium leaf. See 4th Foil.] 1. A leaf of a book or manuscript.

2. A sheet of paper once folded.

3. A book made of sheets of paper each folded once (four pages to the sheet); hence, a book of the largest kind. See Note under Paper.

4. (Print.) The page number. The even folios are on the left-hand pages and the odd folios on the right- hand.

5. A page of a book; (Bookkeeping) a page in an account book; sometimes, two opposite pages bearing the same serial number.

6. (Law) A leaf containing a certain number of words, hence, a certain number of words in a writing, as in England, in law proceedings 72, and in chancery, 90; in New York, 100 words.

Folio post, a flat writing paper, usually 17 by 24 inches.

Fol"io, v. t. To put a serial number on each folio or page of (a book); to page.

Fol"io, a. Formed of sheets each folded once, making two leaves, or four pages; as, a folio volume. See Folio, n., 3.

Fo"li*o*late (?), a. Of or pertaining to leaflets; -- used in composition; as, bi- foliolate. Gray.

Fo"li*ole (?), n. [Dim. of L. folium leaf: cf. F. foliole.] (Bot.) One of the distinct parts of a compound leaf; a leaflet.

Fo`li*o*mort" (?), a. See Feuillemort.

Fo`li*ose" (?), a. [L. foliosus, fr. folium leaf.] (Bot.) Having many leaves; leafy.

Fo`li*os"i*ty (?), n. The ponderousness or bulk of a folio; voluminousness. [R.] De Quincey.

Fo"li*ous (&?;), a. [See Foliose.] 1. Like a leaf; thin; unsubstantial. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

2. (Bot.) Foliose. [R.]

Fo"li*um (?), n.; pl. E. Foliums (#), L. Folia (#). [L., a leaf.] 1. A leaf, esp. a thin leaf or plate.

2. (Geom.) A curve of the third order, consisting of two infinite branches, which have a common asymptote. The curve has a double point, and a leaf-shaped loop; whence the name. Its equation is x3 + y3 = axy.

<! p. 579 !>

{ Folk (fk), Folks (fks) }, n. collect. & pl. [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS. & OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. flk, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd, and perh. to E. follow.] 1. (Eng. Hist.) In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or villages; a community; a tribe. [Obs.]

The organization of each folk, as such, sprang mainly from war.

J. R. Green.

2. People in general, or a separate class of people; -- generally used in the plural form, and often with a qualifying adjective; as, the old folks; poor folks. [Colloq.]

In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire With good old folks, and let them tell thee tales.

Shak.

3. The persons of one's own family; as, our folks are all well. [Colloq. New Eng.] Bartlett.

Folk song, one of a class of songs long popular with the common people. -- Folk speech, the speech of the common people, as distinguished from that of the educated class.

Folk"land` (?), n. [AS. folcland.] (O.Eng. Law) Land held in villenage, being distributed among the folk, or people, at the pleasure of the lord of the manor, and resumed at his discretion. Not being held by any assurance in writing, it was opposed to bookland or charter land, which was held by deed. Mozley & W.

{ Folk"lore` (?), n., or Folk" lore` }. Tales, legends, or superstitions long current among the people. Trench.

Folk"mote` (?), n. [AS. folcmt folk meeting.] An assembly of the people; esp. (Sax. Law), a general assembly of the people to consider and order matters of the commonwealth; also, a local court. [Hist.]

To which folkmote they all with one consent Agreed to travel.

Spenser.

Folk"mot`er (?), n. One who takes part in a folkmote, or local court. [Obs.] Milton.

Fol"li*cle (?), n. [L. folliculus a small bag, husk, pod, dim of follis bellows, an inflated ball, a leathern money bag, perh. akin to E. bellows: cf. F. follicule. Cf. 2d Fool.] 1. (Bot.) A simple podlike pericarp which contains several seeds and opens along the inner or ventral suture, as in the peony, larkspur and milkweed.

2. (Anat.) (a) A small cavity, tubular depression, or sac; as, a hair follicle. (b) A simple gland or glandular cavity; a crypt. (c) A small mass of adenoid tissue; as, a lymphatic follicle.

Fol*lic"u*lar (?), a. 1. Like, pertaining to, or consisting of, a follicles or follicles.

2. (Med.) Affecting the follicles; as, follicular pharyngitis.

Fol*lic"u*la`ted (?), a. Having follicles.

Fol*lic"u*lous (?), a. [L. folliculosus full of husks: cf. F. folliculeux.] Having or producing follicles.

Fol"li*ful (?), a. Full of folly. [Obs.]

Fol"low (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Followed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Following.][OE. foluwen, folwen, folgen, AS. folgian, fylgean, fylgan; akin to D. volgen, OHG. folg&?;n, G. folgen, Icel. fylgja, Sw. fˆlja, Dan. fˆlge, and perh. to E. folk.] 1. To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction; hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend.

It waves me forth again; I'll follow it.

Shak.

2. To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to pursue; to prosecute.

I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them.

Ex. xiv. 17.

3. To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice.

Approve the best, and follow what I approve

. Milton.

Follow peace with all men.

Heb. xii. 14.

It is most agreeable to some men to follow their reason; and to others to follow their appetites.

J. Edwards.

4. To copy after; to take as an example.

We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than in defects resemble them whom we love.

Hooker.

5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office.

6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a premise.

7. To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech, musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or argument.

He followed with his eyes the flitting shade.

Dryden.

8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a profession or calling.

O, had I but followed the arts!

Shak.

O Antony! I have followed thee to this.

Shak.

Follow board (Founding), a board on which the pattern and the flask lie while the sand is rammed into the flask. Knight. -- To follow the hounds, to hunt with dogs. -- To follow suit (Card Playing), to play a card of the same suit as the leading card; hence, colloquially, to follow an example set. -- To follow up, to pursue indefatigably.

Syn.- To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany; succeed; imitate; copy; embrace; maintain. - To Follow, Pursue. To follow (v.t.) denotes simply to go after; to pursue denotes to follow with earnestness, and with a view to attain some definite object; as, a hound pursues the deer. So a person follows a companion whom he wishes to overtake on a journey; the officers of justice pursue a felon who has escaped from prison.

Fol"low, v. i. To go or come after; -- used in the various senses of the transitive verb: To pursue; to attend; to accompany; to be a result; to imitate.

Syn.- To Follow, Succeed, Ensue. To follow (v.i.) means simply to come after; as, a crowd followed. To succeed means to come after in some regular series or succession; as, day succeeds to day, and night to night. To ensue means to follow by some established connection or principle of sequence. As wave follows wave, revolution succeeds to revolution; and nothing ensues but accumulated wretchedness.

Fol"low*er (?), n. [OE. folwere, AS. folgere.] 1. One who follows; a pursuer; an attendant; a disciple; a dependent associate; a retainer.

2. A sweetheart; a beau. [Colloq.] A. Trollope.

3. (Steam Engine) (a) The removable flange, or cover, of a piston. See Illust. of Piston. (b) A gland. See Illust. of Stuffing box.

4. (Mach.) The part of a machine that receives motion from another part. See Driver.

5. Among law stationers, a sheet of parchment or paper which is added to the first sheet of an indenture or other deed.

Syn. -- Imitator; copier; disciple; adherent; partisan; dependent; attendant.

Fol"low*ing (?), n. 1. One's followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively. Macaulay.

2. Vocation; business; profession.

Fol"low*ing, a. 1. Next after; succeeding; ensuing; as, the assembly was held on the following day.

2. (Astron.) (In the field of a telescope) In the direction from which stars are apparently moving (in consequence of the earth's rotation); as, a small star, north following or south following. In the direction toward which stars appear to move is called preceding.

The four principal directions in the field of a telescope are north, south, following, preceding.

Fol"ly (?), n.; pl. Follies (#). [OE. folie, foli, F. folie, fr. fol, fou, foolish, mad. See Fool.] 1. The state of being foolish; want of good sense; levity, weakness, or derangement of mind.

2. A foolish act; an inconsiderate or thoughtless procedure; weak or light-minded conduct; foolery.

What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill.

Shak.

3. Scandalous crime; sin; specifically, as applied to a woman, wantonness.

[Achan] wrought folly in Israel.

Josh. vii. 15.

When lovely woman stoops to folly.

Goldsmith.

4. The result of a foolish action or enterprise.

It is called this man's or that man's "folly," and name of the foolish builder is thus kept alive for long after years.

Trench.

Fol"we (?), v. t. To follow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fo"mal*haut` (?), n. [Ar., prop., mouth of the large fish: cf. F. Fomalhaut.] (Astron.) A star of the first magnitude, in the constellation Piscis Australis, or Southern Fish.

Fo*ment" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fomenting.] [F. fomenter, fr. L. fomentare, fr. fomentum (for fovimentum) a warm application or lotion, fr. fovere to warm or keep warm; perh. akin to Gr. &?; to roast, and E. bake.] 1. To apply a warm lotion to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge wet with warm water or medicated liquid.

2. To cherish with heat; to foster. [Obs.]

Which these soft fires . . . foment and warm.

Milton.

3. To nurse to life or activity; to cherish and promote by excitements; to encourage; to abet; to instigate; -- used often in a bad sense; as, to foment ill humors. Locke.

But quench the choler you foment in vain.

Dryden.

Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion.

Southey.

Fo`men*ta"tion (?), n. [&?;. fomentatio: cf. F. fomentation.] 1. (Med.) (a) The act of fomenting; the application of warm, soft, medicinal substances, as for the purpose of easing pain, by relaxing the skin, or of discussing tumors. (b) The lotion applied to a diseased part.

2. Excitation; instigation; encouragement.

Dishonest fomentation of your pride.

Young.

Fo*ment"er (?), n. One who foments; one who encourages or instigates; as, a fomenter of sedition.

||Fo"mes (f"mz), n.; pl. Fomites (fm"*tz). [L. fomes, -itis, ||touch-wood, tinder.] (Med.) Any substance supposed to be capable of ||absorbing, retaining, and transporting contagious or infectious ||germs; as, woolen clothes are said to be active fomites.

Fon (fn), n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. fni silly, fna to act silly, Sw. fÂne fool. Cf. Fond, a.] A fool; an idiot. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fond (?), obs. imp. of Find. Found. Chaucer.

Fond, a. [Compar. Fonder (?); superl. Fondest.] [For fonned, p. p. of OE. fonnen to be foolish. See Fon.] 1. Foolish; silly; simple; weak. [Archaic]

Grant I may never prove so fond To trust man on his oath or bond.

Shak.

2. Foolishly tender and loving; weakly indulgent; over-affectionate.

3. Affectionate; loving; tender; -- in a good sense; as, a fond mother or wife. Addison.

4. Loving; much pleased; affectionately regardful, indulgent, or desirous; longing or yearning; -- followed by of (formerly also by on).

More fond on her than she upon her love.

Shak.

You are as fond of grief as of your child.

Shak.

A great traveler, and fond of telling his adventures.

Irving.

5. Doted on; regarded with affection. [R.]

Nor fix on fond abodes to circumscribe thy prayer.

Byron.

6. Trifling; valued by folly; trivial. [Obs.] Shak.

Fond, v. t. To caress; to fondle. [Obs.]

The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast.

Dryden.

Fond, v. i. To be fond; to dote. [Obs.] Shak.

Fond"e (?), v. t. & i. [AS. fandian to try.] To endeavor; to strive; to try. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fon"dle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fondled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fondling (?).] [From Fond, v.] To treat or handle with tenderness or in a loving manner; to caress; as, a nurse fondles a child.

Syn. -- See Caress.

Fon"dler (?), n. One who fondles. Johnson.

Fon"dling (?), n. [From Fondle.] The act of caressing; manifestation of tenderness.

Cyrus made no . . . amorous fondling To fan her pride, or melt her guardless heart.

Mickle.

Fond"ling (?), n. [Fond + - ling.] 1. A person or thing fondled or caressed; one treated with foolish or doting affection.

Fondlings are in danger to be made fools.

L'Estrange.

2. A fool; a simpleton; a ninny. [Obs.] Chapman.

Fond"ly (?), adv. 1. Foolishly. [Archaic] Verstegan (1673).

Make him speak fondly like a frantic man.

Shak.

2. In a fond manner; affectionately; tenderly.

My heart, untraveled, fondly turns to thee.

Goldsmith.

Fond"ness, n. 1. The quality or state of being fond; foolishness. [Obs.]

Fondness it were for any, being free, To covet fetters, though they golden be.

Spenser.

2. Doting affection; tender liking; strong appetite, propensity, or relish; as, he had a fondness for truffles.

My heart had still some foolish fondness for thee.

Addison.

Syn. -- Attachment; affection; love; kindness.

Fon"don (?), n. [Cf. F. fondant flux.] (Metal.) A large copper vessel used for hot amalgamation.

||Fon`dus" (?), n. [F. fondu, prop. p. p. of fondre to melt, blend. See ||Found to cast.] A style of printing calico, paper hangings, etc., in ||which the colors are in bands and graduated into each other. Ure.

Fone (?), n.; pl. of Foe. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fong"e (?), v. t. [See Fang, v. t.] To take; to receive. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fon"ly (?), adv. [See Fon.] Foolishly; fondly. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fon"ne (?), n. A fon. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Font (?), n. [F. fonte, fr. fondre to melt or cast. See Found to cast, and cf. Fount a font.] (Print.) A complete assortment of printing type of one size, including a due proportion of all the letters in the alphabet, large and small, points, accents, and whatever else is necessary for printing with that variety of types; a fount.

Font, n. [AS. font, fant, fr. L. fons, fontis, spring, fountain; cf. OF. font, funt, F. fonts, fonts baptismaux, pl. See Fount.] 1. A fountain; a spring; a source.

Bathing forever in the font of bliss.

Young.

2. A basin or stone vessel in which water is contained for baptizing.

That name was given me at the font.

Shak.

Font"al (?), a. Pertaining to a font, fountain, source, or origin; original; primitive. [R.]

From the fontal light of ideas only can a man draw intellectual power.

Coleridge.

Fon"ta*nel` (?), n. [F. fontanelle, prop., a little fountain, fr. fontaine fountain. See Fountain.] 1. (Med.) An issue or artificial ulcer for the discharge of humors from the body.[Obs.] Wiseman.

2. (Anat.) One of the membranous intervals between the incompleted angles of the parietal and neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull; -- so called because it exhibits a rhythmical pulsation.

In the human fetus there are six fontanels, of which the anterior, or bregmatic, situated at the junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures, is much the largest, and remains open a considerable time after birth.

||Fon`ta`nelle" (?), n. [F.] (Anat.) Same as Fontanel, 2.

||Fon`tange" (?), n. [F., from the name of the first wearer, Mlle. de ||Fontanges, about 1679.] A kind of tall headdress formerly worn. ||Addison.

Food (?), n. [OE. fode, AS. fda; akin to Icel. fÊa, fÊi, Sw. fˆda, Dan. & LG. fˆde, OHG. fatunga, Gr. patei^sthai to eat, and perh. to Skr. p to protect, L. pascere to feed, pasture, pabulum food, E. pasture. &radic;75. Cf. Feed, Fodder food, Foster to cherish.] 1. What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for nourishment.

In a physiological sense, true aliment is to be distinguished as that portion of the food which is capable of being digested and absorbed into the blood, thus furnishing nourishment, in distinction from the indigestible matter which passes out through the alimentary canal as fÊces.

Foods are divided into two main groups: nitrogenous, or proteid, foods, i.e., those which contain nitrogen, and nonnitrogenous, i.e., those which do not contain nitrogen. The latter group embraces the fats and carbohydrates, which collectively are sometimes termed heat producers or respiratory foods, since by oxidation in the body they especially subserve the production of heat. The proteids, on the other hand, are known as plastic foods or tissue formers, since no tissue can be formed without them. These latter terms, however, are misleading, since proteid foods may also give rise to heat both directly and indirectly, and the fats and carbohydrates are useful in other ways than in producing heat.

2. Anything that instructs the intellect, excites the feelings, or molds habits of character; that which nourishes.

This may prove food to my displeasure.

Shak.

In this moment there is life and food For future years.

Wordsworth.

Food is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds, as in food fish or food-fish, food supply.

Food vacuole (Zoˆl.), one of the spaces in the interior of a protozoan in which food is contained, during digestion. -- Food yolk. (Biol.) See under Yolk.

Syn. -- Aliment; sustenance; nutriment; feed; fare; victuals; provisions; meat.

Food, v. t. To supply with food. [Obs.] Baret.

<! p. 580 !>

Food"ful (?), a. Full of food; supplying food; fruitful; fertile. "The foodful earth." Dryden.

Bent by its foodful burden [the corn].

Glover.

Food"less, a. Without food; barren. Sandys.

Food"y (?), a. Eatable; fruitful. [R.] Chapman.

Fool (?), n. [Cf. F. fouler to tread, crush. Cf. 1st Foil.] A compound of gooseberries scalded and crushed, with cream; -- commonly called gooseberry fool.

Fool, n. [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball; perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. Folly, Follicle.] 1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding; an idiot; a natural.

2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a simpleton; a dolt.

Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools.

Milton.

Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.

Franklin.

3. (Script.) One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked person.

The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Ps. xiv. 1.

4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in motley, with ridiculous accouterments.

Can they think me . . . their fool or jester?

Milton.

April fool, Court fool, etc. See under April, Court, etc. -- Fool's cap, a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached, formerly worn by professional jesters. -- Fool's errand, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or undertaking. -- Fool's gold, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color. -- Fool's paradise, a name applied to a limbo (see under Limbo) popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence, any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction. -- Fool's parsley (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant (∆thusa Cynapium) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous. -- To make a fool of, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame. [Colloq.] -- To play the fool, to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. "I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." 1 Sam. xxvi. 21.

Fool, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fooled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fooling.] To play the fool; to trifle; to toy; to spend time in idle sport or mirth.

Is this a time for fooling?

Dryden.

Fool, v. t. 1. To infatuate; to make foolish. Shak.

For, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit.

Dryden.

2. To use as a fool; to deceive in a shameful or mortifying manner; to impose upon; to cheat by inspiring foolish confidence; as, to fool one out of his money.

You are fooled, discarded, and shook off By him for whom these shames ye underwent.

Shak.

To fool away, to get rid of foolishly; to spend in trifles, idleness, folly, or without advantage.

Foo"lahs` (?), n. pl.; sing. Foolah. (Ethnol.) Same as Fulahs.

Fool"-born` (?), a. Begotten by a fool. Shak.

Fool"er*y (?), n.; pl. Fooleries (&?;). 1. The practice of folly; the behavior of a fool; absurdity.

Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, As foolery in the wise, when wit doth dote.

Shak.

2. An act of folly or weakness; a foolish practice; something absurd or nonsensical.

That Pythagoras, Plato, or Orpheus, believed in any of these fooleries, it can not be suspected.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Fool"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) The orange filefish. See Filefish. (b) The winter flounder. See Flounder.

Fool"-hap`py (?), a. Lucky, without judgment or contrivance. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fool"har`di*hood (?), n. The state of being foolhardy; foolhardiness.

Fool"har`di*ly, adv. In a foolhardy manner.

Fool"har`di*ness, n. Courage without sense or judgment; foolish rashness; recklessness. Dryden.

Fool"har`dise (?), n. [Fool, F. fol, fou + F. hardiesse boldness.] Foolhardiness. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fool"har`dy (?), a. [OF. folhardi. See Fool idiot, and Hardy.] Daring without judgment; foolishly adventurous and bold. Howell.

Syn. -- Rash; venturesome; venturous; precipitate; reckless; headlong; incautious. See Rash.

Fool"-has`ty (?), a. Foolishly hasty. [R.]

Fool"i*fy (?), v. t. [Fool + -fy.] To make a fool of; to befool. [R.] Holland.

Fool"ish, a. 1. Marked with, or exhibiting, folly; void of understanding; weak in intellect; without judgment or discretion; silly; unwise.

I am a very foolish fond old man.

Shak.

2. Such as a fool would do; proceeding from weakness of mind or silliness; exhibiting a want of judgment or discretion; as, a foolish act.

3. Absurd; ridiculous; despicable; contemptible.

A foolish figure he must make.

Prior.

Syn. -- Absurd; shallow; shallow-brained; brainless; simple; irrational; unwise; imprudent; indiscreet; incautious; silly; ridiculous; vain; trifling; contemptible. See Absurd.

Fool"ish*ly, adv. In a foolish manner.

Fool"ish*ness, n. 1. The quality of being foolish.

2. A foolish practice; an absurdity.

The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.

1 Cor. i. 18.

Fool"-large` (?), a. [OF. follarge. See Fool, and Large.] Foolishly liberal. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fool"-lar*gesse` (?), n. [See Fool- large, Largess.] Foolish expenditure; waste. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fools"cap` (?), n. [So called from the watermark of a fool's cap and bells used by old paper makers. See Fool's cap, under Fool.] A writing paper made in sheets, ordinarily 16 x 13 inches, and folded so as to make a page 13 x 8 inches. See Paper.

Foot (ft), n.; pl. Feet (ft). [OE. fot, foot, pl. fet, feet. AS. ft, pl. ft; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. ftr, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. ftus, L. pes, Gr. poy`s, Skr. pd, Icel. fet step, pace measure of a foot, feta to step, find one's way. &radic;77, 250. Cf. Antipodes, Cap-a-pie, Expedient, Fet to fetch, Fetlock, Fetter, Pawn a piece in chess, Pedal.] 1. (Anat.) The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.

2. (Zoˆl.) The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.

3. That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.

4. The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain or column; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed.

And now at foot Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet.

Milton.

5. Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular.

Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason.

Berkeley.

6. Recognized condition; rank; footing; -- used only in the singular. [R.]

As to his being on the foot of a servant.

Walpole.

7. A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See Yard.

This measure is supposed to be taken from the length of a man's foot. It differs in length in different countries. In the United States and in England it is 304.8 millimeters.

8. (Mil.) Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry. "Both horse and foot." Milton.

9. (Pros.) A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.

10. (Naut.) The lower edge of a sail.

Foot is often used adjectively, signifying of or pertaining to a foot or the feet, or to the base or lower part. It is also much used as the first of compounds.

Foot artillery. (Mil.) (a) Artillery soldiers serving in foot. (b) Heavy artillery. Farrow. -- Foot bank (Fort.), a raised way within a parapet. -- Foot barracks (Mil.), barracks for infantery. -- Foot bellows, a bellows worked by a treadle. Knight. -- Foot company (Mil.), a company of infantry. Milton. -- Foot gear, covering for the feet, as stocking, shoes, or boots. -- Foot hammer (Mach.), a small tilt hammer moved by a treadle. -- Foot iron. (a) The step of a carriage. (b) A fetter. -- Foot jaw. (Zoˆl.) See Maxilliped. -- Foot key (Mus.), an organ pedal. -- Foot level (Gunnery), a form of level used in giving any proposed angle of elevation to a piece of ordnance. Farrow. -- Foot mantle, a long garment to protect the dress in riding; a riding skirt. [Obs.] -- Foot page, an errand boy; an attendant. [Obs.] -- Foot passenger, one who passes on foot, as over a road or bridge. -- Foot pavement, a paved way for foot passengers; a footway; a trottoir. -- Foot poet, an inferior poet; a poetaster. [R.] Dryden. -- Foot post. (a) A letter carrier who travels on foot. (b) A mail delivery by means of such carriers. -- Fot pound, &and; Foot poundal. (Mech.) See Foot pound and Foot poundal, in the Vocabulary. -- Foot press (Mach.), a cutting, embossing, or printing press, moved by a treadle. -- Foot race, a race run by persons on foot. Cowper. -- Foot rail, a railroad rail, with a wide flat flange on the lower side. -- Foot rot, an ulcer in the feet of sheep; claw sickness. -- Foot rule, a rule or measure twelve inches long. -- Foot screw, an adjusting screw which forms a foot, and serves to give a machine or table a level standing on an uneven place. -- Foot secretion. (Zoˆl.) See Sclerobase. -- Foot soldier, a soldier who serves on foot. -- Foot stick (Printing), a beveled piece of furniture placed against the foot of the page, to hold the type in place. -- Foot stove, a small box, with an iron pan, to hold hot coals for warming the feet. -- Foot tubercle. (Zoˆl.) See Parapodium. -- Foot valve (Steam Engine), the valve that opens to the air pump from the condenser. -- Foot vise, a kind of vise the jaws of which are operated by a treadle. -- Foot waling (Naut.), the inside planks or lining of a vessel over the floor timbers. Totten. -- Foot wall (Mining), the under wall of an inclosed vein.

By foot, or On foot, by walking; as, to pass a stream on foot. -- Cubic foot. See under Cubic. -- Foot and mouth disease, a contagious disease (Eczema epizoˆtica) of cattle, sheep, swine, etc., characterized by the formation of vesicles and ulcers in the mouth and about the hoofs. -- Foot of the fine (Law), the concluding portion of an acknowledgment in court by which, formerly, the title of land was conveyed. See Fine of land, under Fine, n.; also Chirograph. (b). -- Square foot. See under Square. -- To be on foot, to be in motion, action, or process of execution. -- To keep the foot (Script.), to preserve decorum. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God." Eccl. v. 1. -- To put one's foot down, to take a resolute stand; to be determined. [Colloq.] -- To put the best foot foremost, to make a good appearance; to do one's best. [Colloq.] -- To set on foot, to put in motion; to originate; as, to set on foot a subscription. -- To put, or set, one on his feet, to put one in a position to go on; to assist to start. -- Under foot. (a) Under the feet; (Fig.) at one's mercy; as, to trample under foot. Gibbon. (b) Below par. [Obs.] "They would be forced to sell . . . far under foot." Bacon.

Foot (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Footed; p. pr. & vb. n. Footing.] 1. To tread to measure or music; to dance; to trip; to skip. Dryden.

2. To walk; -- opposed to ride or fly. Shak.

Foot, v. t. 1. To kick with the foot; to spurn. Shak.

2. To set on foot; to establish; to land. [Obs.]

What confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom?

Shak.

3. To tread; as, to foot the green. Tickell.

4. To sum up, as the numbers in a column; -- sometimes with up; as, to foot (or foot up) an account.

5. To seize or strike with the talon. [Poet.] Shak.

6. To renew the foot of, as of a stocking. Shak.

To foot a bill, to pay it. [Colloq.] -- To foot it, to walk; also, to dance.

If you are for a merry jaunt, I'll try, for once, who can foot it farthest.

Dryden.

Foot"ball` (?), n. An inflated ball to be kicked in sport, usually made in India rubber, or a bladder incased in Leather. Waller.

2. The game of kicking the football by opposing parties of players between goals. Arbuthnot.

Foot"band` (?), n. A band of foot soldiers. [Obs.]

Foot"bath` (?), n. A bath for the feet; also, a vessel used in bathing the feet.

Foot"board` (?), n. 1. A board or narrow platfrom upon which one may stand or brace his feet; as: (a) The platform for the engineer and fireman of a locomotive. (b) The foot-rest of a coachman's box.

2. A board forming the foot of a bedstead.

3. A treadle.

Foot"boy` (?), n. A page; an attendant in livery; a lackey. Shak.

Foot"breadth` (?), n. The breadth of a foot; -- used as a measure. Longfellow.

Not so much as a footbreadth.

Deut. ii. 5.

Foot"bridge` (?), n. A narrow bridge for foot passengers only.

Foot"cloth` (?), n. Formerly, a housing or caparison for a horse. Sir W. Scott.

Foot"ed, a. 1. Having a foot or feet; shaped in the foot. "Footed like a goat." Grew.

Footed is often used in composition in the sense of having (such or so many) feet; as, fourfooted beasts.

2. Having a foothold; established.

Our king . . . is footed in this land already.

Shak.

Foot"fall` (?), n. A setting down of the foot; a footstep; the sound of a footstep. Shak.

Seraphim, whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.

Poe.

Foot"fight` (?), n. A conflict by persons on foot; -- distinguished from a fight on horseback. Sir P. Sidney.

Foot"glove` (?), n. A kind of stocking. [Obs.]

Foot" Guards` (?), pl. Infantry soldiers belonging to select regiments called the Guards. [Eng.]

Foot"halt` (?), n. A disease affecting the feet of sheep.

Foot"hill` (?), n. A low hill at the foot of higher hills or mountains.

Foot"hold` (?), n. A holding with the feet; firm standing; that on which one may tread or rest securely; footing. L'Estrange.

Foot"hook` (?), n. (Naut.) See Futtock.

Foot"hot` (?), adv. Hastily; immediately; instantly; on the spot; hotfoot. Gower.

Custance have they taken anon, foothot.

Chaucer.

Foot"ing, n. 1. Ground for the foot; place for the foot to rest on; firm foundation to stand on.

In ascent, every step gained is a footing and help to the next.

Holder.

2. Standing; position; established place; basis for operation; permanent settlement; foothold.

As soon as he had obtained a footing at court, the charms of his manner . . . made him a favorite.

Macaulay.

3. Relative condition; state.

Lived on a footing of equality with nobles.

Macaulay.

4. Tread; step; especially, measured tread.

Hark, I hear the footing of a man.

Shak.

5. The act of adding up a column of figures; the amount or sum total of such a column.

6. The act of putting a foot to anything; also, that which is added as a foot; as, the footing of a stocking.

7. A narrow cotton lace, without figures.

8. The finer refuse part of whale blubber, not wholly deprived of oil. Simmonds.

9. (Arch. & Enging.) The thickened or sloping portion of a wall, or of an embankment at its foot.

Footing course (Arch.), one of the courses of masonry at the foot of a wall, broader than the courses above. -- To pay one's footing, to pay a fee on first doing anything, as working at a trade or in a shop. Wright. -- Footing beam, the tie beam of a roof.

Foot"less, a. Having no feet.

Foot"lick`er (?), n. A sycophant; a fawner; a toady. Cf. Bootlick. Shak.

Foot"light` (?), n. One of a row of lights in the front of the stage in a theater, etc., and on a level therewith.

Before the footlights, upon the stage; -- hence, in the capacity of an actor.

Foot"man (?), n.; pl. Footmen (&?;). 1. A soldier who marches and fights on foot; a foot soldier.

2. A man in waiting; a male servant whose duties are to attend the door, the carriage, the table, etc.

3. Formerly, a servant who ran in front of his master's carriage; a runner. Prior.

4. A metallic stand with four feet, for keeping anything warm before a fire.

5. (Zoˆl.) A moth of the family LithosidÊ; -- so called from its livery-like colors.

Foot"man*ship, n. Art or skill of a footman.

Foot"mark` (?), n. A footprint; a track or vestige. Coleridge.

Foot"note` (?), n. A note of reference or comment at the foot of a page.

Foot"pace` (?), n. 1. A walking pace or step.

2. A dais, or elevated platform; the highest step of the altar; a landing in a staircase. Shipley.

Foot"pad` (?), n. A highwayman or robber on foot.

Foot"path` (?), n.; pl. Footpaths (&?;). A narrow path or way for pedestrains only; a footway.

Foot"plate` (?), n. (Locomotives) See Footboard (a).

Foot" pound` (?). (Mech.) A unit of energy, or work, being equal to the work done in raising one pound avoirdupois against the force of gravity the height of one foot.

<! p. 581 !>

Foot" pound`al (?). (Mech.) A unit of energy or work, equal to the work done in moving a body through one foot against the force of one poundal.

Foot"print` (?), n. The impression of the foot; a trace or footmark; as, "Footprints of the Creator."

Foot"rope` (?), n. (Aut.) (a) The rope rigged below a yard, upon which men stand when reefing or furling; -- formerly called a horse. (b) That part of the boltrope to which the lower edge of a sail is sewed.

Foots (?), n. pl. The settlings of oil, molasses, etc., at the bottom of a barrel or hogshead. Simmonds.

Foot"-sore` (?), a. Having sore or tender feet, as by reason of much walking; as, foot-sore cattle.

Foot"stalk` (?), n. 1. (Bot.) The stalk of a leaf or of flower; a petiole, pedicel, or reduncle.

2. (Zoˆl.) (a) The peduncle or stem by which various marine animals are attached, as certain brachiopods and goose barnacles. (b) The stem which supports which supports the eye in decapod Crustacea; eyestalk.

3. (Mach.) The lower part of a millstone spindle. It rests in a step. Knight.

Foot"stall` (?), n. [Cf. Pedestal.] 1. The stirrup of a woman's saddle.

2. (Arch.) The plinth or base of a pillar.

Foot"step` (?), n. 1. The mark or impression of the foot; a track; hence, visible sign of a course pursued; token; mark; as, the footsteps of divine wisdom.

How on the faltering footsteps of decay Youth presses.

Bryant.

2. An inclined plane under a hand printing press.

Foot"stone` (?; 110), n. The stone at the foot of a grave; -- opposed to headstone.

Foot"stool` (?), n. A low stool to support the feet of one when sitting.

Foot"way` (?), n. A passage for pedestrians only.

Foot"worn` (?), a. Worn by, or weared in, the feet; as, a footworn path; a footworn traveler.

Foot"y (?), a. 1. Having foots, or settlings; as, footy oil, molasses, etc. [Eng.]

2. Poor; mean. [Prov. Eng.] C. Kingsley.

Fop (?), n. [OE. foppe, fop, fool; cf. E. fob to cheat, G. foppen to make a fool of one, jeer, D. foppen.] One whose ambition it is to gain admiration by showy dress; a coxcomb; an inferior dandy.

Fop"-doo`dle (?), n. A stupid or insignificant fellow; a fool; a simpleton. [R.] Hudibras.

Fop"ling (?), n. A petty fop. Landor.

Fop"per*y (?), n.; pl. Fopperies (#). [From Fop.] 1. The behavior, dress, or other indication of a fop; coxcombry; affectation of show; showy folly.

2. Folly; foolery.

Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house.

Shak.

Fop"pish (?), a. Foplike; characteristic of a top in dress or manners; making an ostentatious display of gay clothing; affected in manners.

Syn. -- Finical; spruce; dandyish. See Finical.

-- Fop"pish*ly, adv. -- Fop"pish*ness, n.

For- (&?;). [AS. for-; akin to D. & G. ver- , OHG. fir-, Icel. for-, Goth. fra-, cf. Skr. par- away, Gr. &?; beside, and E. far, adj. Cf. Fret to rub.] A prefix to verbs, having usually the force of a negative or privative. It often implies also loss, detriment, or destruction, and sometimes it is intensive, meaning utterly, quite thoroughly, as in forbathe.

For (?), prep. [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D. voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. f¸r, Icel. fyrir, Sw. fˆr, Dan. for, adv. fˆr, Goth. fa˙r, fa˙ra, L. pro, Gr. &?;, Skr. pra-. &radic; 202. Cf. Fore, First, Foremost, Forth, Pro-.] In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of, in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes place.

1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state; the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is done.

With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath.

Shak.

How to choose dogs for scent or speed.

Waller.

Now, for so many glorious actions done, For peace at home, and for the public wealth, I mean to crown a bowl for CÊsar's health.

Dryden.

That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding, vouchsafe to grant.

Hooker.

2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is done.

The oak for nothing ill, The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the mill.

Spenser.

It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the matters.

Bacon.

Shall I think the worls was made for one, And men are born for kings, as beasts for men, Not for protection, but to be devoured?

Dryden.

For he writes not for money, nor for praise.

Denham.

3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; -- opposed to against.

We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

2 Cor. xiii. 8.

It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health to be temperate.

Tillotson.

Aristotle is for poetical justice.

Dennis.

4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed, or the point toward which motion is made; &?;ntending to go to.

We sailed from Peru for China and Japan.

Bacon.

5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation, or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.

And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Ex. xxi. 23, 24.

6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is regarded or treated; to be, or as being.

We take a falling meteor for a star.

Cowley.

If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having examined, what is there that he may not embrace for tru&?;?

Locke.

Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried- up English poet for their model.

Dryden.

But let her go for an ungrateful woman.

Philips.

7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done, occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; -- generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.

The writer will do what she please for all me.

Spectator.

God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene.

Dr. H. More.

For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a contrivance to fright us.

Swift.

8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.

For many miles about There 's scarce a bush.

Shak.

Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing.

prior.

To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day.

Garth.

9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which, anything is done. [Obs.]

We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet.

Beau. & Fl.

For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; -- used parenthetically or independently. See under As.

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Josh. xxiv. 15.

For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely tend.

Dryden.

-- For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of. -- For all the world, wholly; exactly. "Whose posy was, for all the world, like cutlers' poetry." Shak. -- For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing that; since. -- For by. See Forby, adv. -- For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever. -- For me, or For all me, as far as regards me. -- For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended on it. [Colloq.] T. Hook. -- For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.] "For that I love your daughter." Shak. -- For thy, or Forthy [AS. for&?;&?;.], for this; on this account. [Obs.] "Thomalin, have no care for thy." Spenser. -- For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs., except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] -- "What went ye out for to see?" Luke vii. 25. See To, prep., 4. -- O for, would that I had; may there be granted; -- elliptically expressing desire or prayer. "O for a muse of fire." Shak. -- Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of account; but for the presence or action of. "Moral consideration can no way move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will." Sir M. Hale.

For (?), conj. 1. Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the reason of anything.

And for of long that way had walkÈd none, The vault was hid with plants and bushes hoar.

Fairfax.

And Heaven defend your good souls, that you think I will your serious and great business scant, For she with me.

Shak.

2. Since; because; introducing a reason of something before advanced, a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an action related or a statement made. It is logically nearly equivalent to since, or because, but connects less closely, and is sometimes used as a very general introduction to something suggested by what has gone before.

Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.

Ps. cxxxvi. 1.

Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, Not light them for themselves; for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, 't were all alike As if we had them not.

Shak.

For because, because. [Obs.] "Nor for because they set less store by their own citizens." Robynson (More's Utopia). -- For why. (a) Why; for that reason; wherefore. [Obs.] (b) Because. [Obs.] See Forwhy.

Syn. -- See Because.

For, n. One who takes, or that which is said on, the affrimative side; that which is said in favor of some one or something; -- the antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it.

The fors and against. those in favor and those opposed; the pros and the cons; the advantages and the disadvantages. Jane Austen.

For"age (?; 48), n. [OF. fourage, F. fourrage, fr. forre, fuerre, fodder, straw, F. feurre, fr. LL. foderum, fodrum, of German or Scand, origin; cf. OHG. fuotar, G. futter. See Fodder food, and cf. Foray.] 1. The act of foraging; search for provisions, etc.

He [the lion] from forage will incline to play.

Shak.

One way a band select from forage drives A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine.

Milton.

Mawhood completed his forage unmolested.

Marshall.

2. Food of any kind for animals, especially for horses and cattle, as grass, pasture, hay, corn, oats. Dryden.

Forage cap. See under Cap. -- Forage master (Mil.), a person charged with providing forage and the means of transporting it. Farrow.

For"age, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Foraged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Foraging (?).] To wander or rove in search of food; to collect food, esp. forage, for horses and cattle by feeding on or stripping the country; to ravage; to feed on spoil.

His most mighty father on a hill Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp Forage in blood of French nobility.

Shak.

Foraging ant (Zoˆl.), one of several species of ants of the genus Eciton, very abundant in tropical America, remarkable for marching in vast armies in search of food. -- Foraging cap, a forage cap. -- Foraging party, a party sent out after forage.

For"age (?), v. t. To strip of provisions; to supply with forage; as, to forage steeds. Pope.

For"a*ger (?), n. One who forages.

For"a*lite (?), n. [L. forare to bore + -lite.] (Geol.) A tubelike marking, occuring in sandstone and other strata.

||Fo*ra"men (?), n.; pl. L. Foramina (#), E. Foramines (#). [L., fr. ||forare to bore, pierce.] A small opening, perforation, or orifice; a ||fenestra.

Foramen of Monro (Anat.), the opening from each lateral into the third ventricle of the brain. -- Foramen of Winslow (Anat.), the opening connecting the sac of the omentum with the general cavity of the peritoneum.

Fo*ram"i*na`ted (?), a. [L. foraminatus.] Having small opening, or foramina.

For`a*min"i*fer (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of the Foraminifera.

||Fo*ram`i*nif"e*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. foramen, -aminis, a ||foramen + ferre to bear.] (Zoˆl.) An extensive order of rhizopods ||which generally have a chambered calcareous shell formed by several ||united zooids. Many of them have perforated walls, whence the name. ||Some species are covered with sand. See Rhizophoda.

Fo*ram`i*nif"er*ous (?), a. 1. Having small openings, or foramina.

2. Pertaining to, or composed of, Foraminifera; as, foraminiferous mud.

Fo*ram"i*nous (?), a. [L. foraminosus.] Having foramina; full of holes; porous. Bacon.

For`as*much" (?), conj. In consideration that; seeing that; since; because that; -- followed by as. See under For, prep.

For"ay (fr" or f*r"; 277), n. [Another form of forahe. Cf. Forray.] A sudden or irregular incursion in border warfare; hence, any irregular incursion for war or spoils; a raid. Spenser.

The huge Earl Doorm, . . . Bound on a foray, rolling eyes of prey.

Tennyson.

For"ay, v. t. To pillage; to ravage.

He might foray our lands.

Sir W. Scott.

For"ay*er (? or ?), n. One who makes or joins in a foray.

They might not choose the lowland road, For the Merse forayers were abroad.

Sir W. Scott.

For*bade" (?), imp. of Forbid.

For*bathe", v. t. To bathe. [Obs.]

For*bear" (fr*b‚r"), n. [See Fore, and Bear to produce.] An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural. [Scot.] "Your forbears of old." Sir W. Scott.

For*bear" (fr*b‚r"), v. i. [imp. Forbore (?) (Forbare (&?;), [Obs.]); p. p. Forborne (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forbearing.] [OE. forberen, AS. forberan; pref. for- + beran to bear. See Bear to support.] 1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.

Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?

1 Kings xxii. 6.

2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.

Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

Ezek. ii. 7.

3. To control one's self when provoked.

The kindest and the happiest pair Will find occasion to forbear.

Cowper.

Both bear and forbear.

Old Proverb.

For*bear", v. t. 1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up; as, to forbear the use of a word of doubtful propriety.

But let me that plunder forbear.

Shenstone.

The King In open battle or the tilting field Forbore his own advantage.

Tennyson.

2. To treat with consideration or indulgence.

Forbearing one another in love.

Eph. iv. 2.

3. To cease from bearing. [Obs.]

Whenas my womb her burden would forbear.

Spenser.

For*bear"ance (?), n. The act of forbearing or waiting; the exercise of patience.

He soon shall find Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.

Milton.

2. The quality of being forbearing; indulgence toward offenders or enemies; long-suffering.

Have a continent forbearance, till the speed of his rage goes slower.

Shak.

Syn. -- Abstinence; refraining; lenity; mildness.

For*bear"ant (?), a. Forbearing. [R.] Carlyle.

For*bear"er (?), n. One who forbears. Tusser.

For*bear"ing, a. Disposed or accustomed to forbear; patient; long-suffering. -- For*bear"ing*ly, adv.

<! p. 582 !>

For*bid" (fr*bd"), v. t. [imp. Forbade (-bd"); p. p. Forbidden (-bd"d'n) (Forbid, [Obs.]); p. pr. & vb. n. Forbidding (?).] [OE. forbeden, AS. forbeÛdan; pref. for- + beÛdan to bid; akin to D. verbieden, G. verbieten, Icel. fyrirbja, forboa, Sw. fˆrbjuda, Dan. forbyde. See Bid, v. t.] 1. To command against, or contrary to; to prohibit; to interdict.

More than I have said . . . The leisure and enforcement of the time Forbids to dwell upon.

Shak.

2. To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command; to command not to enter.

Have I not forbid her my house?

Shak.

3. To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command; as, an impassable river forbids the approach of the army.

A blaze of glory that forbids the sight.

Dryden.

4. To accurse; to blast. [Obs.]

He shall live a man forbid.

Shak.

5. To defy; to challenge. [Obs.] L. Andrews.

Syn. -- To prohibit; interdict; hinder; preclude; withhold; restrain; prevent. See Prohibit.

For*bid" (?), v. i. To utter a prohibition; to prevent; to hinder. "I did not or forbid." Milton.

For*bid"dance (?), n. The act of forbidding; prohibition; command or edict against a thing. [Obs.]

How hast thou yield to transgress The strict forbiddance.

Milton.

For*bid"den (?), a. Prohibited; interdicted.

I know no spells, use no forbidden arts.

Milton.

Forbidden fruit. (a) Any coveted unlawful pleasure, -- so called with reference to the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden. (b) (Bot.) A small variety of shaddock (Citrus decumana). The name is given in different places to several varieties of Citrus fruits.

For*bid"den*ly, adv. In a forbidden or unlawful manner. Shak.

For*bid"der (?), n. One who forbids. Milton.

For*bid"ding (?), a. Repelling approach; repulsive; raising abhorrence, aversion, or dislike; disagreeable; prohibiting or interdicting; as, a forbidding aspect; a forbidding formality; a forbidding air.

Syn. -- Disagreeable; unpleasant; displeasing; offensive; repulsive; odious; abhorrent.

-- For*bid"ding*ly, adv. -- For*bid"ding*ness, n.

For*black" (?), a. Very black. [Obs.]

As any raven's feathers it shone forblack.

Chaucer.

For*bo"den (?), obs. p. p. of Forbid. Chaucer.

For*bore" (?), imp. of Forbear.

For*borne" (?), p. p. of Forbear.

For*bruise" (?), v. t. To bruise sorely or exceedingly. [Obs.]

All forbrosed, both back and side.

Chaucer.

For*by" (?), adv. & prep. [See Foreby.] Near; hard by; along; past. [Obs.]

To tell her if her child went ought forby.

Chaucer.

To the intent that ships may pass along forby all the sides of the city without let.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

For*carve" (?), v. t. To cut completely; to cut off. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Force (?), v. t. [See Farce to stuff.] To stuff; to lard; to farce. [R.]

Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit.

Shak.

Force, n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. fors, foss, Dan. fos.] A waterfall; a cascade. [Prov. Eng.]

To see the falls for force of the river Kent.

T. Gray.

Force, n. [F. force, LL. forcia, fortia, fr. L. fortis strong. See Fort, n.] 1. Strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigor; might; often, an unusual degree of strength or energy; capacity of exercising an influence or producing an effect; especially, power to persuade, or convince, or impose obligation; pertinency; validity; special signification; as, the force of an appeal, an argument, a contract, or a term.

He was, in the full force of the words, a good man.

Macaulay.

2. Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence; coercion.

Which now they hold by force, and not by right.

Shak.

3. Strength or power for war; hence, a body of land or naval combatants, with their appurtenances, ready for action; -- an armament; troops; warlike array; -- often in the plural; hence, a body of men prepared for action in other ways; as, the laboring force of a plantation.

Is Lucius general of the forces?

Shak.

4. (Law) (a) Strength or power exercised without law, or contrary to law, upon persons or things; violence. (b) Validity; efficacy. Burrill.

5. (Physics) Any action between two bodies which changes, or tends to change, their relative condition as to rest or motion; or, more generally, which changes, or tends to change, any physical relation between them, whether mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic, or of any other kind; as, the force of gravity; cohesive force; centrifugal force.

Animal force (Physiol.), muscular force or energy. -- Catabiotic force [Gr. &?; down (intens.) + &?; life.] (Biol.), the influence exerted by living structures on adjoining cells, by which the latter are developed in harmony with the primary structures. -- Centrifugal force, Centripetal force, Coercive force, etc. See under Centrifugal, Centripetal, etc. -- Composition of forces, Correlation of forces, etc. See under Composition, Correlation, etc. -- Force and arms [trans. of L. vi et armis] (Law), an expression in old indictments, signifying violence. -- In force, or Of force, of unimpaired efficacy; valid; of full virtue; not suspended or reversed. "A testament is of force after men are dead." Heb. ix. 17. -- Metabolic force (Physiol.), the influence which causes and controls the metabolism of the body. -- No force, no matter of urgency or consequence; no account; hence, to do no force, to make no account of; not to heed. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Of force, of necessity; unavoidably; imperatively. "Good reasons must, of force, give place to better." Shak. -- Plastic force (Physiol.), the force which presumably acts in the growth and repair of the tissues. -- Vital force (Physiol.), that force or power which is inherent in organization; that form of energy which is the cause of the vital phenomena of the body, as distinguished from the physical forces generally known.

Syn. -- Strength; vigor; might; energy; stress; vehemence; violence; compulsion; coaction; constraint; coercion. -- Force, Strength. Strength looks rather to power as an inward capability or energy. Thus we speak of the strength of timber, bodily strength, mental strength, strength of emotion, etc. Force, on the other hand, looks more to the outward; as, the force of gravitation, force of circumstances, force of habit, etc. We do, indeed, speak of strength of will and force of will; but even here the former may lean toward the internal tenacity of purpose, and the latter toward the outward expression of it in action. But, though the two words do in a few cases touch thus closely on each other, there is, on the whole, a marked distinction in our use of force and strength. "Force is the name given, in mechanical science, to whatever produces, or can produce, motion." Nichol.

Thy tears are of no force to mollify This flinty man.

Heywood.

More huge in strength than wise in works he was.

Spenser.

Adam and first matron Eve Had ended now their orisons, and found Strength added from above, new hope to spring Out of despair.

Milton.

Force (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forcing (?).] [OF. forcier, F. forcer, fr. LL. forciare, fortiare. See Force, n.] 1. To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible; to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to coerce; as, masters force slaves to labor.

2. To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, to force conviction on the mind.

3. To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one's will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon.

To force their monarch and insult the court.

Dryden.

I should have forced thee soon wish other arms.

Milton.

To force a spotless virgin's chastity.

Shak.

4. To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle; specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.

5. To impel, drive, wrest, extort, get, etc., by main strength or violence; -- with a following adverb, as along, away, from, into, through, out, etc.

It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay That scarce the victor forced the steel away.

Dryden.

To force the tyrant from his seat by war.

Sahk.

Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion.

Fuller.

6. To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to enforce. [Obs.]

What can the church force more?

J. Webster.

7. To exert to the utmost; to urge; hence, to strain; to urge to excessive, unnatural, or untimely action; to produce by unnatural effort; as, to force a conceit or metaphor; to force a laugh; to force fruits.

High on a mounting wave my head I bore, Forcing my strength, and gathering to the shore.

Dryden.

8. (Whist) To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading a suit of which he has none.

9. To provide with forces; to reÎnforce; to strengthen by soldiers; to man; to garrison. [Obs.] Shak.

10. To allow the force of; to value; to care for. [Obs.]

For me, I force not argument a straw.

Shak.

Syn. -- To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce; drive; press; impel.

Force, v. i. [Obs. in all the senses.] 1. To use violence; to make violent effort; to strive; to endeavor.

Forcing with gifts to win his wanton heart.

Spenser.

2. To make a difficult matter of anything; to labor; to hesitate; hence, to force of, to make much account of; to regard.

Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear.

Shak.

I force not of such fooleries.

Camden.

3. To be of force, importance, or weight; to matter.

It is not sufficient to have attained the name and dignity of a shepherd, not forcing how.

Udall.

Forced (?), a. Done or produced with force or great labor, or by extraordinary exertion; hurried; strained; produced by unnatural effort or pressure; as, a forced style; a forced laugh.

Forced draught. See under Draught. -- Forced march (Mil.), a march of one or more days made with all possible speed.

-- For"ced*ly (#), adv. -- For"ced*ness, n.

Force"ful (?), a. Full of or processing force; exerting force; mighty. -- Force"ful*ly, adv.

Against the steed he threw His forceful spear.

Dryden.

Force"less, a. Having little or no force; feeble.

These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me.

Shak.

Force"meat` (?), n. [Corrupt. for farce-meat, fr. F. farce stuffing. See Farce, n.] (Cookery) Meat chopped fine and highly seasoned, either served up alone, or used as a stuffing. [Written also forced meat.]

Force"ment (?), n. The act of forcing; compulsion. [Obs.]

It was imposed upon us by constraint; And will you count such forcement treachery?

J. Webster.

For"ceps (?), n. [L. forceps, -cipis, from the root of formus Hot + capere to take; akin to E. heave. Cf. Furnace.] 1. A pair of pinchers, or tongs; an instrument for grasping, holding firmly, or exerting traction upon, bodies which it would be inconvenient or impracticable to seize with the fingers, especially one for delicate operations, as those of watchmakers, surgeons, accoucheurs, dentists, etc.

2. (Zoˆl.) The caudal forceps- shaped appendage of earwigs and some other insects. See Earwig.

Dressing forceps. See under Dressing.

Force" pump` (?). (Mach.) (a) A pump having a solid piston, or plunger, for drawing and forcing a liquid, as water, through the valves; in distinction from a pump having a bucket, or valved piston. (b) A pump adapted for delivering water at a considerable height above the pump, or under a considerable pressure; in distinction from one which lifts the water only to the top of the pump or delivers it through a spout. See Illust. of Plunger pump, under Plunger.

For"cer (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, forces or drives.

2. (Mech.) (a) The solid piston of a force pump; the instrument by which water is forced in a pump. (b) A small hand pump for sinking pits, draining cellars, etc.

For"ci*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. forcible forcible, forceable that may be forced.] 1. Possessing force; characterized by force, efficiency, or energy; powerful; efficacious; impressive; influential.

How forcible are right words!

Job. vi. 2&?;.

Sweet smells are most forcible in dry substances, when broken.

Bacon.

But I have reasons strong and forcible.

Shak.

That punishment which hath been sometimes forcible to bridle sin.

Hooker.

He is at once elegant and sublime, forcible and ornamented.

Lowth (Transl. )

2. Violent; impetuous.

Like mingled streams, more forcible when joined.

Prior.

3. Using force against opposition or resistance; obtained by compulsion; effected by force; as, forcible entry or abduction.

In embraces of King James . . . forcible and unjust.

Swift.

Forcible entry and detainer (Law), the entering upon and taking and withholding of land and tenements by actual force and violence, and with a strong hand, to the hindrance of the person having the right to enter.

Syn. -- Violent; powerful; strong; energetic; mighty; potent; weighty; impressive; cogent; influential.

For"ci*ble-fee`ble (?), a. [From Feeble, a character in the Second Part of Shakespeare's "King Henry IV.," to whom Falstaff derisively applies the epithet "forcible."] Seemingly vigorous, but really weak or insipid.

He [Prof. Ayton] would purge his book of much offensive matter, if he struck out epithets which are in the bad taste of the forcible-feeble school.

N. Brit. Review.

For"ci*ble*ness, n. The quality of being forcible.

For"ci*bly, adv. In a forcible manner.

For"cing (?), n. 1. The accomplishing of any purpose violently, precipitately, prematurely, or with unusual expedition.

2. (Gardening) The art of raising plants, flowers, and fruits at an earlier season than the natural one, as in a hitbed or by the use of artificial heat.

Forcing bed or pit, a plant bed having an under layer of fermenting manure, the fermentation yielding bottom heat for forcing plants; a hotbed. -- Forcing engine, a fire engine. -- Forcing fit (Mech.), a tight fit, as of one part into a hole in another part, which makes it necessary to use considerable force in putting the two parts together. -- Forcing house, a greenhouse for the forcing of plants, fruit trees, etc. -- Forcing machine, a powerful press for putting together or separating two parts that are fitted tightly one into another, as for forcing a crank on a shaft, or for drawing off a car wheel from the axle. -- Forcing pump. See Force pump (b).

For"ci*pal (?), a. Forked or branched like a pair of forceps; constructed so as to open and shut like a pair of forceps. Sir T. Browne.

{ For"ci*pate (?), For"ci*pa`ted (?) }, a. Like a pair of forceps; as, a forcipated mouth.

For`ci*pa"tion (?), n. Torture by pinching with forceps or pinchers. Bacon.

For*cut" (?), v. t. To cut completely; to cut off. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Ford (frd), n. [AS. ford; akin to G. furt, Icel. fjˆrr bay, and to E. fare. &radic; 78. See Fare, v. i., and cf. Frith arm of the sea.] 1. A place in a river, or other water, where it may be passed by man or beast on foot, by wading.

He swam the Esk river where ford there was none.

Sir W. Scott.

2. A stream; a current.

With water of the ford Or of the clouds.

Spenser.

Permit my ghost to pass the Stygian ford.

Dryden.

Ford, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forded; p. pr. & vb. n. Fording.] To pass or cross, as a river or other water, by wading; to wade through.

His last section, which is no deep one, remains only to be forted.

Milton.

Ford"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being forded. -- Ford"a*ble*ness, n.

Ford"less, a. Without a ford.

A deep and fordless river.

Mallock.

For*do" (?), v. t. [OE. fordon, AS. ford&?;n; pref. for- + d&?;n to do. See For-, and Do, v. i.] 1. To destroy; to undo; to ruin. [Obs.]

This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite.

Shak.

2. To overcome with fatigue; to exhaust. M. Arnold.

All with weary task fordone.

Shak.

For*done" (?), a. [See Fordo.] Undone; ruined. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*drive" (?), v. t. To drive about; to drive here and there. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

For*drunk"en (?), a. Utterly drunk; very drunk. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*dry" (?), a. Entirely dry; withered. [Obs.] "A tree fordry." Chaucer.

For*dwine" (?), v. i. To dwindle away; to disappear. [Obs.] Rom of R.

Fore, n. [AS. f&?;r, fr. faran to go. See Fare, v. i.] Journey; way; method of proceeding. [Obs.] "Follow him and his fore." Chaucer.

<! p. 583 !>

Fore, adv. [AS. fore, adv. & prep., another form of for. See For, and cf. Former, Foremost.] 1. In the part that precedes or goes first; -- opposed to aft, after, back, behind, etc.

2. Formerly; previously; afore. [Obs. or Colloq.]

The eyes, fore duteous, now converted are.

Shak.

3. (Naut.) In or towards the bows of a ship.

Fore and aft (Naut.), from stem to stern; lengthwise of the vessel; -- in distinction from athwart. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Fore-and-aft rigged (Naut.), not rigged with square sails attached to yards, but with sails bent to gaffs or set on stays in the midship line of the vessel. See Schooner, Sloop, Cutter.

Fore (?), a. [See Fore, adv.] Advanced, as compared with something else; toward the front; being or coming first, in time, place, order, or importance; preceding; anterior; antecedent; earlier; forward; -- opposed to back or behind; as, the fore part of a garment; the fore part of the day; the fore and of a wagon.

The free will of the subject is preserved, while it is directed by the fore purpose of the state.

Southey.

Fore is much used adjectively or in composition.

Fore bay, a reservoir or canal between a mill race and a water wheel; the discharging end of a pond or mill race. -- Fore body (Shipbuilding), the part of a ship forward of the largest cross-section, distinguished from middle body and after body. -- Fore boot, a receptacle in the front of a vehicle, for stowing baggage, etc. -- Fore bow, the pommel of a saddle. Knight. -- Fore cabin, a cabin in the fore part of a ship, usually with inferior accommodations. -- Fore carriage. (a) The forward part of the running gear of a four-wheeled vehicle. (b) A small carriage at the front end of a plow beam. -- Fore course (Naut.), the lowermost sail on the foremost of a square-rigged vessel; the foresail. See Illust. under Sail. -- Fore door. Same as Front door. -- Fore edge, the front edge of a book or folded sheet, etc. -- Fore elder, an ancestor. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fore end. (a) The end which precedes; the earlier, or the nearer, part; the beginning.

I have . . . paid More pious debts to heaven, than in all The fore end of my time.

Shak.

(b) In firearms, the wooden stock under the barrel, forward of the trigger guard, or breech frame. -- Fore girth, a girth for the fore part (of a horse, etc.); a martingale. -- Fore hammer, a sledge hammer, working alternately, or in time, with the hand hammer. -- Fore leg, one of the front legs of a quadruped, or multiped, or of a chair, settee, etc. -- Fore peak (Naut.), the angle within a ship's bows; the portion of the hold which is farthest forward. -- Fore piece, a front piece, as the flap in the fore part of a sidesaddle, to guard the rider's dress. -- Fore plane, a carpenter's plane, in size and use between a jack plane and a smoothing plane. Knight. -- Fore reading, previous perusal. [Obs.] Hales. -- Fore rent, in Scotland, rent payable before a crop is gathered. -- Fore sheets (Naut.), the forward portion of a rowboat; the space beyond the front thwart. See Stern sheets. -- Fore shore. (a) A bank in advance of a sea wall, to break the force of the surf. (b) The seaward projecting, slightly inclined portion of a breakwater. Knight. (c) The part of the shore between high and low water marks. -- Fore sight, that one of the two sights of a gun which is near the muzzle. -- Fore tackle (Naut.), the tackle on the foremast of a ship. -- Fore topmast. (Naut.) See Fore-topmast, in the Vocabulary. - - Fore wind, a favorable wind. [Obs.]

Sailed on smooth seas, by fore winds borne.

Sandys.

-- Fore world, the antediluvian world. [R.] Southey.

Fore, n. The front; hence, that which is in front; the future.

At the fore (Naut.), at the fore royal masthead; -- said of a flag, so raised as a signal for sailing, etc. -- To the fore. (a) In advance; to the front; to a prominent position; in plain sight; in readiness for use. (b) In existence; alive; not worn out, lost, or spent, as money, etc. [Irish] "While I am to the fore." W. Collins. "How many captains in the regiment had two thousand pounds to the fore?" Thackeray.

Fore, prep. Before; -- sometimes written 'fore as if a contraction of afore or before. [Obs.]

Fore`ad*mon"ish (?), v. t. To admonish beforehand, or before the act or event. Bp. Hall.

Fore`ad*vise" (?), v. t. To advise or counsel before the time of action, or before the event. Shak.

Fore`al*lege" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forealleged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forealleging (?).] To allege or cite before. Fotherby.

Fore`ap*point" (?), v. t. To set, order, or appoint, beforehand. Sherwood.

Fore`ap*point"ment (?), n. Previous appointment; preordinantion. Sherwood.

Fore*arm" (?), v. t. To arm or prepare for attack or resistance before the time of need. South.

Fore"arm` (?), n. (Anat.) That part of the arm or fore limb between the elbow and wrist; the antibrachium.

Fore"beam` (?), n. The breast beam of a loom.

Fore*bear" (?), n. An ancestor. See Forbear.

Fore*bode" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foreboded; p. pr. & vb. n. Foreboding.] [AS. forebodian; fore + bodian to announce. See Bode v. t.] 1. To foretell.

2. To be prescient of (some ill or misfortune); to have an inward conviction of, as of a calamity which is about to happen; to augur despondingly.

His heart forebodes a mystery.

Tennyson.

Sullen, desponding, and foreboding nothing but wars and desolation, as the certain consequence of CÊsar's death.

Middleton.

I have a sort of foreboding about him.

H. James.

Syn. -- To foretell; predict; prognosticate; augur; presage; portend; betoken.

Fore*bode", v. i. To foretell; to presage; to augur.

If I forebode aright.

Hawthorne.

Fore*bode", n. Prognostication; presage. [Obs.]

Fore*bode"ment (?), n. The act of foreboding; the thing foreboded.

Fore*bod"er (?), n. One who forebodes.

Fore*bod"ing, n. Presage of coming ill; expectation of misfortune.

Fore*bod"ing*ly, adv. In a foreboding manner.

Fore"brace` (?), n. (Naut.) A rope applied to the fore yardarm, to change the position of the foresail.

Fore"brain` (?), n. (Anat.) The anterior of the three principal divisions of the brain, including the prosencephalon and thalamencephalon. Sometimes restricted to the prosencephalon only. See Brain.

Fore*by" (?), prep. [Fore + by.] Near; hard by; along; past. See Forby. Spenser.

Fore*cast" (?), v. t. 1. To plan beforehand; to scheme; to project.

He shall forecast his devices against the strongholds.

Dan. xi. 24.

2. To foresee; to calculate beforehand, so as to provide for.

It is wisdom to consider the end of things before we embark, and to forecast consequences.

L'Estrange.

Fore*cast", v. i. To contrive or plan beforehand.

If it happen as I did forecast.

Milton.

Fore"cast (?), n. Previous contrivance or determination; predetermination.

He makes this difference to arise from the forecast and predetermination of the gods themselves.

Addison.

2. Foresight of consequences, and provision against them; prevision; premeditation.

His calm, deliberate forecast better fitted him for the council than the camp.

Prescott.

Fore*cast"er (?), n. One who forecast. Johnson.

Fore"cas`tle (?; sailors say &?;), n. (Naut.) (a) A short upper deck forward, formerly raised like a castle, to command an enemy's decks. (b) That part of the upper deck of a vessel forward of the foremast, or of the after part of the fore channels. (c) In merchant vessels, the forward part of the vessel, under the deck, where the sailors live.

Fore`cho"sen (?), a. Chosen beforehand.

Fore"cit`ed (?), a. Cited or quoted before or above. Arbuthnot.

Fore*close" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foreclosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foreclosing (?).] [F. forclos, p. p. of forclore to exclude; OF. fors, F. hors, except, outside (fr. L. foris outside) + F. clore to close. See Foreign, and Close, v. t.] To shut up or out; to preclude; to stop; to prevent; to bar; to exclude.

The embargo with Spain foreclosed this trade.

Carew.

To foreclose a mortgager (Law), to cut him off by a judgment of court from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises, termed his equity of redemption. -- To foreclose a mortgage, (not technically correct, but often used to signify) the obtaining a judgment for the payment of an overdue mortgage, and the exposure of the mortgaged property to sale to meet the mortgage debt. Wharton.

Fore*clo"sure (?; 135), n. The act or process of foreclosing; a proceeding which bars or extinguishes a mortgager's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate.

Fore`con*ceive" (?), v. t. To preconceive; to imagine beforehand. [Obs.] Bacon.

Fore*date" (?), v. t. To date before the true time; to antedate.

Fore"deck` (?), n. (Naut.) The fore part of a deck, or of a ship.

Fore*deem" (?), v. t. To recognize or judge in advance; to forebode. [Obs.] Udall.

Laugh at your misery, as foredeeming you An idle meteor.

J. Webster.

Fore*deem", v. i. [Cf. Foredoom.] To know or discover beforehand; to foretell. [Obs.]

Which [maid] could guess and foredeem of things past, present, and to come.

Genevan Test.

Fore`de*sign" (? or ?), v. t. To plan beforehand; to intend previously. Cheyne.

Fore`de*ter"mine (?), v. t. To determine or decree beforehand. Bp. Hopkins.

Fore`dis*pose" (?), v. t. To bestow beforehand. [R.]

King James had by promise foredisposed the place on the Bishop of Meath.

Fuller.

Fore*doom" (?), v. t. [Cf. Foredeem.] To doom beforehand; to predestinate.

Thou art foredoomed to view the Stygian state.

Dryden.

Fore"doom` (?), n. Doom or sentence decreed in advance. "A dread foredoom ringing in the ears of the guilty adult." Southey.

Fore"fa`ther (?; 277), n. One who precedes another in the line of genealogy in any degree, but usually in a remote degree; an ancestor.

Respecting your forefathers, you would have been taught to respect yourselves.

Burke.

Forefathers' Day, the anniversary of the day (December 21) on which the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620). On account of a mistake in reckoning the change from Old Style to New Style, it has generally been celebrated on the 22d.

Fore*feel" (?), v. t. To feel beforehand; to have a presentiment of. [Obs.]

As when, with unwieldy waves, the great sea forefeels winds.

Chapman.

Fore`fence" (?), n. Defense in front. [Obs.]

Fore*fend" (?), v. t. [OE. forfenden; pref. for- + fenden to fend. See Fend, v. t.] To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of; to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend.

God forefend it should ever be recorded in our history.

Landor.

It would be a far better work . . . to forefend the cruelty.

I. Taylor.

Fore"fin`ger (?), n. The finger next to the thumb; the index.

Fore*flow" (?), v. t. To flow before. [Obs.]

Fore"foot` (?), n. 1. One of the anterior feet of a quadruped or multiped; -- usually written fore foot.

2. (Shipbuilding) A piece of timber which terminates the keel at the fore end, connecting it with the lower end of the stem.

Fore"front` (?), n. Foremost part or place.

Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle.

2 Sam. xi. 15.

Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, standing in the forefront for all time, the masters of those who know.

J. C. Shairp.

Fore"game` (?), n. A first game; first plan. [Obs.] Whitlock.

Fore"gang`er (?), n. [Prop., a goer before cf. G. voreg‰nger. See Fore, and Gang.] (Naut.) A short rope grafted on a harpoon, to which a longer line may be attached. Totten.

Fore*gath"er (?), v. i. Same as Forgather.

Fore"gift` (?), n. (Law) A premium paid by a lessee when taking his lease.

Fore"gleam` (?), n. An antecedent or premonitory gleam; a dawning light.

The foregleams of wisdom.

Whittier.

Fore*go" (?), v. t. [imp. Forewent 2; p. p. Foregone (?; 115); p. pr. & vb. n. Foregoing.] [See Forgo.] 1. To quit; to relinquish; to leave.

Stay at the third cup, or forego the place.

Herbert.

2. To relinquish the enjoyment or advantage of; to give up; to resign; to renounce; -- said of a thing already enjoyed, or of one within reach, or anticipated.

All my patrimony,, If need be, I am ready to forego.

Milton.

Thy lovers must their promised heaven forego.

Keble.

[He] never forewent an opportunity of honest profit.

R. L. Stevenson.

Forgo is the better spelling etymologically, but the word has been confused with Forego, to go before.

Fore*go", v. t. [AS. foregn; fore + gn to go; akin to G. vorgehen to go before, precede. See Go, v. i.] To go before; to precede; -- used especially in the present and past participles.

Pleasing remembrance of a thought foregone.

Wordsworth.

For which the very mother's face forewent The mother's special patience.

Mrs. Browning.

Foregone conclusion, one which has preceded argument or examination; one predetermined.

Fore*go"er (?), n. 1. One who goes before another; a predecessor; hence, an ancestor; a progenitor.

2. A purveyor of the king; -- so called, formerly, from going before to provide for his household. [Obs.]

Fore*go"er, n. [Etymologically forgoer.] One who forbears to enjoy.

Fore"ground` (?), n. On a painting, and sometimes in a bas-relief, mosaic picture, or the like, that part of the scene represented, which is nearest to the spectator, and therefore occupies the lowest part of the work of art itself. Cf. Distance, n., 6.

Fore*guess" (?), v. t. To conjecture. [Obs.]

Fore"gut` (?), n. (Anat.) The anterior part of the alimentary canal, from the mouth to the intestine, or to the entrance of the bile duct.

Fore"hand` (?), n. 1. All that part of a horse which is before the rider. Johnson.

2. The chief or most important part. Shak.

3. Superiority; advantage; start; precedence.

And, but for ceremony, such a wretch . . . Had the forehand and vantage of a king.

Shak.

Fore"hand`, a. Done beforehand; anticipative.

And so extenuate the forehand sin.

Shak.

Fore"hand`ed, a. 1. Early; timely; seasonable. "Forehanded care." Jer. Taylor.

2. Beforehand with one's needs, or having resources in advance of one's necessities; in easy circumstances; as, a forehanded farmer. [U.S.]

3. Formed in the forehand or fore parts.

A substantial, true-bred beast, bravely forehanded.

Dryden.

Fore"head (?; 277), n. 1. The front of that part of the head which incloses the brain; that part of the face above the eyes; the brow.

2. The aspect or countenance; assurance.

To look with forehead bold and big enough Upon the power and puissance of the king.

Shak.

3. The front or fore part of anything.

Flames in the forehead of the morning sky.

Milton.

So rich advantage of a promised glory As smiles upon the forehead of this action.

Shak.

Fore*hear" (?), v. i. & t. To hear beforehand.

Fore"hearth` (?), n. (Metal.) The forward extension of the hearth of a blast furnace under the tymp.

Fore*hend" (?), v. t. See Forhend. [Obs.]

Fore*hew" (?), v. t. To hew or cut in front. [Obs.] Sackville.

Fore"hold` (?), n. (Naut.) The forward part of the hold of a ship.

Fore*hold"ing (?), n. Ominous foreboding; superstitious prognostication. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

Fore"hook` (?), n. (Naut.) A piece of timber placed across the stem, to unite the bows and strengthen the fore part of the ship; a breast hook.

For"eign (?), a. [OE. forein, F. forain, LL. foraneus, fr. L. foras, foris, out of doors, abroad, without; akin to fores doors, and E. door. See Door, and cf. Foreclose, Forfeit, Forest, Forum.] 1. Outside; extraneous; separated; alien; as, a foreign country; a foreign government. "Foreign worlds." Milton.

2. Not native or belonging to a certain country; born in or belonging to another country, nation, sovereignty, or locality; as, a foreign language; foreign fruits. "Domestic and foreign writers." Atterbury.

Hail, foreign wonder! Whom certain these rough shades did never breed.

Milton.

3. Remote; distant; strange; not belonging; not connected; not pertaining or pertient; not appropriate; not harmonious; not agreeable; not congenial; -- with to or from; as, foreign to the purpose; foreign to one's nature.

This design is not foreign from some people's thoughts.

Swift.

4. Held at a distance; excluded; exiled. [Obs.]

Kept him a foreign man still; which so grieved him, That he ran mad and died.

Shak.

Foreign attachment (Law), a process by which the property of a foreign or absent debtor is attached for the satisfaction of a debt due from him to the plaintiff; an attachment of the goods, effects, or credits of a debtor in the hands of a third person; -- called in some States trustee, in others factorizing, and in others garnishee process. Kent. Tomlins. Cowell. -- Foreign bill, a bill drawn in one country, and payable in another, as distinguished from an inland bill, which is one drawn and payable in the same country. In this latter, as well as in several other points of view, the different States of the United States are foreign to each other. See Exchange, n., 4. Kent. Story. -- Foreign body (Med.), a substance occurring in any part of the body where it does not belong, and usually introduced from without. - - Foreign office, that department of the government of Great Britain which has charge British interests in foreign countries.

<! p. 584 !>

Syn. -- Outlandish; alien; exotic; remote; distant; extraneous; extrinsic.

For"eign*er (?), n. A person belonging to or owning allegiance to a foreign country; one not native in the country or jurisdiction under consideration, or not naturalized there; an alien; a stranger.

Joy is such a foreigner, So mere a stranger to my thoughts.

Denham.

Nor could the majesty of the English crown appear in a greater luster, either to foreigners or subjects.

Swift.

For"eign*ism (?), n. Anything peculiar to a foreign language or people; a foreign idiom or custom.

It is a pity to see the technicalities of the so- called liberal professions distigured by foreignisms.

Fitzed. Hall.

For"eign*ness, n. The quality of being foreign; remoteness; want of relation or appropriateness.

Let not the foreignness of the subject hinder you from endeavoring to set me right.

Locke.

A foreignness of complexion.

G. Eliot.

For"ein (?), a. Foreign. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fore*judge" (?), v. t. [Fore + judge.] To judge beforehand, or before hearing the facts and proof; to prejudge.

Fore*judge", v. t. [For forjudge, fr. F. forjuger; OF. fors outside, except + F. juger to judge.] (O. Eng. Law) To expel from court for some offense or misconduct, as an attorney or officer; to deprive or put out of a thing by the judgment of a court. Burrill.

Fore*judg"er (?), n. (Eng. Law) A judgment by which one is deprived or put out of a right or thing in question.

Fore*judg"ment (?), n. Prejudgment. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fore*know" (?), v. t. [imp. Foreknew (?); p. p. Foreknown (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foreknowing.] To have previous knowledge of; to know beforehand.

Who would the miseries of man foreknow?

Dryden.

Fore*know"a*ble (?), a. That may be foreknown. Dr. H. More.

Fore*know"er (?), n. One who foreknows.

Fore*know"ing*ly, adv. With foreknowledge.

He who . . . foreknowingly loses his life.

Jer. Taylor.

Fore*knowl"edge (?), n. Knowledge of a thing before it happens, or of whatever is to happen; prescience.

If I foreknew, Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault.

Milton.

For"el (?), n. [OE. forelcase, sheath, OF. forel, fourel, F. fourreau, LL. forellus, fr. OF. forre, fuerre, sheath, case, of German origin; cf. OHG. fuotar, akin to Goth. fdr; prob. not the same word as E. fodder food. Cf. Fur, Fodder food.] A kind of parchment for book covers. See Forrill.

For"el, v. t. To bind with a forel. [R.] Fuller.

Fore"land` (?), n. 1. A promontory or cape; a headland; as, the North and South Foreland in Kent, England.

2. (Fort.) A piece of ground between the wall of a place and the moat. Farrow.

3. (Hydraul. Engin.) That portion of the natural shore on the outside of the embankment which receives the stock of waves and deadens their force. Knight.

Fore*lay" (?), v. t. 1. To lay down beforehand.

These grounds being forelaid and understood.

Mede.

2. To waylay. See Forlay. [Obs.]

Fore*lead"er (?), n. One who leads others by his example; a guide.

Fore*lend" (?), v. t. See Forlend. [Obs.]

As if that life to losse they had forelent.

Spenser.

Fore*let" (?), v. t. See Forlet. [Obs.] Holland.

Fore*lie" (?), v. i. To lie in front of. [Obs.]

Which forelay Athwart her snowy breast.

Spenser.

Fore*lift" (?), v. t. To lift up in front. [Obs.]

Fore"lock` (?), n. 1. The lock of hair that grows from the forepart of the head.

2. (Mech.) A cotter or split pin, as in a slot in a bolt, to prevent retraction; a linchpin; a pin fastening the cap-square of a gun.

Forelock bolt, a bolt retained by a key, gib, or cotter passing through a slot. -- Forelock hook (Rope Making), a winch or whirl by which a bunch of three yarns is twisted into a standard. Knight. -- To take time, or occasion, by the forelock, to make prompt use of anything; not to let slip an opportunity.

Time is painted with a lock before and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for when it is once past, there is no recalling it.

Swift.

On occasion's forelock watchful wait.

Milton.

Fore*look" (?), v. i. To look beforehand or forward. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fore"man (?), n.; pl. Foremen (&?;). The first or chief man; as: (a) The chief man of a jury, who acts as their speaker. (b) The chief of a set of hands employed in a shop, or on works of any kind, who superintends the rest; an overseer.

Fore"mast` (?), n. (Naut.) The mast nearest the bow.

Foremast hand or man (Naut.), a common sailor; also, a man stationed to attend to the gear of the foremast.

Fore*meant" (?), a. Intended beforehand; premeditated. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fore"men`tioned (?), a. Mentioned before; already cited; aforementioned. Addison.

Fore"milk` (?), n. (Physiol.) The milk secreted just before, or directly after, the birth of a child or of the young of an animal; colostrum.

Fore"most` (?), a. [OE. formest first, AS. formest, fyrmest, superl. of forma first, which is a superl. fr. fore fore; cf. Goth. frumist, fruma, first. See Fore, adv., and cf. First, Former, Frame, v. t., Prime, a.] First in time or place; most advanced; chief in rank or dignity; as, the foremost troops of an army.

THat struck the foremost man of all this world.

Shak.

Fore"most`ly, adv. In the foremost place or order; among the foremost. J. Webster.

Fore"moth`er (?), n. A female ancestor.

Fore"name` (?), n. A name that precedes the family name or surname; a first name. Selden.

Fore"name`, v. t. To name or mention before. Shak.

Fore"named` (?), a. Named before; aforenamed.

Fore*nenst" (?), prep. [See Fore, and Anent.] Over against; opposite to. [Now dialectic]

The land forenenst the Greekish shore.

Fairfax.

Fore"-night` (?), n. The evening between twilight and bedtime. [Scot.]

Fore"noon" (?), n. The early part of the day, from morning to meridian, or noon.

Fore"no`tice (?), n. Notice or information of an event before it happens; forewarning. [R.] Rymer.

Fo*ren"sal (?), a. Forensic. [R.]

Fo*ren"sic (?), a. [L. forensis, fr. forum a public place, market place. See Forum.] Belonging to courts of judicature or to public discussion and debate; used in legal proceedings, or in public discussions; argumentative; rhetorical; as, forensic eloquence or disputes.

Forensic medicine, medical jurisprudence; medicine in its relations to law.

Fo*ren"sic, n. (Amer. Colleges) An exercise in debate; a forensic contest; an argumentative thesis.

Fo*ren"sic*al (?), a. Forensic. Berkley.

Fore`or*dain" (?), v. t. To ordain or appoint beforehand; to preordain; to predestinate; to predetermine. Hooker.

Fore*or"di*nate (?), v. t. To foreordain.

Fore*or`di*na"tion (?), n. Previous ordination or appointment; predetermination; predestination.

{ Fore" part` (?), or Fore"part` }, n. The part most advanced, or first in time or in place; the beginning.

Fore"past` (?), a. Bygone. [Obs.] Shak.

Fore`pos*sessed" (?), a. 1. Holding or held formerly in possession. [Obs.]

2. Preoccupied; prepossessed; preÎngaged. [Obs.]

Not extremely forepossessed with prejudice.

Bp. Sanderson.

Fore*prize" (?), v. t. To prize or rate beforehand. [Obs.] Hooker.

Fore`prom"ised (?), a. Promised beforehand; preÎngaged. Bp. Hall.

Fore"quot`ed (?), a. Cited before; quoted in a foregoing part of the treatise or essay.

Fore*ran" (?), imp. of Forerun.

Fore"rank` (?), n. The first rank; the front.

Fore*reach" (?), v. t. (Naut.) To advance or gain upon; -- said of a vessel that gains upon another when sailing closehauled.

Fore*reach", v. i. (Naut.) To shoot ahead, especially when going in stays. R. H. Dana, Jr.

Fore*read" (?), v. t. To tell beforehand; to signify by tokens; to predestine. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fore`re*cit"ed (?), a. Named or recited before. "The forerecited practices." Shak.

Fore`re*mem"bered (?), a. Called to mind previously. Bp. Montagu.

Fore"right` (?), a. Ready; directly forward; going before. [Obs.] "A foreright wind." Chapman.

Fore"right`, adv. Right forward; onward. [Obs.]

Fore*run" (?), v. t. 1. To turn before; to precede; to be in advance of (something following).

2. To come before as an earnest of something to follow; to introduce as a harbinger; to announce.

These signs forerun the death or fall of kings.

Shak.

Fore*run"ner (?), n. 1. A messenger sent before to give notice of the approach of others; a harbinger; a sign foreshowing something; a prognostic; as, the forerunner of a fever.

Whither the forerunner in for us entered, even Jesus.

Heb. vi. 20.

My elder brothers, my forerunners, came.

Dryden.

2. A predecessor; an ancestor. [Obs.] Shak.

3. (Naut.) A piece of rag terminating the log line.

Fore"said` (?), a. Mentioned before; aforesaid.

Fore"sail` (?), n. (Naut.) (a) The sail bent to the foreyard of a square- rigged vessel, being the lowest sail on the foremast. (b) The gaff sail set on the foremast of a schooner. (c) The fore staysail of a sloop, being the triangular sail next forward of the mast.

Fore*say" (?), v. t. [AS. foresecgan; fore + secgan to say. See Say, v. t.] To foretell. [Obs.]

Her danger nigh that sudden change foresaid.

Fairfax.

Fore*see" (?), v. t. [AS. foreseÛn; fore + seÛn to see. See See, v. t.] 1. To see beforehand; to have prescience of; to foreknow.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil.

Prov. xxii. 3.

2. To provide. [Obs.]

Great shoals of people, which go on to populate, without foreseeing means of life.

Bacon.

Fore*see", v. i. To have or exercise foresight. [Obs.]

Fore*seen" (?), conj., or (strictly) p. p. Provided; in case that; on condition that. [Obs.]

One manner of meat is most sure to every complexion, foreseen that it be alway most commonly in conformity of qualities, with the person that eateth.

Sir T. Elyot.

Fore*se"er (?), n. One who foresees or foreknows.

Fore*seize" (?), v. t. To seize beforehand.

Fore*shad"ow (?), v. t. To shadow or typi&?;y beforehand; to prefigure. Dryden.

Fore*shew" (?), v. t. See Foreshow.

Fore"ship` (?), n. The fore part of a ship. [Obs.]

Fore*short"en (?), v. t. 1. (Fine Art) To represent on a plane surface, as if extended in a direction toward the spectator or nearly so; to shorten by drawing in perspective.

2. Fig.: To represent pictorially to the imagination.

Songs, and deeds, and lives that lie Foreshortened in the tract of time.

Tennyson.

Fore*short"en*ing, n. (Fine Arts) Representation in a foreshortened mode or way.

Fore"shot` (?), n. In distillation of low wines, the first portion of spirit that comes over, being a fluid abounding in fusel oil. Knight.

Fore*show" (?), v. t. [AS. foresce·wian to foresee, provide; fore + sce·wian to see. See Show, v. t.] To show or exhibit beforehand; to give foreknowledge of; to prognosticate; to foretell.

Your looks foreshow You have a gentle heart.

Shak.

Next, like Aurora, Spenser rose, Whose purple blush the day foreshows.

Denham.

Fore*show"er (?), n. One who predicts.

Fore"side (?), n. 1. The front side; the front; esp., a stretch of country fronting the sea.

2. The outside or external covering. Spenser.

Fore"sight` (?), n. 1. The act or the power of foreseeing; prescience; foreknowledge. Milton.

2. Action in reference to the future; provident care; prudence; wise forethought.

This seems an unseasonable foresight.

Milton.

A random expense, without plan or foresight.

Burke.

3. (Surv.) Any sight or reading of the leveling staff, except the backsight; any sight or bearing taken by a compass or theodolite in a forward direction.

4. (Gun.) Muzzle sight. See Fore sight, under Fore, a.

Fore"sight`ed (?), a. Sagacious; prudent; provident for the future. Bartram.

Fore"sight`ful (?), a. Foresighted. [Obs.]

Fore*sig"ni*fy (?), v. t. To signify beforehand; to foreshow; to typify. Milton.

Fore"skin (?), n. (Anat.) The fold of skin which covers the glans of the penis; the prepuce.

Fore"skirt` (?), n. The front skirt of a garment, in distinction from the train.

Honor's train Is longer than his foreskirt.

Shak.

Fore*slack" (?), v. t. [Obs.] See Forslack.

Fore"sleeve` (?), n. The sleeve below the elbow.

Fore*slow" (?), v. t. [See Forslow.] To make slow; to hinder; to obstruct. [Obs.] See Forslow, v. t.

No stream, no wood, no mountain could foreslow Their hasty pace.

Fairfax.

Fore*slow", v. i. To loiter. [Obs.] See Forslow, v. i.

Fore*speak" (?), v. t. [Obs.] See Forspeak.

Fore*speak", v. t. To foretell; to predict. [Obs.]

My mother was half a witch; never anything that she forespake but came to pass.

Beau. & Fl.

Fore"speak`ing, n. A prediction; also, a preface. [Obs.] Camden. Huloet.

Fore"speech` (?), n. A preface. [Obs.] Sherwood.

Fore*spent" (?), a. [Fore + spent.] Already spent; gone by; past. [Obs.] Shak.

Fore*spent", a. [Obs.] See Forspent.

Fore*spur"rer (?), n. One who rides before; a harbinger. [Obs.] Shak.

For"est (?), n. [OF. forest, F. forÍt, LL. forestis, also, forestus, forestum, foresta, prop., open ground reserved for the chase, fr. L. foris, foras, out of doors, abroad. See Foreign.] 1. An extensive wood; a large tract of land covered with trees; in the United States, a wood of native growth, or a tract of woodland which has never been cultivated.

2. (Eng. Law) A large extent or precinct of country, generally waste and woody, belonging to the sovereign, set apart for the keeping of game for his use, not inclosed, but distinguished by certain limits, and protected by certain laws, courts, and officers of its own. Burrill.

For"est, a. Of or pertaining to a forest; sylvan.

Forest fly. (Zoˆl.) (a) One of numerous species of blood-sucking flies, of the family TabanidÊ, which attack both men and beasts. See Horse fly. (b) A fly of the genus Hippobosca, esp. H. equina. See Horse tick. -- Forest glade, a grassy space in a forest. Thomson. -- Forest laws, laws for the protection of game, preservation of timber, etc., in forests. -- Forest tree, a tree of the forest, especially a timber tree, as distinguished from a fruit tree.

For"est, v. t. To cover with trees or wood.

Fore"staff` (?), n. (Naut.) An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of heavenly bodies, now superseded by the sextant; -- called also cross-staff. Brande & C.

For"est*age (?), n. [Cf. F. forestage.] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A duty or tribute payable to the king's foresters. (b) A service paid by foresters to the king.

For"est*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to forests; as, forestal rights.

Fore*stall" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forestalled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forestalling.] [OE. forstallen to stop, to obstruct; to stop (goods) on the way to the market by buying them beforehand, from forstal obstruction, AS. forsteal, foresteall, prop., a placing one's self before another. See Fore, and Stall.] 1. To take beforehand, or in advance; to anticipate.

What need a man forestall his date of grief, And run to meet what he would most avoid?

Milton.

2. To take possession of, in advance of some one or something else, to the exclusion or detriment of the latter; to get ahead of; to preoccupy; also, to exclude, hinder, or prevent, by prior occupation, or by measures taken in advance.

<! p. 585 !>

An ugly serpent which forestalled their way.

Fairfax.

But evermore those damsels did forestall Their furious encounter.

Spenser.

To be forestalled ere we come to fall.

Shak.

Habit is a forestalled and obstinate judge.

Rush.

3. To deprive; -- with of. [R.]

All the better; may This night forestall him of the coming day!

Shak.

4. (Eng. Law) To obstruct or stop up, as a way; to stop the passage of on highway; to intercept on the road, as goods on the way to market.

To forestall the market, to buy or contract for merchandise or provision on its way to market, with the intention of selling it again at a higher price; to dissuade persons from bringing their goods or provisions there; or to persuade them to enhance the price when there. This was an offense at law in England until 1844. Burrill.

Syn. -- To anticipate; monopolize; engross.

Fore*stall"er (?), n. One who forestalls; esp., one who forestalls the market. Locke.

Fore"stay` (?), n. (Naut.) A large, strong rope, reaching from the foremast head to the bowsprit, to support the mast. See Illust. under Ship.

For"est*er (?), n. [F. forestier, LL. forestarius.] 1. One who has charge of the growing timber on an estate; an officer appointed to watch a forest and preserve the game.

2. An inhabitant of a forest. Wordsworth.

3. A forest tree. [R.] Evelyn.

4. (Zoˆl.) A lepidopterous insect belonging to Alypia and allied genera; as, the eight-spotted forester (A. octomaculata), which in the larval state is injurious to the grapevine.

Fore"stick` (?), n. Front stick of a hearth fire.

For"est*ry (?), n. [Cf. OF. foresterie.] The art of forming or of cultivating forests; the management of growing timber.

{ Fore"swart` (?), Fore"swart` (?), } a. [Obs.] See Forswat.

Fore"taste` (?), n. A taste beforehand; enjoyment in advance; anticipation.

Fore*taste" (?), v. t. 1. To taste before full possession; to have previous enjoyment or experience of; to anticipate.

2. To taste before another. "Foretasted fruit." Milton.

Fore"tast`er (? or ?), n. One who tastes beforehand, or before another.

Fore*teach" (?), v. t. To teach beforehand. [Obs.]

Fore*tell" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foretold (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foretelling.] To predict; to tell before occurence; to prophesy; to foreshow.

Deeds then undone my faithful tongue foretold.

Pope.

Prodigies, foretelling the future eminence and luster of his character.

C. Middleton.

Syn. -- To predict; prophesy; prognosticate; augur.

Fore*tell", v. i. To utter predictions. Acts iii. 24.

Fore*tell"er (?), n. One who predicts. Boyle.

Fore*think" (?), v. t. 1. To think beforehand; to anticipate in the mind; to prognosticate. [Obs.]

The soul of every man Prophetically doth forethink thy fall.

Shak.

2. To contrive (something) beforehend. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Fore*think", v. i. To contrive beforehand. [Obs.]

Fore"thought` (?), a. Thought of, or planned, beforehand; aforethought; prepense; hence, deliberate. "Forethought malice." Bacon.

Fore"thought`, n. A thinking or planning beforehand; prescience; premeditation; forecast; provident care.

A sphere that will demand from him forethought, courage, and wisdom.

I. Taylor.

Fore"thought`ful (?), a. Having forethought. [R.]

Fore"time` (?), n. The past; the time before the present. "A very dim foretime." J. C. Shairp.

Fore"to`ken (?), n. [AS. foretcen. See Token.] Prognostic; previous omen. Sir P. Sidney.

Fore*to"ken (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foretokened (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foretokening (?).] [AS. foretcnian; fore + tcnian.] To foreshow; to presignify; to prognosticate.

Whilst strange prodigious signs foretoken blood.

Daniel.

Fore" tooth` (?), pl. Fore teeth (&?;). (Anat.) One of the teeth in the forepart of the mouth; an incisor.

Fore"top` (?), n. 1. The hair on the forepart of the head; esp., a tuft or lock of hair which hangs over the forehead, as of a horse.

2. That part of a headdress that is in front; the top of a periwig.

3. (Naut.) The platform at the head of the foremast.

Fore`-top*gal"lant (? or ?), a. (Naut.) Designating the mast, sail, yard, etc., above the topmast; as, the fore-topgallant sail. See Sail.

Fore`-top"mast (?), n. (Naut.) The mast erected at the head of the foremast, and at the head of which stands the fore-topgallant mast. See Ship.

Fore`-top"sail (? or ?), n. (Naut.) See Sail.

For*ev"er (fr*v"r), adv. [For, prep. + ever.] 1. Through eternity; through endless ages; eternally.

2. At all times; always.

In England, for and ever are usually written and printed as two separate words; but, in the United States, the general practice is to make but a single word of them.

Forever and ever, an emphatic "forever."

Syn. -- Constantly; continually; invariably; unchangeably; incessantly; always; perpetually; unceasingly; ceaselessly; interminably; everlastingly; endlessly; eternally.

Fore*vouched" (fr*voucht"), a. Formerly vouched or avowed; affirmed in advance. [R.] Shak.

Fore"ward` (fr"wrd`), n. The van; the front. [Obs.]

My foreward shall be drawn out all in length, Consisting equally of horse and foot.

Shak.

Fore*warn" (fr*wrn"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forewarned (-wrnd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Forewarning.] To warn beforehand; to give previous warning, admonition, information, or notice to; to caution in advance.

We were forewarned of your coming.

Shak.

Fore*waste" (?), v. t. See Forewaste. Gascoigne.

Fore*wend" (?), v. t. [Fore + wend.] To go before. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fore*wish" (?), v. t. To wish beforehand.

Fore"wit` (?), n. 1. A leader, or would-be leader, in matters of knowledge or taste. [Obs.]

Nor that the forewits, that would draw the rest unto their liking, always like the best.

B. Jonson.

2. Foresight; prudence.

Let this forewit guide thy thought.

Southwell.

Fore*wite" (?), v. t. [pres. indic. sing., 1st & 3d pers. Forewot (?), 2d person Forewost (&?;), pl. Forewiten (&?;); imp. sing. Forewiste (?), pl. Forewisten (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Forewiting (?).] [AS. forewitan. See Wit to know.] To foreknow. [Obs.] [Written also forwete.] Chaucer.

Fore"wom`an (?), n.; pl. Forewomen (&?;). A woman who is chief; a woman who has charge of the work or workers in a shop or other place; a head woman. Tatler. W. Besant.

Fore"word` (?), n. A preface. Furnvall.

Fore*worn" (?), a. [See Forworn.] Worn out; wasted; used up. [Archaic]

Old foreworn stories almost forgotten.

Brydges.

Fore*wot" (?), pres. indic., 1st & 3d pers. sing. of Forewite. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fore"yard` (?), n. (Naut.) The lowermost yard on the foremast. [See Illust. of Ship.]

For"fal*ture (?), n. Forfeiture. [Obs.]

For"feit (?), n. [OE. forfet crime, penalty, F. forfait crime (LL. forefactum, forifactum), prop. p. p. of forfaire to forfeit, transgress, fr. LL. forifacere, prop., to act beyond; L. foris out of doors, abroad, beyond + facere to do. See Foreign, and Fact.] 1. Injury; wrong; mischief. [Obs. & R.]

To seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit.

Ld. Berners.

2. A thing forfeit or forfeited; what is or may be taken from one in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, offense, neglect of duty, or breach of contract; hence, a fine; a mulct; a penalty; as, he who murders pays the forfeit of his life.

Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal Remit thy other forfeits.

Shak.

3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits.

Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.

Goldsmith.

For"feit, a. [F. forfait, p. p. of forfaire. See Forfeit, n.] Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.

Thy wealth being forfeit to the state.

Shak.

To tread the forfeit paradise.

Emerson.

For"feit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forfeited; p. pr. & vb. n. Forfeiting.] [OE. forfeten. See Forfeit, n.] To lose, or lose the right to, by some error, fault, offense, or crime; to render one's self by misdeed liable to be deprived of; to alienate the right to possess, by some neglect or crime; as, to forfeit an estate by treason; to forfeit reputation by a breach of promise; -- with to before the one acquiring what is forfeited.

[They] had forfeited their property by their crimes.

Burke.

Undone and forfeited to cares forever!

Shak.

For"feit, v. i. 1. To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress. [Obs.]

2. To fail to keep an obligation. [Obs.]

I will have the heart of him if he forfeit.

Shak.

For"feit, p. p. or a. In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation. Shak.

Once more I will renew His lapsËd powers, though forfeite.

Milton.

For"feit*a*ble (?), a. Liable to be forfeited; subject to forfeiture.

For the future, uses shall be subject to the statutes of mortmain, and forfeitable, like the lands themselves.

Blackstone.

For"feit*er (?), n. One who incurs a penalty of forfeiture.

For"fei*ture (?; 135), n. [F. forfeiture, LL. forisfactura.] 1. The act of forfeiting; the loss of some right, privilege, estate, honor, office, or effects, by an offense, crime, breach of condition, or other act.

Under pain of foreiture of the said goods.

Hakluyt.

2. That which is forfeited; a penalty; a fine or mulct.

What should I gain By the exaction of the forfeiture?

Shak.

Syn. -- Fine; mulct; amercement; penalty.

For*fend" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + fend. See Forewend.] To prohibit; to forbid; to avert. [Archaic]

Which peril heaven forefend!

Shak.

This is etymologically the preferable spelling.

For*fer"ed (?), p. p. & a. [See For- , and Fear.] Excessively alarmed; in great fear. [Obs.] "Forfered of his death." Chaucer.

For"fete (?), v. i. [See Forfeit.] To incur a penalty; to transgress. [Obs.]

And all this suffered our Lord Jesus Christ that never forfeted.

Chaucer.

||For"fex (?), n. [L.] A pair of shears. Pope.

For"fi*cate (?), a. [L. forfex, forficis, shears.] (Zoˆl.) Deeply forked, as the tail of certain birds.

||For*fic"u*la (?), n. [L., small shears, scissors, dim. of forfex ||shears.] (Zoˆl.) A genus of insects including the earwigs. See ||Earwig, 1.

For*gath"er (?), v. i. To convene; to gossip; to meet accidentally. [Scot.] Jamieson.

Within that circle he forgathered with many a fool.

Wilson.

For*gave" (?), imp. of Forgive.

Forge (frj), n. [F. forge, fr. L. fabrica the workshop of an artisan who works in hard materials, fr. faber artisan, smith, as adj., skillful, ingenious; cf. Gr. &?; soft, tender. Cf. Fabric.] 1. A place or establishment where iron or other metals are wrought by heating and hammering; especially, a furnace, or a shop with its furnace, etc., where iron is heated and wrought; a smithy.

In the quick forge and working house of thought.

Shak.

2. The works where wrought iron is produced directly from the ore, or where iron is rendered malleable by puddling and shingling; a shingling mill.

3. The act of beating or working iron or steel; the manufacture of metallic bodies. [Obs.]

In the greater bodies the forge was easy.

Bacon.

American forge, a forge for the direct production of wrought iron, differing from the old Catalan forge mainly in using finely crushed ore and working continuously. Raymond. -- Catalan forge. (Metal.) See under Catalan. -- Forge cinder, the dross or slag form a forge or bloomary. -- Forge rolls, Forge train, the train of rolls by which a bloom is converted into puddle bars. -- Forge wagon (Mil.), a wagon fitted up for transporting a blackmith's forge and tools. -- Portable forge, a light and compact blacksmith's forge, with bellows, etc., that may be moved from place to place.

Forge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forged (frjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Forging (?).] [F. forger, OF. forgier, fr. L. fabricare, fabricari, to form, frame, fashion, from fabrica. See Forge, n., and cf. Fabricate.] 1. To form by heating and hammering; to beat into any particular shape, as a metal.

Mars's armor forged for proof eterne.

Shak.

2. To form or shape out in any way; to produce; to frame; to invent.

Those names that the schools forged, and put into the mouth of scholars, could never get admittance into common use.

Locke.

Do forge a life-long trouble for ourselves.

Tennyson.

3. To coin. [Obs.] Chaucer.

4. To make falsely; to produce, as that which is untrue or not genuine; to fabricate; to counterfeit, as, a signature, or a signed document.

That paltry story is untrue, And forged to cheat such gulls as you.

Hudibras.

Forged certificates of his . . . moral character.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- To fabricate; counterfeit; feign; falsify.

Forge, v. i. [See Forge, v. t., and for sense 2, cf. Forge compel.] 1. To commit forgery.

2. (Naut.) To move heavily and slowly, as a ship after the sails are furled; to work one's way, as one ship in outsailing another; -- used especially in the phrase to forge ahead. Totten.

And off she [a ship] forged without a shock.

De Quincey.

Forge, v. t. (Naut.) To impel forward slowly; as, to forge a ship forward.

Forge"man (?), n.; pl. Forgemen (&?;). A skilled smith, who has a hammerer to assist him.

For"ger (?), n.[Cf. F. forgeur metal worker, L. fabricator artificer. See Forge, n. & v. t., and cf. Fabricator.] One who forges, makes, of forms; a fabricator; a falsifier.

2. Especially: One guilty of forgery; one who makes or issues a counterfeit document.

For"ger*y (?), n.; pl. Forgeries (#). [Cf. F. forgerie.] 1. The act of forging metal into shape. [Obs.]

Useless the forgery Of brazen shield and spear.

Milton.

2. The act of forging, fabricating, or producing falsely; esp., the crime of fraudulently making or altering a writing or signature purporting to be made by another; the false making or material alteration of or addition to a written instrument for the purpose of deceit and fraud; as, the forgery of a bond. Bouvier.

3. That which is forged, fabricated, falsely devised, or counterfeited.

These are the forgeries of jealously.

Shak.

The writings going under the name of Aristobulus were a forgery of the second century.

Waterland.

Syn. -- Counterfeit; Forgery. Counterfeit is chiefly used of imitations of coin, or of paper money, or of securities depending upon pictorial devices and engraved designs for identity or assurance of genuineness. Forgery is more properly applied to making a false imitation of an instrument depending on signatures to show genuineness and validity. Abbott.

<! p. 586 !>

For*get" (?), v. t. [imp. Forgot (?) (Forgat (&?;), Obs.); p. p. Forgotten (?), Forgot; p. pr. & vb. n. Forgetting.] [OE. forgeten, foryeten, AS. forgietan, forgitan; pref. for- + gietan, gitan (only in comp.), to get; cf. D. vergeten, G. vergessen, Sw. fˆrg‰ta, Dan. forgiette. See For-, and Get, v. t.] 1. To lose the remembrance of; to let go from the memory; to cease to have in mind; not to think of; also, to lose the power of; to cease from doing.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

Ps. ciii. 2.

Let my right hand forget her cunning.

Ps. cxxxvii. 5.

Hath thy knee forget to bow?

Shak.

2. To treat with inattention or disregard; to slight; to neglect.

Can a woman forget her sucking child? . . . Yes, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Is. xlix. 15.

To forget one's self. (a) To become unmindful of one's own personality; to be lost in thought. (b) To be entirely unselfish. (c) To be guilty of what is unworthy of one; to lose one's dignity, temper, or self-control.

For*get"ful (?), a. 1. Apt to forget; easily losing remembrance; as, a forgetful man should use helps to strengthen his memory.

2. Heedless; careless; neglectful; inattentive.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers.

Heb. xiii. 2.

3. Causing to forget; inducing oblivion; oblivious. [Archaic or Poetic] "The forgetful wine." J. Webster.

For*get"ful*ly, adv. In a forgetful manner.

For*get"ful*ness, n. 1. The quality of being forgetful; prononess to let slip from the mind.

2. Loss of remembrance or recollection; a ceasing to remember; oblivion.

A sweet forgetfulness of human care.

Pope.

3. Failure to bear in mind; careless omission; inattention; as, forgetfulness of duty.

Syn. -- Forgetfulnes, Oblivion. Forgetfulness is Anglo-Saxon, and oblivion is Latin. The former commonly has reference to persons, and marks a state of mind; the latter commonly has reference to things, and indicates a condition into which they are sunk. We blame a man for his forgetfulness; we speak of some old custom as buried in oblivion. But this discrimination is not strictly adhered to.

For"ge*tive (?), a. [From Forge.] Inventive; productive; capable. [Obs.] Shak.

For*get"-me-not` (?), n. [Cf. G. vergissmeinnicht.] (Bot.) A small herb, of the genus Myosotis (M. palustris, incespitosa, etc.), bearing a beautiful blue flower, and extensively considered the emblem of fidelity.

Formerly the name was given to the Ajuga ChamÊpitus.

For*get"ta*ble (?), a. Liable to be, or that may be, forgotten. Carlyle.

For*get"ter (?), n. One who forgets; a heedless person. Johnson.

For*get"ting*ly, adv. By forgetting.

For"ging (?), n. 1. The act of shaping metal by hammering or pressing.

2. The act of counterfeiting.

3. (Mach.) A piece of forged work in metal; -- a general name for a piece of hammered iron or steel.

There are very few yards in the world at which such forgings could be turned out.

London Times.

For*giv"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being forgiven; pardonable; venial. Sherwood.

For*give" (?), v. t. [imp. Forgave (?); p. p. Forgiven (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forgiving] [OE. forgiven, foryiven, foryeven, AS. forgiefan, forgifan; perh. for- + giefan, gifan to give; cf. D. vergeven, G. vergeben, Icel. fyrirgefa, Sw. f&?;rgifva, Goth. fragiban to give, grant. See For-, and Give, v. t.] 1. To give wholly; to make over without reservation; to resign.

To them that list the world's gay shows I leave, And to great ones such folly do forgive.

Spenser.

2. To give up resentment or claim to requital on account of (an offense or wrong); to remit the penalty of; to pardon; -- said in reference to the act forgiven.

And their sins should be forgiven them.

Mark iv. 12.

He forgive injures so readily that he might be said to invite them.

Macaulay.

3. To cease to feel resentment against, on account of wrong committed; to give up claim to requital from or retribution upon (an offender); to absolve; to pardon; -- said of the person offending.

Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.

Luke xxiii. 34.

I as free forgive you, as I would be fforgiven.

Shak.

Sometimes both the person and the offense follow as objects of the verb, sometimes one and sometimes the other being the indirect object. "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." Matt. vi. 12. "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." Matt. ix. 2.

Syn. -- See excuse.

For*give"ness, n. [AS. forgifnes.] 1. The act of forgiving; the state of being forgiven; as, the forgiveness of sin or of injuries.

To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses.

Dan. ix. 9.

In whom we have . . . the forgiveness of sin.

Eph. i. 7.

2. Disposition to pardon; willingness to forgive.

If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

Ps. cxxx. 3, 4.

Syn. -- Pardon, remission. -- Forgiveness, Pardon. Forgiveness is Anglo-Saxon, and pardon Norman French, both implying a giving back. The word pardon, being early used in our Bible, has, in religious matters, the same sense as forgiveness; but in the language of common life there is a difference between them, such as we often find between corresponding Anglo-Saxon and Norman words. Forgive points to inward feeling, and suppose alienated affection; when we ask forgiveness, we primarily seek the removal of anger. Pardon looks more to outward things or consequences, and is often applied to trifling matters, as when we beg pardon for interrupting a man, or for jostling him in a crowd. The civil magistrate also grants a pardon, and not forgiveness. The two words are, therefore, very clearly distinguished from each other in most cases which relate to the common concerns of life.

For*giv"er (?), n. One who forgives. Johnson.

For*giv"ing, a. Disposed to forgive; inclined to overlook offenses; mild; merciful; compassionate; placable; as, a forgiving temper.

-- For*giv"ing*ly, adv. -- For*giv"ing*ness, n. J. C. Shairp.

For*go" (?), v. t. [imp. Forwent; p. p. Forgone; p. pr. & vb. n. Forgoing.] [OE. forgan, forgon, forgoon, AS. forgn, prop., to go past, hence, to abstain from; pref. for- + gn to go; akin to G. vergehen to pass away, to transgress. See Go, v. i.] To pass by; to leave. See 1st Forego.

For sith [since] I shall forgoon my liberty At your request.

Chaucer.

And four [days] since Florimell the court forwent.

Spenser.

This word in spelling has been confused with, and almost superseded by, forego to go before. Etymologically the form forgo is correct.

For*got" (?), imp. & p. p. of Forget.

For*got"ten (?), p. p. of Forget.

For*hall" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + hale to draw.] To harass; to torment; to distress. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*hend" (?), v. t. To seize upon. [Obs.]

Fo*rin"se*cal (?), a. [L. forinsecus from without.] Foreign; alien. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

Fo`ris*fa*mil"i*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forisfamiliated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forisfamiliating (?).] [LL. forisfamiliatus, p. p. of forisfamiliater to forisfamiliate; L. foris abroad, without + familia family.] (LAw) Literally, to put out of a family; hence, to portion off, so as to exclude further claim of inheritance; to emancipate (as a with his own consent) from paternal authority. Blackstone.

Fo`ris*fa*mil"i*ate, v. i. (Law) To renounce a legal title to a further share of paternal inheritance.

Fo`ris*fa*mil`i*a"tion (?), n. (Law) The act of forisfamiliating.

Fork (fÙrk), n. [AS. forc, fr. L. furca. Cf. FourchÈ, Furcate.] 1. An instrument consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slightly curved; -- used for piercing, holding, taking up, or pitching anything.

2. Anything furcate or like a fork in shape, or furcate at the extremity; as, a tuning fork.

3. One of the parts into which anything is furcated or divided; a prong; a branch of a stream, a road, etc.; a barbed point, as of an arrow.

Let it fall . . . though the fork invade The region of my heart.

Shak.

A thunderbolt with three forks.

Addison.

4. The place where a division or a union occurs; the angle or opening between two branches or limbs; as, the fork of a river, a tree, or a road.

5. The gibbet. [Obs.] Bp. Butler.

Fork beam (Shipbuilding), a half beam to support a deck, where hatchways occur. -- Fork chuck (Wood Turning), a lathe center having two prongs for driving the work. -- Fork head. (a) The barbed head of an arrow. (b) The forked end of a rod which forms part of a knuckle joint. -- In fork. (Mining) A mine is said to be in fork, or an engine to "have the water in fork," when all the water is drawn out of the mine. Ure. -- The forks of a river or a road, the branches into which it divides, or which come together to form it; the place where separation or union takes place.

Fork, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Forked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forking.] 1. To shoot into blades, as corn.

The corn beginneth to fork.

Mortimer.

2. To divide into two or more branches; as, a road, a tree, or a stream forks.

Fork, v. t. To raise, or pitch with a fork, as hay; to dig or turn over with a fork, as the soil.

Forking the sheaves on the high-laden cart.

Prof. Wilson.

To fork over or out, to hand or pay over, as money. [Slang] G. Eliot.

Fork"beard` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) A European fish (Raniceps raninus), having a large flat head; -- also called tadpole fish, and lesser forked beard. (b) The European forked hake or hake's-dame (Phycis blennoides); -- also called great forked beard.

Forked (?), a. 1. Formed into a forklike shape; having a fork; dividing into two or more prongs or branches; furcated; bifurcated; zigzag; as, the forked lighting.

A serpent seen, with forked tongue.

Shak.

2. Having a double meaning; ambiguous; equivocal.

Cross forked (Her.), a cross, the ends of whose arms are divided into two sharp points; -- called also cross double fitchÈ. A cross forked of three points is a cross, each of whose arms terminates in three sharp points. -- Forked counsel, advice pointing more than one way; ambiguous advice. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

-- Fork"ed*ly (#), adv. -- Fork"ed*ness, n.

For*kerve (?), v. t. [Obs.] See Forcarve, v. t.

Fork"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state or dividing in a forklike manner.

Fork"less, a. Having no fork.

Fork"tail` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) One of several Asiatic and East Indian passerine birds, belonging to Enucurus, and allied genera. The tail is deeply forked. (b) A salmon in its fourth year's growth. [Prov. Eng.]

Fork"-tailed` (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Having the outer tail feathers longer than the median ones; swallow-tailed; -- said of many birds.

Fork-tailed flycatcher (Zoˆl.), a tropical American flycatcher (Milvulus tyrannus). - - Fork-tailed gull (Zoˆl.), a gull of the genus Xema, of two species, esp. X. Sabinii of the Arctic Ocean. -- Fork-tailed kite (Zoˆl.), a graceful American kite (Elanoides forficatus); -- called also swallow-tailed kite.

Fork"y (?), a. Opening into two or more parts or shoots; forked; furcated. "Forky tongues." Pope.

For*laft" (?), obs. p. p. of Forleave. Chaucer.

For*lay" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + lay.] To lie in wait for; to ambush.

An ambushed thief forlays a traveler.

Dryden.

For*leave" (?), v. t. [OE. forleven; pref. for- + leven to leave.] To leave off wholly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*lend" (?), v. t. To give up wholly. [Obs.]

For*lese" (?), v. t. [p. p. Forlore (?), Forlorn (&?;).] [OE. forlesen. See Forlorn.] To lose utterly. [Obs.] haucer.

For*let", v. t. [OE. forleten, AS. forltan; pref. for- + ltan to allow; akin to G. verlassen to leave. See Let to allow.] To give up; to leave; to abandon. [Obs.] "To forlet sin." Chaucer.

For*lie" (?), v. i. See Forelie.

For*lore" (?), imp. pl. & p. p. of Forlese. [Obs.]

The beasts their caves, the birds their nests forlore.

Fairfax.

For*lorn" (?), a. [OE., p. p. of forlesen to lose utterly, AS. forleÛsan (p. p. forloren); pref. for- + leÛsan (in comp.) to lose; cf. D. verliezen to lose, G. verlieren, Sw. fˆrlora, Dan. forloren, Goth. fraliusan to lose. See For-, and Lorn, a., Lose, v. t.] 1. Deserted; abandoned; lost.

Of fortune and of hope at once forlorn.

Spenser.

Some say that ravens foster forlorn children.

Shak.

2. Destitute; helpless; in pitiful plight; wretched; miserable; almost hopeless; desperate.

For here forlorn and lost I tread.

Goldsmith.

The condition of the besieged in the mean time was forlorn in the extreme.

Prescott.

She cherished the forlorn hope that he was still living.

Thomson.

A forlorn hope [D. verloren hoop, prop., a lost band or troop; verloren, p. p. of verliezen to lose + hoop band; akin to E. heap. See For-, and Heap.] (Mil.), a body of men (called in F. enfants perdus, in G. verlornen posten) selected, usually from volunteers, to attempt a breach, scale the wall of a fortress, or perform other extraordinarily perilous service; also, a desperate case or enterprise.

Syn. -- Destitute, lost; abandoned; forsaken; solitary; helpless; friendless; hopeless; abject; wretched; miserable; pitiable.

For*lorn", n. 1. A lost, forsaken, or solitary person.

Forced to live in Scotland a forlorn.

Shak.

2. A forlorn hope; a vanguard. [Obs.]

Our forlorn of horse marched within a mile of the enemy.

Oliver Cromvell.

For*lorn"ly, adv. In a forlorn manner. Pollok.

For*lorn"ness, n. State of being forlorn. Boyle.

For*lye" (?), v. i. Same as Forlie. [Obs.]

-form (-fÙrm). [See Form, n.] A suffix used to denote in the form or shape of, resembling, etc.; as, valiform; oviform.

Form (frm; in senses 8 & 9, often frm in England), n. [OE. & F. forme, fr. L. forma; cf. Skr. dhariman. Cf. Firm.] 1. The shape and structure of anything, as distinguished from the material of which it is composed; particular disposition or arrangement of matter, giving it individuality or distinctive character; configuration; figure; external appearance.

The form of his visage was changed.

Dan. iii. 19.

And woven close close, both matter, form, and style.

Milton.

2. Constitution; mode of construction, organization, etc.; system; as, a republican form of government.

3. Established method of expression or practice; fixed way of proceeding; conventional or stated scheme; formula; as, a form of prayer.

Those whom form of laws Condemned to die.

Dryden.

4. Show without substance; empty, outside appearance; vain, trivial, or conventional ceremony; conventionality; formality; as, a matter of mere form.

Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice.

Shak.

5. Orderly arrangement; shapeliness; also, comeliness; elegance; beauty.

The earth was without form and void.

Gen. i. 2.

He hath no form nor comeliness.

Is. liii. 2.

6. A shape; an image; a phantom.

7. That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model.

8. A long seat; a bench; hence, a rank of students in a school; a class; also, a class or rank in society. "Ladies of a high form." Bp. Burnet.

9. The seat or bed of a hare.

As in a form sitteth a weary hare.

Chaucer.

10. (Print.) The type or other matter from which an impression is to be taken, arranged and secured in a chase.

11. (Fine Arts) The boundary line of a material object. In painting, more generally, the human body.

12. (Gram.) The particular shape or structure of a word or part of speech; as, participial forms; verbal forms.

13. (Crystallog.) The combination of planes included under a general crystallographic symbol. It is not necessarily a closed solid.

14. (Metaph.) That assemblage or disposition of qualities which makes a conception, or that internal constitution which makes an existing thing to be what it is; -- called essential or substantial form, and contradistinguished from matter; hence, active or formative nature; law of being or activity; subjectively viewed, an idea; objectively, a law.

15. Mode of acting or manifestation to the senses, or the intellect; as, water assumes the form of ice or snow. In modern usage, the elements of a conception furnished by the mind's own activity, as contrasted with its object or condition, which is called the matter; subjectively, a mode of apprehension or belief conceived as dependent on the constitution of the mind; objectively, universal and necessary accompaniments or elements of every object known or thought of.

16. (Biol.) The peculiar characteristics of an organism as a type of others; also, the structure of the parts of an animal or plant.

<! p. 587 !>

Good form or Bad form, the general appearance, condition or action, originally of horses, atterwards of persons; as, the members of a boat crew are said to be in good form when they pull together uniformly. The phrases are further used colloquially in description of conduct or manners in society; as, it is not good form to smoke in the presence of a lady.

Form (fÙrm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Formed (fÙrmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Forming.] [F. former, L. formare, fr. forma. See Form, n.] 1. To give form or shape to; to frame; to construct; to make; to fashion.

God formed man of the dust of the ground.

Gen. ii. 7.

The thought that labors in my forming brain.

Rowe.

2. To give a particular shape to; to shape, mold, or fashion into a certain state or condition; to arrange; to adjust; also, to model by instruction and discipline; to mold by influence, etc.; to train.

'T is education forms the common mind.

Pope.

Thus formed for speed, he challenges the wind.

Dryden.

3. To go to make up; to act as constituent of; to be the essential or constitutive elements of; to answer for; to make the shape of; -- said of that out of which anything is formed or constituted, in whole or in part.

The diplomatic politicians . . . who formed by far the majority.

Burke.

4. To provide with a form, as a hare. See Form, n., 9.

The melancholy hare is formed in brakes and briers.

Drayton.

5. (Gram.) To derive by grammatical rules, as by adding the proper suffixes and affixes.

Form, v. i. 1. To take a form, definite shape, or arrangement; as, the infantry should form in column.

2. To run to a form, as a hare. B. Jonson.

To form on (Mil.), to form a lengthened line with reference to (any given object) as a basis.

For"mal (fÙr"mal), n. [L. formic + alcohol.] (Chem.) See Methylal.

Form"al (fÙrm"al), a. [L. formalis: cf. F. formel.] 1. Belonging to the form, shape, frame, external appearance, or organization of a thing.

2. Belonging to the constitution of a thing, as distinguished from the matter composing it; having the power of making a thing what it is; constituent; essential; pertaining to or depending on the forms, so called, of the human intellect.

Of [the sounds represented by] letters, the material part is breath and voice; the formal is constituted by the motion and figure of the organs of speech.

Holder.

3. Done in due form, or with solemnity; according to regular method; not incidental, sudden or irregular; express; as, he gave his formal consent.

His obscure funeral . . . No noble rite nor formal ostentation.

Shak.

4. Devoted to, or done in accordance with, forms or rules; punctilious; regular; orderly; methodical; of a prescribed form; exact; prim; stiff; ceremonious; as, a man formal in his dress, his gait, his conversation.

A cold-looking, formal garden, cut into angles and rhomboids.

W. Irwing.

She took off the formal cap that confined her hair.

Hawthorne.

5. Having the form or appearance without the substance or essence; external; as, formal duty; formal worship; formal courtesy, etc.

6. Dependent in form; conventional.

Still in constraint your suffering sex remains, Or bound in formal or in real chains.

Pope.

7. Sound; normal. [Obs.]

To make of him a formal man again.

Shak.

Formal cause. See under Cause.

Syn. -- Precise; punctilious; stiff; starched; affected; ritual; ceremonial; external; outward. -- Formal, Ceremonious. When applied to things, these words usually denote a mere accordance with the rules of form or ceremony; as, to make a formal call; to take a ceremonious leave. When applied to a person or his manners, they are used in a bad sense; a person being called formal who shapes himself too much by some pattern or set form, and ceremonious when he lays too much stress on the conventional laws of social intercourse. Formal manners render a man stiff or ridiculous; a ceremonious carriage puts a stop to the ease and freedom of social intercourse.

For*mal"de*hyde (?), n. [Formic + aldehyde.] (Chem.) A colorless, volatile liquid, H2CO, resembling acetic or ethyl aldehyde, and chemically intermediate between methyl alcohol and formic acid.

Form"al*ism (fÙrm"al*z'm), n. The practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms, esp. in matters of religion.

Official formalism.

Sir H. Rawlinson.

Form"al*ist, n. [Cf. F. formaliste.] One overattentive to forms, or too much confined to them; esp., one who rests in external religious forms, or observes strictly the outward forms of worship, without possessing the life and spirit of religion.

As far a formalist from wisdom sits, In judging eyes, as libertines from wits.

Young.

For*mal"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Formalities (#). [Cf. F. formalitÈ.] 1. The condition or quality of being formal, strictly ceremonious, precise, etc.

2. Form without substance.

Such [books] as are mere pieces of formality, so that if you look on them, you look though them.

Fuller.

3. Compliance with formal or conventional rules; ceremony; conventionality.

Nor was his attendance on divine offices a matter of formality and custom, but of conscience.

Atterbury.

4. An established order; conventional rule of procedure; usual method; habitual mode.

He was installed with all the usual formalities.

C. Middleton.

5. pl. The dress prescribed for any body of men, academical, municipal, or sacerdotal. [Obs.]

The doctors attending her in their formalities as far as Shotover.

Fuller.

6. That which is formal; the formal part.

It unties the inward knot of marriage, . . . while it aims to keep fast the outward formality.

Milton.

7. The quality which makes a thing what it is; essence.

The material part of the evil came from our father upon us, but the formality of it, the sting and the curse, is only by ourselves.

Jer. Taylor.

The formality of the vow lies in the promise made to God.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

8. (Scholastic. Philos.) The manner in which a thing is conceived or constituted by an act of human thinking; the result of such an act; as, animality and rationality are formalities.

Form"al*ize (fÙrm"al*z), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Formalized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Formalizing (?).] 1. To give form, or a certain form, to; to model. [R.]

2. To render formal.

Form"al*ize, v. i. To affect formality. [Obs.] ales.

Form"al*ly, adv. In a formal manner; essentially; characteristically; expressly; regularly; ceremoniously; precisely.

That which formally makes this [charity] a Christian grace, is the spring from which it flows.

Smalridge.

You and your followers do stand formally divided against the authorized guides of the church and rest of the people.

Hooker.

For"mate (?), n. [See Formic.] (Chem.) A salt of formic acid. [Written also formiate.]

For*ma"tion (fr*m"shn), n. [L. formatio: cf. F. formation.] 1. The act of giving form or shape to anything; a forming; a shaping. Beattie.

2. The manner in which a thing is formed; structure; construction; conformation; form; as, the peculiar formation of the heart.

3. A substance formed or deposited.

4. (Geol.) (a) Mineral deposits and rock masses designated with reference to their origin; as, the siliceous formation about geysers; alluvial formations; marine formations. (b) A group of beds of the same age or period; as, the Eocene formation.

5. (Mil.) The arrangement of a body of troops, as in a square, column, etc. Farrow.

Form"a*tive (?), a. [Cf. F. formatif.] 1. Giving form; having the power of giving form; plastic; as, the formative arts.

The meanest plant can not be raised without seed, by any formative residing in the soil.

Bentley.

2. (Gram.) Serving to form; derivative; not radical; as, a termination merely formative.

3. (Biol.) Capable of growth and development; germinal; as, living or formative matter.

Form"a*tive, n. (Gram.) (a) That which serves merely to give form, and is no part of the radical, as the prefix or the termination of a word. (b) A word formed in accordance with some rule or usage, as from a root.

For`mÈ" (?), a. (Her.) Same as PatÈ or PattÈ.

For"me (?), a. [OE., fr. AS. forma. See Foremost.] First. [Obs.] "Adam our forme father." Chaucer.

Formed (?), a. 1. (Astron.) Arranged, as stars in a constellation; as, formed stars. [R.]

2. (Biol.) Having structure; capable of growth and development; organized; as, the formed or organized ferments. See Ferment, n.

Formed material (Biol.), a term employed by Beale to denote the lifeless matter of a cell, that which is physiologically dead, in distinction from the truly germinal or living matter.

For"me*don (?), n. [OF., fr. Latin. So called because the plaintiff claimed "by the form of the gift,: L. per formam doni.] (O. Eng. Law) A writ of right for a tenant in tail in case of a discontinuance of the estate tail. This writ has been abolished.

For"mell (?), n. [Dim. of F. forme the female of a bird of prey.] (Zoˆl.) The female of a hawk or falcon.

Form"er (?), n. 1. One who forms; a maker; a creator.

2. (Mech.) (a) A shape around which an article is to be shaped, molded, woven wrapped, pasted, or otherwise constructed. (b) A templet, pattern, or gauge by which an article is shaped. (c) A cutting die.

For"mer (?), a. [A compar. due to OE. formest. See Foremost.] 1. Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past.

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age.

Job. viii. 8.

The latter and former rain.

Hosea vi. 3.

3. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse or argument.

3. Earlier, as between two things mentioned together; first mentioned.

A bad author deserves better usage than a bad critic; a man may be the former merely through the misfortune of an ill judgment; but he can not be latter without both that and an ill temper.

Pope.

Syn. -- Prior; previous; anterior; antecedent; preceding; foregoing.

||For`me*ret" (?), n. [F.] (Arch.) One of the half ribs against the ||walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs.

For"mer*ly (?), adv. In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.

Form"ful (?), a. Creative; imaginative. [R.] "The formful brain." Thomson.

For"mic (?), a. [L. formica an ant: cf. F. formique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, ants; as, formic acid; in an extended sense, pertaining to, or derived from, formic acid; as, formic ether.

Amido formic acid, carbamic acid. -- Formic acid, a colorless, mobile liquid, HCO.OH, of a sharp, acid taste, occurring naturally in ants, nettles, pine needles, etc., and produced artifically in many ways, as by the oxidation of methyl alcohol, by the reduction of carbonic acid or the destructive distillation of oxalic acid. It is the first member of the fatty acids in the paraffin series, and is homologous with acetic acid.

||For*mi"ca (?), n. [L., an ant.] (Zoˆl.) A LinnÊan genus of ||hymenopterous insects, including the common ants. See Ant.

For`mi*ca"roid (?), a. [NL. Formicarius, the typical genus + -oid.] (Zoˆl.) Like or pertaining to the family FormicaridÊ or ant thrushes.

For"mi*ca*ry (?), n. [LL. formicarium, fr. L. formica an ant.] (Zoˆl.) The nest or dwelling of a swarm of ants; an ant-hill.

For"mi*cate (?), a. [L. formica an ant.] (Zoˆl.) Resembling, or pertaining to, an ant or ants.

For`mi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. formicatio, fr. formicare to creep like an ant, to feel as if ants were crawling on one's self, fr. formica ant: cf. F. formication.] (Med.) A sensation resembling that made by the creeping of ants on the skin. Dunglison.

For"mi*cid (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Pertaining to the ants. -- n. One of the family FormicidÊ, or ants.

For`mi*da*bil"i*ty (?), n. Formidableness. Walpole.

For"mi*da*ble (?), a. [L. formidabilis, fr. formidare to fear, dread: cf. F. formidable.] Exciting fear or apprehension; impressing dread; adapted to excite fear and deter from approach, encounter, or undertaking; alarming.

They seemed to fear the formodable sight.

Dryden.

I swell my preface into a volume, and make it formidable, when you see so many pages behind.

Drydn.

Syn. -- Dreadful; fearful; terrible; frightful; shocking; horrible; terrific; tremendous.

For"mi*da*ble*ness, n. The quality of being formidable, or adapted to excite dread. Boyle.

For"mi*da*bly, adv. In a formidable manner.

For*mid"o*lose (?), a. [L. formidolosus, fr. formido fear.] Very much afraid. [Obs.] Bailey.

Form"ing (?), n. The act or process of giving form or shape to anything; as, in shipbuilding, the exact shaping of partially shaped timbers.

Form"less, a. Shapeless; without a determinate form; wanting regularity of shape. -- Form"less*ly, adv. -- Form"less*ness, n.

For"mu*la (?), n.; pl. E. Formulas (#), L. FormulÊ (#). [L., dim. of forma form, model. SeeForm, n.] 1. A prescribed or set form; an established rule; a fixed or conventional method in which anything is to be done, arranged, or said.

2. (Eccl.) A written confession of faith; a formal statement of foctrines.

3. (Math.) A rule or principle expressed in algebraic language; as, the binominal formula.

4. (Med.) A prescription or recipe for the preparation of a medicinal compound.

5. (Chem.) A symbolic expression (by means of letters, figures, etc.) of the constituents or constitution of a compound.

Chemical formulÊ consist of the abbreviations of the names of the elements, with a small figure at the lower right hand, to denote the number of atoms of each element contained.

Empirical formula (Chem.), an expression which gives the simple proportion of the constituents; as, the empirical formula of acetic acid is C2H4O2. -- Graphic formula, Rational formula (Chem.), an expression of the constitution, and in a limited sense of the structure, of a compound, by the grouping of its atoms or radicals; as, a rational formula of acetic acid is CH3.(C:O).OH; -- called also structural formula, constitutional formula, etc. See also the formula of Benzene nucleus, under Benzene. -- Molecular formula (Chem.), a formula indicating the supposed molecular constitution of a compound.

For`mu*la*ris"tic (?), a. Pertaining to, or exhibiting, formularization. Emerson.

For`mu*lar*i*za"tion (?), n. The act of formularizing; a formularized or formulated statement or exhibition. C. Kingsley.

For"mu*lar*ize (?), v. t. To reduce to a forula; to formulate.

For"mu*la*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. formulaire. See Formula.] Stated; prescribed; ritual.

For"mu*la*ry, n.; pl. Formularies (#). [Cf. F. formulaire.] 1. A book containing stated and prescribed forms, as of oaths, declarations, prayers, medical formulaÊ, etc.; a book of precedents.

2. Prescribed form or model; formula.

For"mu*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Formulated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Formulating (?).] To reduce to, or express in, a formula; to put in a clear and definite form of statement or expression. G. P. Marsh.

For`mu*la"tion (?), n. The act, process, or result of formulating or reducing to a formula.

For"mule (?), n. [F.] A set or prescribed model; a formula. [Obs.] Johnson.

For`mu*li*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of reducing to a formula; the state of being formulized.

For"mu*lize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Formulized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Formulizing (?).] To reduce to a formula; to formulate. Emerson.

For"myl (?), n. [Formic + - yl.] (Chem.) (a) A univalent radical, H.C:O, regarded as the essential residue of formic acid and aldehyde. (b) Formerly, the radical methyl, CH3.

Forn*cast" (?), p. p. [OE. foren + cast. See Forecast.] Predestined. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For"ni*cal (?), a. Relating to a fornix.

{ For"ni*cate (?), For"ni*ca`ted (?) }, a. [L. fornicatus, fr. fornix, - icis, an arch, vault.] 1. Vaulted like an oven or furnace; arched.

2. (Bot.) Arching over; overarched. Gray.

<! p. 588 !>

For"ni*cate (?), v. i. [L. fornicatus, p. p. of fornicari to fornicate, fr. fornix, -icis, a vault, a brothel in an underground vault.] To commit fornication; to have unlawful sexual intercourse.

For`ni*ca"tion (?), n. [F. fornication, L. fornicatio.] 1. Unlawful sexual intercourse on the part of an unmarried person; the act of such illicit sexual intercourse between a man and a woman as does not by law amount to adultery.

In England, the offense, though cognizable in the ecclesiastical courts, was not at common law subject to secular prosecution. In the United States it is indictable in some States at common law, in others only by statute. Whartyon.

2. (Script.) (a) Adultery. (b) Incest. (c) Idolatry.

For"ni*ca`tor (?), n. [F. fornicateur, OF. fornicator, from L. fornicator.] An unmarried person, male or female, who has criminal intercourse with the other sex; one guilty of fornication.

For"ni*ca`tress (?), n. [Cf. F. fornicatrice, L. fornicatrix.] A woman guilty of fornication. Shak.

||For"nix (?), n.; pl. Fornices (#). [L., an arch.] (Anat.) (a) An arch ||or fold; as, the fornix, or vault, of the cranium; the fornix, or ||reflection, of the conjuctiva. (b) Esp., two longitudinal bands of ||white nervous tissue beneath the lateral ventricles of the brain.

For*old" (?), a. Very old. [Obs.]

A bear's skin, coal-black, forold.

Chaucer.

For*pass" (?), v. t. & i. To pass by or along; to pass over. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*pine" (?), v. t. To waste away completely by suffering or torment. [Archaic] "Pale as a forpined ghost." Chaucer.

For"ray (? or ?), v. t. [OE. forrayen. See Foray.] To foray; to ravage; to pillage.

For they that morn had forrayed all the land.

Fairfax.

For"ray, n. The act of ravaging; a ravaging; a predatory excursion. See Foray.

For"rill (?), n. [See Forel.] Lambskin parchment; vellum; forel. McElrath.

For*sake" (?), v. t. [imp. Forsook (?); p. p. Forsaken (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forsaking.] [AS. forsacan to oppose, refuse; for- + sacan to contend, strive; akin to Goth. sakan. See For-, and Sake.] 1. To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart or withdraw from; to leave; as, false friends and flatterers forsake us in adversity.

If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments.

Ps. lxxxix. 30.

2. To renounce; to reject; to refuse.

If you forsake the offer of their love.

Shak.

Syn. -- To abandon; quit; desert; fail; relinquish; give up; renounce; reject. See Abandon.

For*sak"er (?), n. One who forsakes or deserts.

For*say" (?), v. t. [AS. forsecgan to accuse; pref. for- + secgan to say.] To forbid; to renounce; to forsake; to deny. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*shape" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + shape, v.t.] To render misshapen. [Obs.] Gower.

For*slack" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + slack to neglect.] To neglect by idleness; to delay or to waste by sloth. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*slouth"e (?), v. t. [See For- , and Slouth.] To lose by sloth or negligence. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*slow" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + slow.] To delay; to hinder; to neglect; to put off. [Obs.] Bacon.

For*slow", v. i. To loiter. [Obs.] Shak.

For*slug"ge (?), v. t. [See Slug to be idle.] To lsoe by idleness or slotch. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*sooth" (?), adv. [AS. fors; for, prep. + s sooth, truth. See For, prep., and Sooth.] In truth; in fact; certainly; very well; -- formerly used as an expression of deference or respect, especially to woman; now used ironically or contemptuously.

A fit man, forsooth, to govern a realm!

Hayward.

Our old English word forsooth has been changed for the French madam.

Guardian.

For*sooth", v. t. To address respectfully with the term forsooth. [Obs.]

The captain of the "Charles" had forsoothed her, though he knew her well enough and she him.

Pepys.

For*sooth", n. A person who used forsooth much; a very ceremonious and deferential person. [R.]

You sip so like a forsooth of the city.

B. Jonson.

For*speak" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + speak.] 1. To forbid; to prohibit. Shak.

2. To bewitch. [Obs.] Drayton.

For*spent" (?), a. [AS. forspendan to consume; pref. for- + spendan to spend.] Wasted in strength; tired; exhausted. [Archaic]

A gentleman almost forspent with speed.

Shak.

For*stall" (?), v. t. To forestall. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fors"ter (?), n. A forester. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*straught" (?), p. p. & a. [Pref. for- + straught; cf. distraught.] Distracted. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*swat" (?), a. [See Sweat.] Spent with heat; covered with sweat. [Obs.] P. Sidney.

For*swear" (?), v. t. [imp. Forswore (?); p. p. Forsworn (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Forswearing.] [OE. forsweren, forswerien, AS. forswerian; pref. for- + swerian to swear. See For-, and Swear, v. i.] 1. To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations.

I . . . do forswear her.

Shak.

2. To deny upon oath.

Like innocence, and as serenely bold As truth, how loudly he forswears thy gold!

Dryden.

To forswear one's self, to swear falsely; to perjure one's self. "Thou shalt not forswear thyself." Matt. v. 33.

Syn. -- See Perjure.

For*swear", v. i. To swear falsely; to commit perjury. Shak.

For*swear"er (?), n. One who rejects of renounces upon oath; one who swears a false oath.

For*swonk" (?), a. [Pref. for- + swonk, p. p. of swinkto labor. See Swink.] Overlabored; exhausted; worn out. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*swore" (?), imp. of Forswear.

For*sworn" (?), p. p. of Forswear.

For*sworn"ness, n. State of being forsworn. [R.]

||For*syth"i*a (?), a. [NL. Named after William Forsyth, who brought in ||from China.] (Bot.) A shrub of the Olive family, with yellow ||blossoms.

Fort (?), n. [F., from fort strong, L. fortis; perh. akin to Skr. darh to fix, make firm, and to E. firm Cf. Forte, Force, Fortalice, Comfort, Effort.] (Mil.) A strong or fortified place; usually, a small fortified place, occupied only by troops, surrounded with a ditch, rampart, and parapet, or with palisades, stockades, or other means of defense; a fortification.

Detached works, depending solely on their own strength, belong to the class of works termed forts.

Farrow.

Fort"a*lice (?), n. [LL. fortalitia, or OF. fortelesce. See Fortress.] (Mil.) A small outwork of a fortification; a fortilage; - - called also fortelace.

Forte (frt), n. [IT. forte: cf. F. fort. See Fort.] 1. The strong point; that in which one excels.

The construction of a fable seems by no means the forte of our modern poetical writers.

Jeffrey.

2. The stronger part of the blade of a sword; the part of half nearest the hilt; -- opposed to foible.

||For"te (fÙr"t or fr"t), adv. [It. forte, a. & adv., fr. L. fortis ||strong.] (Mus.) Loudly; strongly; powerfully.

Fort"ed (?), a. Furnished with, or guarded by, forts; strengthened or defended, as by forts. [R.] Shak.

Forth (?), v.[AS. for, fr. for akin to D. voort, G. fort &radic;78. See Fore, For, and cf. Afford, Further, adv.] 1. Forward; onward in time, place, or order; in advance from a given point; on to end; as, from that day forth; one, two, three, and so forth.

Lucas was Paul's companion, at the leastway from the sixteenth of the Acts forth.

Tyndale.

From this time forth, I never will speak word.

Shak.

I repeated the Ave Maria; the inquisitor bad me say forth; I said I was taught no more.

Strype.

2. Out, as from a state of concealment, retirement, confinement, nondevelopment, or the like; out into notice or view; as, the plants in spring put forth leaves.

When winter past, and summer scarce begun, Invites them forth to labor in the sun.

Dryden.

3. Beyond a (certain) boundary; away; abroad; out.

I have no mind of feasting forth to- night.

Shak.

4. Throughly; from beginning to end. [Obs.] Shak.

And so forth, Back and forth, From forth. See under And, Back, and From. -- Forth of, Forth from, out of. [Obs.] Shak. -- To bring forth. See under Bring.

Forth, prep. Forth from; out of. [Archaic]

Some forth their cabins peep.

Donne.

Forth, n. [OE., a ford. &?; 78. See Frith.] A way; a passage or ford. [Obs.] Todd.

Forth`by" (?), adv. [Obs.] See Forby.

Forth"com`ing (? or ?), a. Ready or about to appear; making appearance.

Forth"go`ing (? or ?), n. A going forth; an utterance. A. Chalmers.

Forth"go`ing, a. Going forth.

For*think" (?), v. t. To repent; to regret; to be sorry for; to cause regret. [Obs.] "Let it forthink you." Tyndale.

That me forthinketh, quod this January.

Chaucer.

Forth"put`ing (? or ?), a. Bold; forward; aggressive.

Forth"right` (? or ?), adv. [Forth, adv. + right, adv.] Straight forward; in a straight direction. [Archaic] Sir P. Sidney.

Forth"right`, a. Direct; straightforward; as, a forthright man. [Archaic] Lowell.

They were Night and Day, and Day and Night, Piligrims wight with steps forthright.

Emerson.

Forth"right`, n. A straight path. [Archaic]

Here's a maze trod, indeed, Through forthrights and meanders!

Shak.

Forth"right`ness, n. Straightforwardness; explicitness; directness. [Archaic]

Dante's concise forthrightness of phrase.

Hawthorne.

Forth"ward (?), adv. [Forth, adv. + -ward.] Forward. [Obs.] Bp. Fisher.

Forth`with" (? or ?; see With), adv. 1. Immediately; without delay; directly.

Immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith.

Acts ix. 18.

2. (Law) As soon as the thing required may be done by reasonable exertion confined to that object. Bouvier.

For*thy" (?), adv. [AS. for; for, prep. + , instrumental neut. of se, seÛ, Êt, pron. demonstrative and article. See The.] Therefore. [Obs.] Spenser.

For"ties (?), n. pl. See Forty.

For"ti*eth (?), a. [AS. feÛwertigo&?;a. See Forty.] 1. Following the thirty-ninth, or preceded by thirty-nine units, things, or parts.

2. Constituting one of forty equal parts into which anything is divided.

For"ti*eth, n. One of forty equal parts into which one whole is divided; the quotient of a unit divided by forty; one next in order after the thirty-ninth.

For"ti*fi`a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. fortifiable.] Capable of being fortified. Johnson.

For`ti*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. fortificatio : cf. F. fortification.] 1. The act of fortifying; the art or science of fortifying places in order to defend them against an enemy.

2. That which fortifies; especially, a work or works erected to defend a place against attack; a fortified place; a fortress; a fort; a castle.

Fortification agate, Scotch pebble.

Syn. -- Fortress; citadel; bulwark. See Fortress.

For"ti*fi`er (?), n. One who, or that which, fortifies, strengthens, supports, or upholds.

For"ti*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fortified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fortifying.] [F. fortifier, L. fortificare; fortis strong + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Fort, and -fy.] 1. To add strength to; to strengthen; to confirm; to furnish with power to resist attack.

Timidity was fortified by pride.

Gibbon.

Pride came to the aid of fancy, and both combined to fortify his resolution.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To strengthen and secure by forts or batteries, or by surrounding with a wall or ditch or other military works; to render defensible against an attack by hostile forces.

For"ti*fy, v. i. To raise defensive works. Milton.

For"ti*lage (?; 48), n. [Cf. Fortalice.] A little fort; a blockhouse. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fort"in (?), n. [F. See Fort, n.] A little fort; a fortlet. [Obs.]

||For*tis"si*mo (? or ?), adv. [It., superl. of forte, adv. See Forte, ||adv.] (Mus.) Very loud; with the utmost strength or loudness.

For*ti"tion (?), n. [See Fortuitous.] Casual choice; fortuitous selection; hazard. [R.]

No mode of election operating in the spirit of fortition or rotation can be generally good.

Burke.

For"ti*tude (?), n. [L. fortitudo, fr. fortis strong. See Fort.] 1. Power to resist attack; strength; firmness. [Obs.]

The fortitude of the place is best known to you.

Shak.

2. That strength or firmness of mind which enables a person to encounter danger with coolness and courage, or to bear pain or adversity without murmuring, depression, or despondency; passive courage; resolute endurance; firmness in confronting or bearing up against danger or enduring trouble.

Extolling patience as the truest fortitude.

Milton.

Fortitude is the guard and support of the other virtues.

Locke.

Syn. -- Courage; resolution; resoluteness; endurance; bravery. See Courage, and Heroism.

For`ti*tu"di*nous (?), a. Having fortitude; courageous. [R.] Gibbon.

Fort"let (?), n. A little fort. [R.] Bailey.

Fort"night` (?; in U.S. often ?; 277), n. [Contr. fr. fourteen nights, our ancestors reckoning time by nights and winters; so, also, seven nights, sennight, a week.] The space of fourteen days; two weeks.

Fort"night`ly (?), a. Occurring or appearing once in a fortnight; as, a fortnightly meeting of a club; a fortnightly magazine, or other publication. -- adv. Once in a fortnight; at intervals of a fortnight.

For*tread" (?), v. t. To tread down; to trample upon. [Obs.]

In hell shall they be all fortroden of devils.

Chaucer.

For"tress (?), n.; pl. Fortresses (#). [F. forteresse, OF. forteresce, fortelesce, LL. foralitia, fr. L. fortis strong. See Fort, and cf. Fortalice.] A fortified place; a large and permanent fortification, sometimes including a town; a fort; a castle; a stronghold; a place of defense or security.

Syn. -- Fortress, Fortification, Castle, Citadel. A fortress is constructed for military purposes only, and is permanently garrisoned; a fortification is built to defend harbors, cities, etc.; a castle is a fortress of early times which was ordinarily a palatial dwelling; a citadel is the stronghold of a fortress or city, etc.

For"tress, v. t. To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify. Shak.

For*tu"i*tous (?), a. [L. fortuitus; akin to forte, adv., by chance, prop. abl. of fors, fortis, chance. See Fortune.] 1. Happening by chance; coming or occuring unexpectedly, or without any known cause; chance; as, the fortuitous concourse of atoms.

It was from causes seemingly fortuitous . . . that all the mighty effects of the Reformation flowed.

Robertson.

So as to throw a glancing and fortuitous light upon the whole.

Hazlitt.

2. (LAw) Happening independently of human will or means of foresight; resulting from unavoidable physical causes. Abbott.

Syn. -- Accidental; casual; contingent; incidental. See Accidental.

-- For*tu"i*tous*ly, adv. -- For*tu"i*tous*ness, n.

For*tu"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. fortuitÈ.] Accident; chance; casualty. D. Forbes (1750).

For"tu*nate (?; 135), a. [L. fortunatus, p. p. of fortunare to make fortunate or prosperous, fr. fortuna. See Fortune, n.] 1. Coming by good luck or favorable chance; bringing some good thing not foreseen as certain; presaging happiness; auspicious; as, a fortunate event; a fortunate concurrence of circumstances; a fortunate investment.

2. Receiving same unforeseen or unexpected good, or some good which was not dependent on one's own skill or efforts; favored with good forune; lucky.

Syn. -- Auspicious; lucky; prosperous; successful; favored; happy. -- Fortunate, Successful, Prosperous. A man is fortunate, when he is favored of fortune, and has unusual blessings fall to his lot; successful when he gains what he aims at; prosperous when he succeeds in those things which men commonly desire. One may be fortunate, in some cases, where he is not successful; he may be successful, but, if he has been mistaken in the value of what he has aimed at, he may for that reason fail to be prosperous.

For"tu*nate*ly, adv. In a fortunate manner; luckily; successfully; happily.

For"tu*nate*ness, n. The condition or quality of being fortunate; good luck; success; happiness.

<! p. 589 !>

For"tune (fÙr"tn; 135), n. [F. fortune, L. fortuna; akin to fors, fortis, chance, prob. fr. ferre to bear, bring. See Bear to support, and cf. Fortuitous.] 1. The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life.

'T is more by fortune, lady, than by merit.

Shak.

O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle.

Shak.

2. That which befalls or is to befall one; lot in life, or event in any particular undertaking; fate; destiny; as, to tell one's fortune.

You, who men's fortunes in their faces read.

Cowley.

3. That which comes as the result of an undertaking or of a course of action; good or ill success; especially, favorable issue; happy event; success; prosperity as reached partly by chance and partly by effort.

Our equal crimes shall equal fortune give.

Dryden.

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.

Shak.

His father dying, he was driven to seek his fortune.

Swift.

4. Wealth; large possessions; large estate; riches; as, a gentleman of fortune.

Syn. -- Chance; accident; luck; fate.

Fortune book, a book supposed to reveal future events to those who consult it. Crashaw. -- Fortune hunter, one who seeks to acquire wealth by marriage. -- Fortune teller, one who professes to tell future events in the life of another. -- Fortune telling, the practice or art of professing to reveal future events in the life of another.

For"tune, v. t. [OF. fortuner, L. fortunare. See Fortune, n.] 1. To make fortunate; to give either good or bad fortune to. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. To provide with a fortune. Richardson.

3. To presage; to tell the fortune of. [Obs.] Dryden.

For"tune, v. i. To fall out; to happen.

It fortuned the same night that a Christian, serving a Turk in the camp, secretely gave the watchmen warning.

Knolles.

For"tune*less, a. Luckless; also, destitute of a fortune or portion. Spenser.

For"tun*ize (?), v. t. To regulate the fortune of; to make happy. [Obs.] Spenser.

For"ty (fÙr"t), a. [OE. forti, fourti, fowerti, AS. feÛwertig; feÛwer four + suff. - tig ten; akin to OS. fiwartig, fiartig, D. veertig, G. vierzig, Icel. fjˆrutu, Sw. fyratio, Dan. fyrretyve, Goth. fidwr tigjus. See Four, and Ten, and cf. Fourteen.] Four times ten; thirty-nine and one more.

For"ty, n.; pl. Forties (-tz). 1. The sum of four tens; forty units or objects.

2. A symbol expressing forty units; as, 40, or xl.

For"ty-spot` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) The Tasmanian forty-spotted diamond bird (Pardalotus quadragintus).

Fo"rum (?), n.; pl. E. Forums (#), L. Fora (#). [L.; akin to foris, foras, out of doors. See Foreign.] 1. A market place or public place in Rome, where causes were judicially tried, and orations delivered to the people.

2. A tribunal; a court; an assembly empowered to hear and decide causes.

He [Lord Camden] was . . . more eminent in the senate than in the forum.

Brougham.

For*waked" (? or ?), p. p. & a. Tired out with excessive waking or watching. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*wan"der (?), v. i. To wander away; to go astray; to wander far and to weariness. [Obs.]

For"ward (?), n. [OE., fr. AS. foreweard; fore before + weard a ward. See Ward, n.] An agreement; a covenant; a promise. [Obs.]

Tell us a tale anon, as forward is.

Chaucer.

{ For"ward (?), For"wards (?) }, adv. [AS. forweard, foreweard; for, fore + -weardes; akin to G. vorw‰rts. The s is properly a genitive ending. See For, Fore, and -ward, -wards.] Toward a part or place before or in front; onward; in advance; progressively; -- opposed to backward.

For"ward, a. 1. Near, or at the fore part; in advance of something else; as, the forward gun in a ship, or the forward ship in a fleet.

2. Ready; prompt; strongly inclined; in an ill sense, overready; too hasty.

Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Gal. ii. 10.

Nor do we find him forward to be sounded.

Shak.

3. Ardent; eager; earnest; in an ill sense, less reserved or modest than is proper; bold; confident; as, the boy is too forward for his years.

I have known men disagreeably forward from their shyness.

T. Arnold.

4. Advanced beyond the usual degree; advanced for the season; as, the grass is forward, or forward for the season; we have a forward spring.

The most forward bud Is eaten by the canker ere it blow.

Shak.

For"ward (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forwarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Forwarding.] 1. To help onward; to advance; to promote; to accelerate; to quicken; to hasten; as, to forward the growth of a plant; to forward one in improvement.

2. To send forward; to send toward the place of destination; to transmit; as, to forward a letter.

For"ward*er (?), n. 1. One who forwards or promotes; a promoter. Udall.

2. One who sends forward anything; (Com.) one who transmits goods; a forwarding merchant.

3. (Bookbinding) One employed in forwarding.

For"ward*ing, n. 1. The act of one who forwards; the act or occupation of transmitting merchandise or other property for others.

2. (Bookbinding) The process of putting a book into its cover, and making it ready for the finisher.

For"ward*ly (?), adv. Eagerly; hastily; obtrusively.

For"ward*ness, n. The quality of being forward; cheerful readiness; promtness; as, the forwardness of Christians in propagating the gospel.

2. An advanced stage of progress or of preparation; advancement; as, his measures were in great forwardness. Robertson.

3. Eagerness; ardor; as, it is difficult to restrain the forwardness of youth.

3. Boldness; confidence; assurance; want of due reserve or modesty.

In France it is usual to bring children into company, and cherish in them, from their infancy, a kind of forwardness and assurance.

Addison.

5. A state of advance beyond the usual degree; prematureness; precocity; as, the forwardnessof spring or of corn; the forwardness of a pupil.

He had such a dexterous proclivity, as his teachers were fain to restrain his forwardness.

Sir H. Wotton.

Syn. -- Promptness; promptitude; eagerness; ardor; zeal; assurance; confidence; boldness; impudence; presumption.

For"wards (?), adv. Same as Forward.

For*waste" (?), v. t. [Pref. for- + waste.] To desolate or lay waste utterly. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*wea"ry (?), v. t. To weary extremely; to dispirit. [Obs.] Spenser.

For*weep" (?), v. i. To weep much. [Obs.]

For*wete" (?), v. t. See Forewite. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*why" (?), conj. [For + why, AS. hw&?;, instrumental case of hw who.] Wherefore; because. [Obs.]

For*worn" (?), a. Much worn. [Obs.]

A silly man, in simple weeds forworn.

Spenser.

For*wot" (?), pres. indic. 1st & 3d pers. sing. of Forwete. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*wrap" (?), v. t. To wrap up; to conceal. [Obs.]

All mote be said and nought excused, nor hid, nor forwrapped.

Chaucer.

For*yelde" (?), v. t. [AS. forgieldan.] To repay; to requite. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*yete" (?), v. t. To forget. [Obs.] Chaucer.

For*yet"ten (?), obs. p. p. of Foryete. Chaucer.

||For*zan"do (?), adv. [It., prop. p. p. of forzare to force.] (Mus.) ||See Sforzato.

||Fos"sa (?), n.; pl. Foss∆ (#). [L., a ditch. See Fosse.] (Anat.) A ||pit, groove, cavity, or depression, of greater or less depth; as, the ||temporal fossa on the side of the skull; the nasal fossÊ containing ||the nostrils in most birds.

Fos"sane` (?), n. [Cf. F. fossane.] (Zoˆl.) A species of civet (Viverra fossa) resembling the genet.

Fosse (?), n. [F., fr. L. fossa, fr. fodere, fossum, to dig.] 1. (Fort.) A ditch or moat.

2. (Anat.) See Fossa.

Fosse road. See Fosseway.

Fos"set (?), n. A faucet. [Obs.] Shak.

||Fos`sette" (? or ?), n. [F., dim. of fosse a fosse.] 1. A little ||hollow; hence, a dimple.

2. (Med.) A small, deep-centered ulcer of the transparent cornea.

Fosse"way` (?), n. One of the great military roads constructed by the Romans in England and other parts of Europe; -- so called from the fosse or ditch on each side for keeping it dry.

Fos"sil (?), a. [L. fossilis, fr. fodere to dig: cf. F. fossile. See Fosse.] 1. Dug out of the earth; as, fossil coal; fossil salt.

2. (Paleon.) Like or pertaining to fossils; contained in rocks, whether petrified or not; as, fossil plants, shells.

Fossil copal, a resinous substance, first found in the blue clay at Highgate, near London, and apparently a vegetable resin, partly changed by remaining in the earth. -- Fossil cork, flax, paper, or wood, varieties of amianthus. -- Fossil farina, a soft carbonate of lime. -- Fossil ore, fossiliferous red hematite. Raymond.

Fos"sil, n. 1. A substance dug from the earth. [Obs.]

Formerly all minerals were called fossils, but the word is now restricted to express the remains of animals and plants found buried in the earth. Ure.

2. (Paleon.) The remains of an animal or plant found in stratified rocks. Most fossils belong to extinct species, but many of the later ones belong to species still living.

3. A person whose views and opinions are extremely antiquated; one whose sympathies are with a former time rather than with the present. [Colloq.]

Fos`sil*if"er*ous (?), a. [Fossil + -ferous.] (Paleon.) Containing or composed of fossils.

Fos*sil`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Fossil + L. facere to make.] The process of becoming fossil.

Fos"sil*ism (?), n. 1. The science or state of fossils. Coleridge.

2. The state of being extremely antiquated in views and opinions.

Fos"sil*ist, n. One who is versed in the science of fossils; a paleontologist. Joseph Black.

Fos`sil*i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. fossilisation.] The process of converting, or of being converted, into a fossil.

Fos"sil*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fossilized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fossilizing (?).] [Cf. F. fossiliser.] 1. To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood.

2. To cause to become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, as by fossilization; to mummify; to deaden.

Ten layers of birthdays on a woman's head Are apt to fossilize her girlish mirth.

Mrs. Browning.

Fos"sil*ize, v. i. 1. To become fossil.

2. To become antiquated, rigid, or fixed, beyond the influence of change or progress.

Fos"sil*ized (?), a. Converted into a fossil; antiquated; firmly fixed in views or opinions.

A fossilized sample of confused provincialism.

Earle.

||Fos*so"res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fossor&?; digger, fr. fodere to ||dig.] (Zoˆl.) A group of hymenopterous insects including the sand ||wasps. They excavate cells in earth, where they deposit their eggs, ||with the bodies of other insects for the food of the young when ||hatched. [Written also Fossoria.]

||Fos*so"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoˆl.) See Fossores.

Fos*so"ri*al (?), a. [L. fossor a digger.] Fitted for digging, adapted for burrowing or digging; as, a fossorial foot; a fossorial animal.

Fos*so"ri*ous (?), a. (Zoˆl.) Adapted for digging; -- said of the legs of certain insects.

Fos"su*late (?), a. [L. fossula little ditch, dim. of fossa. See Fosse.] Having, or surrounded by, long, narrow depressions or furrows.

Fos"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fostered (?), p. pr. & vb. n. Fostering.] [OE. fostren, fr. AS. fster, fstor, food, nourishment, fr. fda food. &radic;75. See Food.] 1. To feed; to nourish; to support; to bring up.

Some say that ravens foster forlorn children.

Shak.

2. To cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to sustain and promote; as, to foster genius.

Fos"ter, v. i. To be nourished or trained up together. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fos"ter, a. [AS. fster, fstor, nourishment. See Foster, v. t.] Relating to nourishment; affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment or nurture; -- applied to father, mother, child, brother, etc., to indicate that the person so called stands in the relation of parent, child, brother, etc., as regards sustenance and nurture, but not by tie of blood.

Foster babe, or child, an infant of child nursed by a woman not its mother, or bred by a man not its father. -- Foster brother, Foster sister, one who is, or has been, nursed at the same breast, or brought up by the same nurse as another, but is not of the same parentage. -- Foster dam, one who takes the place of a mother; a nurse. Dryden. -- Foster earth, earth by which a plant is nourished, though not its native soil. J. Philips. -- Foster father, a man who takes the place of a father in caring for a child. Bacon. -- Foster land. (a) Land allotted for the maintenance of any one. [Obs.] (b) One's adopted country. -- Foster lean [foster + AS. lÊn a loan See Loan.], remuneration fixed for the rearing of a foster child; also, the jointure of a wife. [Obs.] Wharton. -- Foster mother, a woman who takes a mother's place in the nurture and care of a child; a nurse. -- Foster nurse, a nurse; a nourisher. [R.] Shak. -- Foster parent, a foster mother or foster father. -- Foster son, a male foster child.

Fos"ter, n. A forester. [Obs.] Spenser.

Fos"ter*age (?; 48), n. The care of a foster child; the charge of nursing. Sir W. Raleigh.

Fos"ter*er (?), n. One who, or that which, fosters.

Fos"ter*ling, n. [AS. fstorling.] A foster child.

Fos"ter*ment (?), n. Food; nourishment. [Obs.]

Fos"tress (?), n. [For fosteress.] A woman who feeds and cherishes; a nurse. B. Jonson.

Foth"er (?), n. [OE. fother, foder, AS. f&?;er a cartload; akin to G. fuder a cartload, a unit of measure, OHG. fuodar, D. voeder, and perh. to E. fathom, or cf. Skr. ptr vessel, dish. Cf. Fodder a fother.] 1. A wagonload; a load of any sort. [Obs.]

Of dung full many a fother.

Chaucer.

2. See Fodder, a unit of weight.

Foth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fothered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fothering.] [Cf. Fodder food, and G. f¸ttern, futtern, to cover within or without, to line. &radic;75.] To stop (a leak in a ship at sea) by drawing under its bottom a thrummed sail, so that the pressure of the water may force it into the crack. Totten.

Fo"tive (?), a. [L. fovere, fotum, to keep warm, to cherish.] Nourishing. [Obs.] T. Carew (1633).

Fot"mal (?), n. (Com.) Seventy pounds of lead.

{ ||Fou`gade" (?), ||Fou`gasse" (?) }, n. (Mil.) A small mine, in the form of a well sunk from the surface of the ground, charged with explosive and projectiles. It is made in a position likely to be occupied by the enemy.

Fought (?), imp. & p. p. of Fight.

Fought"en (?), p. p. of Fight. [Archaic]

Foul (foul), n. [See Fowl.] A bird. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Foul (foul), a. [Compar. Fouler (-r); superl. Foulest.] [OE. foul, ful, AS. fl; akin to D. vuil, G. faul rotten, OHG. fl, Icel. fl foul, fetid; Dan. fuul, Sw. ful foul, Goth. fls fetid, Lith. puti to be putrid, L. putere to stink, be putrid, pus pus, Gr. py`on pus, to cause to rot, Skr. py to stink. &radic;82. Cf. Defile to foul, File to foul, Filth, Pus, Putrid.] 1. Covered with, or containing, extraneous matter which is injurious, noxious, offensive, or obstructive; filthy; dirty; not clean; polluted; nasty; defiled; as, a foul cloth; foul hands; a foul chimney; foul air; a ship's bottom is foul when overgrown with barnacles; a gun becomes foul from repeated firing; a well is foul with polluted water.

My face is foul with weeping.

Job. xvi. 16.

2. Scurrilous; obscene or profane; abusive; as, foul words; foul language.

3. Hateful; detestable; shameful; odious; wretched. "The foul with Sycorax." Shak.

Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?

Milton.

4. Loathsome; disgusting; as, a foul disease.

5. Ugly; homely; poor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Let us, like merchants, show our foulest wares.

Shak.

6. Not favorable; unpropitious; not fair or advantageous; as, a foul wind; a foul road; cloudy or rainy; stormy; not fair; -- said of the weather, sky, etc.

So foul a sky clears not without a storm.

Shak.

7. Not conformed to the established rules and customs of a game, conflict, test, etc.; unfair; dishonest; dishonorable; cheating; as, foul play.

8. Having freedom of motion interfered with by collision or entanglement; entangled; -- opposed to clear; as, a rope or cable may get foul while paying it out.

<! p. 590 !>

Foul anchor. (Naut.) See under Anchor. -- Foul ball (Baseball), a ball that first strikes the ground outside of the foul ball lines, or rolls outside of certain limits. -- Foul ball lines (Baseball), lines from the home base, through the first and third bases, to the boundary of the field. -- Foul berth (Naut.), a berth in which a ship is in danger of fouling another vesel. -- Foul bill, or Foul bill of health, a certificate, duly authenticated, that a ship has come from a place where a contagious disorder prevails, or that some of the crew are infected. -- Foul copy, a rough draught, with erasures and corrections; -- opposed to fair or clean copy. "Some writers boast of negligence, and others would be ashamed to show their foul copies." Cowper. -- Foul proof, an uncorrected proof; a proof containing an excessive quantity of errors. -- Foul strike (Baseball), a strike by the batsman when any part of his person is outside of the lines of his position. -- To fall foul, to fall out; to quarrel. [Obs.] "If they be any ways offended, they fall foul." Burton. -- To fall, or run, foul of. See under Fall. -- To make foul water, to sail in such shallow water that the ship's keel stirs the mud at the bottom.

Foul (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fouled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fouling.] 1. To make filthy; to defile; to daub; to dirty; to soil; as, to foul the face or hands with mire.

2. (Mil.) To incrust (the bore of a gun) with burnt powder in the process of firing.

3. To cover (a ship's bottom) with anything that impered its sailing; as, a bottom fouled with barnacles.

4. To entangle, so as to impede motion; as, to foul a rope or cable in paying it out; to come into collision with; as, one boat fouled the other in a race.

Foul, v. i. 1. To become clogged with burnt powder in the process of firing, as a gun.

2. To become entagled, as ropes; to come into collision with something; as, the two boats fouled.

Foul, n. 1. An entanglement; a collision, as in a boat race.

2. (Baseball) See Foul ball, under Foul, a.

||Fou`lard" (?), n. [F.] A thin, washable material of silk, or silk and ||cotton, originally imported from India, but now also made elsewhere.

Foul"der (?), v. i. [OE. fouldre lightning, fr. F. foudre, OF. also fouldre, fr. L. fulgur. See Fulgor.] To flash, as lightning; to lighten; to gleam; to thunder. [Obs.] "Flames of fouldering heat." Spenser.

Foul"e (?), adv. Foully. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Foul"ly (?), v. In a foul manner; filthily; nastily; shamefully; unfairly; dishonorably.

I foully wronged him; do forgive me, do.

Gay.

Foul"-mouthed` (?), a. Using language scurrilous, opprobrious, obscene, or profane; abusive.

So foul-mouthed a witness never appeared in any cause.

Addison.

Foul"ness, n. [AS. flnes.] The quality or condition of being foul.

Foul"-spo`ken (?), a. Using profane, scurrilous, slanderous, or obscene language. Shak.

Fou"mart` (?), n. [OE. folmard, fulmard; AS. f&?;l foul + mear, meard, marten: cf. F. marte, martre. See Foul, a., and Marten the quadruped.] (Zoˆl.) The European polecat; -- called also European ferret, and fitchew. See Polecat. [Written also foulmart, foulimart, and fulimart.]

Found (?), imp. & p. p. of Find.

Found, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Founded; p. pr. & vb. n. Founding.] [F. fondre, L. fundere to found, pour.] To form by melting a metal, and pouring it into a mold; to cast. "Whereof to found their engines." Milton.

Found, n. A thin, single-cut file for combmakers.

Found, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Founded; p. pr. & vb. n. Founding.] [F. fonder, L. fundare, fr. fundus bottom. See 1st Bottom, and cf. Founder, v. i., Fund.] 1. To lay the basis of; to set, or place, as on something solid, for support; to ground; to establish upon a basis, literal or figurative; to fix firmly.

I had else been perfect, Whole as the marble, founded as the rock.

Shak.

A man that all his time Hath founded his good fortunes on your love.

Shak.

It fell not, for it was founded on a rock.

Matt. vii. 25.

2. To take the ffirst steps or measures in erecting or building up; to furnish the materials for beginning; to begin to raise; to originate; as, to found a college; to found a family.

There they shall found Their government, and their great senate choose.

Milton.

Syn. -- To base; ground; institute; establish; fix. See Predicate.

Foun*da"tion (?), n. [F. fondation, L. fundatio. See Found to establish.] 1. The act of founding, fixing, establishing, or beginning to erect.

2. That upon which anything is founded; that on which anything stands, and by which it is supported; the lowest and supporting layer of a superstructure; groundwork; basis.

Behold, I lay in Zion, for a foundation, a stone . . . a precious corner stone, a sure foundation.

Is. xxviii. 16.

The foundation of a free common wealth.

Motley.

3. (Arch.) The lowest and supporting part or member of a wall, including the base course (see Base course (a), under Base, n.) and footing courses; in a frame house, the whole substructure of masonry.

4. A donation or legacy appropriated to support a charitable institution, and constituting a permanent fund; endowment.

He was entered on the foundation of Westminster.

Macaulay.

5. That which is founded, or established by endowment; an endowed institution or charity.

Against the canon laws of our foundation.

Milton.

Foundation course. See Base course, under Base, n. -- Foundation muslin, an open-worked gummed fabric used for stiffening dresses, bonnets, etc. -- Foundation school, in England, an endowed school. -- To be on a foundation, to be entitled to a support from the proceeds of an endowment, as a scholar or a fellow of a college.

Foun*da"tion*er (?), n. One who derives support from the funds or foundation of a college or school. [Eng.]

Foun*da"tion*less, a. Having no foundation.

Found"er (?), n. [Cf. OF. fondeor, F. fondateur, L. fundator.] One who founds, establishes, and erects; one who lays a foundation; an author; one from whom anything originates; one who endows.

Found"er, n. [From Found to cast.] One who founds; one who casts metals in various forms; a caster; as, a founder of cannon, bells, hardware, or types.

Fonder's dust. Same as Facing, 4. -- Founder's sand, a kind of sand suitable for purposes of molding.

Found"er (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Foundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foundering.] [OF. fondrer to fall in, cf. F. s'effondrer, fr. fond bottom, L. fundus. See Found to establish.] 1. (Naut.) To become filled with water, and sink, as a ship.

2. To fall; to stumble and go lame, as a horse.

For which his horse fearÈ gan to turn, And leep aside, and foundrede as he leep.

Chaucer.

3. To fail; to miscarry. "All his tricks founder." Shak.

Found"er, v. t. To cause internal inflammation and soreness in the feet or limbs of (a horse), so as to disable or lame him.

Found"er, n. (Far.) (a) A lameness in the foot of a horse, occasioned by inflammation; closh. (b) An inflammatory fever of the body, or acute rheumatism; as, chest founder. See Chest ffounder. James White.

Foun"der*ous (?), a. Difficult to travel; likely to trip one up; as, a founderous road. [R.] Burke.

Found"er*shaft` (?), n. (Mining) The first shaft sunk. Raymond.

Found"er*y (?), n.; pl. Founderies (#). [F. fonderie, fr. fondre. See Found to cast, and cf. Foundry.] Same as Foundry.

Found"ing, n. The art of smelting and casting metals.

Found"ling (?), n. [OE. foundling, fundling; finden to find + - ling; cf. f¸ndling, findling. See Find, v. t., and -ling.] A deserted or exposed infant; a child found without a parent or owner.

Foundling hospital, a hospital for foundlings.

Found"ress (?), n. A female founder; a woman who founds or establishes, or who endows with a fund.

Found"ry (?), n.; pl. Foundries (#). [See Foundery.] 1. The act, process, or art of casting metals.

2. The buildings and works for casting metals.

Foundry ladle, a vessel for holding molten metal and conveying it from cupola to the molds.

Fount (?), n. [See Font.] (Print.) A font.

Fount, n. [OF. font, funt, fr. L. fons, fontis, a fountain; of uncertain origin, perh. akin to fundere to pour, E. found to cast. Cf. Font.] A fountain.

Foun"tain (foun"tn), n. [F. fontaine, LL. fontana, fr. L. fons, fontis. See 2d Fount.] 1. A spring of water issuing from the earth.

2. An artificially produced jet or stream of water; also, the structure or works in which such a jet or stream rises or flows; a basin built and constantly supplied with pure water for drinking and other useful purposes, or for ornament.

3. A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be conducted or drawn off as needed for use; as, the ink fountain in a printing press, etc.

4. The source from which anything proceeds, or from which anything is supplied continuously; origin; source.

Judea, the fountain of the gospel.

Fuller.

Author of all being, Fountain of light, thyself invisible.

Milton.

Air fountain. See under Air. -- Fountain heead, primary source; original; first principle. Young. -- Fountain inkstand, an inkstand having a continual supply of ink, as from elevated reservoir. -- Fountain lamp, a lamp fed with oil from an elevated reservoir. -- Fountain pen, a pen with a reservoir in the handle which furnishes a supply of ink. -- Fountain pump. (a) A structure for a fountain, having the form of a pump. (b) A portable garden pump which throws a jet, for watering plants, etc. -- Fountain shell (Zoˆl.), the large West Indian conch shell (Strombus gigas). -- Fountain of youth, a mythical fountain whose waters were fabled to have the property of renewing youth.

Foun"tain*less, a. Having no fountain; destitute of springs or sources of water.

Barren desert, fountainless and dry.

Milton.

Fount"ful (?), a. Full of fountains. Pope.

Four (fr), a. [OE. four, fower, feower, AS. feÛwer; akin to OS. fiwar, D. & G. vier, OHG. fior, Icel. fjrir, Sw. fyra, Dan. fire, Goth. fidwr, Russ. chetuire, chetvero, W. pedwar, L. quatuor, Gr. te`ttares, te`ssares, pi`syres, Skr. catur. &radic;302. Cf. Farthing, Firkin, Forty, Cater four, Quater-cousin, Quatuor, Quire of paper, tetrarch.] One more than three; twice two.

Four, n. 1. The sum of four units; four units or objects.

2. A symbol representing four units, as 4 or iv.

3. Four things of the same kind, esp. four horses; as, a chariot and four.

All fours. See All fours, in the Vocabulary.

{ Fourb, Fourbe (?) }, n. [F.] A tricky fellow; a cheat. [Obs.] Evelyn. Denham.

||Four`chÈ" (fr`sh"), a. [F. See Fork.] (Her.) Having the ends forked ||or branched, and the ends of the branches terminating abruptly as if ||cut off; -- said of an ordinary, especially of a cross.

||Four`chette" (fr`sht"), n. [F., dim. of fourche. See Fork.] 1. A ||table fork.

2. (Anat.) (a) A small fold of membrane, connecting the labia in the posterior part of the vulva. (b) The wishbone or furculum of birds. (c) The frog of the hoof of the horse and allied animals.

3. (Surg.) An instrument used to raise and support the tongue during the cutting of the frÊnum.

4. (Glove Making) The forked piece between two adjacent fingers, to which the front and back portions are sewed. Knight.

Four"-cor`nered (?), a. Having four corners or angles.

Four`dri`nier" (?), n. A machine used in making paper; -- so named from an early inventor of improvements in this class of machinery.

Four"fold` (?), a. & adv. [AS. feÛwerfeold.] Four times; quadruple; as, a fourfold division.

He shall restore the lamb fourfold.

2 Sam. xii. 6.

Four"fold`, n. Four times as many or as much.

Four"fold`, v. t. To make four times as much or as many, as an assessment; to quadruple.

Four"foot`ed (?), a. Having four feet; quadruped; as, fourfooted beasts.

||Four`gon" (?), n. [F.] (Mil.) (a) An ammunition wagon. (b) A French ||baggage wagon.

Four"hand`ed (?), a. 1. Having four hands; quadrumanous. Goldsmith.

2. Requiring four "hands" or players; as, a fourhanded game at cards.

Fou"ri*er*ism (?), n. The coˆperative socialistic system of Charles Fourier, a Frenchman, who recommended the reorganization of society into small communities, living in common.

{ Fou"ri*er*ist, Fou"ri*er*ite (?) }, n. One who adopts the views of Fourier.

Four"-in-hand (?), a. Consisting of four horses controlled by one person; as, a four-in-hand team; drawn by four horses driven by one person; as, a four-in- hand coach. -- n. A team of four horses driven by one person; also, a vehicle drawn by such a team.

As quaint a four-in-hand As you shall see.

Tennyson.

Four"ling, n. 1. One of four children born at the same time.

2. (Crystallog.) A compound or twin crystal consisting of four individuals.

||Four`neau" (?), n. [F.] (Mil.) The chamber of a mine in which the ||powder is placed.

Four"-o'clock` (?), n. 1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Mirabilis. There are about half a dozen species, natives of the warmer parts of America. The common four-o'clock is M. Jalapa. Its flowers are white, yellow, and red, and open toward sunset, or earlier in cloudy weather; hence the name. It is also called marvel of Peru, and afternoon lady.

2. (Zoˆl.) The friar bird; -- so called from its cry, which resembles these words.

Four"pence (?), n. 1. A British silver coin, worth four pence; a groat.

2. A name formerly given in New England to the Spanish half real, a silver coin worth six and a quarter cents.

Four"-post`er (?), n. A large bedstead with tall posts at the corners to support curtains. [Colloq.]

Four"rier (?; F. &?;), n. [F., fr. OF. forre. See Forage, n.] A harbinger. [Obs.]

Four"score` (?), a. [Four + core, n.] Four times twenty; eighty.

Four"score`, n. The product of four times twenty; eighty units or objects.

Four"square` (?), a. Having four sides and four equal angles. Sir W. Raleigh.

Four"teen` (?), a. [OE. fourtene, feowertene, AS. feÛwertne, feÛwertne. See Four, and Ten, and cf. Forty.] Four and ten more; twice seven.

Four"teen`, n. 1. The sum of ten and four; forteen units or objects.

2. A symbol representing fourteen, as 14 or xiv.

Four"teenth` (?), a. [Cf. OE. fourtende, fourtethe, AS. feÛwerteoa.] 1. Next in order after the thirteenth; as, the fourteenth day of the month.

2. Making or constituting one of fourteen equal parts into which anything may be divided.

Four"teenth`, n. 1. One of fourteen equal parts into which one whole may be divided; the quotient of a unit divided by fourteen; one next after the thirteenth.

2. (Mus.) The octave of the seventh.

Fourth (?), a. [OE. fourthe, ferthe, feorthe, AS. feÛra, fr. feÛwer four.] 1. Next in order after the third; the ordinal of four.

2. Forming one of four equal parts into which anything may be divided.

Fourth, n. 1. One of four equal parts into which one whole may be divided; the quotient of a unit divided by four; one coming next in order after the third.

2. (Mus.) The interval of two tones and a semitone, embracing four diatonic degrees of the scale; the subdominant of any key.

The Fourth, specifically, in the United States, the fourth day of July, the anniversary of the declaration of American independence; as, to celebrate the Fourth.

Fourth"ly, adv. In the fourth place.

Four"-way` (?), a. Allowing passage in either of four directions; as, a four-way cock, or valve. Francis.

Four-way cock, a cock connected with four pipes or ports, and having two or more passages in the plug, by which the adjacent pipes or ports may be made to communicate; formerly used as a valve in the steam engine, and now for various other purposes. In the illustration, a leads to the upper end of a steam engine cylinder, and b to the lower end; c is the steam pipe, and d the exhaust pipe.

<! p. 591 !>

Four"-wheeled` (?), a. Having four wheels.

Four"-wheel`er (?), n. A vehicle having four wheels. [Colloq.]

||Fous"sa (?), n. [Natibe name.] (Zoˆl.) A viverrine animal of ||Madagascar (Cryptoprocta ferox). It resembles a cat in size and form, ||and has retractile claws.

Fou"ter (?), n. [F. foutre to lecher, L. futuere. Cf. Fouty.] A despicable fellow. [Prov. Eng.] Brockett.

Fou"tra (?), n. [See Fouter.] A fig; -- a word of contempt. [Obs.]

A foutra for the world and wordlings base!

Shak.

Fou"ty (?), a. [Cf. F. foutu, p. p. of foutre; OF. foutu scoundrel. See Fouter.] Despicable. [Obs.]

||Fo"ve*a (?), n.; pl. FoveÊ (#). [L., a small pit.] A slight ||depression or pit; a fossa.

Fo"ve*ate (?), a. [L. fovea a pit.] Having pits or depressions; pitted.

||Fo*ve"o*la (?), n.; pl. FoveolÊ (#). [NL., dim. of L. fovea.] A small ||depression or pit; a fovea.

Fo"ve*o*late (? or ?), a. Having small pits or depressions, as the receptacle in some composite flowers.

Fo"ve*o*la`ted (?), a. Foveolate.

Fo*vil"la (?), n.; pl. FovillÊ (#). [Dim. fr. L. fovere to cherish.] (Bot.) One of the fine granules contained in the protoplasm of a pollen grain.

Fowl (?), n. Instead of the pl. Fowls the singular is often used collectively. [OE. foul, fowel, foghel, fuhel, fugel, AS. fugol; akin to OS. fugal D. & G. vogel, OHG. fogal, Icel. & Dan. fugl, Sw. fogel, fÂgel, Goth. fugls; of unknown origin, possibly by loss of l, from the root of E. fly, or akin to E. fox, as being a tailed animal.] 1. Any bird; esp., any large edible bird.

Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air.

Gen. i. 26.

Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not.

Matt. vi. 26.

Like a flight of fowl Scattered by winds and high tempestuous gusts.

Shak.

2. Any domesticated bird used as food, as a hen, turkey, duck; in a more restricted sense, the common domestic cock or hen (Gallus domesticus).

Barndoor fowl, or Barnyard fowl, a fowl that frequents the barnyard; the common domestic cock or hen.

Fowl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fowled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Fowling.] To catch or kill wild fowl, for game or food, as by shooting, or by decoys, nets, etc.

Such persons as may lawfully hunt, fish, or fowl.

Blackstone.

Fowling piece, a light gun with smooth bore, adapted for the use of small shot in killing birds or small quadrupeds.

Fowl"er (?), n. A sportsman who pursues wild fowl, or takes or kills for food.

Fow"ler*ite (?), n. [From Dr. Samuel Fowler.] (Min.) A variety of rhodonite, from Franklin Furnace, New Jersey, containing some zinc.

Fow"ler's so*lu"tion (?). An aqueous solution of arsenite of potassium, of such strength that one hundred parts represent one part of arsenious acid, or white arsenic; -- named from Fowler, an English physician who first brought it into use.

Fox (?), n.; pl. Foxes (#). [AS. fox; akin to D. vos, G. fuchs, OHG. fuhs, foha, Goth. fa˙h&?;, Icel. f&?;a fox, fox fraud; of unknown origin, cf. Skr. puccha tail. Cf. Vixen.] 1. (Zoˆl.) A carnivorous animal of the genus Vulpes, family CanidÊ, of many species. The European fox (V. vulgaris or V. vulpes), the American red fox (V. fulvus), the American gray fox (V. Virginianus), and the arctic, white, or blue, fox (V. lagopus) are well-known species.

The black or silver-gray fox is a variety of the American red fox, producing a fur of great value; the cross- gray and woods-gray foxes are other varieties of the same species, of less value. The common foxes of Europe and America are very similar; both are celebrated for their craftiness. They feed on wild birds, poultry, and various small animals.

Subtle as the fox for prey.

Shak.

2. (Zoˆl.) The European dragonet.

3. (Zoˆl.) The fox shark or thrasher shark; -- called also sea fox. See Thrasher shark, under Shark.

4. A sly, cunning fellow. [Colloq.]

We call a crafty and cruel man a fox.

Beattie.

5. (Naut.) Rope yarn twisted together, and rubbed with tar; -- used for seizings or mats.

6. A sword; -- so called from the stamp of a fox on the blade, or perhaps of a wolf taken for a fox. [Obs.]

Thou diest on point of fox.

Shak.

7. pl. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians which, with the Sacs, formerly occupied the region about Green Bay, Wisconsin; -- called also Outagamies.

Fox and geese. (a) A boy's game, in which one boy tries to catch others as they run one goal to another. (b) A game with sixteen checkers, or some substitute for them, one of which is called the fox, and the rest the geese; the fox, whose first position is in the middle of the board, endeavors to break through the line of the geese, and the geese to pen up the fox. -- Fox bat (Zoˆl.), a large fruit bat of the genus Pteropus, of many species, inhabiting Asia, Africa, and the East Indies, esp. P. medius of India. Some of the species are more than four feet across the outspread wings. See Fruit bat. -- Fox bolt, a bolt having a split end to receive a fox wedge. -- Fox brush (Zoˆl.), the tail of a fox. -- Fox evil, a disease in which the hair falls off; alopecy. -- Fox grape (Bot.), the name of two species of American grapes. The northern fox grape (Vitis Labrusca) is the origin of the varieties called Isabella, Concord, Hartford, etc., and the southern fox grape (Vitis vulpina) has produced the Scuppernong, and probably the Catawba. -- Fox hunter. (a) One who pursues foxes with hounds. (b) A horse ridden in a fox chase. -- Fox shark (Zoˆl.), the thrasher shark. See Thrasher shark, under Thrasher. -- Fox sleep, pretended sleep. -- Fox sparrow (Zoˆl.), a large American sparrow (Passerella iliaca); -- so called on account of its reddish color. -- Fox squirrel (Zoˆl.), a large North American squirrel (Sciurus niger, or S. cinereus). In the Southern States the black variety prevails; farther north the fulvous and gray variety, called the cat squirrel, is more common. -- Fox terrier (Zoˆl.), one of a peculiar breed of terriers, used in hunting to drive foxes from their holes, and for other purposes. There are rough- and smooth-haired varieties. -- Fox trot, a pace like that which is adopted for a few steps, by a horse, when passing from a walk into a trot, or a trot into a walk. -- Fox wedge (Mach. & Carpentry), a wedge for expanding the split end of a bolt, cotter, dowel, tenon, or other piece, to fasten the end in a hole or mortise and prevent withdrawal. The wedge abuts on the bottom of the hole and the piece is driven down upon it. Fastening by fox wedges is called foxtail wedging. -- Fox wolf (Zoˆl.), one of several South American wild dogs, belonging to the genus Canis. They have long, bushy tails like a fox.

Fox (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foxed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Foxing.] [See Fox, n., cf. Icel. fox imposture.] 1. To intoxicate; to stupefy with drink.

I drank . . . so much wine that I was almost foxed.

Pepys.

2. To make sour, as beer, by causing it to ferment.

3. To repair the feet of, as of boots, with new front upper leather, or to piece the upper fronts of.

Fox, v. i. To turn sour; -- said of beer, etc., when it sours in fermenting.

Fox"earth` (?), n. A hole in the earth to which a fox resorts to hide himself.

Foxed (?), a. 1. Discolored or stained; -- said of timber, and also of the paper of books or engravings.

2. Repaired by foxing; as, foxed boots.

Fox"e*ry (?), n. Behavior like that of a fox; cunning. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Fox"es (?), n. pl. (Ethnol.) See Fox, n., 7.

Fox"fish` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) (a) The fox shark; -- called also sea fox. See Thrasher shark, under Shark. (b) The european dragonet. See Dragonet.

Fox"glove` (?), n. [AS. foxes- glfa, foxes-clfa,foxes-clife.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Digitalis. The common English foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is a handsome perennial or biennial plant, whose leaves are used as a powerful medicine, both as a sedative and diuretic. See Digitalis.

Pan through the pastures oftentimes hath run To pluck the speckled foxgloves from their stem.

W. Browne.

Fox"hound` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) One of a special breed of hounds used for chasing foxes.

Fox"-hunt`ing (?), a. Pertaining to or engaged in the hunting of foxes; fond of hunting foxes.

Fox"i*ness (?), n. 1. The state or quality of being foxy, or foxlike; craftiness; shrewdness.

2. The state of being foxed or discolored, as books; decay; deterioration.

3. A coarse and sour taste in grapes.

Fox"ish, a. Foxlike. [Obs.]

Fox"like` (?), a. Resembling a fox in his characteristic qualities; cunning; artful; foxy.

Fox"ly, a. Foxlike. [Obs.] "Foxly craft." Latimer.

Fox"ship, n. Foxiness; craftiness. [R.] Shak.

Fox"tail` (?), n. 1. The tail or brush of a fox.

2. (Bot.) The name of several kinds of grass having a soft dense head of flowers, mostly the species of Alopecurus and Setaria.

3. (Metal.) The last cinders obtained in the fining process. Raymond.

Foxtail saw, a dovetail saw. -- Foxtail wedging. See Fox wedge, under Fox.

Fox"y (?), a. 1. Like or pertaining to the fox; foxlike in disposition or looks; wily.

Modred's narrow, foxy face.

Tennyson.

2. Having the color of a fox; of a yellowish or reddish brown color; -- applied sometimes to paintings when they have too much of this color.

3. Having the odor of a fox; rank; strong smeelling.

4. Sour; unpleasant in taste; -- said of wine, beer, etc., not properly fermented; -- also of grapes which have the coarse flavor of the fox grape.

Foy (foi), n. [F. foi, old spelling foy, faith. See Faith.] 1. Faith; allegiance; fealty. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. A feast given by one about to leave a place. [Obs.]

He did at the Dog give me, and some other friends of his, his foy, he being to set sail to-day.

Pepys.

||Foy`er" (?), n. [F., fr. LL. focarium fireplace. See Focus, n.] 1. A ||lobby in a theater; a greenroom.

2. The crucible or basin in a furnace which receives the molten metal. Knight.

Foy"son (?), n. [Obs.] See Foison.

Fo"zi*ness (?), n. The state of being fozy; spiritlessness; dullness. [Scot.]

[The Whigs'] foziness can no longer be concealed.

Blackwood's.

Fo"zy (?), a. Spongy; soft; fat and puffy. [Scot.]

Fra (fr), adv. & prep. [OE.] Fro. [Old Eng. & Scot.]

Fra (fr), n. [It., for frate. See Friar.] Brother; -- a title of a monk or friar; as, Fra Angelo. Longfellow.

Frab (?), v. i. & t. To scold; to nag. [Prov. Eng.]

Frab"bit (?), a. Crabbed; peevish. [Prov. Eng.]

Fra"cas (fr"kas; F. fr`k‰"; 277), n. [F., crash, din, tumult, It. fracasso, fr. fracassare to break in pieces, perh. fr. fra within, among (L. infra) + cassare to annul, cashier. Cf. Cashier, v. t.] An uproar; a noisy quarrel; a disturbance; a brawl.

Frache (frsh), n. A shallow iron pan to hold glass ware while being annealed.

Frac"id (?), a. [L. fracidus mellow, soft.] Rotten from being too ripe; overripe. [Obs.] Blount.

Fract (frkt), v. t. [L. fractus, p. p. of frangere to break.] To break; to violate. [Obs.] Shak.

Frac"ted, a. (Her.) Having a part displaced, as if broken; -- said of an ordinary. Macaulay.

Frac"tion (?), n. [F. fraction, L. fractio a breaking, fr. frangere, fractum, to break. See Break.] 1. The act of breaking, or state of being broken, especially by violence. [Obs.]

Neither can the natural body of Christ be subject to any fraction or breaking up.

Foxe.

2. A portion; a fragment.

Some niggard fractions of an hour.

Tennyson.

3. (Arith. or Alg.) One or more aliquot parts of a unit or whole number; an expression for a definite portion of a unit or magnitude.

Common, or Vulgar, fraction, a fraction in which the number of equal parts into which the integer is supposed to be divided is indicated by figures or letters, called the denominator, written below a line, over which is the numerator, indicating the number of these parts included in the fraction; as Ω, one half, , two fifths. -- Complex fraction, a fraction having a fraction or mixed number in the numerator or denominator, or in both. Davies & Peck. -- Compound fraction, a fraction of a fraction; two or more fractions connected by of. -- Continued fraction, Decimal fraction, Partial fraction, etc. See under Continued, Decimal, Partial, etc. -- Improper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator. -- Proper fraction, a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator.

Frac"tion, v. t. (Chem.) To separate by means of, or to subject to, fractional distillation or crystallization; to fractionate; -- frequently used with out; as, to fraction out a certain grade of oil from pretroleum.

Frac"tion*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to fractions or a fraction; constituting a fraction; as, fractional numbers.

2. Relatively small; inconsiderable; insignificant; as, a fractional part of the population.

Fractional crystallization (Chem.), a process of gradual and approximate purification and separation, by means of repeated solution and crystallization therefrom. -- Fractional currency, small coin, or paper notes, in circulation, of less value than the monetary unit. -- Fractional distillation (Chem.), a process of distillation so conducted that a mixture of liquids, differing considerably from each other in their boiling points, can be separated into its constituents.

Frac"tion*al*ly, adv. By fractions or separate portions; as, to distill a liquid fractionally, that is, so as to separate different portions.

Frac"tion*a*ry (?), a. Fractional. [Obs.]

Frac"tion*ate (?), v. t. To separate into different portions or fractions, as in the distillation of liquids.

Frac"tious (?), a. [Cf. Prov. E. frack forward, eager, E. freak, fridge; or Prov. E. fratch to squabble, quarrel.] Apt to break out into a passion; apt to scold; cross; snappish; ugly; unruly; as, a fractious man; a fractious horse.

Syn. -- Snappish; peevish; waspish; cross; irritable; perverse; pettish.

-- Frac"tious*ly, v. -- Frac"tious*ness, n.

Frac"tur*al (?; 135), a. Pertaining to, or consequent on, a fracture. [R.]

Frac"ture (?; 135), n. [L. fractura, fr. frangere, fractum, to break: cf. F. fracture. See Fraction.] 1. The act of breaking or snapping asunder; rupture; breach.

2. (Surg.) The breaking of a bone.

3. (Min.) The texture of a freshly broken surface; as, a compact fracture; an even, hackly, or conchoidal fracture.

Comminuted fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone is broken into several parts. -- Complicated fracture (Surg.), a fracture of the bone combined with the lesion of some artery, nervous trunk, or joint. -- Compound fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which there is an open wound from the surface down to the fracture. -- Simple fracture (Surg.), a fracture in which the bone only is ruptured. It does not communicate with the surface by an open wound.

Syn. -- Fracture, Rupture. These words denote different kinds of breaking, according to the objects to which they are applied. Fracture is applied to hard substances; as, the fracture of a bone. Rupture is oftener applied to soft substances; as, the rupture of a blood vessel. It is also used figuratively. "To be an enemy and once to have been a friend, does it not embitter the rupture?" South.

<! p. 592 !>

Frac"ture (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fractured (#; 135); p. pr. & vb. n.. Fracturing.] [Cf. F. fracturer.] To cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as, to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.

||FrÊn"u*lum (?), n.; pl. FrÊnula (#). [NL., dim. of L. fraenum a ||bridle.] (Anat.) A frÊnum.

{ FrÊ"num (?), or Fre"num }, n.; pl. E. FrÊnums (#), L. FrÊna (#). [L., a bridle.] (Anat.) A connecting fold of membrane serving to support or restrain any part; as, the frÊnum of the tongue.

Frag"ile (?), a. [L. fragilis, from frangere to break; cf. F. fragile. See Break, v. t., and cf. Frail, a.] Easily broken; brittle; frail; delicate; easily destroyed.

The state of ivy is tough, and not fragile.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Brittle; infirm; weak; frail; frangible; slight.

-- Frag"ile*ly, adv.

Fra*gil"i*ty (?), n. [L. fragilitas: cf. F. fragilitÈ. Cf. Frailty.] 1. The condition or quality of being fragile; brittleness; frangibility. Bacon.

2. Weakness; feebleness.

An appearance of delicacy, and even of fragility, is almost essential to it [beauty].

Burke.

3. Liability to error and sin; frailty. [Obs.]

The fragility and youthful folly of Qu. Fabius.

Holland.

Frag"ment (?), n. [L. fragmentum, fr. frangere to break: cf. F. fragment. See Break, v. t.] A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing.

Gather up the fragments that remain.

John vi. 12.

Frag*men"tal (?), a. 1. Fragmentary.

2. (Geol.) Consisting of the pulverized or fragmentary material of rock, as conglomerate, shale, etc.

Frag*men"tal, n. (Geol.) A fragmentary rock.

Frag"men*ta*ri*ly (?), adv. In a fragmentary manner; piecemeal.

Frag"men*ta*ri*ness, n. The quality or property of being in fragments, or broken pieces; incompleteness; want of continuity. G. Eliot.

Frag"men*ta*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. fragmentaire.] 1. Composed of fragments, or broken pieces; disconnected; not complete or entire. Donne.

2. (Geol.) Composed of the fragments of other rocks.

Frag"ment*ed (?), a. Broken into fragments.

Frag"ment*ist, n. A writer of fragments; as, the fragmentist of Wolfenb¸ttel. [R.]

||Fra"gor (&?;), n. [L., a breaking to pieces, fr. frangere to break.] ||1. A loud and sudden sound; the report of anything bursting; a crash. ||I. Watts.

2. [Due to confusion with fragrant.] A strong or sweet scent. [Obs. & Illegitimate.] Sir T. Herbert.

{ Fra"grance (?), Fra"gran*cy (?) }, n. [L. fragrantia: cf. OF. fragrance.] The quality of being fragrant; sweetness of smell; a sweet smell; a pleasing odor; perfume.

Eve separate he spies, Veiled in a cloud of fragrance.

Milton.

The goblet crowned, Breathed aromatic fragrancies around.

Pope.

Fra"grant (?), a. [L. fragrans. -antis, p. pr. of fragrare to emit a smell of fragrance: cf. OF. fragrant.] Affecting the olfactory nerves agreeably; sweet of smell; odorous; having or emitting an agreeable perfume.

Fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers.

Milton.

Syn. -- Sweet-smelling; odorous; odoriferous; sweet- scented; redolent; ambrosial; balmy; spicy; aromatic.

-- Fra"grant*ly, adv.

Fraight (?), a. Same as Fraught. [Obs.] Spenser.

Frail (?), n. [OE. fraiel, fraile, OF. fraiel, freel, frael, fr. LL. fraellum.] A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.

2. The quantity of raisins -- about thirty- two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail.

3. A rush for weaving baskets. Johnson.

Frail, a. [Compar. Frailer (?); superl. Frailest.] [OE. frele, freile, OF. fraile, frele, F. frÍle, fr. L. fragilis. See Fragile.] 1. Easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm.

That I may know how frail I am.

Ps. xxxix. 4.

An old bent man, worn and frail.

Lowell.

2. Tender. [Obs.]

Deep indignation and compassion.

Spenser.

3. Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women.

Man is frail, and prone to evil.

Jer. Taylor.

Frail"ly, adv. Weakly; infirmly.

Frail"ness, n. Frailty.

Frail"ty (frl"t), n.; pl. Frailties (-tz). [OE. frelete, freilte, OF. frailetÈ, fr. L. fragilitas. See Frail, a., and cf. Fragility.] 1. The condition or quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally; frailness; infirmity; weakness of resolution; liableness to be deceived or seduced.

God knows our frailty, [and] pities our weakness.

Locke.

2. A fault proceeding from weakness; foible; sin of infirmity.

Syn. -- Frailness; fragility; imperfection; failing.

||Frai"scheur (?), n. [OF.; F fraicheur, fr. frais, fem. fraÓche, ||fresh; of German origin. See Frash, a.] Freshness; coolness. [R.] ||Dryden.

Fraise (?), n. [See Froise.] A large and thick pancake, with slices of bacon in it. [Obs.] Johnson.

||Fraise (?), n. [F. fraise, orig., a ruff, cf. F. frise frieze, E. ||frieze a coarse stuff.] 1. (Fort.) A defense consisting of pointed ||stakes driven into the ramparts in a horizontal or inclined position.

2. (Mech.) A fluted reamer for enlarging holes in stone; a small milling cutter.

Fraise, v. t. (Mil.) To protect, as a line of troops, against an onset of cavalry, by opposing bayonets raised obliquely forward. Wilhelm.

Fraised (?), a. Fortified with a fraise.

Frak"en (?), n. A freckle. [Obs.]

A few fraknes in his face.

Chaucer.

Fram"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being framed.

||Fram*bÊ"si*a (?), n. [F. & NL., fr. F. framboise raspberry.] (Med.) ||The yaws. See Yaws.

Frame (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Framed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Framing.] [OE. framen, fremen, to execute, build, AS. fremman to further, perform, effect, fr. fram strong, valiant; akin to E. foremost, and prob. to AS. fram from, Icel. fremja, frama, to further, framr forward, G. fromm worthy, excellent, pious. See Foremost, From, and cf. Furnish.] 1. (Arch. & Engin.) To construct by fitting and uniting the several parts of the skeleton of any structure; specifically, in woodwork, to put together by cutting parts of one member to fit parts of another. See Dovetail, Halve, v. t., Miter, Tenon, Tooth, Tusk, Scarf, and Splice.

2. To originate; to plan; to devise; to contrive; to compose; in a bad sense, to invent or fabricate, as something false.

How many excellent reasonings are framed in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a length of years.

I. Watts.

3. To fit to something else, or for some specific end; to adjust; to regulate; to shape; to conform.

And frame my face to all occasions.

Shak.

We may in some measure frame our minds for the reception of happiness.

Landor.

The human mind is framed to be influenced.

I. Taylor.

4. To cause; to bring about; to produce. [Obs.]

Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds.

Shak.

5. To support. [Obs. & R.]

That on a staff his feeble steps did frame.

Spenser.

6. To provide with a frame, as a picture.

Frame, v. i. 1. To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech. [Obs.] Judg. xii. 6.

2. To proceed; to go. [Obs.]

The bauty of this sinful dame Made many princes thither frame.

Shak.

Frame, n. 1. Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure.

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty! thine this universal frame.

Milton.

2. The bodily structure; physical constitution; make or build of a person.

Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.

Shak.

No frames could be strong enough to endure it.

Prescott.

3. A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched; as: (a) The skeleton structure which supports the boiler and machinery of a locomotive upon its wheels. (b) (Founding) A molding box or flask, which being filled with sand serves as a mold for castings. (c) The ribs and stretchers of an umbrella or other structure with a fabric covering. (d) A structure of four bars, adjustable in size, on which cloth, etc., is stretched for quilting, embroidery, etc. (e) (Hort.) A glazed portable structure for protecting young plants from frost. (f) (Print.) A stand to support the type cases for use by the compositor.

4. (Mach.) A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame; lace frame; spinning frame, etc.

5. Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frameof government.

She that hath a heart of that fine frame To pay this debt of love but to a brother.

Shak.

Put your discourse into some frame.

Shak.

6. Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame.

7. Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming. [Obs.]

John the bastard Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies.

Shak.

Balloon frame, Cant frames, etc. See under Balloon, Cant, etc. -- Frame building or house, a building of which the form and support is made of framed timbers. [U.S.] -- Frame level, a mason's level. -- Frame saw, a thin saw stretched in a frame to give it rigidity.

Fram"er (?), n. One who frames; as, the framer of a building; the framers of the Constitution.

Frame"work` (?), n. 1. The work of framing, or the completed work; the frame or constructional part of anything; as, the framework of society.

A staunch and solid piece of framework.

Milton.

2. Work done in, or by means of, a frame or loom.

Fram"ing, n. 1. The act, process, or style of putting together a frame, or of constructing anything; a frame; that which frames.

2. (Arch. & Engin.) A framework, or a sy&?; of frames.

Framing chisel (Carp.), a heavy chisel with a socket shank for making mortises.

{ Fram"pel (?), Fram"poid (?) }, a. [Also written frampul, frampled, framfold.] [Cf. W. fframfol passionate, ffrom angry, fretting; or perh. akin to E. frump.] Peevish; cross; vexatious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Shak.

Is Pompey grown so malapert, so frampel?

Beau. & Fl.

Franc (?), n. [F., fr. franc a Franc. See Frank, a.] A silver coin of France, and since 1795 the unit of the French monetary system. It has been adopted by Belgium and Swizerland. It is equivalent to about nineteen cents, or ten pence, and is divided into 100 centimes.

Fran"chise (? or ?; 277), n. [F., fr. franc, fem. franche, free. See Frank, a.] 1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. (LAw) A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an immunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote.

Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people.

W. H. Seward.

3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary.

Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals.

London Encyc.

4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. "Franchise in woman." [Obs.] Chaucer.

Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers.

Fran"chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Franchised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Franchising.] [Cf. OF. franchir to free, F., to cross.] To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. Shak.

Fran"chise*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. franchissement.] Release; deliverance; freedom. Spenser.

Fran"cic (?), a. [See Frank, a.] Pertaining to the Franks, or their language; Frankish.

Fran*cis"can (?), a. [LL. Franciscus Francis: cf. F. franciscain.] (R. C. Ch.) Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans.

Franciscan Brothers, pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis. -- Franciscan Nuns, nuns who follow the rule of St. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also Poor Clares or Minoresses. -- Franciscan Tertiaries, the Third Order of St. Francis.

Fran*cis"can, n. (R.C.Ch.) A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. They are called also Friars Minor; and in England, Gray Friars, because they wear a gray habit.

Fran"co*lin (?), n. [F.; cf. It. francolino, Sp. francolin.] (Zoˆl.) A spurred partidge of the genus Francolinus and allied genera, of Asia and Africa. The common species (F. vulgaris) was formerly common in southern Europe, but is now nearly restricted to Asia.

Fran"co*lite (?), n. (Min.) A variety of apatite from Wheal Franco in Devonshire.

Fran"gent (?), a. [L. frangens, p. pr. of frangere. See Fraction.] Causing fracture; breaking. [R.] H. Walpole.

Fran`gi*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. frangibilitÈ.] The state or quality of being frangible. Fox.

Fran"gi*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. frangible.] Capable of being broken; brittle; fragile; easily broken.

||Fran"gi*pane (?), n. [F. frangipane; supposed to be called so from ||the inventor, the Marquis Frangipani, major general under Louis XIV.] ||1. A perfume of jasmine; frangipani.

2. A species of pastry, containing cream and almonds.

{ Fran`gi*pan"i (?), Fran`gi*pan"ni (?) }, n. [Another spelling of frangipane.] A perfume derived from, or imitating the odor of, the flower of the red jasmine, a West Indian tree of the genus Plumeria.

{ Fran*gu"lic (?), Fran`gu*lin"ic (?) }, a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or drived from, frangulin, or a species (Rhamnus Frangula) of the buckthorn.

Frangulinic acid (Chem.), a yellow crystalline substance, resembling alizarin, and obtained by the decomposition of frangulin.

Fran"gu*lin (?), n. (Chem.) A yellow crystalline dyestuff, regarded as a glucoside, extracted from a species (Rhamnus Frangula) of the buckthorn; -- called also rhamnoxanthin.

Fran"ion (?), n. [Perh. from F. fainÈant an idler.] A paramour; a loose woman; also, a gay, idle fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.

Frank (?), n. [OF. franc.] A pigsty. [Obs.]

Frank, v. t. To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten. [Obs.] Shak.

Frank, n. (Zoˆl.) The common heron; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]

<! p. 593 !>

Frank (?), a. [Compar Franker (?); superl. Frankest.] [F. franc free, frank, L. Francus a Frank, fr. OHG. Franko the name of a Germanic people on the Rhine, who afterward founded the French monarchy; cf. AS. franca javelin, Icel. frakka. Cf. Franc, French, a., Franchise, n.] 1. Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. [R.] "It is of frank gift." Spenser.

2. Free in uttering one's real sentiments; not reserved; using no disguise; candid; ingenuous; as, a frank nature, conversation, manner, etc.

3. Liberal; generous; profuse. [Obs.]

Frank of civilities that cost them nothing.

L'Estrange.

4. Unrestrained; loose; licentious; -- used in a bad sense. Spenser.

Syn. -- Ingenuous; candid; artless; plain; open; unreserved; undisguised; sincere. See Candid, Ingenuous.

Frank (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Franked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Franking.] 1. To send by public conveyance free of expense. Dickens.

2. To extempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.

Frank, n. [See Frank, a.] The privilege of sending letters or other mail matter, free of postage, or without charge; also, the sign, mark, or signature denoting that a letter or other mail matter is to free of postage.

I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must burn my letter and begin again.

Cowper.

Frank, n. [Cf. F. franc. See Frank, a.] 1. (Ethnol.) A member of one of the German tribes that in the fifth century overran and conquered Gaul, and established the kingdom of France.

2. A native or inhabitant of Western Europe; a European; -- a term used in the Levant.

3. A French coin. See Franc.

Frank`al*moigne" (?), n. [F. franc free + Norm. F. almoigne alma, for almosne, F. aumÙne. See Frank, a., and Almoner.] (Eng. Law) A tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands given to them and their successors forever, usually on condition of praying for the soul of the donor and his heirs; -- called also tenure by free alms. Burrill.

Frank"-chase` (?), n. [Frank free + chase.] (Eng. Law) The liberty or franchise of having a chase; free chase. Burrill.

Frank"-fee` (?), n. [Frank free + fee.] (Eng. Law) A species of tenure in fee simple, being the opposite of ancient demesne, or copyhold. Burrill.

Frank"fort black` (?). A black pigment used in copperplate printing, prepared by burning vine twigs, the lees of wine, etc. McElrath.

Frank"in*cense (?), n. [OF. franc free, pure + encens incense.] A fragrant, aromatic resin, or gum resin, burned as an incense in religious rites or for medicinal fumigation. The best kinds now come from East Indian trees, of the genus Boswellia; a commoner sort, from the Norway spruce (Abies excelsa) and other coniferous trees. The frankincense of the ancient Jews is still unidentified.

Frank"ing (?), n. (Carp.) A method of forming a joint at the intersection of window-sash bars, by cutting away only enough wood to show a miter.

Frank"ish, a. Like, or pertaining to, the Franks.

Frank"-law` (?), n. [Frank free + law.] (Eng. Law) The liberty of being sworn in courts, as a juror or witness; one of the ancient privileges of a freeman; free and common law; -- an obsolete expression signifying substantially the same as the American expression civil rights. Abbot.

Frank"lin (?), n. [OE. frankelein; cf. LL. franchilanus. See Frank, a.] An English freeholder, or substantial householder. [Obs.] Chaucer.

The franklin, a small landholder of those days.

Sir J. Stephen.

Frank*lin"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Benjamin Franklin.

Franklinic electricity, electricity produced by friction; called also statical electricity.

Frank"lin*ite (?), n. (Min.) A kind of mineral of the spinel group.

Frank"lin stove` (?). A kind of open stove introduced by Benjamin Franklin, the peculiar feature of which was that a current of heated air was directly supplied to the room from an air box; -- now applied to other varieties of open stoves.

Frank"ly, adv. In a frank manner; freely.

Very frankly he confessed his treasons.

Shak.

Syn. -- Openly; ingenuously; plainly; unreservedly; undisguisedly; sincerely; candidly; artlessly; freely; readily; unhesitatingly; liberally; willingly.

Frank"-mar"riage (?), n. [Frank free + marriage.] (Eng. Law) A certain tenure in tail special; an estate of inheritance given to a man his wife (the wife being of the blood of the donor), and descendible to the heirs of their two bodies begotten. [Obs.] Blackstone.

Frank"ness, n. The quality of being frank; candor; openess; ingenuousness; fairness; liberality.

Frank"pledge` (?), n. [Frank free + pledge.] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A pledge or surety for the good behavior of freemen, -- each freeman who was a member of an ancient decennary, tithing, or friborg, in England, being a pledge for the good conduct of the others, for the preservation of the public peace; a free surety. (b) The tithing itself. Bouvier.

The servants of the crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other.

Macaulay.

Fran"tic (?), a. [OE. frentik, frenetik, F. frentique, L. phreneticus, from Gr. &?;. See Frenzy, and cf. Frenetic, Phrenetic.] Mad; raving; furious; violent; wild and disorderly; distracted.

Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed!

Shak.

Torrents of frantic abuse.

Macaulay.

-- Fran"tic*al*ly (#), adv. -- Fran"tic*ly (#), adv. Shak.

-- Fran"tic*ness, n. Johnson.

Frap (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Frapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Frapping.] [Cf. F. frapper to strike, to seize ropes. Cf. Affrap.] 1. (Naut.) To draw together; to bind with a view to secure and strengthen, as a vessel by passing cables around it; to tighten; as a tackle by drawing the lines together. Tottem.

2. To brace by drawing together, as the cords of a drum. Knoght.

Frape (?), n. [Cf. frap, and Prov. E. frape to scold.] A crowd, a rabble. [Obs.] ares.

Frap"ler (?), n. A blusterer; a rowdy. [Obs.]

Unpolished, a frapler, and base.

B. Jonson.

||Fra"ter, n. [L., a brother.] (Eccl.) A monk; also, a frater house. ||[R.] Shipley.

Frater house, an apartament in a convent used as an eating room; a refectory; -- called also a fratery.

Fra*ter"nal (?), a.[F. fraternel, LL. fraternalis, fr. L. fraternus, fr. frater brother. See Brother.] Of, pertaining to, or involving, brethren; becoming to brothers; brotherly; as, fraternal affection; a fraternal embrace. -- Fra*ter"nal*ly, adv.

An abhorred, a cursed, a fraternal war.

Milton.

Fraternal love and friendship.

Addison.

Fra*ter"nate (?), v. i. To fraternize; to hold fellowship. Jefferson.

{ Fra`ter*na"tion (?), Fra"ter*nism (?) }, n. Fraternization. [R.] Jefferson.

Fra*ter"ni*ty (?), n.; pl. Fraternities (#). [F. fraternitÈ, L. fraternitas.] 1. The state or quality of being fraternal or brotherly; brotherhood.

2. A body of men associated for their common interest, business, or pleasure; a company; a brotherhood; a society; in the Roman Catholic Church, an association for special religious purposes, for relieving the sick and destitute, etc.

3. Men of the same class, profession, occupation, character, or tastes.

With what terms of respect knaves and sots will speak of their own fraternity!

South.

Fra`ter*ni*za"tion (? or ?), n. The act of fraternizing or uniting as brothers.

I hope that no French fraternization . . . could so change the hearts of Englishmen.

Burke.

Fra"ter*nize (? or ?; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fraternized (#); p. pr. & vb. n.. Fraternizing (#).] [Cf. F. fraterniser.] To associate or hold fellowship as brothers, or as men of like occupation or character; to have brotherly feelings.

Fra"ter*nize, v. t. To bring into fellowship or brotherly sympathy.

Correspondence for fraternizing the two nations.

Burke.

Frat"er*ni`zer (?; 277), n. One who fraternizes. Burke.

Fra"ter*y (? or ?), n. [L. frater brother: cf. It. frateria a brotherhood of monks. See Friar.] A frater house. See under Frater.

Fra"trage (? or ?; 48), n. [L. frater a brother.] (Law) A sharing among brothers, or brothers' kin. [Obs.] Crabb.

||Fra`tri*cel"li (?), n. pl. [It. fraticelli, lit., little brothers, ||dim. fr. frate brother, L. frater.] (Eccl. Hist.) (a) The name which ||St. Francis of Assisi gave to his followers, early in the 13th ||century. (b) A sect which seceded from the Franciscan Order, chiefly ||in Italy and Sicily, in 1294, repudiating the pope as an apostate, ||maintaining the duty of celibacy and poverty, and discountenancing ||oaths. Called also Fratricellians and Fraticelli.

Frat"ri*ci`dal (?), a. Of or pertaining to fratricide; of the nature of fratricide.

Frat"ri*cide (?), n. [L. fratricidium a brother's murder, fr. fratricida a brother's murderer; frater, fratris, brother + caedere to kill: cf. F. fratricide.] 1. The act of one who murders or kills his own brother.

2. [L. fratricida: cf. F. fratricide.] One who murders or kills his own brother.

Fraud (frd), n. [F. fraude, L. fraus, fraudis; prob. akin to Skr. dhrv to injure, dhv to cause to fall, and E. dull.] 1. Deception deliberately practiced with a view to gaining an unlawful or unfair advantage; artifice by which the right or interest of another is injured; injurious stratagem; deceit; trick.

If success a lover's toil attends, Few ask, if fraud or force attained his ends.

Pope.

2. (Law) An intentional perversion of truth for the purpose of obtaining some valuable thing or promise from another.

3. A trap or snare. [Obs.]

To draw the proud King Ahab into fraud.

Milton.

Constructive fraud (Law), an act, statement, or omission which operates as a fraud, although perhaps not intended to be such. Mozley & W. -- Pious fraud (Ch. Hist.), a fraud contrived and executed to benefit the church or accomplish some good end, upon the theory that the end justified the means. -- Statute of frauds (Law), an English statute (1676), the principle of which is incorporated in the legislation of all the States of this country, by which writing with specific solemnities (varying in the several statutes) is required to give efficacy to certain dispositions of property. Wharton.

Syn. -- Deception; deceit; guile; craft; wile; sham; strife; circumvention; stratagem; trick; imposition; cheat. See Deception.

Fraud"ful (?), a. Full of fraud, deceit, or treachery; trickish; treacherous; fraudulent; -- applied to persons or things. I. Taylor.

-- Fraud"ful*ly, adv.

Fraud"less, a. Free from fraud. -- Fraud"less*ly, adv. -- Fraud"less*ness, n.

{ Fraud"u*lence (?; 135), Fraud"u*len*cy (?) }, n. [L. fraudulentia.] The quality of being fraudulent; deliberate deceit; trickishness. Hooker.

Fraud"u*lent (?), a. [L. fraudulentus, fr. fraus, fraudis, fraud: cf. F. fraudulent.] 1. Using fraud; tricky; deceitful; dishonest.

2. Characterized by, founded on, or proceeding from, fraud; as, a fraudulent bargain.

He, with serpent tongue, . . . His fraudulent temptation thus began.

Milton.

3. Obtained or performed by artifice; as, fraudulent conquest. Milton.

Syn. -- Deceitful; fraudful; guileful; crafty; wily; cunning; subtle; deceiving; cheating; deceptive; insidious; treacherous; dishonest; designing; unfair.

Fraud"u*lent*ly (?), adv. In a fraudulent manner.

Fraught (frt), n. [OE. fraight, fraght; akin to Dan. fragt, Sw. frakt, D. vracht, G. fracht, cf. OHG. frht merit, reward; perh. from a pref. corresponding to E. for + The root of E. own. Cf. Freight.] A freight; a cargo. [Obs.] Shak.

Fraught, a. Freighted; laden; filled; stored; charged.

A vessel of our country richly fraught.

Shak.

A discourse fraught with all the commending excellences of speech.

South.

Enterprises fraught with world-wide benefits.

I. Taylor.

Fraught, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fraughted or Fraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Fraughting.] [Akin to Dan. fragte, Sw. frakta, D. bevrachten, G. frachten, cf. OHG. frhtn to deserve. See Fraught, n.] To freight; to load; to burden; to fill; to crowd. [Obs.]

Upon the tumbling billows fraughted ride The armed ships.

Fairfax.

Fraught"age (?; 48), n. Freight; loading; cargo. [Obs.] Shak.

Fraught"ing, a. Constituting the freight or cargo. [Obs.] "The fraughting souls within her." Shak.

Fraun"ho*fer lines` (?). (Physics.) The lines of the spectrum; especially and properly, the dark lines of the solar spectrum, so called because first accurately observed and interpreted by Fraunhofer, a German physicist.

Frax"in (?), n. [From Fraxinus.] (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside, and found in the bark of the ash (Fraxinus) and along with esculin in the bark of the horse-chestnut. It shows a delicate fluorescence in alkaline solutions; -- called also paviin.

||Frax"i*nus (?), n. [L., the ash tree.] (Bot.) A genus of deciduous ||forest trees, found in the north temperate zone, and including the ||true ash trees.

Fraxinus excelsior is the European ash; F. Americana, the white ash; F. sambucifolia, the black ash or water ash.

Fray (fr), n. [Abbreviated from affray.] Affray; broil; contest; combat.

Who began this bloody fray?

Shak.

Fray, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Frayed (frd); p. pr. & vb. n. Fraying.] [See 1st Fray, and cf. Affray.] To frighten; to terrify; to alarm. I. Taylor.

What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed?

Spenser.

Fray, v. t. [Cf. OF. fraier. See Defray, v. t.] To bear the expense of; to defray. [Obs.]

The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed, I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied.

Massinger.

Fray, v. t. [OF. freier, fraier, froier, to rub. L. fricare; cf. friare to crumble, E. friable; perh. akin to Gr. chri`ein to anoint, chri^sma an anointing, Skr. ghsh to rub, scratch. Cf. Friction.] To rub; to wear off, or wear into shreds, by rubbing; to fret, as cloth; as, a deer is said to fray her head.

Fray, v. i. 1. To rub.

We can show the marks he made When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To wear out or into shreads, or to suffer injury by rubbing, as when the threads of the warp or of the woof wear off so that the cross threads are loose; to ravel; as, the cloth frays badly.

A suit of frayed magnificience.

tennyson.

Fray, n. A fret or chafe, as in cloth; a place injured by rubbing.

Fray"ing, n. (Zoˆl.) The skin which a deer frays from his horns. B. Jonson.

Freak (frk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freaked (frkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Freaking.] [Akin to OE. frakin, freken, freckle, Icel. freknur, pl., Sw. fr‰kne, Dan. fregne, Gr. perkno`s dark- colored, Skr. pÁni variegated. Cf. Freckle, Freck.] To variegate; to checker; to streak. [R.]

Freaked with many a mingled hue.

Thomson.

Freak, n. [Prob. from OE. frek bold, AS. frec bold, greedly; akin to OHG. freh greedly, G. frech insolent, Icel. frekr greedy, Goth. faÌhufriks avaricious.] A sudden causeless change or turn of the mind; a whim of fancy; a capricious prank; a vagary or caprice.

She is restless and peevish, and sometimes in a freak will instantly change her habitation.

Spectator.

Syn. -- Whim; caprice; folly; sport. See Whim.

Freak"ing, a. Freakish. [Obs.] Pepys.

Freak"ish, a. Apt to change the mind suddenly; whimsical; capricious.

It may be a question whether the wife or the woman was the more freakish of the two.

L'Estrange.

Freakish when well, and fretful when she's sick.

Pope.

-- Freak"ish*ly, adv. -- Freak"ish*ness, n.

Freck (?), v. t. [Cf. Freak, v. t., Freckle.] To checker; to diversify. [R. & Poet.]

The painted windows, frecking gloom with glow.

Lowell.

Freck"le (frk"k'l), n. [Dim., from the same root as freak, v. t.] 1. A small yellowish or brownish spot in the skin, particularly on the face, neck, or hands.

2. Any small spot or discoloration.

Frec"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freckled (-k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Freckling (-klng).] To sprinkle or mark with freckles or small discolored spots; to spot.

<! p. 594 !>

Frec"kle (frk"k'l), v. i. To become covered or marked with freckles; to be spotted.

Frec"kled (frk"k'ld), a. Marked with freckles; spotted. "The freckled trout." Dryden.

The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover.

Shak.

Frec"kled*ness (-k'ld*ns), n. The state of being freckled.

Frec"kly (-kl), a. Full of or marked with freckles; sprinkled with spots; freckled.

Fred (frd), n. [AS. fri peace. See Frith inclosure.] Peace; -- a word used in composition, especially in proper names; as, Alfred; Frederic.

Fred"stole` (-stl`), n. [Obs.] See Fridstol. Fuller.

Free (fr), a. [Compar. Freer (-r); superl. Freest (-st).] [OE. fre, freo, AS. freÛ, fr; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fr, G. frei, Icel. fr, Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr. pr to love, Goth. frijn. Cf. Affray, Belfry, Friday, Friend, Frith inclosure.] 1. Exempt from subjection to the will of others; not under restraint, control, or compulsion; able to follow one's own impulses, desires, or inclinations; determining one's own course of action; not dependent; at liberty.

That which has the power, or not the power, to operate, is that alone which is or is not free.

Locke.

2. Not under an arbitrary or despotic government; subject only to fixed laws regularly and fairly administered, and defended by them from encroachments upon natural or acquired rights; enjoying political liberty.

3. Liberated, by arriving at a certain age, from the control of parents, guardian, or master.

4. Not confined or imprisoned; released from arrest; liberated; at liberty to go.

Set an unhappy prisoner free.

Prior.

5. Not subjected to the laws of physical necessity; capable of voluntary activity; endowed with moral liberty; -- said of the will.

Not free, what proof could they have given sincere Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love.

Milton.

6. Clear of offense or crime; guiltless; innocent.

My hands are guilty, but my heart is free.

Dryden.

7. Unconstrained by timidity or distrust; unreserved; ingenuous; frank; familiar; communicative.

He was free only with a few.

Milward.

8. Unrestrained; immoderate; lavish; licentious; -- used in a bad sense.

The critics have been very free in their censures.

Felton.

A man may live a free life as to wine or women.

Shelley.

9. Not close or parsimonious; liberal; open- handed; lavish; as, free with his money.

10. Exempt; clear; released; liberated; not encumbered or troubled with; as, free from pain; free from a burden; -- followed by from, or, rarely, by of.

Princes declaring themselves free from the obligations of their treaties.

Bp. Burnet.

11. Characteristic of one acting without restraint; charming; easy.

12. Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited; as, a free horse.

13. Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; -- followed by of.

He therefore makes all birds, of every sect, Free of his farm.

Dryden.

14. Thrown open, or made accessible, to all; to be enjoyed without limitations; unrestricted; not obstructed, engrossed, or appropriated; open; -- said of a thing to be possessed or enjoyed; as, a free school.

Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me as for you?

Shak.

15. Not gained by importunity or purchase; gratuitous; spontaneous; as, free admission; a free gift.

16. Not arbitrary or despotic; assuring liberty; defending individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; -- said of a government, institutions, etc.

17. (O. Eng. Law) Certain or honorable; the opposite of base; as, free service; free socage. Burrill.

18. (Law) Privileged or individual; the opposite of common; as, a free fishery; a free warren. Burrill.

Spotted a typo or a problem in this chapter? Tell us