Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 11 of 60)
COLLOIDALITY Col`loi*dal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being colloidal.
COLLOP Col"lop, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. colp blow, stroke, piece, F. coup, fr. L. colophus buffet, cuff, Gr. [Written also colp.]
1. A small slice of meat; a piece of flesh. God knows thou art a collop of my flesh. Shak. Sweetbread and collops were with skewers pricked. Dryden.
2. A part or piece of anything; a portion. Cut two good collops out of the crown land. Fuller.
COLLOPED Col"loped, a.
Defn: Having ridges or bunches of flesh, like collops. With that red, gaunt, and colloped neck astrain. R. Browning.
COLLOPHORE Col"lo*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) A suckerlike organ at the base of the abdomen of insects belonging to the Collembola. (b) An adhesive marginal organ of the Lucernariae.
COLLOQUIAL Col*lo"qui*al, a. Etym: [See Colloqui.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or used in, conversation, esp. common and familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied; informal; as, colloquial intercourse; colloquial phrases; a colloquial style. -- Col*lo"qui*al*ly, adv. His [Johnson's] colloquial talents were, indeed, of the highest order. Macaulay.
COLLOQUIALISM Col*lo"qui*al*ism, n.
Defn: A colloquial expression, not employed in formal discourse or writing.
COLLOQUIALIZE Col*lo"qui*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make colloquial and familiar; as, to colloquialize one's style of writing.
COLLOQUIST Col"lo*quist, n.
Defn: A speaker in a colloquy or dialogue. Malone.
COLLOQUY Col"lo*quy, n.; pl. Colloquies. Etym: [L. colloquium. See Collocution.]
1. Mutual discourse of two or more persons; conference; conversation. They went to Worms, to the colloquy there about religion. A. Wood.
2. In some American colleges, a part in exhibitions, assigned for a certain scholarship rank; a designation of rank in collegiate scholarship.
COLLOTYPE Col"lo*type, n. [Gr. glue + -type.]
Defn: A photomechanical print made directly from a hardened film of gelatin or other colloid; also, the process of making such prints. According to one method, the film is sensitized with potassium dichromate and exposed to light under a reversed negative. After the dichromate has been washed out, the film is soaked in glycerin and water. As this treatment causes swelling in those parts of the film which have been acted on by light, a plate results from which impressions can be taken with prepared ink. The albertype, phototype, and heliotype are collotypes.
COLLOW Col"low, n.
Defn: Soot; smut. See 1st Colly. [Obs.]
COLLUCTANCY Col*luc"tan*cy, n. Etym: [L. colluctari to struggle with.]
Defn: A struggling to resist; a striving against; resistance; opposition of nature. [Obs.]
COLLUCTATION Col`luc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. colluctatio, fr. colluctari to struggle with; col- + luctari to struggle.]
Defn: A struggling; a contention. [Obs.] Colluctation with old hags and hobgoblins. Dr. H. More.
COLLUDE Col*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Colluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Colluding.] Etym: [L. colludere, -lusum; col- + ludere to play. See Ludicrous.]
Defn: To have secretly a joint part or share in an action; to play into each other's hands; to conspire; to act in concert. If they let things take their course, they will be represented as colluding with sedition. Burke.
COLLUDER Col*lud"er, n.
Defn: One who conspires in a fraud.
COLLUM Col"lum, n.; pl. Colla. Etym: [L., neck.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A neck or cervix. Dunglison.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Collar. Gray.
COLLUSION Col*lu"sion, n. Etym: [L. collusio: cf. F. collusion. See Collude.]
1. A secret agreement and cooperation for a fraudulent or deceitful purpose; a playing into each other's hands; deceit; fraud; cunning. The foxe, maister of collusion. Spenser. That they [miracles] be done publicly, in the face of the world, that there may be no room to suspect artifice and collusion. Atterbury. By the ignorance of the merchants or dishonesty of the weavers, or the collusion of both, the ware was bad and the price excessive. Swift.
2. (Law)
Defn: An agreement between two or more persons to defraud a person of his rights, by the forms of law, or to obtain an object forbidden by law. Bouvier. Abbott.
Syn. -- Collusion, Connivance. A person who is guilty of connivance intentionally overlooks, and thus sanctions what he was bound to prevent. A person who is guilty of collusion unites with others (playing into their hands) for fraudulent purposes.
COLLUSIVE Col*lu"sive, a.
1. Characterized by collusion; done or planned in collusion. "Collusive and sophistical arguings." J. Trapp. "Collusive divorces." Strype.
2. Acting in collusion. "Collusive parties." Burke. -- Col*lu"sive*ly, adv. -- Col*lu"sive*ness, n.
COLLUSORY Col*lu"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. collusorius.]
Defn: Collusive.
COLLUTORY Col"lu*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. colluere, collutum, to wash.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicated wash for the mouth.
COLLUVIES Col*lu"vi*es, n. [L., a collection of washings, dregs, offscourings, fr. colluere to wash; col-+ luere to wash.]
1. A collection or gathering, as of pus, or rubbish, or odds and ends.
2. A medley; offscourings or rabble.
COLLY Col"ly, n. Etym: [From Coal.]
Defn: The black grime or soot of coal. [Obs.] Burton.
COLLY Col"ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collied; p. pr. & vb. n. Collying.]
Defn: To render black or dark, as of with coal smut; to begrime. [Archaic.] Thou hast not collied thy face enough. B. Jonson. Brief as the lighting in the collied night. Shak.
COLLY Col"ly, n.
Defn: A kind of dog. See Collie.
COLLYBIST Col"ly*bist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A money changer. [Obs.] In the face of these guilty collybists. Bp. Hall.
COLLYRIUM Col*lyr"i*um, n.; pl. E. Collyriums, L. Collyria. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An application to the eye, usually an eyewater.
COLOBOMA Col`o*bo"ma, n. [NL. fr. Gr. , the part taken away in mutilation, fr. to mutilate.] (Anat. & Med.)
Defn: A defect or malformation; esp., a fissure of the iris supposed to be a persistent embryonic cleft.
COLOCOLO Col`o*co"lo, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American wild cat (Felis colocolo), of the size of the ocelot.
COLOCYNTH Col"ocynth, n. Etym: [L. colocynthis, Gr. Coloquintida.] (Med.)
Defn: The light spongy pulp of the fruit of the bitter cucumber (Citrullus, or Cucumis, colocynthis), an Asiatic plant allied to the watermelon; coloquintida. It comes in white balls, is intensely bitter, and a powerful cathartic. Called also bitter apple, bitter cucumber, bitter gourd.
COLOCYNTHIN Col`o*cyn"thin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colocynthine.] (Chem.)
Defn: The active medicinal principle of colocynth; a bitter, yellow, crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside.
COLOGNE Co*logne", n. Etym: [Originally made in Cologne, the French name of Köln, a city in Germany.]
Defn: A perfumed liquid, composed of alcohol and certain aromatic oils, used in the toilet; -- called also cologne water and eau de cologne.
COLOGNE EARTH Co*logne" earth`. Etym: [From Cologne the city.] (Min.)
Defn: An earth of a deep brown color, containing more vegetable than mineral matter; an earthy variety of lignite, or brown coal.
COLOMBIER Col"om*bier, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A large size of paper for drawings. See under Paper.
COLOMBIN Co*lom"bin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Calumbin.
COLOMBO Co*lom"bo, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Calumba.
COLON Co"lon, n. Etym: [L. colon, colum, limb, member, the largest of the intestines, fr. Gr. colon. Cf. Colic.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: That part of the large intestines which extends from the cæcum to the rectum.
Note: [See Illust of Digestion.]
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A point or character, formed thus [:], used to separate parts of a sentence that are complete in themselves and nearly independent, often taking the place of a conjunction.
COLONEL Colo"nel, n. Etym: [F. colonel, It. colonello, prop., the chief or commander of a column, fr. colonna column, L. columna. See Column.] (Mil.)
Defn: The chief officer of a regiment; an officer ranking next above a lieutenant colonel and next below a brigadier general.
COLONELCY Colo"nel*cy, n. (Mil.)
Defn: The office, rank, or commission of a colonel.
COLONELSHIP Colo"nel*ship, n.
Defn: Colonelcy. Swift.
COLONER Col"o*ner, n.
Defn: A colonist. [Obs.] Holland
COLONIAL Co*lo"ni*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. colonial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a colony; as, colonial rights, traffic, wars.
COLONIALISM Co*lo"ni*al*ism, n.
1. The state or quality of, or the relationship involved in, being colonial.
The last tie of colonialism which bound us to the mother country is broken. Brander Matthews.
2. A custom, idea, feature of government, or the like, characteristic of a colony.
3. The colonial system or policy in political government or extension of territory.
COLONICAL Co*lon"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. colonus husbandman.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to husbandmen. [Obs.]
COLONIST Col"o*nist, n.
Defn: A member or inhabitant of a colony.
COLONITIS Col`o*ni"tis, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Colitis.
COLONIZATION Col`o*ni*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colonisation.]
Defn: Tha act of colonizing, or the state of being colonized; the formation of a colony or colonies. The wide continent of America invited colonization. Bancroft.
COLONIZATIONIST Col`o*ni*za"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A friend to colonization, esp. (U. S. Hist) to the colonization of Africa by emigrants from the colored population of the United States.
COLONIZE Col"o*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Colonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Colonizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. coloniser.]
Defn: To plant or establish a colony or colonies in; to people with colonists; to migrate to and settle in. Bacon. They that would thus colonize the stars with inhabitants. Howell.
COLONIZE Col"o*nize, v. i.
Defn: To remove to, and settle in, a distant country; to make a colony. C. Buchanan.
COLONIZER Col"o*ni`zer, n.
Defn: One who promotes or establishes a colony; a colonist. Bancroft.
COLONNADE Col`on*nade", n. Etym: [F. colonnade, It. colonnata, fr. colonna column. See Colonel.] (Arch.)
Defn: A series or range of columns placed at regular intervals with all the adjuncts, as entablature, stylobate, roof, etc.
Note: When in front of a building, it is called a portico; when surrounding a building or an open court or square, a peristyle.
COLONY Col"o*ny, n.; pl. Colonies. Etym: [L. colonia, fr. colonus farmer, fr. colere to cultivate, dwell: cf. F. colonie. Cf. Culture.]
1. A company of people transplanted from their mother country to a remote province or country, and remaining subject to the jurisdiction of the parent state; as, the British colonies in America. The first settlers of New England were the best of Englishmen, well educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was never a colony formed of better materials. Ames.
2. The district or country colonized; a settlement.
3. A company of persons from the same country sojourning in a foreign city or land; as, the American colony in Paris.
4. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: A number of animals or plants living or growing together, beyond their usual range.
COLOPHANY Col"o*pha`ny ( or ), n.
Defn: See Colophony.
COLOPHENE Co"lo*phene ( or ), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, oily liquid, formerly obtained by distillation of colophony. It is regarded as a polymeric form of terebenthene. Called also diterebene.
COLOPHON Col"o*phon, n. Etym: [L. colophon finishing stroke, Gr. culmen top, collis hill. Cf. Holm.]
Defn: An inscription, monogram, or cipher, containing the place and date of publication, printer's name, etc., formerly placed on the last page of a book. The colophon, or final description, fell into disuse, and . . . the title page had become the principal direct means of identifying the book. De Morgan. The book was uninjured from title page to colophon. Sir W. Scott.
COLOPHONITE Col"o*pho*nite ( or ), n. Etym: [Cf. F. colophonite. So named from its resemblance to the color of colophony.] (Min.)
Defn: A coarsely granular variety of garnet.
COLOPHONY Col"o*pho`ny ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Rosin.
COLOQUINTIDA Col`o*quin"ti*da, n.
Defn: See Colocynth. Shak.
COLOR Col"or, n. [Written also colour.] Etym: [OF. color, colur, colour, F. couleur, L. color; prob. akin to celare to conceal (the color taken as that which covers). See Helmet.]
1. A property depending on the relations of light to the eye, by which individual and specific differences in the hues and tints of objects are apprehended in vision; as, gay colors; sad colors, etc.
Note: The sensation of color depends upon a peculiar function of the retina or optic nerve, in consequence of which rays of light produce different effects according to the length of their waves or undulations, waves of a certain length producing the sensation of red, shorter waves green, and those still shorter blue, etc. White, or ordinary, light consists of waves of various lengths so blended as to produce no effect of color, and the color of objects depends upon their power to absorb or reflect a greater or less proportion of the rays which fall upon them.
2. Any hue distinguished from white or black.
3. The hue or color characteristic of good health and spirits; ruddy complexion. Give color to my pale cheek. Shak.
4. That which is used to give color; a paint; a pigment; as, oil colors or water colors.
5. That which covers or hides the real character of anything; semblance; excuse; disguise; appearance. They had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship. Acts xxvii. 30. That he should die is worthy policy; But yet we want a color for his death. Shak.
6. Shade or variety of character; kind; species. Boys and women are for the most part cattle of this color. Shak.
7. A distinguishing badge, as a flag or similar symbol (usually in the plural); as, the colors or color of a ship or regiment; the colors of a race horse (that is, of the cap and jacket worn by the jockey). In the United States each regiment of infantry and artillery has two colors, one national and one regimental. Farrow.
8. (Law)
Defn: An apparent right; as where the defendant in trespass gave to the plaintiff an appearance of title, by stating his title specially, thus removing the cause from the jury to the court. Blackstone.
Note: Color is express when it is asverred in the pleading, and implied when it is implied in the pleading. Body color. See under Body. -- Color blindness, total or partial inability to distinguish or recognize colors. See Daltonism. -- Complementary color, one of two colors so related to each other that when blended together they produce white light; -- so called because each color makes up to the other what it lacks to make it white. Artificial or pigment colors, when mixed, produce effects differing from those of the primary colors, in consequence of partial absorption. -- Of color (as persons, races, etc.), not of the white race; -- commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. -- Primary colors, those developed from the solar beam by the prism, viz., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, which are reduced by some authors to three, -- red, green, and violet-blue. These three are sometimes called fundamental colors. -- Subjective or Accidental color, a false or spurious color seen in some instances, owing to the persistence of the luminous impression upon the retina, and a gradual change of its character, as where a wheel perfectly white, and with a circumference regulary subdiveded, is made to revolve rapidly over a dark object, the teeth, of the wheel appear to the eye of different shades of color varying with the rapidity of rotation. See Accidental colors, under Accidental.
COLOR Col"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Colored; p. pr. & vb. n. Coloring.] Etym: [F. colorer.]
1. To change or alter the bue or tint of, by dyeing, staining, painting, etc.; to dye; to tinge; to aint; to stain. The rays, to speak properly, are not colored; in them there is nothing else than a certain power and disposition to stir up a sensation of this or that color. Sir I. Newton.
2. To change or alter, as if by dyeing or painting; to give a false appearance to; usually, to give a specious appearance to; to cause to appear attractive; to make plausible; to palliate or excuse; as, the facts were colored by his prejudices. He colors the falsehood of Æneas by an express command from Jupiter to forsake the queen. Dryden.
3. To hide. [Obs.] That by his fellowship he color might Both his estate and love from skill of any wight. Spenser.
COLOR Col"or, v. i.
Defn: To acquire color; to turn red, especially in the face; to blush.
COLORABLE Col"or*a*ble, a.
Defn: Specious; plausible; having an appearance of right or justice. "Colorable pretense for infidility." Bp. Stillingfleet. -- Col"or*a*ble*ness, n. -- Col"or*a*bly, adv. Colorable and subtle crimes, that seldom are taken within the walk of human justice. Hooker.
COLORADO BEETLE Col`o*ra"do bee"tle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A yellowish beetle (Doryphora decemlineata), with ten longitudinal, black, dorsal stripes. It has migrated eastwards from its original habitat in Colorado, and is very destructive to the potato plant; -- called also potato beetle and potato bug. See Potato beetle.
COLORADO GROUP Col`o*ra"do group. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision of the cretaceous formation of western North America, especially developed in Colorado and the upper Missouri region.
COLORADOITE Col`o*ra"do*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Mercury telluride, an iron-black metallic mineral, found in Colorado.
COLORATE Col"or*ate, a. Etym: [L. coloratus, p. p. of colorare to color.]
Defn: Colored. [Obs.] Ray.
COLORATION Col`or*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or art of coloring; the state of being colored. Bacon. The females . . . resemble each other in their general type of coloration. Darwin.
COLORATURE Col"or*a*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. G. coloratur, fr. LL. coloratura.] (Mus.)
Defn: Vocal music colored, as it were, by florid ornaments, runs, or rapid passages.
COLOR-BLIND Col"or-blind, a.
Defn: Affected with color blindness. See Color blindness, under Color, n.
COLORED Col"ored, a.
1. Having color; tinged; dyed; painted; stained. The lime rod, colored as the glede. Chaucer. The colored rainbow arched wide. Spenser.
2. Specious; plausible; aborned so as to appear well; as, a highly colored description. Sir G. C. Lewis. His colored crime with craft to cloke. Spenser.
3. Of some other color than black or white.
4. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of some other color than white; specifically applied to negroes or persons having negro blood; as, a colored man; the colored people.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: Of some other color than green. Colored, meaning, as applied to foliage, of some other color than green. Gray.
Note: In botany, green is not regarded as a color, but white is. Wood.
COLORIFIC Col`or*if"ic, a. Etym: [L. color color + facere to make: cf. F. colorifique.]
Defn: Capable of communicating color or tint to other bodies.
COLORIMETER Col`or*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [Color + -meter: cf. F. colorimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the depth of the color of anything, especially of a liquid, by comparison with a standard liquid.
COLORIMETRY Col`or*im"e*try, n. [See Colorimeter.]
1.
Defn: The quantitative determination of the depth of color of a substance.
2. A method of quantitative chemical analysis based upon the comparison of the depth of color of a solution with that of a standard liquid.
COLORING Col"or*ing, n.
1. The act of applying color to; also, that which produces color.
2. Change of appearance as by addition of color; appearance; show; disguise; misrepresentation. Tell the whole story without coloring or gloss. Compton Reade. Dead coloring. See under Dead.
COLORIST Col"or*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coloriste.]
Defn: One who colors; an artist who excels in the use of colors; one to whom coloring is of prime importance. Titian, Paul Veronese, Van Dyck, and the rest of the good colorists. Dryden.
COLORLESS Col"or*less, a.
1. Without color; not distinguished by any hue; transparent; as, colorless water.
2. Free from any manifestation of partial or peculiar sentiment or feeling; not disclosing likes, dislikes, prejudice, etc.; as, colorless music; a colorless style; definitions should be colorless.
COLORMAN Col"or*man, n.; pl. Colormen.
Defn: A vender of paints, etc. Simmonds.
COLOR SERGEANT Col"or ser"geant.
Defn: See under Sergeant.
COLOSSAL Co*los"sal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cossal, L. colosseus. See Colossus.]
1. Of enormous size; gigantic; huge; as, a colossal statue. "A colossal stride." Motley.
2. (Sculpture & Painting)
Defn: Of a size larger than heroic. See Heroic.
COLOSSEAN Col`os*se"an, a.
Defn: Colossal. [R.]
COLOSSEUM Col`os*se"um, n. Etym: [Neut., fr. L. coloseus gigantic. See Coliseum.]
Defn: The amphitheater of Vespasian in Rome. [Also written Coliseum.]
COLOSSUS Co*los"sus, n.; pl. L. Colossi, E. Colossuses. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A statue of gigantic size. The name was especially applied to certain famous statues in antiquity, as the Colossus of Nero in Rome, the Colossus of Apollo at Rhodes. He doth bestride the narrow world Like a colossus. Shak.
Note: There is no authority for the statement that the legs of the Colossus at Rhodes extended over the mouth of the harbor. Dr. Wm. Smith.
2. Any man or beast of gigantic size.
COLOSTRUM Co*los"trum, n. Etym: [L., biestings.] (Med.) (a) The first milk secreted after delivery; biestings. (b) A mixture of turpentine and the yolk of an egg, formerly used as an emulsion.
COLOTOMY Co*lot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An operation for opening the colon
COLOUR Col"our, n.
Defn: See Color.
COLP Colp, n.
Defn: See Collop.
COLPORTAGE Col"por`tage, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The distribution of religious books, tracts, etc., by colporteurs.
COLPORTER Col"por`ter, n.
Defn: Same as Colporteur.
COLPORTEUR Col"por`teur, n. Etym: [F. colporteur one who carries on his neck, fr. colporter to carry on one's neck; col (L. collum) neck + porter (L. portare) to carry.]
Defn: A hawker; specifically, one who travels about selling and distributing religious tracts and books.
COLSTAFF Col"staff`, n. Etym: [F. col neck + E. staff. Cf. Coll.]
Defn: A staff by means of which a burden is borne by two persons on their shoulders.
COLT Colt (; 110), n. Etym: [OE. colt a young horse, ass, or camel, AS. colt; cf. dial. Sw. kullt a boy, lad.]
1. The young of the equine genus or horse kind of animals; -- sometimes distinctively applied to the male, filly being the female. Cf. Foal.
Note: In sporting circles it is usual to reckon the age of colts from some arbitrary date, as from January 1, or May 1, next preceding the birth of the animal.
2. A young, foolish fellow. Shak.
3. A short knotted rope formerly used as an instrument of punishment in the navy. Ham. Nav. Encyc. Colt's tooth, an imperfect or superfluous tooth in young horses. -- To cast one's colt's tooth, to cease from youthful wantonness. "Your colt's tooth is not cast yet." Shak. -- To have a colt's tooth, to be wanton. Chaucer.
COLT Colt (; 110), v. i.
Defn: To frisk or frolic like a colt; to act licentiously or wantonly. [Obs.] They shook off their bridles and began to colt. Spenser.
COLT Colt, v. t.
1. To horse; to get with young. Shak.
2. To befool. [Obs.] Shak.
COLTER Col"ter, n. Etym: [AS. culter, fr. L. culter plowshare, knife. Cf. Cutlass.]
Defn: A knife or cutter, attached to the beam of a plow to cut the sward, in advance of the plowshare and moldboard. [Written also coulter.]
COLTISH Colt"ish, a.
Defn: Like a colt; wanton; frisky. He was all coltish, full of ragery. Chaucer. -- Colt"ish*ly, adv. -- Colt"ish*ness, n.
COLT PISTOL Colt pistol. (Firearms)
Defn: A self-loading or semi-automatic pistol with removable magazine in the handle holding seven cartridges. The recoil extracts and ejects the empty cartridge case, and reloads ready for another shot. Called also Browning, and Colt-Browning, pistol.
COLT REVOLVER Colt revolver. (Firearms)
Defn: A revolver made according to a system using a patented revolving cylinder, holding six cartridges, patented by Samuel Colt, an American inventor, in 1835. With various modifications, it has for many years been the standard for the United States army.
COLTSFOOT Colts"foot`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial herb (Tussilago Farfara), whose leaves and rootstock are sometimes employed in medicine. Butterbur coltsfoot (Bot.), a European plant (Petasites vulgaris).
COLT'S TOOTH Colt's" tooth`.
Defn: See under Colt.
COLUBER Col"u*ber, n. Etym: [L., a serpent.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless serpents.
Note: Linnæus placed in this genus all serpents, whether venomous or not, whose scales beneath the tail are arranged in pairs; but by modern writers it is greatly restricted.
COLUBRINE Col"u*brine, a. Etym: [L. colubrinus.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: like or related to snakes of the genus Coluber.
2. Like a snake; cunning; crafty. Johnson.
COLUGO Co*lu"go, n. Etym: [Prob. an aboriginal name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar East Indian mammal (Galleopithecus volans), having along the sides, connecting the fore and hind limbs, a parachutelike membrane, by means of which it is able to make long leaps, like the flying squirrel; -- called also flying lemur.
COLUMBA Co*lum"ba, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Calumba.
COLUMBAE Co*lum"bæ, n. pl.; Etym: [L. columba pigeon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of birds, including the pigeons.
COLUMBARIUM Col`um*ba"ri*um, n.; pl. L. Columbaria Etym: [L. See Columbary.] (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A dovecote or pigeon house. (b) A sepulchral chamber with niches for holding cinerary urns.
COLUMBARY Col"um*ba*ry, n.; pl. Columbaries. Etym: [L. columbarium, fr. columba a dove.]
Defn: A dovecote; a pigeon house. Sir T. Browne.
COLUMBATE Co*lum"bate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colombate. See Columbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of columbic acid; a niobate. See Columbium.
COLUMBATZ FLY Co*lum"batz fly`. Etym: [From Kolumbatz, a mountain in Germany.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Buffalo fly, under Buffalo.
COLUMBELLA Col`um*bel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. columba a dove. So called from a fancied resemblance in color and form, of some species.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of univale shells, abundant in tropical seas. Some species, as Columbella mercatoria, were formerly used as shell money.
COLUMBIA Co*lum"bi*a, n.
Defn: America; the United States; -- a poetical appellation given in honor of Columbus, the discoverer. Dr. T. Dwight.
COLUMBIAD Co*lum"bi*ad, n. Etym: [From Columbia the United States.] (Mil.)
Defn: A form of seacoast cannon; a long, chambered gun designed for throwing shot or shells with heavy charges of powder, at high angles of elevation.
Note: Since the War of 1812 the Columbiad has been much modified form now used in seacoast defense is often called the Rodman gun.
COLUMBIAN Co*lum"bi*an, a. Etym: [From Columbia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the United States, or to America.
COLUMBIC Co*lum"bic, a. Etym: [From Columbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, columbium or niobium; niobic. Columbic acid (Chem.), a weak acid derived from columbic or niobic oxide, Nb2O5; -- called also niobic acid.
COLUMBIC Co*lum"bic, a. Etym: [From Columbo.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the columbo root. Columbic acid (Chem.), an organic acid extracted from the columbo root as a bitter, yellow, amorphous substance.
COLUMBIER Co*lum"bi*er, n.
Defn: See Colombier.
COLUMBIFEROUS Col"um*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Columbium + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing or containing columbium.
COLUMBIN Co*lum"bin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, bitter substance. See Calumbin.
COLUMBINE Col"um*bine, a. Etym: [L. columbinus, fr. columba dove.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a dove; dovelike; dove-colored. "Columbine innocency." Bacon.
COLUMBINE Col"um*bine, n. Etym: [LL. columbina, L. columbinus dovelike, fr. columba dove: cf. F. colombine. Perh. so called from the beaklike spurs of its flowers.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of several species of the genus Aquilegia; as, A. vulgaris, or the common garden columbine; A. Canadensis, the wild red columbine of North America.
2. The mistress or sweetheart of Harlequin in pantomimes. Brewer.
COLUMBITE Co*lum"bite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colombite. See Columbium.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a black color, submetallic luster, and high specific specific gravity. It is a niobate (or columbate) of iron and manganese, containing tantalate of iron; -- first found in New England.
COLUMBIUM Co*lum"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Columbia America.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare element of the vanadium group, first found in a variety of the mineral columbite occurring in Connecticut, probably at Haddam. Atomic weight 94.2. Symbol Cb or Nb. Now more commonly called niobium.
COLUMBO Co*lum"bo, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Calumba.
COLUMBUS DAY Co*lum"bus Day.
Defn: The 12th day of October, on which day in 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered America, landing on one of the Bahama Islands (probably the one now commonly called Watling Island), and naming it "San Salvador"; -- called also Discovery Day. This day is made a legal holiday in many States of The United States.
COLUMELLA Col`u*mel"la, n. Etym: [L., dim. of columen column. See Column.]
1. (Bot.) (a) An axis to which a carpel of a compound pistil may be attached, as in the case of the geranium; or which is left when a pod opens. (b) A columnlike axis in the capsule of mosses.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A term applied to various columnlike parts; as, the columnella, or epipterygoid bone, in the skull of many lizards; the columella of the ear, the bony or cartilaginous rod connecting the tympanic membrane with the internal ear.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) The upright pillar in the axis of most univalve shells. (b) The central pillar or axis of the calicles of certain corals.
COLUMELLIFORM Col`u*mel"li*form, a. Etym: [Columella + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a little column, or columella.
COLUMN Col"umn, n. Etym: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and cf. Colonel.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order.
2. Anything resembling, in form or position, a column an architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a column of air, of water, of mercury, etc. ; the Column Vendôme; the spinal column.
3. (Mil.) (a) A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; -- contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy. (b) A small army.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; -- in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.
5. (Print.)
Defn: A perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page, and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a column in a newspaper.
6. (Arith.)
Defn: A perpendicular line of figures.
7. (Bot.)
Defn: The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids. Attached column. See under Attach, v. t. -- Clustered column. See under Cluster, v. t. -- Column rule, a thin strip of brass separating columns of type in the form, and making a line between them in printing.
COLUMNAR Co*lum"*nar, a. Etym: [L. columnaris, fr. columna.]
Defn: Formed in columns; having the form of a column or columns; like the shaft of a column. Columnar epithelium (Anat.), epithelium in which the cells are priismatic in form, and set upright on the surface they cover. -- Columnar structure (Geol.), a structure consisting of more or less regular columns, usually six-sided, but sometimes with eight or more sides. The columns are often fractured transversely, with a cup joint, showing a concave surface above. This structure is characteristic of certain igneous rocks, as basalt, and is due to contraction in cooling.
COLUMNARITY Col`um*nar"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being columnar.
COLUMNATED Co*lum"na*ted, a.
Defn: Having columns; as, columnated temples.
COLUMNED Col"umned, a.
Defn: Having columns. Troas and Ilion's columned citadel. Tennyson.
COLUMNIATION Co*lum`ni*a"tion, n.
Defn: The employment or arrangement of columns in a structure. Gwilt.
COLURE Co*lure", n.; pl. Colures. Etym: [F. colure, L. coluri, pl., fr. Gr. (Astron. & Geog.)
Defn: One of two great circles intersecting at right angles in the poles of the equator. One of them passes through the equinoctial points, and hence is denominated the equinoctial colure; the other intersects the equator at the distance of 90º from the former, and is called the solstitial colure. Thrice the equinoctial line He circled; four times crossed the car of night From pole to pole, traversing each colure. Milton.
COLY Co"ly, n.; pl. Colies. Etym: [NL. colius, prob. fr. Gr.
Defn: Any bird of the genus Colius and allied genera. They inhabit Africa.
COLZA Col"za, n. Etym: [F., fr. D. koolzaad, prob., cabbage seed; kool (akin to E. cole) + zaad akin to E. seed.] (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of cabbage (Brassica oleracea), cultivated for its seeds, which yield an oil valued for illuminating and lubricating purposes; summer rape.
COM- Com-.
Defn: A prefix from the Latin preposition cum, signifying with, together, in conjunction, very, etc. It is used in the form com- before b, m, p, and sometimes f, and by assimilation becomes col- before l, cor- before r, and con- before any consonant except b, h, l, m, p, r, and w. Before a vowel com- becomes co-; also before h, w, and sometimes before other consonants.
COMA Co"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cemetery.]
Defn: A state of profound insensibility from which it is difficult or impossible to rouse a person. See Carus.
COMA Co"ma, n. Etym: [L., hair, fr. Gr.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: The envelope of a comet; a nebulous covering, which surrounds the nucleus or body of a comet.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A tuft or bunch, -- as the assemblage of branches forming the head of a tree; or a cluster of brachts when empty and terminating the inflorescence of a plant; or a tuft of long hairs on certain seeds. Coma Berenices ( Etym: [L.] (Astron.), a small constellation north of Virgo; -- called also Berenice's Hair.
COMANCHES Co*man"ches ( or ), n. pl.; sing. Comanche ( or ) . (Ethnol.)
Defn: A warlike, savage, and nomadic tribe of the Shoshone family of Indians, inhabiting Mexico and the adjacent parts of the United States; -- called also Paducahs. They are noted for plundering and cruelty.
COMART Co"mart`, n.
Defn: A covenant. [Obs.] Shak.
COMATE Co"mate, a. Etym: [L. comatus, fr. comare to clothe with hair, fr. coma hair.]
Defn: Encompassed with a coma, or bushy appearance, like hair; hairy.
CO-MATE Co"-mate`, n. Etym: [Pref. co- + mate.]
Defn: A companion. Shak.
COMATOSE Co"ma*tose` ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [From Coma lethargy.]
Defn: Relating to, or resembling, coma; drowsy; lethargic; as, comatose sleep; comatose fever.
COMATOUS Co"ma*tous, a.
Defn: Comatose.
COMATULA Co*mat"u*la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. comatulus having hair neatly curled, dim. fr. coma hair.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A crinoid of the genus Antedon and related genera. When young they are fixed by a stem. When adult they become detached and cling to seaweeds, etc., by their dorsal cirri; -- called also feather stars.
COMATULID Co*mat"u*lid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any crinoid of the genus Antedon or allied genera.
COMB Comb (; 110), n. Etym: [AS.. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel. kambr, G. kamm, Gr. jambha tooth.]
1. An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
2. An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
3. (Manuf. & Mech.) (a) A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool, flax, hair, etc. (b) The serrated vibratory doffing knife of a carding machine. (c) A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for hardening the soft fiber into a bat. (d) A tool with teeth, used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a chaser. (e) The notched scale of a wire micrometer. (f) The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a comb.
4. (Zoöl.) (a) The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red. (b) One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen of scorpions.
5. The curling crest of a wave.
6. The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb. "A comb of honey." Wyclif. When the bee doth leave her comb. Shak.
7. The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be cocked.
COMB Comb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Combed; p. pr. & vb. n. Combing.]
Defn: To disentangle, cleanse, or adjust, with a comb; to lay smooth and straight with, or as with, a comb; as, to comb hair or wool. See under Combing. Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright. Shak.
COMB Comb, v. i. Etym: [See Comb, n., 5.] (Naut.)
Defn: To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a white foam, as waves.
COMB; COMBE Comb, Combe ( or ), n. Etym: [AS. comb, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwm a dale, valley.]
Defn: That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it. [Written also coombe.] Buckland. A gradual rise the shelving combe Displayed. Southey.
COMB Comb, n.
Defn: A dry measure. See Coomb.
COMBAT Com"bat ( or ; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Combated; p. pr. & vb. n. Combating.] Etym: [F. combattre; pref. com- + battre to beat, fr. L. battuere to strike. See Batter.]
Defn: To struggle or contend, as with an opposing force; to fight. To combat with a blind man I disdain. Milton. After the fall of the republic, the Romans combated only for the choice of masters. Gibbon.
COMBAT Com"bat, v. t.
Defn: To fight with; to oppose by force, argument, etc.; to contend against; to resist. When he the ambitious Norway combated. Shak. And combated in silence all these reasons. Milton. Minds combat minds, repelling and repelled. Goldsmith.
Syn. -- To fight against; resist; oppose; withstand; oppugn; antagonize; repel; resent.
COMBAT Com"bat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. combat.]
1. A fight; a contest of violence; a struggle for supremacy. My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st. Shak. The noble combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina. Shak.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: An engagement of no great magnitude; or one in which the parties engaged are not armies. Single combat, one in which a single combatant meets a single opponent, as in the case of David and Goliath; also a duel.
Syn. -- A battle; engagement; conflict; contest; contention; struggle; fight, strife. See Battle, Contest.
COMBATABLE Com"bat*a*ble ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. F. combattable.]
Defn: Such as can be, or is liable to be, combated; as, combatable foes, evils, or arguments.
COMBATANT Com"bat*ant, a. Etym: [F. combattant, p. pr.]
Defn: Contending; disposed to contend. B. Jonson.
COMBATANT Com"bat*ant, n. Etym: [F. combattant.]
Defn: One who engages in combat. "The mighty combatants." Milton. A controversy which long survived the original combatants. Macaulay
COMBATER Com"bat*er, n.
Defn: One who combats. Sherwood.
COMBATIVE Com"bat*ive or
Defn: (
COMBATIVENESS Com"bat*ive*ness, n.
1. The quality of being combative; propensity to contend or to quarrel.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: A cranial development supposed to indicate a combative disposition.
COMBATTANT Com`bat`tant", a. Etym: [F.] (Her.)
Defn: In the position of fighting; -- said of two lions set face to face, each rampant.
COMBBROACH Comb"broach`, n.
Defn: A tooth of a wool comb. [Written also combrouch.]
COMBE Combe ( or ), n.
Defn: See Comb.
COMBER Comb"er, n.
1. One who combs; one whose occupation it is to comb wool, flax, etc. Also, a machine for combing wool, flax, etc.
2. A long, curling wave.
COMBER Com"ber, v. t.
Defn: To cumber. [Obs.] Spenser.
COMBER Com"ber, n.
Defn: Encumbrance. [Obs.]
COMBER Com"ber, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cabrilla. Also, a name applied to a species of wrasse. [Prov. Eng.]
COMBINABLE Com*bin"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. combinable.]
Defn: Capable of combinding; consistent with. [R.] M. Arnold. -- Com*bin"a*ble*ness, n.
COMBINATE Com"bi*nate, a. Etym: [LL. combinatus, p. p.]
Defn: United; joined; betrothed. [R.]
COMBINATION Com`bi*na"tion, n. Etym: [LL. combinatio. See Combine.]
1. The act or process of combining or uniting persons and things. Making new compounds by new combinations. Boyle. A solemn combination shall be made Of our dear souls. Shak.
2. The result of combining or uniting; union of persons or things; esp. a union or alliance of persons or states to effect some purpose; -- usually in a bad sense. A combination of the most powerful men in Rome who had conspired my ruin. Melmoth.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of uniting by chemical affinity, by which substances unite with each other in definite proportions by weight to form distinct compounds.
4. pl. (Math.)
Defn: The different arrangements of a number of objects, as letters, into groups.
Note: In combinations no regard is paid to the order in which the objects are arranged in each group, while in variations and permutations this order is respected. Brande & C. Combination car, a railroad car containing two or more compartments used for different purposes. [U. S.] -- Combination lock, a lock in which the mechanism is controlled by means of a movable dial (sometimes by several dials or rings) inscribed with letters or other characters. The bolt of the lock can not be operated until after the dial has been so turned as to combine the characters in a certain order or succession. -- Combination room, in the University of Cambridge, Eng., a room into which the fellows withdraw after dinner, for wine, dessert, and conversation. -- Combination by volume (Chem.), the act, process, or ratio by which gaseous elements and compounds unite in definite proportions by volume to form distinct compounds. -- Combination by weight (Chem.), the act, process, or ratio, in which substances unite in proportions by weight, relatively fixed and exact, to form distinct compounds. See Law of definite proportions, under Definite.
Syn. -- Cabal; alliance; association; league; union; confederacy; coalition; conspiracy. See Cabal.
COMBINE Com*bine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Combined; p. pr. & vb. n. Combining.] Etym: [LL. combinare, combinatum; L. com- + binus, pl. bini, two and two, double: cf. F. combiner. See Binary.]
1. To unite or join; to link closely together; to bring into harmonious union; to cause or unite so as to form a homogeneous, as by chemical union. So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined. Milton. Friendship is the which really combines mankind. Dr. H. More. And all combined, save what thou must combine By holy marriage. Shak. Earthly sounds, though sweet and well combined. Cowper.
2. To bind; to hold by a moral tie. [Obs.] I am combined by a sacred vow. Shak.
COMBINE Com*bine", v. i.
1. To form a union; to agree; to coalesce; to confederate. You with your foes combine, And seem your own destruction to design Dryden. So sweet did harp and voice combine. Sir W. Scott.
2. To unite by affinity or natural attraction; as, two substances, which will not combine of themselves, may be made to combine by the intervention of a third.
3. (Card Playing)
Defn: In the game of casino, to play a card which will take two or more cards whose aggregate number of pips equals those of the card played. Combining weight (Chem.), that proportional weight, usually referred to hydrogen as a standard, and for each element fixed and exact, by which an element unites with another to form a distinct compound. The combining weights either are identical with, or are multiples or multiples of, the atomic weight. See Atomic weight, under Atomic, a.
COMBINED Com*bined", a.
Defn: United closely; confederated; chemically united.
COMBINEDLY Com*bin"ed*ly, adv. In combination or coöperation
Defn: ; jointly.
COMBINER Com*bin"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, combines.
COMBING Comb"ing, n.
1. The act or process of using a comb or a number of combs; as, the combing of one's hair; the combing of wool.
Note: The process of combing is used in straightening wool of long staple; short wool is carded.
2. pl. (a) That which is caught or collected with a comb, as loose, tangled hair. (b) Hair arranged to be worn on the head. The baldness, thinness, and . . . deformity of their hair is supplied by borders and combings. Jer. Taylor. (c) (Naut.)
Defn: See Coamings. Combing machine (Textile Manuf.), a machine for combing wool, flax, cotton, etc., and separating the longer and more valuable fiber from the shorter. See also Carding machine, under Carding.
COMBLESS Comb"less, a.
Defn: Without a comb or crest; as, a combless ceck.
COMBOLOIO Com`bo*lo"io, n.
Defn: A Mohammedan rosary, consisting of ninety-nine beads. Byron.
COMB-SHAPED Comb"-shaped`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pectinate.
COMBUST Com*bust", a. Etym: [L. combustus, p. p. of comburere to burn up; com- + burere (only in comp.), of uncertian origin; cf. bustum fineral pyre, prurire to itch, pruna a live coal, Gr. plush to burn.]
1. Burnt; consumed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: So near the sun as to be obscured or eclipsed by his light, as the moon or planets when not more than eight degrees and a half from the sun. [Obs.] Planets that are oft combust. Milton.
COMBUSTIBILITY Com*bus`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being combustible.
COMBUSTIBLE Com*bus"ti*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. combustble.]
1. Capable of taking fire and burning; apt to catch fire; inflammable. Sin is to the soul like fire to combustible matter. South.
2. Ea Arnold was a combustible character. W. Irving.
COMBUSTIBLE Com*bus"ti*ble, n.
Defn: A substance that may bee set on fire, or which is liable to take fire and burn. All such combustibles as are cheap enough for common use go under the name of fuel. Ure.
COMBUSTIBLENESS Com*bus"ti*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Combustibility.
COMBUSTION Com*bus"tion, n. Etym: [L. combustio: cf. F. combustion.]
1. The state of burning.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The combination of a combustible with a supporter of combustion, producing heat, and sometimes both light and heat. Combustion results is common cases from the mutual chemical action and reaction of the combustible and the oxygen of the atmosphere, whereby a new compound is formed. Ure. Supporter of combustion (Chem.), a gas as oxygen, the combination of which with a combustible, as coal, constitutes combustion.
3. Violent agitation; confusion; tumult. [Obs.] There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the university. Mede. But say from whence this new combustion springs. Dryden.
COMBUSTION CHAMBER Com*bus"tion cham`ber. (Mech.) (a) A space over, or in front of , a boiler furnace where the gases from the fire become more thoroughly mixed and burnt. (b) The clearance space in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine where the charge is compressed and ignited.
COMBUSTIOUS Com*bus"tious, a.
Defn: Inflammable. [Obs.] Shak.
COME Come, v. i. [imp. Came; p. p. Come; p. pr & vb. n. Coming.] Etym: [OE. cumen, comen, AS. cuman; akin to OS.kuman, D. komen, OHG. queman, G. kommen, Icel. koma, Sw. komma, Dan. komme, Goth. giman, L. venire (gvenire), Gr. gam. *23. Cf. Base, n., Convene, Adventure.]
1. To move hitherward; to draw near; to approach the speaker, or some place or person indicated; -- opposed to go. Look, who comes yonder Shak. I did not come to curse thee. Tennyson.
2. To complete a movement toward a place; to arrive. When we came to Rome. Acts xxviii. 16. Lately come from Italy. Acts vviii. 2.
3. To approach or arrive, as if by a journey or form a distance. "Thy kingdom come." Matt. vi. 10. The hour is comming, and now is. John. v. 25. So quik bright things come to confusion. Shak.
4. To approach or arrive, as the result of a cause, or of the act of another. From whence come wars James iv. 1. Both riches and honor come of thee! Chron. xxix. 12.
5. To arrive in sight; to be manifest; to appear. Then butter does refuse to come. Hudibras.
6. To get to be, as the result of change or progress; -- with a predicate; as, to come united. How come you thus estranged Shak. How come her eyes so bright Shak.
Note: Am come, is come, etc., are frequently used instead of have come, has come, etc., esp. in poetry. The verb to be gives adjectival significance to the participle as expressing a state or condition of the subject, while the auxiliary have expresses simply the completion of the action signified by the verb. Think not that I am come to destroy. Matt. v. 17. We are come off like Romans. Shak. The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year. Bryant.
Note: Come may properly be used (instead of go) in speaking of a movement hence, or away, when there is reference to an approach to the person addressed; as, I shall come home next week; he will come to your house to-day. It is used with other verbs almost as an auxiliary, indicative of approach to the action or state expressed by the verb; as, how came you to do it Come is used colloquially, with reference to a definite future time approaching, without an auxilliary; as, it will be two years, come next Christmas; i. e., when Christmas shall come. They were cried In meeting, come next Sunday. Lowell. Come, in the imperative, is used to excite attention, or to invite to motion or joint action; come, let us go. "This is the heir; come, let us kill him." Matt. xxi. 38. When repeated, it sometimes expresses haste, or impatience, and sometimes rebuke. "Come, come, no time for lamentation now." Milton. To come, yet to arrive, future. "In times to come." Dryden. "There's pippins and cheese to come." Shak. -- To come about. (a) To come to pass; to arrive; to happen; to result; as, how did these things come about (b) To change; to come round; as, the ship comes about. "The wind is come about." Shak. On better thoughts, and my urged reasons, They are come about, and won to the true side. B. Jonson. -- To come abroad. (a) To move or be away from one's home or country. "Am come abroad to see the world." Shak. (b) To become public or known. [Obs.] "Neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad." Mark. iv. 22. -- To come across, to meet; to find, esp. by chance or suddenly. "We come across more than one incidental mention of those wars." E. A. Freeman. "Wagner's was certainly one of the strongest and most independent natures I ever came across." H. R. Heweis. -- To come after. (a) To follow. (b) To come to take or to obtain; as, to come after a book. -- To come again, to return. "His spirit came again and he revived." Judges. xv. 19. -- To come and go. (a) To appear and disappear; to change; to alternate. "The color of the king doth come and go." Shak. (b) (Mech.) To play backward and forward. -- To come at. (a) To reach; to arrive within reach of; to gain; as, to come at a true knowledge of ourselves. (b) To come toward; to attack; as, he came at me with fury. -- To come away, to part or depart. -- To come between, to interverne; to separate; hence, to cause estrangement. -- To come by. (a) To obtain, gain, acquire. "Examine how you came by all your state." Dryden. (b) To pass near or by way of. -- To come down. (a) To descend. (b) To be humbled. -- To come down upon, to call to account, to reprimand. [Colloq.] Dickens. -- To come home. (a) To retuen to one's house or family. (b) To come close; to press closely; to touch the feelings, interest, or reason. (b) (Naut.) To be loosened from the ground; -- said of an anchor. -- To come in. (a) To enter, as a town, house, etc. "The thief cometh in." Hos. vii. 1. (b) To arrive; as, when my ship comes in. (c) To assume official station or duties; as, when Lincoln came in. (d) To comply; to yield; to surrender. "We need not fear his coming in" Massinger. (e) To be brought into use. "Silken garments did not come in till late." Arbuthnot. (f) To be added or inserted; to be or become a part of. (g) To accrue as gain from any business or investment. (h) To mature and yield a harvest; as, the crops come in well. (i) To have sexual intercourse; -- with to or unto. Gen. xxxviii. 16. (j) To have young; to bring forth; as, the cow will come in next May. [U. S.] -- To come in for, to claim or receive. "The rest came in for subsidies." Swift. -- To come into, to join with; to take part in; to agree to; to comply with; as, to come into a party or scheme. -- To come it ever, to hoodwink; to get the advantage of. [Colloq.] -- To come near or nigh, to approach in place or quality to be equal to. "Nothing ancient or modern seems to come near it." Sir W. Temple. -- To come of. (a) To descend or spring from. "Of Priam's royal race my mother came." Dryden. (b) To result or follow from. "This comes of judging by the eye." L'Estrange. -- To come off. (a) To depart or pass off from. (b) To get free; to get away; to escape. (c) To be carried through; to pass off; as, it came off well. (d) To acquit one's self; to issue from (a contest, etc.); as, he came off with honor; hence, substantively, a come off, an escape; an excuse; an evasion. [Colloq.] (e) To pay over; to give. [Obs.] (f) To take place; to happen; as, when does the race come off (g) To be or become after some delay; as, the weather came off very fine. (h) To slip off or be taken off, as a garment; to separate. (i) To hurry away; to get through. Chaucer. -- To come off by, to suffer. [Obs.] "To come off by the worst." Calamy. -- To come off from, to leave. "To come off from these grave disquisitions." Felton. -- To come on. (a) To advance; to make progress; to thrive. (b) To move forward; to approach; to supervene. -- To come out. (a) To pass out or depart, as from a country, room, company, etc. "They shall come out with great substance." Gen. xv. 14. (b) To become public; to appear; to be published. "It is indeed come out at last." Bp. Stillingfleet. (c) To end; to result; to turn out; as, how will this affair come out he has come out well at last. (d) To be introduced into society; as, she came out two seasons ago. (e) To appear; to show itself; as, the sun came out. (f) To take sides; to take a stand; as, he came out against the tariff.(g) To publicly admit oneself to be homosexual. -- To come out with, to give publicity to; to disclose. -- To come over. (a) To pass from one side or place to another. "Perpetually teasing their friends to come over to them." Addison. (b) To rise and pass over, in distillation. -- To come over to, to join. -- To come round. (a) To recur in regular course. (b) To recover. [Colloq.] (c) To change, as the wind. (d) To relent. J. H. Newman. (e) To circumvent; to wheedle. [Colloq.] -- To come short, to be deficient; to fail of attaining. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Rom. iii. 23. -- To come to. (a) To consent or yield. Swift. (b) (Naut.) (with the accent on to) To luff; to brin the ship's head nearer the wind; to anchor. (c) (with the accent on to) To recover, as from a swoon. (d) To arrive at; to reach. (e) To amount to; as, the taxes come to a large sum. (f) To fall to; to be received by, as an inheritance. Shak. -- To come to blows. See under Blow. -- To come to grief. See under Grief. -- To come to a head. (a) To suppurate, as a boil. (b) To mature; to culminate; as a plot. -- To come to one's self, to recover one's senses. -- To come to pass, to happen; to fall out. -- To come to the scratch. (a) (Prize Fighting) To step up to the scratch or mark made in the ring to be toed by the combatants in beginning a contest; hence: (b) To meet an antagonist or a difficulty bravely. [Colloq.] -- To come to time. (a) (Prize Fighting) To come forward in order to resume the contest when the interval allowed for rest is over and "time" is called; hence: (b) To keep an appointment; to meet expectations. [Colloq.] -- To come together. (a) To meet for business, worship, etc.; to assemble. Acts i. 6. (b) To live together as man and wife. Matt. i. 18. -- To come true, to happen as predicated or expected. -- To come under, to belong to, as an individual to a class. -- To come up (a) to ascend; to rise. (b) To be brought up; to arise, as a question. (c) To spring; to shoot or rise above the earth, as a plant. (d) To come into use, as a fashion. -- To come up the capstan (Naut.), to turn it the contrary way, so as to slacken the rope about it. -- To come up the tackle fall (Naut.), to slacken the tackle gently. Totten. -- To come up to, to rise to; to equal. -- To come up with, to overtake or reach by pursuit. -- To come upon. (a) To befall. (b) To attack or invade. (c) To have a claim upon; to become dependent upon for support; as, to come upon the town. (d) To light or chance upon; to find; as, to come upon hid treasure.
COME Come, v. t.
Defn: To carry through; to succeed in; as, you can't come any tricks here. [Slang] To come it, to succeed in a trick of any sort. [Slang]
COME Come, n.
Defn: Coming. Chaucer.
COME-ALONG Come"-a*long`, n.
Defn: A gripping device, as for stretching wire, etc., consisting of two jaws so attached to a ring that they are closed by pulling on the ring.
CO-MEDDLE Co-med"dle, v. t.
Defn: To mix; to mingle, to temper. [Obs.] Shak.
COMEDIAN Co*me"di*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. comédien.]
1. An actor or player in comedy. "The famous comedian, Roscius." Middleton.
2. A writer of comedy. Milton.
COMEDIENNE Co*mé`di*enne", n. Etym: [F., fem. of com.]
Defn: A women who plays in comedy.
COMEDIETTA Co*me`di*et"ta, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A dramatic sketch; a brief comedy.
COMEDO Com"e*do, n.; pl. Comedones. Etym: [L., a glutton. See Comestible.] (Med.)
Defn: A small nodule or cystic tumor, common on the nose, etc., which on pressure allows the escape of a yellow wormlike mass of retained oily secretion, with a black head (dirt).
COMEDOWN Come"down`, n.
Defn: A downfall; an humillation. [Colloq.]
COMEDY Com"e*dy, n.; pl. Comedies. Etym: [F. comédie, L. comoedia, fr. Gr. home) + Home, and Ode.]
Defn: A dramatic composition, or representation of a bright and amusing character, based upon the foibles of individuals, the manners of society, or the ludicrous events or accidents of life; a play in which mirth predominates and the termination of the plot is happy; -- opposed to tragedy. With all the vivacity if comedy. Macaulay. Are come to play a pleasant comedy. Shak.
COMELILY Come"li*ly, adv.
Defn: In a suitable or becoming manner. [R.] Sherwood.
COMELINESS Come"li*ness, n. Etym: [See Comely.]
Defn: The quality or state of being comely. Comeliness is a disposing fair Of things and actions in fit time and place. Sir J. Davies. Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit. Milton. Comeliness signifies something less forcible than beauty, less elegant than grace, and less light than prettiness. Johnson.
COMELY Come"ly, a. [Compar. Comelier; superl. Comeliest.] Etym: [OE. comeliche, AS. cymlic; cyme suitable (fr. cuman to come, become) + lic like.]
1. Pleasing or agreeable to the sight; well-proportioned; good- looking; handsome. He that is comely when old and decrepit, surely was very beautiful when he was young. South. Not once perceive their foul disfigurement But boast themselves more comely than before. Milton.
2. Suitable or becoming; proper; agreeable. This is a happier and more comely time Than when these fellows ran about the streets, Crying confusion. Shak. It is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. Ps. cxlvii. 1.
COMELY Come"ly, adv.
Defn: In a becoming manner. Ascham.
COME-OUTER Come-out"er, n.
Defn: One who comes out or withdraws from a religious or other organization; a radical reformer. [Colloq. U. S.]
COMER Com"er, n.
Defn: One who comes, or who has come; one who has arrived, and is present. All comers, all who come, or offer, to take part in a matter, especially in a contest or controversy. "To prove it against all comers." Bp. Stillingfleet.
COMES Co"mes, n. Etym: [L., a companion.] (Mus.)
Defn: The answer to the theme (dux) in a fugue.
COMESSATION Com`es*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. comissatio, comessatio.]
Defn: A reveling; a rioting. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
COMESTIBLE Co*mes"ti*ble, a. Etym: [F. comestible, fr. L. comesus, comestus, p. p. pf comedere to eat; com- + edere to eat.]
Defn: Suitable to be eaten; eatable; esculent. Some herbs are most comestible. Sir T. Elyot.
COMESTIBLE Co*mes"ti*ble, n.
Defn: Something suitable to be eaten; -- commonly in the plural. Thackeray.
COMET Com"et, n. Etym: [L. cometes, cometa, from Gr. coma: cf. F. comète.] (Astron.)
Defn: A member of the solar system which usually moves in an elongated orbit, approaching very near to the sun in its perihelion, and receding to a very great distance from it at its aphelion. A comet commonly consists of three parts: the nucleus, the envelope, or coma, and the tail; but one or more of these parts is frequently wanting. See Illustration in Appendix.
COMETARIUM Com`e*ta"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument, intended to represent the revolution of a comet round the sun. Hutton.
COMETARY Com"et*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cométaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a comet. Cheyne.
COMET-FINDER; COMET-SEEKER Com"et-find`er, or Com"et-seek`er, n. (Astron.)
Defn: A telescope of low power, having a large field of view, used for finding comets.
COMETHER Co*meth"er, n. [Prob. dial. pron. of come hither, used in calling cows, etc.] [Dial. or Colloq., Brit.]
1.
Defn: Matter; affair.
2. Friendly communication or association.
To put the, or one's, comether on, to exercise persuasion upon; to get under one's influence; to beguile; to wheedle.
How does ut come about, sorr, that whin a man has put the comether on wan woman he's sure bound to put ut on another Kipling.
COMETIC Co*met"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to a comet.
COMETOGRAPHER Com`et*og"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who describes or writes about comets.
COMETOGRAPHY Com`et*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Comet + -graphy: cf. F. cométographie.]
Defn: A description of, or a treatise concerning, comets.
COMETOLOGY Com`et*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Comet + -logy.]
Defn: The department of astronomy relating to comets.
COMFIT Com"fit, n. Etym: [F. confit, prop. a p. p., fr. confire to preserve, pickle, fr. L. conficere to prepare; con- + facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Confect.]
Defn: A dry sweetmeat; any kind of fruit, root, or seed preserved with sugar and dried; a confection.
COMFIT Com"fit, v. t.
Defn: To preserve dry with sugar. The fruit which does so quickly waste, . . . Thou comfitest in sweets to make it last. Cowley.
COMFITURE Com"fi*ture, n. Etym: [F. confiture; cf. LL. confecturae sweetmeats, confectura a preparing. See Comfit, and cf. Confiture.]
Defn: See Comfit, n.
COMFORT Com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comforting.] Etym: [F. conforter, fr. L. confortare to strengthen much; con- + fortis strong. See Fort.]
1. To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. [Obs.] Wyclif. God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the same. Hooker.
2. To assist or help; to aid. [Obs.] I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God comfort him in this necessity! Shak.
3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console; to cheer, Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. Bacon. That we may be adle to comfort them that are in any affliction. 2 Cor. i. 4. (Rev. Ver. ). A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command. Wordsworth.
Syn. -- To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven; invigorate; inspirit, gladden; recreate; exhilarate; refresh; animate; confirm; strengthen. -- To Comfort, Console, Solace. These verbs all suppose some antecedent state of suffering or sorrow. Console in confined to the act giving sympathetic relief to the mind under affliction or sorrow, and points to some definite source of that relief; as, the presence of his friend consoled him; he was much consoled by this intelligence. The act of consoling commonly implies the inculcation of resignation. Comfort points to relief afforded by the communication of positive pleasure, hope, and strength, as well as by the diminution of pain; as, "They brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted." Acts xx. 12.
Note: Solace is from L. solacium, which means according to Dumesnil, consolation inwardly felt or applied to the case of the sufferer. Hence, the verb to solace denotes the using of things for the purpose of affording relief under sorrow or suffering; as, to solace one's self with reflections, with books, or with active employments.
COMFORT Com"fort, n. Etym: [OF. confort, fr. conforter.]
1. Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the phrase "aid and comfort." See 5 below.] Shak.
2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which affords consolation. In comfort of her mother's fears. Shak. Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. Shak. Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not. Longfellow.
3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or anxiety; also, whatever contributes to such a condition. I had much joy and comfort in thy love. Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver. ). He had the means of living in comfort. Macaulay.
4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.]
5. (Law)
Defn: Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as, to give aid and comfort to the enemy.
Syn. -- Comfort, Consolation. Comfort has two meanings:
1. Strength and relief received under affliction;
2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the sources thereof; as, the comfort of love; surrounded with comforts; but it is with the former only that the word consolation is brought into comparison. As thus compared, consolation points to some specific source of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the consolations of religion. Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded by imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain. "Consolation, or comfort, signifies some alleviation to that pain to which it is not in our power to afford the proper and adequate remedy; they imply rather an augmentation of the power of bearing, than a diminution of the burden." Johnson.
COMFORTABLE Com"fort*a*ble, a. Etym: [OF. confortable.]
1. Strong; vigorous; valiant. [Obs.] Wyclif. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake be comfortable; hold death a while at the arm's end. Shak.
2. Serviceable; helpful. [Obs.] Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her. Shak.
3. Affording or imparting comfort or consolation; able to comfort; cheering; as, a comfortable hope. "Kind words and comfortable." Cowper. A comfortable provision made for their subsistence. Dryden.
4. In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or anxious; hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life. My lord leans wondrously to discontent; His comfortable temper has forsook him: He is much out of health. Shak.
5. Free, or comparatively free, from pain or distress; -- used of a sick person. [U. S.]
COMFORTABLE Com"fort*a*ble, n.
Defn: A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [U. S.]
COMFORTABLENESS Com"fort*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being comfortable or comforting manner. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2.
COMFORTABLY Com"fort*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a comfortable or comforting manner.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2.
COMFORTER Com"fort*er, n.
1. One who administers comfort or consolation. Let no comforter delight mine ear But such a one whose wrongs do suit with mine. Shak.
2. (Script.)
Defn: The Holy Spirit, -- reffering to his office of comforting believers. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26.
3. A knit woolen tippet, long and narrow. [U. S.] The American schoolboy takes off his comforter and unbuttons his jacket before going in for a snowball fight. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.] Job's comforter, a boil. [Colloq.]
COMFORTLESS Com"fort*less, a.
Defn: Without comfort or comforts; in want or distress; cheerless. Comfortless through turanny or might. Spenser.
Syn. -- Forlorn; desolate; cheerless; inconsolable; disconsolate; wretched; miserable. -- Com"fort*less*ly, adv. -- Com"fort*less*ness, n. When all is coldly, comfortlessly costly. Milton.
COMFORTMENT Com"fort*ment, n.
Defn: Act or process of administering comfort. [Obs.] The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador. Hakluyt.
COMFORTRESS Com"fort*ress, n.
Defn: A woman who comforts. To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. B. Jonson.
COMFREY Com"frey, n. Etym: [Prob. from F. conferve, L. conferva, fr. confervere to boil together, in medical language, to heal, grow together. So called on account of its healing power, for which reason it was also called consolida.] (Bot.)
Defn: A rough, hairy, perennial plant of several species, of the genus Symphytum.
Note: A decoction of the mucilaginous root of the "common comfrey" (S. officinale) is used in cough mixtures, etc.; and the gigantic "prickly comfrey" (S. asperrimum) is somewhat cultivated as a forage plant.
COMIC Com"ic, a. Etym: [L. comicus pertaining to comedy, Gr. comique. See Comedy.]
1. Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy. I can not for the stage a drama lay, Tragic or comic, but thou writ'st the play. B. Jonson.
2. Causing mirth; ludicrous. "Comic shows." Shak.
COMIC Com"ic, n.
Defn: A comedian. [Obs.] Steele.
COMICAL Com"ic*al, a.
1. Relating to comedy. They deny it to be tragical because its catastrphe is a wedding, which hath ever been accounted comical. Gay.
2. Exciting mirth; droll; laughable; as, a comical story. "Comical adventures." Dryden.
Syn. -- Humorous; laughable; funny. See Droll. -- Com"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Com"ic*al"ness, n.
COMICALITY Com`i*cal"i*ty, n.; pl. Comicalities.
Defn: The quality of being comical; something comical.
COMICRY Com"ic*ry, n.
Defn: The power of exciting mirth; comicalness. [R.] H. Giles.
COMING Com"ing, a.
1. Approaching; of the future, especially the near future; the next; as, the coming week or year; the coming exhibition. Welcome the coming, speed the parting, guest. Pope. Your coming days and years. Byron.
2. Ready to come; complaisant; fond. [Obs.] Pope.
COMING Com"ing, n.
1. Approach; advent; manifestation; as, the coming of the train.
2. Specifically: The Second Advent of Christ. Coming in. (a) Entrance; entrance way; manner of entering; beginning. "The goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof." Ezek. xliii. 11 (b) Income or revenue. "What are thy comings in" Shak.
COMITIA Co*mi"ti*a, n., pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A public assembly of the Roman people for electing officers or passing laws.
Note: There were three kinds of comitia: comitia curiata, or assembly of the patricians, who voted in curiæ; comitia centuriata, or assembly of the whole Roman people, who voted by centuries; and comitia tributa, or assembly of the plebeians according to their division into tribes.
COMITIAL Co*mi"tial, a. Etym: [L. comitialis.]
Defn: Relating to the comitia, or popular assembles of the Romans for electing officers and passing laws. Middleton.
COMITIVA Co`mi*ti"va, n. [It.]
Defn: A body of followers; -- applied to the lawless or brigand bands in Italy and Sicily.
COMITY Com"i*ty, n.; pl. Comities. Etym: [L. comitas, fr. comis courteous, kind.]
Defn: Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals; friendly equals; friendly civility; as, comity of manners; the comity of States. Comity of nations (International Law), the courtesy by which nations recognize within their own territory, or in their courts, the peculiar institutions of another nation or the rights and privileges acquired by its citizens in their own land. By some authorities private international law rests on this comity, but the better opinion is that it is part of the common law of the land, and hence is obligatory as law.
Syn. -- Civility; good breeding; courtesy; good will.
COMMA Com"ma, n. Etym: [L. comma part of a sentence, comma, Gr. Capon.]
1. A character or point [,] marking the smallest divisions of a sentence, written or printed.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A small interval (the difference beyween a major and minor half step), seldom used except by tuners. Comma bacillus (Physiol.), a variety of bacillus shaped like a comma, found in the intestines of patients suffering from cholera. It is considered by some as having a special relation to the disease; -- called also cholera bacillus. -- Comma butterfly (Zoöl.), an American butterfly (Grapta comma), having a white comma-shaped marking on the under side of the wings.
COMMAND Com*mand" (; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Commanding.] Etym: [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F. commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf. Commend, Mandate.]
1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to bid; to charge. We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we are commanded to forgive our friends. Bacon. Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. Shak.
2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at one's disposal; to lead. Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries. Macaulay. Such aid as I can spare you shall command. Shak.
3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision; to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook. Bridges commanded by a fortified house. Motley. Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as subject all the vale. Shak. One side commands a view of the finest garden. Addison.
4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to obtain as if by ordering; to reeceive as a due; to challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price. 'Tis not in mortals to command success. Addison.
5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.] I will command my blessing upon you. Lev. xxv. 21.
Syn. -- To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.
COMMAND Com*mand", v. i.
1. To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to influence; to give an order or orders. And reigned, commanding in his monarchy. Shak. For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman]. Esth. iii. 2.
2. To have a view, as from a superior position. Far and wide his eye commands. Milton.
COMMAND Com*mand", n.
1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an injunction. A waiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose. Milton.
2. The possession or exercise of authority. Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion. Locke.
3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces under his command.
4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position; scope of vision; survey. Te steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide command. Dryden.
5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the bridge. He assumed an absolute command over his readers. Druden.
6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post, or the whole territory under the authority or control of a particular officer.
Word of command (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and established meaning, used in directing the movements of soldiers; as, aim; fire; shoulder arms, etc.
Syn. -- Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion; sovereignty; mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest. See Direction.
COMMANDABLE Com*mand"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being commanded.
COMMANDANT Com`man*dant", n. Etym: [F., orig. p. pr. of commander.]
Defn: A commander; the commanding officer of a place, or of a body of men; as, the commandant of a navy-yard.
COMMANDATORY Com*mand"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Mandatory; as, commandatory authority. [Obs.]
COMMANDEER Com`man*deer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commandeered; p. pr. & vb. n. Commandeering.] [D. kommandeeren to command, in South Africa to commandeer, fr. F. commander to command. See Command.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: To compel to perform military service; to seize for military purposes; -- orig. used of the Boers.
2. To take arbitrary or forcible possession of. [Colloq.]
COMMANDER Com*mand"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commandeur. Cf. Commodore, Commender.]
1. A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief officer of an army, or of any division of it. A leader and commander to the people. Is. lv. 4.
2. (Navy)
Defn: An officer who ranks next below a captain, -- ranking with a lieutenant colonel in the army.
3. The chief officer of a commandery.
4. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts, etc. Commander in chief, the military title of the officer who has supreme command of the land or naval forces or the united forces of a nation or state; a generalissimo. The President is commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States.
Syn. -- See Chief.
COMMANDERSHIP Com*mand"er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a commander.
COMMANDERY Com*mand"er*y, n.; pl. Commanderies. Etym: [F. commanderie.]
1. The office or rank of a commander. [Obs.]
2. A district or a manor with lands and tenements appertaining thereto, under the control of a member of an order of knights who was called a commander; -- called also a preceptory.
3. An assembly or lodge of Knights Templars (so called) among the Freemasons. [U. S.]
4. A district under the administration of a military commander or governor. [R.] Brougham.
COMMANDING Com*mand"ing, a.
1. Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding officer.
2. Fitted to impress or control; as, a commanding look or presence.
3. Exalted; overlooking; having superior strategic advantages; as, a commanding position.
Syn. -- Authoritative; imperative; imperious.
COMMANDINGLY Com*mand"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a commanding manner.
COMMANDMENT Com*mand"ment, n. Etym: [OF. commandement, F. commandement.]
1. An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a precept; a mandate. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. John xiii. 34.
2. (Script.)
Defn: One of the ten laws or precepts given by God to the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
3. The act of commanding; exercise of authority. And therefore put I on the countenance Of stern commandment. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: The offense of commanding or inducing another to violate the law. The Commandments, The Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, or summary of God's commands, given to Moses at Mount Sinai. (Ex. xx.)
COMMANDO Com*man"do, n. [D. See Command, v. t.]
Defn: In South Africa, a military body or command; also, sometimes, an expedition or raid; as, a commando of a hundred Boers.
The war bands, called commandos, have played a great part in the . . . military history of the country. James Bryce.
COMMANDRESS Com*mand"ress, n.
Defn: A woman invested with authority to command. Hooker.
COMMANDRY Com*mand"ry, n.
Defn: See Commandery.
COMMARK Com"mark`, n. Etym: [Of. comarque, or LL. commarca, commarcha; com- + marcha, boundary. See March a confine.]
Defn: The frontier of a country; confines. [Obs.] Shelton.
COMMATERIAL Com`ma*te"ri*al, a.
Defn: Consisting of the same material. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMMATIC Com*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. commaticus, Gr. Comma.]
Defn: Having short clauses or sentences; brief; concise.
COMMATISM Com"ma*tism, n. Etym: [See Commatic.]
Defn: Conciseness in writing. Bp. Horsley.
COMMEASURABLE Com*meas"ur*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. Commensurable.]
Defn: Having the same measure; commensurate; proportional. She being now removed by death, a commeasurable grief took as full possession of him as joy had one. I. Walton.
COMMEASURE Com*meas"ure, v. t.
Defn: To be commensurate with; to equal. Tennyson.
COMMEMORABLE Com*mem"o*ra"ble, a. Etym: [L. commemorabilis.]
Defn: Worthy to be commemorated.
COMMEMORATE Com*mem"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commemorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commemorating.] Etym: [L. commemoratus, p. p. of commemorare to remember; com- + memorare to mention, fr. memor mindful. See Memory.]
Defn: To call to remembrance by a special act or observance; to celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event, by some act of respect of affection, intended to preserve the remembrance of the person or event; as, to commemorate the sufferings and dying love of our Savior by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; to commemorate the Declaration of Independence by the observance of the Fourth of July. We are called upon to commemorate a revolution. Atterbury.
Syn. -- See Celebrate.
COMMEMORATION Com*mem`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commemoratio.]
1. The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to honor the memory of some person or event. This sacrament was designed to be a standing commemoration of the death and passion of our Lord. Abp. Tillotson. The commonwealth which . . . chooses the most flagrant act of murderous regicide treason for a feast of eternal commemoration. Burke.
2. Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial. Commemoration day, at the University of Oxford, Eng., an annual observance or ceremony in honor of the benefactors of the University, at which time honorary degrees are conferred.
COMMEMORATIVE Com*mem"o*ra*tive, a.
Defn: Tending or intended to commemorate. "A sacrifice commemorative of Christ's offering up his body for us." Hammond. An inscription commemorative of his victory. Sir G. C. Lewis.
COMMEMORATOR Com*mem"o*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who commemorates.
COMMEMORATORY Com*mem"o*ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to commemorate; commomerative. Bp. Hooper.
COMMENCE Com*mence", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Commencing.] Etym: [F. commencer, OF. commencier, fr. L. com- + initiare to begin. See Initiate.]
1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin. Here the anthem doth commence. Shak. His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith.
2. To begin to be, or to act as. [Archaic] We commence judges ourselves. Coleridge.
3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.] I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age. Fuller.
COMMENCE Com*mence", v. t.
Defn: To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of. Many a wooer doth commence his suit. Shak.
Note: It is the practice of good writers to use the verbal noun (instead of the infinitive with to) after commence; as, he commenced studying, not he commenced to study.
COMMENCEMENT Com*mence"ment, n. Etym: [F. comencement.]
1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginnig; start. The time of Henry VII . . . nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed "modern history."
2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.
COMMEND Com*mend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commended; p. pr. & vb. n. Commending.] Etym: [L. commendare; com- + mandare to intrust to one's charge, enjoin, command. Cf. Command, Mandate.]
1. To commit, intrust, or give in charge for care or preservation. His eye commends the leading to his hand. Shak. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke xxiii. 46.
2. To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as worthy of notice or favorable attention. Among the objects of knowlwdge, two especially commend themselves to our contemplation. Sir M. Hale. I commend unto you Phebe our sister. Rom. xvi. 1.
3. To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or an act. Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of Achilles. Dryden.
4. To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will. [Archaic] Commend me to my brother. Shak.
COMMEND Com*mend", n.
1. Commendation; praise. [Obs.] Speak in his just commend. Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: Compliments; greetings. [Obs.] Hearty commends and much endeared love to you. Howell.
COMMENDABLE Com*mend"a*ble, a.
Note: (Formerly accented on the first syllable.) Etym: [L. commendabilis.]
Defn: Worthy of being commended or praised; laudable; praiseworthy. Order and decent ceremonies in the church are not only comely but commendable. Bacon. -- Com*mend"a*ble*ness, n. -- Com*mend"a*bly, adv.
COMMENDAM Com*men"dam, n. Etym: [LL. dare in commendam to give into trust.] (Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: A vacant living or benefice commended to a cleric (usually a bishop) who enjoyed the revenue until a pastor was provided. A living so held was said to be held in commendam. The practice was abolished by law in 1836. There was [formerly] some sense for commendams. Selden. Partnership in commendam. See under Partnership.
COMMENDATARY Com*mend"a*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commendataire, LL. commendatarius.]
Defn: One who holds a living in commendam.
COMMENDATION Com`men*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. commendatio.]
1. The act of commending; praise; favorable representation in words; recommendation. Need we . . . epistles of commendatiom 2 Cor. iii. 1. By the commendation of the great officers. Bacon.
2. That which is the ground of approbation or praise. Good nature is the most godlike commendation of a man. Dryden.
3. pl.
Defn: A message of affection or respect; compliments; greeting. [Obs.] Hark you, Margaret; No princely commendations to my king Shak.
COMMENDATOR Com*mend"a*tor ( or ), n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: One who holds a benefice in commendam; a commendatary. Chalmers.
COMMENDATORY Com*mend"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. commendatorius.]
1. Serving to commend; containing praise or commendation; commending; praising. "Commendatory verses." Pope.
2. Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. Burke. Commendatory prayer (Book of Common Prayer), a prayer read over the dying. "The commendatory prayer was said for him, and, as it ended, he [William III.] died." Bp. Burnet.
COMMENDATORY Com*mend"a*to*ry, n.
Defn: A commendation; eulogy. [R.] "Commendatories to our affection." Sharp.
COMMENDER Com*mend"er, n.
Defn: One who commends or praises.
COMMENSAL Com*men"sal, n. Etym: [LL. commensalis; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F. commensal. Cf. Mensal.]
1. One who eats at the same table. [Obs.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal, not truly parasitic, which lives in with, or on, another, partaking usually of the same food. Both species may be benefited by the association.
COMMENSAL Com*men"sal, a.
Defn: Having the character of a commensal.
COMMENSALISM Com*men"sal*ism, n.
Defn: The act of eating together; table fellowship.
COMMENSALITY Com`men*sal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Fellowship at table; the act or practice of eating at the same table. [Obs.] "Promiscuous commensality." Sir T. Browne.
COMMENSATION Com`men*sa"tion, n.
Defn: Commensality. [Obs.] Daniel . . . declined pagan commensation. Sir T. Browne.
COMMENSURABILITY Com*men`su*ra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commensurabilite.]
Defn: The quality of being commersurable. Sir T. Browne.
COMMENSURABLE Com*men"su*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. commensurabilis; pref. com- + mensurable. See Commensurate, and cf. Commeasurable.]
Defn: Having a common measure; capable of being exactly measured by the same number, quantity, or measure. -- Com*men"su*ra*ble*ness, n. Commensurable numbers or quantities (Math.), those that can be exactly expressed by some common unit; thus a foot and yard are commensurable, since both can be expressed in terms of an inch, one being 12 inches, the other 36 inches. -- Numbers, or Quantities, commensurable in power, those whose squares are commensurable.
COMMENSURABLY Com*men"su*ra*bly, adv.
Defn: In a commensurable manner; so as to be commensurable.
COMMENSURATE Com*men"su*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commensurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commensurating.] Etym: [Pref. com- + mensurate.]
1. To reduce to a common measure. Sir T. Browne.
2. To proportionate; to adjust. T. Puller
COMMENSURATE Com*men"su*rate, a.
1. Having a common measure; commensurable; reducible to a common measure; as, commensurate quantities.
2. Equal in measure or extent; proportionate. Those who are persuaded that they shall continue forever, can not choose but aspire after a hapiness commensurate to their duration. Tillotson.
COMMENSURATELY Com*men"su*rate*ly, adv.
1. In a commensurate manner; so as to be equal or proportionate; adequately.
2. With equal measure or extent. Goodwin.
COMMENSURATENESS Com*men"su*rate*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being commensurate. Foster.
COMMENSURATION Com*men`su*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commensuration.]
Defn: The act of commensurating; the state of being commensurate. All fitness lies in a particular commensuration, or proportion of one thing to another. South.
COMMENT Com"ment, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commented; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting.] Etym: [F. commenter, L. commentary to meditate upon, explain, v. intens, of comminisci, commentus, to reflect upon, invent; com- + the root of meminisse to remember, mens mind. See Mind.]
Defn: To make remarks, observations, or criticism; especially, to write notes on the works of an author, with a view to illustrate his meaning, or to explain particular passages; to write annotations; -- often followed by on or upon. A physician to comment on your malady. Shak. Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden. I must translate and comment. Pope.
COMMENT Com"ment, v. t.
Defn: To comment on. [Archaic.] Fuller.
COMMENT Com"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. comment.]
1. A remark, observation, or criticism; gossip; discourse; talk. Their lavish comment when her name was named. Tennyson.
2. A note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or criticise the meaning of a writing, book, etc.; explanation; annotation; exposition. All the volumes of philosophy, With all their comments. Prior.
COMMENTARY Com"men*ta*ry, n.; pl. Commentaries. Etym: [L. commentarius, commentarium, note book, commentary: cf. F. commentaire. See Comment, v. i.]
1. A series of comments or annotations; esp., a book of explanations or expositions on the whole or a part of the Scriptures or of some other work. This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary. Hallam.
2. A brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if for a memorandum; -- usually in the plural; as, Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War.
COMMENTATE Com"men*tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. commentatus, p. p. of commentari to meditate.]
Defn: To write comments or notes upon; to make comments. [R.] Commentate upon it, and return it enriched. Lamb.
COMMENTATION Com`men*ta"tion, n.
1. The act or process of commenting or criticising; exposition. [R.] The spirit of commentation. Whewell.
2. The result of the labors of a commentator.
COMMENTATOR Com"men*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L. commentator: cf. F. commentateur.]
Defn: One who writes a commentary or comments; an expositor; an annotator. The commentator's professed object is to explain, to enforce, to illustrate doctrines claimed as true. Whewell.
COMMENTATORIAL Com`men*ta*to"ri*al ( or , a.
Defn: Pertaining to the making of commentaries. Whewell.
COMMENTATORSHIP Com"men*ta`tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or occupation of a commentator.
COMMENTER Com"ment`er, n.
Defn: One who makes or writes comments; a commentator; an annotator.
COMMENTITIOUS Com`men*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. commentitius.]
Defn: Fictitious or imaginary; unreal; as, a commentitious system of religion. [Obs.] Warburton.
COMMERCE Com"merce, n.
Note: (Formerly accented on the second syllable.) Etym: [F. commerce, L. commercium; com- + merx, mercis, merchadise. See Merchant.]
1. The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; esp. the exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places or communities; extended trade or traffic. The public becomes powerful in proportion to the opulence and extensive commerce of private men. Hume.
2. Social intercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society with another; familiarity. Fifteen years of thought, observation, and commerce with the world had made him [Bunyan] wiser. Macaulay.
3. Sexual intercourse. W. Montagu.
4. A round game at cards, in which the cards are subject to exchange, barter, or trade. Hoyle. Chamber of commerce. See Chamber.
Syn. -- Trade; traffic; dealings; intercourse; interchange; communion; communication.
COMMERCE Com*merce" ( or , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Commercing.] Etym: [Cf. F. commercer, fr. LL. commerciare.]
1. To carry on trade; to traffic. [Obs.] Beware you commerce not with bankrupts. B. Jonson.
2. To hold intercourse; to commune. Milton. Commercing with himself. Tennyson. Musicians . . . taught the people in angelic harmonies to commerce with heaven. Prof. Wilson.
COMMERCE DESTROYER Com"merce de*stroy"er. (Nav.)
Defn: A very fast, unarmored, lightly armed vessel designed to capture or destroy merchant vessels of an enemy. Not being intended to fight, they may be improvised from fast passenger steamers.
COMMERCIAL Com*mer"cial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. commercial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to commerce; carrying on or occupied with commerce or trade; mercantile; as, commercial advantages; commercial relations. "Princely commercial houses." Macaulay. Commercial college, a school for giving instruction in commercial knowledge and business. -- Commercial law. See under Law. -- Commercial note paper, a small size of writing paper, usually about 5 by 7½ or 8 inches. -- Commercial paper, negotiable paper given in due course of business. It includes bills of exchange, promissory notes, bank cheks, etc. -- Commercial traveler, an agent of a wholesale house who travels from town to town to solicit orders.
Syn. -- See Mercantile.
COMMERCIALISM Com*mer"cial*ism, n.
Defn: The commercial spirit or method. C. Kingsley.
COMMERCIALLY Com*mer"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a commercial manner.
COMMIGRATE Com"mi*grate, v. i. Etym: [L. commigrare, commigratum.]
Defn: To migrate together. [R.]
COMMIGRATION Com`mi*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commigratio.]
Defn: Migration together. [R.] Woodward.
COMMINATION Com`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. comminatio, from comminary to threaten; com- + minari to threaten: cf. F. commination.]
1. A threat or threatening; a denunciation of punishment or vengeance. With terrible comminations to all them that did resist. I. Taylor.
2. An office in the liturgy of the Church of England, used on Ash Wednesday, containing a recital of God's anger and judgments against sinners.
COMMINATORY Com*min"a*to"ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. comminatoire.]
Defn: Threatening or denouncing punishment; as, comminatory terms. B. Jonson.
COMMINGLE Com*min"gle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Commingled; p. pr. & vb. n. Commingling.]
Defn: To mingle together; to mix in one mass, or intimately; to blend. Bacon.
COMMINGLER Com*min"gler, n.
Defn: One that commingles; specif., a device for noiseless heating of water by steam, in a vessel filled with a porous mass, as of pebbles.
COMMINUTE Com"mi*nute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comminuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comminuting.] Etym: [L. comminutus, p. p. of comminuere to comminute; com- + minuere to lessen. See Minute.]
Defn: To reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder; to pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute chalk or bones; to comminute food with the teeth. Pennant. Comminuted fracture. See under Fracture.
COMMINUTION Com`mi*nu"tion, n.
1. The act of reducing to a fine powder or to small particles; pulverization; the state of being comminuted. Bentley.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: Fracture (of a bone) into a number of pieces. Dunglison.
3. Gradual diminution by the removal of small particles at a time; a lessening; a wearing away. Natural and necessary comminution of our lives. Johnson.
COMMISERABLE Com*mis"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Pitiable. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMMISERATE Com*mis"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commiserated; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiserating.] Etym: [L. commiseratus, p. p. of commiserari to commiserate; com- + miserari to pity. See Miserable.]
Defn: To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to pity. Then must we those, who groan, beneath the weight Of age, disease, or want, commiserate. Denham. We should commiserate our mutual ignorance. Locke.
Syn. -- To pity; compassionate; lament; condole.
COMMISERATION Com*mis`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [F. commis, fr. L. commiseratio a part of an oration intended to exite compassion.]
Defn: The act of commiserating; sorrow for the wants, afflictions, or distresses of another; pity; compassion. And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint. Shak.
Syn. -- See Sympathy.
COMMISERATIVE Com*mis"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Feeling or expressing commiseration. Todd.
COMMISERATOR Com*mis"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who pities.
COMMISSARIAL Com`mis*sa"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a commissary.
COMMISSARIAT Com`mis*sa"ri*at, n. Etym: [F. commissariat.] (Mil.) (a) The organized system by which armies and military posts are supplied with food and daily necessaries. (b) The body of officers charged with such service.
COMMISSARY Com"mis*sa*ry, n.; pl. Commissaries. Etym: [LL. commissarius, fr. L. commissus, p. p. of committere to commit, intrust to. See Commit.]
1. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a superior power; a commissioner. Great Destiny, the Commissary of God. Donne.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: An officer on the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence of the bishop. Ayliffe.
3. (Mil.) (a) An officer having charge of a special sevice; as, the commissary of musters. (b) An officer whose business is to provide food for a body of troops or a military post; -- officially called commissary of subsistence. [U. S.] Washington wrote to the President of Congress . . . urging the appointment of a commissary general, a quartermaster general, a commissary of musters, and a commissary of artillery. W. Irving Commissary general, an officer in charge of some special department of army service; as: (a) The officer in charge of the commissariat and transport department, or of the ordinace store department. [Eng.] (b) The commissary general of subsistence. [U. S.] -- Commissary general of subsistence (Mil. U. S.), the head of the subsistence department, who has charge of the purchase and issue of provisions for the army.
COMMISSARYSHIP Com"mis*sa*ry*ship, n.
Defn: The office or employment of a commissary. Ayliffe.
COMMISSION Com*mis"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. commissio. See Commit.]
1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of perpetrating. Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of hardness. South.
2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust shall be executed.
3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a trust; a charge.
4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties. Let him see our commission. Shak.
5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as, a colonel's commission.
6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission. A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter. Prescott.
7. (Com.) (a) The acting under authority of, or on account of, another. (b) The thing to be done as agent for another; as, I have three commissions for the city. (c) The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for transacting business for another; as, a commission of ten per cent on sales. See Del credere. Commission of array. (Eng. Hist.) See under Array. -- Commission of bankrupty, a commission apointing and empowering certain persons to examine into the facts relative to an alleged bankrupty, and to secure the bankrupt's lands and effects for the creditors. -- Commission of lunacy, a commission authoring and inquiry whether a person is a lunatic or not. -- Commission merchant, one who buys or sells goods on commission, as the agent of others, receiving a rate per cent as his compensation. -- Commission, or Commissioned, officer (Mil.), one who has a commission, in distingtion from a noncommossioned or warrant officer. -- Commission of the peace, a commission under the great seal, constituting one or more persons justices of the peace. [Eng.] -- To put a vessel into commission (Naut.), to equip and man a goverment vessel, and send it out on service after it has been laid up; esp., the formal act of tacking command of a vessel for service, hoisting the flag, reading the orders, etc. -- To put a vessel out of commission (Naut.), to detach the officers and crew and retire it from active service, temporarily or permanently. -- To put the great seal, or the Treasury, into commission, to place it in the hands of a commissioner or commissioners during the abeyance of the ordinary administration, as between the going out of one lord keeper and accession of another. [Eng.] -- The United States Christians Commission, an organization among the people of the North, during the Civil War, which afforded material comforts to the Union soldiers, and performed services of a religious character in the field and in hospitals. -- The United States Sanitary Commission, an organization formed by the people of the North to coöperate with and supplement the medical department of the Union armies during the Civil War.
Syn. -- Charge; warrant; authority; mandate; office; trust; employment.
COMMISSION Com*mis"sion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commissioned; p. pr & vb. n. Commissioning.]
1. To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower or authorize; as, to commission persons to perform certain acts; to commission an officer.
2. To send out with a charge or commission. A chosen band He first commissions to the Latian land. Dryden.
Syn. -- To appoint; depute; authorize; empower; delegate; constitute; ordain.
COMMISSIONAIRE Com*mis`sion*aire", n. [F. commissionnaire. Cf. Commissioner.]
1. One intrusted with a commission, now only a small commission, as an errand; esp., an attendant or subordinate employee in a public office, hotel, or the like. The commissionaire familiar to European travelers performs miscellaneous services as a light porter, messenger, solicitor for hotels, etc.
2. One of a corps of pensioned soldiers, as in London, employed as doorkeepers, messengers, etc.
COMMISSIONAL; COMMISSIONARY Com*mis"sion*al, Com*mis"sion*a*ry a.
Defn: Of pertaining to, or conferring, a commission; conferred by a commission or warrant. [R.] Delegate or commissionary authority. Bp. Hall.
COMMISSIONATE Com*mis"sion*ate, v. t.
Defn: To commission [Obs.]
COMMISSIONER Com*mis"sion*er, n.
1. A person who has a commission or warrant to perform some office, or execute some bussiness, for the goverment, corporation, or person employing him; as, a commissioner to take affidavits or to adjust claims. To another adress which requisted that a commission might be sent to examine into the state of things in Ireland, William returned a gracious answer, and desired the Commons to name the commissioners. Macaulay.
2. An officer having charge of some department or bureau of the public service. Herbert was first commissioner of the Admiralty. Macaulay. The commissioner of patents, the commissioner of the land office, the commissioner of Indian affairs, are subotdinates of the secretary of the interior. Bartlett. Commissioner of deeds, an officer having authority to take affidavits, depositions, acknowledgment of deeds, etc., for use in the State by which he is appointed. [U. S.] -- County commissioners, certain administrative officers in some of the States, invested by local laws with various powers in reference to the roads, courthouses, financial matters, etc., of the county. [U. S.]
COMMISSIONNAIRE Com*mis`sion*naire" (; F. ), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. commissio.]
1. An agent or factor; a commission merchant.
2. One of a class of attendants, in some European cities, who perform miscellaneous services for travelers.
COMMISSIONSHIP Com*mis"sion*ship, n.
Defn: The office of commissioner. Sir W. Scott.
COMMISSIVE Com*mis"sive, a.
Defn: Relating to commission; of the nature of, or involving, commission. [R.]
COMMISSURAL Com*mis"su*ral ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a commissure.
COMMISSURE Com*mis"sure ( or ; 134-6), n. Etym: [L. commissura a joing together: cf. F. commissure. See Commit.]
1. A joint, seam, or closure; the place where two bodies, or parts of a body, meet and unite; an interstice, cleft, or juncture.
2. (Anat. & Zoöl.) (a) The point of union between two parts, as the angles of the lips or eyelids, the mandibles of a bird, etc. (b) A collection of fibers connecting parts of the brain or spinal marrow; a chiasma.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The line of junction or cohering face of two carpels, as in the parsnip, caraway, etc.
COMMIT Com*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commited; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiting.] Etym: [L. committere, commissum, to connect, commit; com- + mittere to send. See Mission.]
1. To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to intrust; to consign; -- used with to, unto. Commit thy way unto the Lord. Ps. xxxvii. 5. Bid him farewell, commit him to the grave. Shak.
2. To put in charge of a jailor; to imprison. These two were commited. Clarendon.
3. To do; to perperate, as a crime, sin, or fault. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex. xx. 14.
4. To join a contest; to match; -- followed by with. [R.] Dr. H. More.
5. To pledge or bind; to compromise, expose, or endanger by some decisive act or preliminary step; -- often used reflexively; as, to commit one's self to a certain course. You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship, without commiting the honor of your sovereign. Junius. Any sudden assent to the proposal . . . might possibly be considered as committing the faith of the United States. Marshall.
6. To confound. [An obsolete Latinism.] Committing short and long [quantities]. Milton. To commit a bill (Legislation), to refer or intrust it to a committee or others, to be considered and reported. -- To commit to memory, or To commit, to learn by heart; to memorize.
Syn. -- To Commit, Intrust, Consign. These words have in common the idea of transferring from one's self to the care and custody of another. Commit is the widest term, and may express only the general idea of delivering into the charge of another; as, to commit a lawsuit to the care of an attorney; or it may have the special sense of intrusting with or without limitations, as to a superior power, or to a careful servant, or of consigning, as to writing or paper, to the flames, or to prison. To intrust denotes the act of committing to the exercise of confidence or trust; as, to intrust a friend with the care of a child, or with a secret. To consign is a more formal act, and regards the thing transferred as placed chiefly or wholly out of one's immediate control; as, to consign a pupil to the charge of his instructor; to consign goods to an agent for sale; to consign a work to the press.
COMMIT Com"mit, v. i.
Defn: To sin; esp., to be incontinent. [Obs.] Commit not with man's sworn spouse. Shak.
COMMITMENT Com*mit"ment, n.
1. The act of commiting, or putting in charge, keeping, or trust; consigment; esp., the act of commiting to prison. They were glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower, whence he was within few days enlarged. Clarendon.
2. A warrant or order for the imprisonment of a person; -- more frequently termed a mittimus.
3. The act of referring or intrusting to a committee for consideration and report; as, the commitment of a petition or a bill.
4. A doing, or preperation, in a bad sense, as of a crime or blunder; commission.
5. The act of pledging or engaging; the act of exposing, endangering, or compromising; also, the state of being pledged or engaged. Hamilton.
COMMITTABLE Com*mit"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being committed.
COMMITTAL Com*mit"tal, n.
Defn: The act of commiting, or the state of being committed; commitment.
COMMITTEE Com*mit"tee, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. comité company, and LL. comitatus jurisdiction or territory of a count, county, assize, army. The word was apparently influenced by the verb commit, but not directly formed from it. Cf. County.]
Defn: One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter or bussiness is referred, either by a legislative body, or by a court, or by any collective body of men acting together. Commitee of the whole [house], a committee, embracing all the members present, into which a legislative or deliberative body sometimes resolves itself, for the purpose of considering a particular measure under the operation of different rules from those governing the general legislative proceedings. The committee of the whole has its own chairman, and reports its action in the form of recommendations. -- Standing committee. See under Standing.
COMMITTEE Com`mit*tee", n. Etym: [From Commit, v. t.] (Law)
Defn: One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.
COMMITTEEMAN Com*mit"tee*man, n.
Defn: A member of a committee.
COMMITTER Com*mit"ter, n.
1. One who commits; one who does or perpetrates. South.
2. A fornicator. [Obs.] T. Decker.
COMMITTIBLE Com*mit"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being committed; liable to be committed. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
COMMIX Com*mix", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Commixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Commixing.] Etym: [Pref. com+ + mix: cf. L. commixtus, p. p.of commiscere. See Mix.]
Defn: To mix or mingle together; to blend. The commixed impressions of all the colors do stir up and beget a sensation of white. Sir I. Newton. To commix With winds that sailors rail at. Shak.
COMMIXION Com*mix"ion, n. Etym: [See Commix.]
Defn: Commixture. Shak.
COMMIXTION Com*mix"tion, n. Etym: [L. commixtio.]
Defn: Commixture; mingling. [R.] An exact commixtion of the ingredients. Boyle.
COMMIXTURE Com*mix"ture, n. Etym: [L. commixtura.]
1. The act or process of mixing; the state of being mingled; the blending of ingredients in one mass or compound. In the commixture of anything that is more oily or sweet, such bodies are least apt to putrefy. Bacon.
2. The mass formed by mingling different things; a compound; a mixture. Bacon.
COMMODATE Com"mo*date, n. Etym: [L. commodatum thing lent, loan.] (Scots Law)
Defn: A gratuitous loan.
COMMODE Com*mode", n. Etym: [F. commode, fr. commode convenient, L. commodus; com- + modus measure, mode. See Mode.]
1. A kind of headdress formerly worn by ladies, raising the hair and fore part of the cap to a great height. Or under high commodes, with looks erect. Granville.
2. A piece of furniture, so named according to temporary fashion; as: (a) A cheat of drawers or a bureau. (b) A night stand with a compartment for holding a chamber vessel. (c) A kind of close stool. (d) A movable sink for a wash bowl, with closet.
COMMODIOUS Com*mo"di*ous, a. Etym: [LL. commodiosus, fr. L. commodum convenience, fr. commodus. See Commode.]
Defn: Adapted to its use or purpose, or to wants and necessities; serviceable; spacious and convenient; roomy and comfortable; as, a commodious house. "A commodious drab." Shak. "Commodious gold." Pope. The haven was not commodious to winter in. Acts. xxvii. 12.
Syn. -- Convenient; suitable; fit; proper; advantageous; serviceable; useful; spacious; comfortable.
COMMODIOUSLY Com*mo"di*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a commodious manner. To pass commodiously this life. Milton.
COMMODIOUSNESS Com*mo"di*ous*ness, n.
Defn: State of being commodious; suitableness for its purpose; convience; roominess. Of cities, the greatness and riches increase according to the commodiousness of their situation. Sir W. Temple. The commodiousness of the harbor. Johnson.
COMMODITY Com*mod"i*ty, n.; pl. Commodities. Etym: [F. commodit, fr. L. commoditas. See Commode.]
1. Convenience; accommodation; profit; benefit; advantage; interest; commodiousness. [Obs.] Drawn by the commodity of a footpath. B. Jonson. Men may seek their own commodity, yet if this were done with injury to others, it was not to be suffered. Hooker.
2. That which affords convenience, advantage, or profit, especially in commerce, including everything movable that is bought and sold (except animals), -- goods, wares, merchandise, produce of land and manufactures, etc.
3. A parcel or quantity of goods. [Obs.] A commodity of brown paper and old ginger. Shak.
COMMODORE Com"mo*dore`, n. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of commander, or Sp. comendador a knight of a military order who holds a commandery; also a superior of a monastery;, fr. LL. commendare to command. Cf. Commend, Command, Commander.]
1. (U. S. Navy)
Defn: An officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.
2. (Brititsh Navy)
Defn: A captain commanding a squadron, or a division of a fleet, or having the temporary rank of rear admiral.
3. A title given courtesy to the senior captain of a line of merchant vessels, and also to the chief officer of a yachting or rowing club.
4. A familiar for the flagchip, or for the principal vessel of a squadron or fleet.
COMMON Com"mon, a. [Compar. Commoner; superl. Commonest.] Etym: [OE. commun, comon, OF. comun, F. commun, fr. L. communis; com- + munis ready to be of service; cf. Skr. mi to make fast, set up, build, Coth. gamains common, G. gemein, and E. mean low, common. Cf. Immunity, Commune, n. & v.]
1. Belonging or relating equally, or similary, to more than one; as, you and I have a common interest in the property. Though life and sense be common to men and brutes. Sir M. Hale.
2. Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members of a class, consired together; general; public; as, propertis common to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer. Such actions as the common good requereth. Hocker. The common enemy of man. Shak.
3. Often met with; usual; frequent; customary. Grief more than common grief. Shak.
4. Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary; plebeian; -- often in a depreciatory sense. The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life. W. Irving. This fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a knight, a captain and a leader. Shak. Above the vulgar flight of common souls. A. Murpphy.
5. Profane; polluted. [Obs.] What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Acts x. 15.
6. Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute. A dame who herself was common. L'Estrange. Common bar (Law) Same as Blank bar, under Blank. -- Common barrator (Law), one who makes a business of instigating litigation. -- Common Bench, a name sometimes given to the English Court of Common Pleas. -- Common brawler (Law), one addicted to public brawling and quarreling. See Brawler. -- Common carrier (Law), one who undertakes the office of carrying (goods or persons) for hire. Such a carrier is bound to carry in all cases when he has accommodation, and when his fixed price is tendered, and he is liable for all losses and injuries to the goods, except those which happen in consequence of the act of God, or of the enemies of the country, or of the owner of the property himself. -- Common chord (Mus.), a chord consisting of the fundamental tone, with its third and fifth. -- Common council, the representative (legislative) body, or the lower branch of the representative body, of a city or other munisipal corporation. -- Common crier, the crier of a town or city. -- Common divisor (Math.), a number or quantity that divides two or more numbers or quantities without a remainder; a common measure. -- Common gender (Gram.), the gender comprising words that may be of either the masculine or the feminine gender. -- Common law, a system of jurisprudence developing under the guidance of the courts so as to apply a consistent and reasonable rule to each litigated case. It may be superseded by statute, but unless superseded it controls. Wharton.
Note: It is by others defined as the unwritten law (especially of England), the law that receives its binding force from immemorial usage and universal reception, as ascertained and expressed in the judgments of the courts. This term is often used in contradistinction from statute law. Many use it to designate a law common to the whole country. It is also used to designate the whole body of English (or other) law, as distinguished from its subdivisions, local, civil, admiralty, equity, etc. See Law. -- Common lawyer, one versed in common law. -- Common lewdness (Law), the habitual performance of lewd acts in public. -- Common multiple (Arith.) See under Multiple. -- Common noun (Gram.), the name of any one of a class of objects, as distinguished from a proper noun (the name of a particular person or thing). -- Common nuisance (Law), that which is deleterious to the health or comfort or sense of decency of the community at large. -- Common pleas, one of the three superior courts of common law at Westminster, presided over by a chief justice and four puisne judges. Its jurisdiction is confined to civil matters. Courts bearing this title exist in several of the United States, having, however, in some cases, botth civil and criminal jurisdiction extending over the whole State. In other States the jurisdiction of the common pleas is limited to a county, and it is sometimes called a county court. Its powers are generally defined by statute. -- Common prayer, the liturgy of the Church of England, or of the Protestant Episcopal church of the United States, which all its clergy are enjoined use. It is contained in the Book of Common Prayer. -- Common school, a school maintained at the public expense, and open to all. -- Common scold (Law), a woman addicted to scolding indiscriminately, in public. -- Common seal, a seal adopted and used by a corporation. -- Common sense. (a) A supposed sense which was held to be the common bond of all the others. [Obs.] Trench. (b) Sound judgment. See under Sense. -- Common time (Mus.), that variety of time in which the measure consists of two or of four equal portions. -- In common, equally with another, or with others; owned, shared, or used, in community with others; affecting or affected equally. -- Out of the common, uncommon; extraordinary. -- Tenant in common, one holding real or personal property in common with others, having distinct but undivided interests. See Joint tenant, under Joint. -- To make common cause with, to join or ally one's self with.
Syn. -- General; public; popular; universal; frequent; ordinary; customary; usual; familiar; habitual; vulgar; mean; trite; stale; threadbare; commonplace. See Mutual, Ordinary, General.
COMMON Com"mon, n.
1. The people; the community. [Obs.] "The weal o' the common." Shak.
2. An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure, for pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the public; or to a number of persons.
3. (Law)
Defn: The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common either with the owner or with other persons; -- so called from the community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other commoners entitled to the same right. Common appendant, a right belonging to the owners or occupiers of arable land to put commonable beasts upon the waste land in the manor where they dwell. -- Common appurtenant, a similar right applying to lands in other manors, or extending to other beasts, besides those which are generally commonable, as hogs. -- Common because of vicinage or neighborhood, the right of the inhabitants of each of two townships, lying contiguous to each other, which have usually intercommoned with one another, to let their beasts stray into the other's fields. -- Common in gross or at large, a common annexed to a man's person, being granted to him and his heirs by deed; or it may be claimed by prescriptive right, as by a parson of a church or other corporation sole. Blackstone. -- Common of estovers, the right of taking wood from another's estate. -- Common of pasture, the right of feeding beasts on the land of another. Burill. -- Common of piscary, the right of fishing in waters belonging to another. -- Common of turbary, the right of digging turf upon the ground of another.
COMMON Com"mon, v. i.
1. To converse together; to discourse; to confer. [Obs.] Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty were commoned of. Grafton.
2. To participate. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
3. To have a joint right with others in common ground. Johnson.
4. To board together; to eat at a table in common.
COMMONABLE Com"mon*a*ble, a.
1. Held in common. "Forests . . . and other commonable places." Bacon.
2. Allowed to pasture on public commons. Commonable beasts are either beasts of the plow, or such as manure the ground. Blackstone.
COMMONAGE Com"mon*age, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. communage.]
Defn: The right of pasturing on a common; the right of using anything in common with others. The claim of comonage . . . in most of the forests. Burke.
COMMONALTY Com"mon*al*ty, n.; pl. Commonalties. Etym: [Of. communalté; F. communauté, fr. communal. See Communal.]
1. The common people; those classes and conditions of people who are below the rank of nobility; the commons. The commonalty, like the nobility, are divided into several degrees. Blackstone. The ancient fare of our kings differed from that of the commonalty in plenteousness only. Landon.
2. The majority or bulk of mankind. [Obs.] Hooker.
COMMONER Com"mon*er, n.
1. One of the common people; one having no rank of nobility. All below them [the peers] even their children, were commoners, and in the eye law equal to each other. Hallam.
2. A member of the House of Commons.
3. One who has a joint right in common ground. Much good land might be gained from forests . . . and from other commonable places, so as always there be a due care taken that the poor commoners have no injury. Bacon.
4. One sharing with another in anything. [Obs.] Fuller.
5. A student in the university of Oxford, Eng., who is not dependent on any foundation for support, but pays all university charges; -- at Cambrige called a pensioner.
6. A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak.
COMMONISH Com"mon*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat common; commonplace; vulgar.
COMMONITION Com`mo*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. commonitio. See Monition.]
Defn: Advice; warning; instruction. [Obs.] Bailey.
COMMONITIVE Com*mon"i*tive, a.
Defn: Monitory. [Obs.] Only commemorative and commonitive. Bp. Hall.
COMMONITORY Com*mon"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. commonitorius.]
Defn: Calling to mind; giving admonition. [Obs.] Foxe.
COMMONLY Com"mon*ly, adv.
1. Usually; generally; ordinarily; frequently; for the most part; as, confirmed habits commonly continue trough life.
2. In common; familiary. [Obs.] Spenser.
COMMONNESS Com"mon*ness, n.
1. State or quality of being common or usual; as, the commonness of sunlight.
2. Triteness; meanness.
COMMONPLACE Com"mon*place`, a.
Defn: Common; ordinary; trite; as, a commonplace person, or observation.
COMMONPLACE Com"mon*place`, n.
1. An idea or expression wanting originality or interest; a trite or customary remark; a platitude.
2. A memorandum; something to be frequently consulted or referred to. Whatever, in my reading, occurs concerning this our fellow creature, I do never fail to set it down by way of commonplace. Swift. Commonplace book, a book in which records are made of things to be remembered.
COMMONPLACE Com"mon*place`, v. t.
Defn: To enter in a commonplace book, or to reduce to general heads. Felton.
COMMONPLACE Com"mon*place`, v. i.
Defn: To utter commonplaces; to indulge in platitudes. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMMONPLACENESS Com"mon*place`ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being commonplace; commonness.
COMMONS Com"mons, n. pl.,
1. The mass of the people, as distinguished from the titled chasses or nobility; the commonalty; the common people. [Eng.] 'T is like the commons, rude unpolished hinds, Could send such message to their sovereign. Shak. The word commons in its present ordinary signification comprises all the people who are under the rank of peers. Blackstone.
2. The House of Commons, or lower house of the British Parliament, consisting of representatives elected by the qualified voters of counties, boroughs, and universities. It is agreed that the Commons were no part of the great council till some ages after the Conquest. Hume.
3. Provisions; food; fare, -- as that provided at a common table in colleges and universities. Their commons, though but coarse, were nothing scant. Dryden.
4. A club or association for boarding at a common table, as in a college, the members sharing the expenses equally; as, to board in commons.
5. A common; public pasture ground. To shake his ears, and graze in commons. Shak. Doctors' Commons, a place near St. Paul's Chuchyard in London where the doctors of civil law used to common together, and where were the ecclesiastical and admiralty courts and offices having jurisdiction of marriage licenses, divorces, registration of wills, etc. -- To be on short commons, to have small allowance of food. [Colloq.]
COMMON SENSE Com"mon sense".
Defn: See Common sense, under Sense.
COMMONTY Com"mon*ty, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A common; a piece of land in which two or more persons have a common right. Bell.
COMMONWEAL Com"mon*weal", n. [Common + weal.]
Defn: Commonwealth. Such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal. Shak.
COMMONWEALTH Com"mon*wealth`, n. Etym: [Common + wealth well-being.]
1. A state; a body politic consisting of a certain number of men, united, by compact or tacit agreement, under one form of government and system of laws. The trappings of a monarchy would set up an ordinary commonwealth. Milton.
Note: This term is applied to governments which are considered as free or popular, but rarely, or improperly, to an absolute government. The word signifies, strictly, the common well-being or happiness; and hence, a form of government in which the general welfare is regarded rather than the welfare of any class.
2. The whole body of people in a state; the public.
3. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: Specifically, the form of government established on the death of Charles I., in 1649, which existed under Oliver Cromwell and his son Richard, ending with the abdication of the latter in 1659.
Syn. -- State; realm; republic.
COMMORANCE Com"mo*rance, n.
Defn: See Commorancy.
COMMORANCY Com"mo*ran*cy, n.
1. (Law)
Defn: A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place; habitation. Commorancy consists in usually lying there. Blackstone.
2. (Am. Law)
Defn: Residence temporarily, or for a short time.
COMMORANT Com"mo*rant, n. Etym: [L. commorans, p. pr. of commorari to abide; com- + morari to delay.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Ordinarily residing; inhabiting. All freeholders within the precinct . . . and all persons commorant therein. Blackstone.
2. (Am. Law)
Defn: Inhabiting or occupying temporarily.
COMMORANT Com"mo*rant, n.
Defn: A resident. Bp. Hacket.
COMMORATION Com`mo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commoratio.]
Defn: The act of staying or residing in a place. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
COMMORIENT Com*mo"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. commoriens, p. pr. of commoriri.]
Defn: Dying together or at the same time. [R.] Sir G. Buck.
COMMORSE Com*morse", n. Etym: [L. commorsus, p. p. of commordere to bite sharply.]
Defn: Remorse. [Obs.] "With sad commorse." Daniel.
COMMOTE Com*mote", v. t. Etym: [See Commove.]
Defn: To commove; to disturb; to stir up. [R.] Society being more or less commoted and made uncomfortable. Hawthorne.
COMMOTION Com*mo"tion, n. Etym: [L. commotio: cf. F. commotion. See Motion.]
1. Disturbed or violent motion; agitation. [What] commotion in the winds! Shak.
2. A popular tumult; public disturbance; riot. When ye shall hear of wars and commotions. Luke xxi. 9.
3. Agitation, perturbation, or disorder, of mind; heat; excitement. "He could not debate anything without some commotion." Clarendon.
Syn. -- Excitement; agitation; perturbation; disturbance; tumult; disorder; violence.
COMMOVE Com*move", v. t. [inp. & p. p. Commoved; p. pr. & vb. n. Commoving.] Etym: [L. commovere, commotum; com- + movere to move.]
1. To urge; to persuade; to incite. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To put in motion; to disturb; to unsettle. [R.] Straight the sands, Commoved around, in gathering eddies play. Thomson.
COMMUNAL Com"mu*nal ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. F. communal.]
Defn: Pertaining to a commune.
COMMUNALISM Com"mu*nal*ism, n.
Defn: A French theory of government which holds that commune should be a kind of independent state, and the national government a confederation of such states, having only limited powers. It is advocated by advanced French republicans; but it should not be confounded with communism.
COMMUNALIST Com"mu*nal*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. communaliste.]
Defn: An advocate of communalism.
COMMUNALISTIC Com`mu*nal*is"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to communalism.
COMMUNE Com*mune", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Communed; p. pr. & vb. n. Communing.] Etym: [OF. communier, fr. L. communicare to communicate, fr. communis common. See Common, and cf. Communicate.]
1. To converse together with sympathy and confidence; to interchange sentiments or feelings; to take counsel. I would commune with you of such things That want no ear but yours. Shak.
2. To receive the communion; to partake of the eucharist or Lord's supper. To commune under both kinds. Bp. Burnet. To commune with one's self or one's heart, to think; to reflect; to meditate.
COMMUNE Com"mune, n.
Defn: Communion; sympathetic intercourse or conversation between friends. For days of happy commune dead. Tennyson.
COMMUNE Com"mune, n. Etym: [F., fr. commun. See Common.]
1. The commonalty; the common people. [Obs.] Chaucer. In this struggle -- to use the technical words of the time -- of the "commune", the general mass of the inhabitants, against the "prudhommes" or "wiser" few. J. R. Green.
2. A small terrotorial district in France under the government of a mayor and municipal council; also, the inhabitants, or the government, of such a district. See Arrondissement.
3. Absolute municipal self-government. The Commune of Paris, or The Commune (a) The government established in Paris (1792-94) by a usurpation of supreme power on the part of representatives chosen by the communes; the period of its continuance is known as the "Reign of Terror." (b) The revolutionary government, modeled on the commune of 1792, which the communists, so called, attempted to establish in 1871.
COMMUNICABILITY Com*mu`ni*ca*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. communicabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being communicable; capability of being imparted.
COMMUNICABLE Com*mu"ni*ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. communicable, LL. communicabilis.]
1. Capable of being communicated, or imparted; as, a communicable disease; communicable knowledge.
2. Communicative; free-speaking. [Obs.] B. Jonson. -- Com*mu"ni*ca*ble*ness, n. -- Com*mu"ni*ca"bly, adv.
COMMUNICANT Com*mu"ni*cant, n. Etym: [L. communicans, p. pr.]
1. One who partakes of, or is entitled to partake of, the sacrament of the Lord's supper; a church member. A never-failing monthly communicant. Atterbury.
2. One who communicates. Foxe.
COMMUNICANT Com*mu"ni*cant, a.
Defn: Communicating. [R.] Coleridge.
COMMUNICATE Com*mu"ni*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Communicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Communicating.] Etym: [L. communicatus, p. p. of communicare to communicate, fr. communis common. See Commune, v. i.]
1. To share in common; to participate in. [Obs.] To thousands that communicate our loss. B. Jonson
2. To impart; to convey; as, to communicate a disease or a sensation; to communicate motion by means of a crank. Where God is worshiped, there he communicates his blessings and holy influences. Jer. Taylor.
3. To make known; to recount; to give; to impart; as, to communicate information to any one.
4. To administer the communion to. [R.] She [the church] . . . may communicate him. Jer. Taylor.
Note: This verb was formerly followed by with before the person receiving, but now usually takes to after it. He communicated those thoughts only with the Lord Digby. Clarendon.
Syn. -- To impart; bestow; confer; reveal; disclose; tell; announce; recount; make known. -- To Communicate, Impart, Reveal. Communicate is the more general term, and denotes the allowing of others to partake or enjoy in common with ourselves. Impart is more specific. It is giving to others a part of what we had held as our own, or making them our partners; as, to impart our feelings; to impart of our property, etc. Hence there is something more intimate in imparting intelligence than in communicating it. To reveal is to disclose something hidden or concealed; as, to reveal a secret.
COMMUNICATE Com*mu"ni*cate, v. i.
1. To share or participate; to possess or enjoy in common; to have sympathy. Ye did communicate with my affliction. Philip. iv. 4.
2. To give alms, sympathy, or aid. To do good and to communicate forget not. Heb. xiii. 16.
3. To have intercourse or to be the means of intercourse; as, to communicate with another on business; to be connected; as, a communicating artery. Subjects suffered to communicate and to have intercourse of traffic. Hakluyt. The whole body is nothing but a system of such canals, which all communicate with one another. Arbutnot.
4. To partake of the Lord's supper; to commune. The primitive Christians communicated every day. Jer. Taylor.
COMMUNICATION Com*mu`ni*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. communicatio.]
1. The act or fact of communicating; as, communication of smallpox; communication of a secret.
2. Intercourse by words, letters, or messages; interchange of thoughts or opinions, by conference or other means; conference; correspondence. Argument . . . and friendly communication. Shak.
3. Association; company. Evil communications corrupt manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33.
4. Means of communicating; means of passing from place to place; a connecting passage; connection. The Euxine Sea is conveniently situated for trade, by the communication it has both with Asia and Europe. Arbuthnot.
5. That which is communicated or imparted; intelligence; news; a verbal or written message.
6. Participation in the Lord's supper. Bp. Pearson.
7. (Rhet.)
Defn: A trope, by which a speaker assumes that his hearer is a partner in his sentiments, and says we, instead of I or you. Beattie.
Syn. -- Correspondence; conference; intercourse.
COMMUNICATIVE Com*mu"ni*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Communicatif, LL. communicativus.]
Defn: Inclined to communicate; ready to impart to others. Determine, for the future, to be less communicative. Swift.
COMMUNICATIVENESS Com*mu"ni*ca*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being communicative. Norris.
COMMUNICATOR Com*mu"ni*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who communicates. Boyle.
COMMUNICATORY Com*mu"ni*ca"to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. communicatorius.]
Defn: Imparting knowledge or information. Canonical and communicatory letters. Barrow.
COMMUNION Com*mun"ion, n. Etym: [L. communio: cf. F. communion. See Common.]
1. The act of sharing; community; participation. "This communion of goods." Blackstone.
2. Intercourse between two or more persons; esp., intimate association and intercourse implying sympathy and confidence; interchange of thoughts, purposes, etc.; agreement; fellowship; as, the communion of saints. We are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with others. Hooker. What communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. vi. 14. Bare communion with a good church can never alone make a good man. South.
3. A body of Christians having one common faith and discipline; as, the Presbyterian communion.
4. The sacrament of the eucharist; the celebration of the Lord's supper; the act of partaking of the sacrament; as, to go to communion; to partake of the communion. Close communion. See under Close, a. -- Communion elements, the bread and wine used in the celebration of the Lord's supper. -- Communion service, the celebration of the Lord's supper, or the office or service therefor. -- Communion table, the table upon which the elements are placed at the celebration of the Lord's supper. -- Communion in both kinds, participation in both the bread and wine by all communicants. -- Communion in one kind, participation in but one element, as in the Roman Catholic Church, where the laity partake of the bread only.
Syn. -- Share; participation; fellowship; converse; intercourse; unity; concord; agreement.
COMMUNISM Com"mu*nism, n. Etym: [F. communisme, fr. commun common.]
Defn: A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life; specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the equal use and advantage of all.
Note: At different times, and in different countries, various schemes pertaining to socialism in government and the conditions of domestic life, as well as in the distribution of wealth, have been called communism.
COMMUNIST Com"mu*nist, n. Etym: [F. communiste.]
1. An advocate for the theory or practice of communism.
2. A supporter of the commune of Paris.
COMMUNISTIC Com`mu*nis"tic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to communism or communists; as, communistic theories.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Living or having their nests in common, as certain birds.
COMMUNITY Com*mu"ni*ty, n.; pl. Communities. Etym: [L. communitas: cf. OF. communité. Cf. Commonalty, and see Common.]
1. Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a community of goods. The original community of all things. Locke. An unreserved community of thought and feeling. W. Irwing.
2. A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests, or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as, a community of monks. Hence a number of animals living in a common home or with some apparent association of interests. Creatures that in communities exist. Wordsworth.
3. Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the public, or people in general. Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community. Hallam.
Note: In this sense, the term should be used with the definite article; as, the interests of the community.
4. Common character; likeness. [R.] The essential community of nature between organic growth and inorganic growth. H. Spencer.
5. Commonness; frequency. [Obs.] Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community. Shak.
COMMUTABILITY Com*mu`ta*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being commutable.
COMMUTABLE Com*mut"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. commutabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being commuted or interchanged. The predicate and subject are not commutable. Whately.
COMMUTABLENESS Com*mut"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being commutable; interchangeableness.
COMMUTATION Com`mu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. commutatio: cf. F. commutation.]
1. A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation. [R.] So great is the commutation that the soul then hated only that which now only it loves. South.
2. The act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange. [Obs.] The use of money is . . . that of saving the commutation of more bulky commodities. Arbuthnot.
3. (Law)
Defn: The change of a penalty or punishment by the pardoning power of the State; as, the commutation of a sentence of death to banishment or imprisonment. Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts for money agreed to be given as a commutation for penance. Blackstone.
4. A substitution, as of a less thing for a greater, esp. a substitution of one form of payment for another, or one payment for many, or a specific sum of money for conditional payments or allowances; as, commutation of tithes; commutation of fares; commutation of copyright; commutation of rations. Angle of commutation (Astron.), the difference of the geocentric longitudes of the sun and a planet. -- Commutation of tithes, the substitution of a regular payment, chargeable to the land, for the annual tithes in kind. -- Commutation ticket, a ticket, as for transportation, which is the evidence of a contract for service at a reduced rate. See 2d Commute, 2.
COMMUTATION TICKET Com`mu*ta"tion tick"et.
Defn: A ticket for transportation at a reduced rate in consideration of some special circumstance, as increase of travel; specif., a ticket for a certain number of, or for daily, trips between neighboring places at a reduced rate, such as are commonly used by those doing business in a city and living in a suburb. Commutation tickets are excepted from the prohibition against special rates contained in the Interstate Commerce Act of Feb. 4, 1887 (24 Stat. 379), and in 145 U. S. 263 it was held that party tickets were also excepted as being "obviously within the commuting principle."
COMMUTATIVE Com*mut"a*tive, a. Etym: [CF. F. commutatif.]
Defn: Relative to exchange; interchangeable; reciprocal. -- Com*mut"a*tive"ly, adv. Rich traders, from their success, are presumed . . . to have cultivated an habitual regard to commutative justice. Burke.
COMMUTATOR Com"mu*ta`tor, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A piece of apparatus used for reversing the direction of an electrical current; an attachment to certain electrical machines, by means of which alternating currents are made to be continuous or to have the same direction.
COMMUTE Com*mute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Commuting.] Etym: [L. commutare, -mutatum; com- + mutare to change. See Mutation.]
Defn: To exchange; to put or substitute something else in place of, as a smaller penalty, obligation, or payment, for a greater, or a single thing for an aggregate; hence; to lessen; to diminish; as, to commute a sentence of death to one of imprisonment for life; to commute tithes; to commute charges for fares. The sounds water and fire, being once annexed to those two elements, it was certainly more natural to call beings participating of the first "watery", and the last "fiery", than to commute the terms, and call them by the reverse. J. Harris The utmost that could be obtained was that her sentence should be commuted from burning to beheading. Macaulay.
COMMUTE Com*mute", v. i.
1. To obtain or bargain for exemption or substitution; to effect a commutation. He . . . thinks it unlawful to commute, and that he is bound to pay his vow in kind. Jer. Taylor.
2. To pay, or arrange to pay, in gross instead of part by part; as, to commute for a year's travel over a route.
COMMUTER Com*mut"er, n.
Defn: One who commutes; especially, one who commutes in traveling.
COMMUTUAL Com*mu"tu*al, a. Etym: [Pref. com- + mutual.]
Defn: Mutual; reciprocal; united. [R.] There, with commutual zeal, we both had strove. Pope.
COMOSE Co"mose ( or ), a. Etym: [L. comosus hairy, from coma hair.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing a tuft of soft hairs or down, as the seeds of milkweed. Gray.
COMPACT Com*pact", p. p. & a Etym: [L. compactus, p. p. of compingere to join or unite; com- + pangere to fasten, fix: cf. F. compacte. See Pact.]
1. Joined or held together; leagued; confederated. [Obs.] "Compact with her that's gone." Shak. A pipe of seven reeds, compact with wax together. Peacham.
2. Composed or made; -- with of. [Poetic] A wandering fire, Compact of unctuous vapor. Milton.
3. Closely or firmly united, as the particles of solid bodies; firm; close; solid; dense. Glass, crystal, gems, and other compact bodies. Sir I. Newton.
4. Brief; close; pithy; not diffuse; not verbose; as, a compact discourse.
Syn. -- Firm; close; solid; dense; pithy; sententious.
COMPACT Com*pact", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compacted; p. pr. & vb. n. Compacting.]
1. To thrust, drive, or press closely together; to join firmly; to consolidate; to make close; -- as the parts which compose a body. Now the bright sun compacts the precious stone. Blackstone.
2. To unite or connect firmly, as in a system. The whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth. Eph. iv. 16.
COMPACT Com"pact, n. Etym: [L. compactum, fr. compacisci, p. p. compactus, to make an agreement with; com- + pacisci to make an agreement. See Pact.]
Defn: An agreement between parties; a covenant or contract. The law of nations depends on mutual compacts, treaties, leagues, etc. Blackstone. Wedlock is described as the indissoluble compact. Macaulay. The federal constitution has been styled a compact between the States by which it was ratified. Wharton.
Syn. -- See Covenant.
COMPACTED Com*pact"ed, a.
Defn: Compact; pressed close; concentrated; firmly united.
COMPACTEDLY Com*pact"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a compact manner.
COMPACTEDNESS Com*pact"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being compact.
COMPACTER Com*pact"er, n.
Defn: One who makes a compact.
COMPACTIBLE Com*pact"i*ble, a.
Defn: That may be compacted.
COMPACTION Com*pac"tion, n. Etym: [L. compactio.]
Defn: The act of making compact, or the state of being compact. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMPACTLY Com*pact"ly, adv.
Defn: In a compact manner; with close union of parts; densely; tersely.
COMPACTNESS Com*pact"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being compact; close union of parts; density.
COMPACTURE Com*pac"ture, n. Etym: [L. compactura.]
Defn: Close union or connection of parts; manner of joining; construction. [Obs.] "With comely compass and compacture strong." Spenser.
COMPAGES Com*pa"ges, n. sing & pl. Etym: [L., fr. compingere. See Compact, v. t.]
Defn: A system or structure of many parts united. A regular compages of pipes and vessels. Ray.
COMPAGINATE Com*pag"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. compaginare, compaginatum.]
Defn: To unite or hold together; as, the side pieces compaginate the frame. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
COMPAGINATION Com*pag`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. compaginatio.]
Defn: Union of parts; structure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
COMPANABLE Com"pa*na*ble, a. Etym: [OF. compaignable.]
Defn: Companionable; sociable. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COMPANATOR Com"pa*na`tor, n. Etym: [LL. companatores, pl.] (Eccl.)
Defn: Same as Impanator.
COMPANIABLE Com*pan"i*a*ble, a.
Defn: Companionable; sociable. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMPANION Com*pan"ion, n. Etym: [F. compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. as assumed LL. companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L. com- + panis bread. See Pantry.]
1. One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner. The companions of his fall. Milton. The companion of fools shall smart for it. Prov. xiii. 20 (Rev. Ver. ) Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweetest companions in the world. Shak. A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate. Trench.
2. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath.
3. A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
4. Etym: [Cf. OSp. compaña an outhouse, office.] (Naut.) (a) A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck. (b) A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a companion hatch. Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the entrance or staircase of the cabin. -- Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to, or descend from, the quarter-deck. Totten. -- Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin. -- Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights grand cross, and the like.
Syn. -- Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner; ally; confederate; coadjutor; accomplice.
COMPANION Com*pan"ion, v. t.
1. To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany. [R.] Ruskin.
2. To qualify as a companion; to make equal. [Obs.] Companion me with my mistress. Shak.
COMPANIONABLE Com*pan"ion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fitted to be a companion; fit for good fellowship; agreeable; sociable. "Each companionable guest." Mallett. "Companionable wit." Clarendon. -- Com*pan"ion*a*ble*ness, n. -- Com*pan"ion*a*bly, adv.
COMPANIONLESS Com*pan"ion*less, a.
Defn: Without a companion.
COMPANIONSHIP Com*pan"ion*ship, n.
Defn: Fellowship; association; the act or fact of keeping company with any one. Shak. He never seemed to avail himself of my sympathy other than by mere companionship. W. Irwing
COMPANY Com"pa*ny, n.; pl. Companies. Etym: [F. compagnie, fr. OF. compaing. See Companion.]
1. The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompaying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse. Shak. Evil company doth corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33. (Rev. Ver. ). Brethren, farewell: your company along I will not wish. Milton.
2. A companion or companions. To thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. Shak.
3. An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient. Thou shalt meet a company of prophets. 1 Sam. x. 5.
4. Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.
5. Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse. Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company. Swift.
6. An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company.
7. Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; -- often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.
8. (Mil.)
Defn: A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company.
10. The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play. To keep company with. See under Keep, v. t.
Syn. -- Assemblage; assembly; society; group; assembly; society; group; circle; crowd; troop; crew; gang; corporation; association; fraternity; guild; partnership; copartnery; union; club; party; gathering.
COMPANY Com"pa*ny, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Companied; p. pr. & vb. n. Companying.]
Defn: To accompany or go with; to be companion to. [Obs.]
COMPANY Com"pa*ny, v. i.
1. To associate. Men which have companied with us all the time. Acts i. 21.
2. To be a gay companion. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. To have sexual commerce. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
COMPARABLE Com"pa*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. comparabilis: cf. F. comparable.]
Defn: Capable of being compared; worthy of comparison. There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend. Addison. -- Com"pa*ra*ble*ness, n. -- Com"pa*ra*bly, adv.
COMPARATE Com"pa*rate, n. Etym: [L. comparatum, fr. comparatus, p. p. of comparare. See 1st Compare.] (Logic)
Defn: One of two things compared together.
COMPARATION Com`pa*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. comparatio. See Compare to get.]
Defn: A making ready; provision. [Obs.]
COMPARATIVE Com*par"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. comparativus: cf. F. comparatif.]
1. Of or pertaining to comparison. "The comparative faculty." Granvill.
2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative anatomy.
3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state. The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold. Whewell. The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top. Bentley.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright. Comparative sciences, those which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them; as, comparative anatomy, comparative physiology, comparative philology.
COMPARATIVE Com*par"a*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger, wiser, weaker, wore stormy, less windy, are all comparatives. In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many.
2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. [Obs.] Gerard ever was His full comparative. Beau. & Fl.
3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. [Obs.] "Every beardless vain comparative." Shak.
COMPARATIVELY Com*par"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: According to estimate made by comparison; relatively; not positively or absolutely. With but comparatively few exceptions. Prescott.
COMPARATOR Com"pa*ra`tor ( or ), n. Etym: [L., a comparater.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument or machine for comparing anything to be measured with a standard measure; -- applied especially to a machine for comparing standards of length.
COMPARE Com*pare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compared; p. pr. & vb. n. Comparing.] Etym: [L.comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par equal: cf. F. comparer. See Pair, Peer an equal, and cf. Compeer.]
1. To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention. Compare dead happiness with living woe. Shak. The place he found beyond expression bright, Compared with aught on earth. Milton. Compare our faces and be judge yourself. Shak. To compare great things with small. Milton.
2. To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken. Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it. Bacon.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing "-er" and "-est" to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing "more" and "most", or "less" and "least", to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.
Syn. -- To Compare, Compare with, Compare to. Things are compared with each other in order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus we compare Cicero with Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding which was the greater orator. One thing is compared to another because of a real or fanciful likeness or similarity which exists between them. Thus it has been common to compare the eloquence of Demosthenes to a thunderbolt, on account of its force, and the eloquence of Cicero to a conflagration, on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks of London to the lungs of the human body.
COMPARE Com*pare", v. i.
1. To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier. I should compare with him in excellence. Shak.
2. To vie; to assume a likeness or equality. Shall pack horses . . . compare with Cæsars Shak.
COMPARE Com*pare", n.
1. Comparison. [Archaic] His mighty champion, strong beyond compare. Milton. Their small galleys may not hold compare With our tall ships. Waller.
2. Illustration by comprison; simile. [Obs.] Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare. Shak. Beyond compare. See Beyond comparison, under Comparison.
COMPARE Com*pare", v. t. Etym: [L. comparare to prepare, procure; com- + parare. See Prepare, Parade.]
Defn: To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire [Obs.] To fill his bags, and richesse to compare. Spenser.
COMPARER Com*par"er, n.
Defn: One who compares.
COMPARISON Com*par"i*son ( or ), n. Etym: [F. comparaison, L. comparatio. See 1st Compare.]
1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate. As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear comparison with them. Macaulay. The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many interesting points of comparison. Trench.
2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them.
3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude. Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God Or with what comparison shall we compare it Mark iv. 30.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison.
5. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel.
6. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts. Beyond comparison, so far superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison needless. -- In comparison of, In comparison with, as compared with; in proportion to. [Archaic] "So miserably unpeopled in comparison of what it once was." Addison. -- Comparison of hands (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both were written by the same person. Bouvier. Burrill.
COMPARISON Com*par"i*son, v. t.
Defn: To compare. [Obs.] Wyclif.
COMPART Com*part", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comparted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comparting.] Etym: [L. compartiri; com- + partiri, partire to share, pars, partis, part, share: cf. OF. compartir. See Part, v. t.]
Defn: To divide; to mark out into parts or subdivisions. [R.] The crystal surface is comparted all In niches verged with rubies. Glover.
COMPARTITION Com`par*ti"tion, n. Etym: [LL. compartitio.]
Defn: The act of dividing into parts or compartments; division; also, a division or compartment. [Obs.] Their temples . . . needed no compartitions. Sir H. Wotton.
COMPARTMENT Com*part"ment, n. Etym: [F. compartiment, OF. compartir to divide. See Compart.]
1. One of the parts into which an inclosed portion of space is divided, as by partitions, or lines; as, the compartments of a cabinet, a house, or a garden. In the midst was placed a large compartment composed of grotesque work. Carew.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: One of the sections into which the hold of a ship is divided by water-tight bulkheads.
COMPARTNER Com*part"ner, n.
Defn: See Copartner. [Obs.]
COMPASS Com"pass, n. Etym: [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See Pace, Pass.]
1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course. They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. 2 Kings iii. 9. This day I breathed first; time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compass. Shak.
2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall.
3. An inclosed space; an area; extent. Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. Addison.
4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination. The compass of his argument. Wodsworth.
5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within. In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed. Sir J. Davies.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instument. You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass. Shak.
7. An instrument for determining directions upon the carth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pinting in a northerly and southerly direction. He that firat discovered the use of the compass did more for the supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built workhouses. Locke.
8. A pair of compasses. [R.] To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please. Swift.
9. A circle; a continent. [Obs.] The tryne compas [the threefold world containing earth, sea, and heaven. Skeat.] Chaucer. Azimuth compass. See under Azimuth. -- Beam compass. See under Beam. -- Compass card, the eircular card attached to the needles of a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or rhumbs. -- Compass dial, a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to tell the hour of the day. -- Compass plane (Carp.), a plane, convex in the direction of its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved woodwork. -- Compass plant, Compass flower (Bot.), a plant of the American prairies (Silphium laciniatum), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south. Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet: This is the compass flower. Longefellow. -- Compass saw, a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve; -- called also fret saw and keyhole saw. -- Compass timber (Shipbuilding), curved or crooked timber. -- Compass window (Arch.), a circular bay window or oriel window. It has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called also rhumbs, and the glass-covered box or bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order to preserve its horizontal position. -- Surveyor's compass, an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal angles. See Circumferentor. -- Variation compass, a compass of delicate construction, used in observations on the variations of the needle. -- To fetch a compass, to make a circuit.
COMPASS Com"pass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Compassing.] Etym: [F. compasser, LL. compassare.]
1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of. Ye shall compass the city seven times. Josh. vi. 4. We the globe can compass soon. Shak.
2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to envior; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about. With terrors and with clamors compassed round. Milton. Now all the blessings Of a glad cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round.uke xix. 43.
3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish. If I can chek my erring love, I will: If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. Shak. How can you to compass your designs Denham.
4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding.] Shak.
5. (Law)
Defn: To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot. Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. Blackstone.
COMPASSABLE Com"pass*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being compassed or accomplished. Burke.
COMPASSED Com"passed, a.
Defn: Rounded; arched. [Obs.] She came . . . into the compassed window. Shak.
COMPASSES Com"pass*es, n., pl.
Defn: An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc., consisting of two, or (rarely) more, pointed branches, or legs, usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move.
Note: The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points, pencil points, etc.; those used for measuring without adjustable points are generally called dividers. See Dividers. Bow compasses. See Bow-compass. -- Caliber compasses, Caliper compasses. See Calipers. -- Proportional, Triangular, etc., compasses. See under Proportional, etc.
COMPASSING Com"pass*ing, a. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Curved; bent; as, compassing timbers.
COMPASSION Com*pas"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. compassio, fr. compati to have compassion; com- + pati to bear, suffer. See Patient.]
Defn: Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration. Womanly igenuity set to work by womanly compassion. Macaulay.
Syn. -- Pity; sympathy; commiseration; fellow-feeling; mercy; condolence. See Pity.
COMPASSION Com*pas"sion, v. t.
Defn: To pity. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPASSIONABLE Com*pas"sion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving compassion or pity; pitiable. [R.] Barrow.
COMPASSIONATE Com*pas"sion*ate, a.
1. Having a temper or disposition to pity; sympathetic; merciful. There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate. South.
2. Complaining; inviting pity; pitiable. [R.] Shak.
Syn. -- Sympathizing; tender; merciful; pitiful.
COMPASSIONATE Com*pas"sion*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassionated; p. pr. & vb. n. Compassionating.]
Defn: To have compassion for; to pity; to commiserate; to sympathize with. Compassionates my pains, and pities me. Addison.
COMPASSIONATELY Com*pas"sion*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a compassionate manner; mercifully. Clarendon.
COMPASSIONATENESS Com*pas"sion*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being compassionate.
COMPASSLESS Com"pass*less, a.
Defn: Having no compass. Knowles.
COMPATERNITY Com`pa*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [LL. compaternitas, fr. compater godfather; com- + pater father.]
Defn: The relation of a godfather to a person. [Obs.] The relation of gossipred or compaternity by the cannon law is a spiritual affinity. Sir J. Da
COMPATIBILITY Com*pat`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. compatibilit.]
Defn: The quality or power of being compatible or congruous; congruity; as, a compatibility of tempers; a compatibility of properties.
COMPATIBLE Com*pat"i*ble, a. Etym: [F., fr. LL.compatibilis, fr. L. compati. See Compassion.]
Defn: Capable of existing in harmony; congruous; suitable; not repugnant; -- usually followed by with. Our poets have joined together such qualities as are by nature the most compatible. Broome.
Syn. -- Consistent; suitable; agreeable; accordant.
COMPATIBLENESS Com*pat"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Compatibility; consistency; fitness; agreement.
COMPATIBLY Com*pat"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a compatible manner.
COMPATIENT Com*pa"tient, a. Etym: [L. compatients, p. pr. of compati. See Compassion.]
Defn: Suffering or enduring together. [Obs.] Sir G. Buck.
COMPATRIOT Com*pa"tri*ot, n. Etym: [F. compatriote, LL. compatriotus; com- + patriota a native. See Patriot, and cf. Copatriot.]
Defn: One of the same country, and having like interests and feeling. The distrust with which they felt themselves to be regarded by their compatriots in America. Palfrey.
COMPATRIOT Com*pa"tri*ot, a.
Defn: Of the same country; having a common sentiment of patriotism. She [Britain] rears to freedom an undaunted race, Compatriot, zealous, hospitable, kind. Thomson.
COMPATRIOTISM Com*pa"tri*ot*ism, n.
Defn: The condition of being compatriots.
COMPEAR Com*pear", v. i. Etym: [F. comparior, L. compar; com- + par to appear.]
1. To appear. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
Defn: To appear in court personally or by attorney. [Scot]
COMPEER Com*peer", Etym: [OE. comper, through French fr. L. compar; com- + par equal. See Peer an equal, and cf. 1st Compare.]
Defn: An equal, as in rank, age, prowess, etc.; a companion; a comrade; a mate. And him thus answer 'd soon his bold compeer. Milton.
COMPEER Com*peer", v. t.
Defn: To be equal with; to match. [R.] In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Shak.
COMPEER; COMPEIR Com*peer", Com*peir", v. i.
Defn: See Conpear.
COMPEL Com*pel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compelled; p. pr. & vb. n Compelling.] Etym: [L. compellere, compilstum, to drive together, to compel, urge; com- + pellere to drive: cf. OF. compellir. See Pulse.]
1. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force. Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at once. Hallam. And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross. Mark xv. 21.
2. To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort. [R.] Commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance. Shak.
3. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate. Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. Dryden. I compel all creatures to my will. Tennyson.
4. To gather or unite in a crowd or company. [A Latinism] "In one troop compelled." Dryden.
5. To call forth; to summon. [Obs.] Chapman. She had this knight from far compelled. Spenser.
Syn. -- To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See Coerce.
COMPEL Com*pel", v. i.
Defn: To make one yield or submit. "If she can not entreat, I can not compel." Shak.
COMPELLABLE Com*pel"la*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being compelled or constrained. Blackstone.
COMPELLABLY Com*pel"la*bly, adv.
Defn: By compulsion.
COMPELLATION Com`pel*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. compellatio, fr. compellare to accost, fr. compellere. See Compel.]
Defn: Style of address or salutation; an appellation. "Metaphorical compellations." Milton. He useth this endearing compellation, "My little children." Bp. Beveridge. The peculiar compellation of the kings in France is by "Sire," which is nothing else but father. Sir W. Temple.
COMPELLATIVE Com*pel"la*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The name by which a person is addressed; an appellative.
COMPELLATORY Com*pel"la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to compel; compulsory. [R.]
COMPELLER Com*pel"ler, n.
Defn: One who compels or constrains.
COMPEND Com"pend, n.
Defn: A compendium; an epitome; a summary. A compend and recapitulation of the Mosaical law. Bp. Burnet.
COMPENDIARIOUS Com*pen`di*a"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. compendiarius.]
Defn: Short; compendious. [Obs.] Bailey.
COMPENDIATE Com*pen"di*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. compendiatus, p. p. of compendiare to shorten, fr. compendium.]
Defn: To sum or collect together. [Obs.] Bp. King.
COMPENDIOUS Com*pen"di*ous, a. Etym: [L. compendiosus.]
Defn: Containing the substance oe general principles of a subject or work in a narrow compass; abridged; summarized. More compendious and exeditious ways. Woodward. Three things be required in the oration of a man having authority -- that it be compendious, sententious, and delectable. Sir T. Elyot.
Syn. -- Short; summary; abridged; condensed; comprehensive; succinct; brief; concise.
COMPENDIOUSLY Com*pen"di*ous*ly, dv.
Defn: In a compendious manner. Compendiously exressed by the word chaos. Bentley.
COMPENDIOUSNESS Com*pen"di*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being compendious.
COMPENDIUM Com*pen"di*um, n.; pl. E. Compendiums, L. Compendia. Etym: [L. compendium that which is wieghed, saved, or shortened, a short way, fr. compendere to weigh; com- + pendere to weigh. See Pension, and cf. Compend.]
Defn: A brief compilation or composition, containing the principal heads, or general principles, of a larger work or system; an abridgment; an epitome; a compend; a condensed summary. A short system or compendium of a sience. I. Watts.
Syn. -- See Abridgment.
COMPENSATE Com"pen*sate ( or ; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compensated; p. pr. & vb. n. Compensating.] Etym: [L. compensatus, p. p. of compensare, prop., to weigh several things with one another, to balance with one another, verb intens. fr. compendere. See Compendum.]
1. To make equal return to; to remunerate; to recompence; to give an equivalent to; to requite suitably; as, to compensate a laborer for his work, or a merchant for his losses.
2. To be equivalent in value or effect to; to counterbalance; to make up for; to make amends for. The length of the night and the dews thereof do compensate the heat of the day. Bacon. The pleasures of life do not compensate the miseries. Prior.
Syn. -- To recompense; remunerate; indemnify; reward; requite; counterbalance.
COMPENSATE Com"pen*sate, v. i.
Defn: To make amends; to supply an equivalent; -- followed by for; as, nothing can compensate for the loss of reputation.
COMPENSATION Com`pen*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. compensatio a weighing, a balancing of accounts.]
1. The act or principle of compensating. Emerson.
2. That which constitutes, or is regarded as, an equivalent; that which makes good the lack or variation of something else; that which compensates for loss or privation; amends; remuneration; recompense. The parliament which dissolved the monastic foundations . . . vouchsafed not a word toward securing the slightest compensation to the dispossessed owners. Hallam. No pecuniary compensation can possibly reward them. Burke.
3. (Law) (a) The extinction of debts of which two persons are reciprocally debtors by the credits of which they are reciprocally creditors; the payment of a debt by a credit of equal amount; a set-off. Bouvier. Wharton. (b) A recompense or reward for some loss or service. (c) An equivalent stipulated for in contracts for the sale of real eatate, in which it is customary to privide that errors in description, etc., shall not avoid, but shall be the subject of compensation. Compensation balance, or Compensated balance, a kind of balance wheel for a timepiece. The rim is usually made of two different expansibility under changes of temperature, so arranged as to counteract each other and preserve uniformity of movement. -- Compensation pendulum. See Pendulum.
Syn. -- Recompense; reward; indemnification; consideration; requital; satisfaction; set-off.
COMPENSATIVE Com*pen"sa*tive, a. Etym: [LL. compensativus.]
Defn: Affording compensation.
COMPENSATIVE Com*pen"sa*tive, n.
Defn: Compensation. [R.] Lamb.
COMPENSATOR Com"pen*sa`tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, compensates; -- a name applied to various mechanical devices.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: An iron plate or magnet placed near the compass on iron vessels to neutralize the effect of the ship's attraction on the needle.
COMPENSATORY Com*pen"sa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving for compensation; making amends. Jer. Taylor.
COMPENSE Com*pense", v. t. Etym: [F. compenser. See Compensate.]
Defn: To compensate. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMPERENDINATE Com`pe*ren"di*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. comperendinatus, p. p. of comperendinare to defer (the time of trial.)]
Defn: To delay. Bailey.
COMPESCE Com*pesce", v. t. Etym: [L. compescere.]
Defn: To hold in check; to restrain. [R.] Carlyle.
COMPETE Com*pete", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Competed; p. pr. & vb. n. Competing.] Etym: [L. completere, competitum; com- + petere to seek. See Petition.]
Defn: To contend emulously; to seek or strive for the same thing, position, or reward for which another is striving; to contend in rivalry, as for a prize or in business; as, tradesmen compete with one another. The rival statesmen, with eyes fixed on America, were all the while competing for European alliances. Bancroft.
COMPETENCE; COMPETENCY Com"pe*tence, Com"pe*ten*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. compétence, from L. competentia agreement.]
1. The state of being competent; fitness; ability; adequacy; power. The loan demonstrates, in regard to instrumental resources, the competency of this kingdom to the assertion of the common cause. Burke. To make them act zealously is not in the competence of law. Burke.
2. Property or means sufficient for the necessaries and conveniences of life; sifficiency without excess. Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words -- health, peace, and competence. Pope. Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer. Shak.
3. (Law) (a) Legal capacity or qualifications; fitness; as, the competency of a witness or of a evidence. (b) Right or authority; legal power or capacity to take cognizance of a cause; as, the competence of a judge or court. Kent.
COMPETENT Com"pe*tent (; 94), a. Etym: [F. compétent, p. pr. of compéter to be in the competency of, LL. competere to strive after together, to agree with; hence, to be fit. See Compete.]
1. Answering to all requirements; adeqouate; sufficient; suitable; capable; legally qualified; fit. "A competent knowledge of the world." Arrerbury. "Competent age." Grafton. "Competent statesmen." Palfrey. /"A competent witness." Bouvier.
2. Rightfully or properly belonging; incident; -- followed by to. [Rare, except in legal usage.] That is the privillege of the infinite Author of things, . . . but is not competent to any finite being. Locke.
Syn. -- See Qualified.
COMPETENTLY Com"pe*tent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a competent manner; adequately; suitably.
COMPETIBLE Com*pet"i*ble, a.
Defn: Compatible; suitable; consistent. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
COMPETITION Com`pe*ti"tion, n. Etym: [L. competitio. See Conpete.]
Defn: The act of seeking, or endevearing to gain, what another is endeavoring to gain at the same time; common strife for the same objects; strife for superiority; emulous contest; rivalry, as for approbation, for a prize, or as where two or more persons are engaged in the same business and each seeking patronage; -- followed by for before the object sought, and with before the person or thing competed with. Competition to the crown there is none, nor can be. Bacon. A portrait, with which one of Titian's could not come in competititon. Dryden. There is no competition but for the second place. Dryden. Where competition does not act at all there is complete monopoly. A. T. Hadley.
Syn. -- Emulation; rivalry; rivalship; contest; struggle; contention; opposition; jealousy. See Emulation.
COMPETITIVE Com*pet"i*tive, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to competition; producing competition; competitory; as, a competitive examination.
COMPETITOR Com*pet"i*tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. compétiteur.]
1. One who seeks what another seeks, or claims what another claims; one who competes; a rival. And can not brook competitors in love. Shak.
2. An associate; a confederate. [Obs.] Every hour more competitors Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth. Shak.
COMPETITORY Com*pet"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Acting in competition; competing; rival.
COMPETITRESS Com*pet"i*tress, n.
Defn: A woman who competes.
COMPETITRIX Com*pet"i*trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A competitress.
COMPILATION Com"pi*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. compilatio: cf. F. compilation.]
1. The act or process of compiling or gathering together from various sources.
2. That which is compiled; especially, a book or document composed of materials gathering from other books or documents. His [Goldsmith's] compilations are widely distinguished from the compilations of ordinary bookmakers. Macaulay.
COMPILATOR Com"pi*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Compiler. [Obs.]
COMPILE Com*pile", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Compiling.] Etym: [F. compiler, fr.L. compilare to plunder, pillage; com- + pilare to plunder. See Pill, v. t., Pillage.]
1. To put together; to construct; to build. [Obs.] Before that Merlin died, he did intend A brazen wall in compass to compile. Spenser.
2. To contain or comprise. [Obs.] Which these six books compile. Spenser.
3. To put together in a new form out of materials already existing; esp., to put together or compose out of materials from other books or documents. He [Goldsmith] compiled for the use of schools a History of Rome. Macaulay.
4. To write; to compose. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.
COMPILEMENT Com*pile"ment, n.
Defn: Compilation. [R.]
COMPILER Com*pil"er, n. Etym: [OE. compiluor; cf. OF. compileor, fr. L. compilator.]
Defn: One who compiles; esp., one who makes books by compilation.
COMPINGE Com*pinge", v. t. Etym: [L. compingere.]
Defn: To compress; to shut up. [Obs.] Burton.
COMPLACENCE; COMPLACENCY Com*pla"cence, Com*pla"cen*cy, n. Etym: [LL. complacentia: cf. F. complaisance. See Complacent, and cf. Complaisance.]
1. Calm contentment; satisfaction; gratification. The inward complacence we find in acting reasonably and virtuously. Atterbury. Others proclaim the infirmities of a great man with satisfaction and complacency, if they discover none of the like in themselves. Addison.
2. The cause of pleasure or joy. "O thou, my sole complacence." Milton.
3. The manifestation of contentment or satisfaction; good nature; kindness; civility; affability. Complacency, and truth, and manly sweetness, Dwell ever on his tongue, and smooth his thoughts. Addison. With mean complacence ne'er betray your trust. Pope.
COMPLACENT Com*pla"cent, a. Etym: [L. complacens very pleasing, p. pr. of complacere; com- + placere to please: cf. F. complaisant. See Please and cf. Complaisant.]
Defn: Self-satisfied; contented; kindly; as, a complacent temper; a complacent smile. They look up with a sort of complacent awe . . . to kings. Burke.
COMPLACENTIAL Com`pla*cen"tial, a.
Defn: Marked by, or causing, complacence. [Obs.] "Complacential love." Baxter.
COMPLACENTLY Com*pla"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a complacent manner.
COMPLAIN Com*plain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Complained; p. pr. & vb. n. Complaining.] Etym: [F. complaindre, LL. complangere; com- + L. plangere to strike, beat, to beat the breast or head as a sign of grief, to lament. See Plaint.]
1. To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret. etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; -- commonly used with of. Also, to creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel. O lose of sight, of three I most complain! Milton.
2. To make a formal accusation; to make a charge. Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king Shak.
Syn. -- To repine; grumble; deplore; bewail; grieve; mourn; regret; murmur.
COMPLAIN Com*plain", v. t.
Defn: To lament; to bewail. [Obs.] They might the grievance inwardly complain. Daniel. By chaste Lucrece's soul that late complain'd Her wrongs to us. Shak.
COMPLAINABLE Com*plain"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be complained of. [R.] Feltham.
COMPLAINANT Com*plain"ant, n. Etym: [F. complaignant, p. pr. of complaindre.]
1. One who makes complaint. Eager complainants of the dispute. Collier.
2. (Law) (a) One who commences a legal process by a complaint. (b) The party suing in equity, answering to the plaintiff at common law. He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the town, and the other moiety to the use of the complainant. Statutes of Mass.
COMPLAINER Com*plain"er, n.
Defn: One who complains or laments; one who finds fault; a murmurer. Beattie. Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought. Shak.
COMPLAINT Com*plaint", n. Etym: [F. complainte. See Complain.]
1. Expression of grief, regret, pain, censure, or resentment; lamentation; murmuring; accusation; fault-finding. I poured out my complaint before him. Ps. cxlii. 2. Grievous complaints of you. Shak.
2. Cause or subject of complaint or murmuring. The poverty of the clergy in England hath been the complaint of all who wish well to the church. Swift.
3. An ailment or disease of the body. One in a complaint of his bowels. Arbuthnot.
4. (Law)
Defn: A formal allegation or charge against a party made or presented to the appropriate court or officer, as for a wrong done or a crime committed (in the latter case, generally under oath); an information; accusation; the initial bill in proceedings in equity.
Syn. -- Lamentation; murmuring; sorrow; grief; disease; illness; disorder; malady; ailment.
COMPLAINTFUL Com*plaint"ful, a.
Defn: Full of complaint. [Obs.]
COMPLAISANCE Com"plai*sance`, n. Etym: [F. complaisance. See Complaisant, and cf. Complacence.]
Defn: Disposition to please or oblige; obliging compliance with the wishes of others; a deportment indicative of a desire to please; courtesy; civility. These [ladies] . . . are by the just complaisance and gallantry of our nation the most powerful part of our people. Addison. They strive with their own hearts and keep them down, In complaisance to all the fools in town. Young.
Syn. -- Civility; courtesy; urbanity; suavity; affability; good breeding.
COMPLAISANT Com"plai*sant, a. Etym: [F. complaisant, p. pr. of complaire to acquiesce as a favor, fr. L. complacere. See Complacent.]
Defn: Desirous to please; courteous; obliging; compliant; as, a complaisant gentleman. There are to whom my satire seems too bold: Scarce to wise Peter complaisant enough. Pope.
Syn. -- Obliging; courteous; affable; gracious; civil; polite; well-bred. See Obliging. -- Com"plai*sant`ly, adv. -- Com"plai*sant`ness, n.
COMPLANAR Com*pla"nar, a.
Defn: See Coplanar.
COMPLANATE Com"pla*nate ( or , a. Etym: [L. complanatus, p. p. of complanare to make plane. See Plane, v. t.]
Defn: Flattened to a level surface. [R.]
COMPLANATE Com"pla*nate, v. t.
Defn: To make level. [R.]
COMPLECTED Com*plect"ed, a.
Defn: Complexioned. [Low, New Eng.]
COMPLEMENT Com"ple*ment, n. Etym: [L. complementun: cf. F. complément. See Complete, v. t., and cf. Compliment.]
1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required to fill a thing or make it complete.
2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a symmetrical whole. History is the complement of poetry. Sir J. Stephen.
3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness. To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one hundred and twenty persons. Hakluyt.
4. (Math.)
Defn: A second quantity added to a given quantity to make equal to a third given quantity.
5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.] Without vain art or curious complements. Spenser.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: The whole working force of a vessel.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.
8. A compliment. [Obs.] Shak. Arithmetical compliment of a logarithm. See under Logarithm. -- Arithmetical complement of a number (Math.), the difference between that number and the next higher power of 10; as, 4 is the complement of 6, and 16 of 84. -- Complement of an arc or angle (Geom.), the difference between that arc or angle and 90º. -- Complement of a parallelogram. (Math.) See Gnomon. -- In her complement (Her.), said of the moon when represented as full.
COMPLEMENT Com"ple*ment, v. t.
1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.]
2. To compliment. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
COMPLEMENTAL Com`ple*men"tal, a.
1. Supplying, or tending to supply, a deficiency; fully completing. "Complemental ceremony." Prynne.
2. Complimentary; courteous. [Obs.] Shak. Complemental air (Physiol.), the air (averaging 100 cubic inches) which can be drawn into the lungs in addition to the tidal air, by the deepest possible inspiration. -- Complemental males (Zoöl.), peculiar small males living parasitically on the ordinary hermaphrodite individuals of certain barnacles.
COMPLEMENTARY Com`ple*men"ta"ry, a.
Defn: Serving to fill out or to complete; as, complementary numbers. Complementary colors. See under Color. -- Complementary angles (Math.), two angles whose sum is 90°.
COMPLEMENTARY Com`ple*men"ta*ry, n. Etym: [See Complimentary.]
Defn: One skilled in compliments. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
COMPLETE Com"plete", a. Etym: [L. completus, p. p. of complere to fill. See Full, a., and cf. Comply, Compline.]
1. Filled up; with no part or element lacking; free from deficienty; entire; perfect; consummate. "Complete perfections." Milton. Ye are complete in him. Col. ii. 10. That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revesit'st thus the glimpses of the moon. Shak.
2. Finished; ended; concluded; completed; as, the edifice is complete. This course of vanity almost complete. Prior.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Having all the parts or organs which belong to it or to the typical form; having calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.
Syn. -- See Whole.
COMPLETE Com*plete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Completed; p. pr. & vb. n. Completing.]
Defn: To bring to a state in which there is no deficiency; to perfect; to consummate; to accomplish; to fulfill; to finish; as, to complete a task, or a poem; to complete a course of education. Bred only and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence. Milton. And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate. Pope.
Syn. -- To perform; execute; terminate; conclude; finish; end; fill up; achieve; realize; effect; consummate; accomplish; effectuate; fulfill; bring to pass.
COMPLETELY Com*plete"ly, adv.
Defn: In a complete manner; fully.
COMPLETEMENT Com*plete"ment, n.
Defn: Act of completing or perfecting; completion. [Obs.] Dryden.
COMPLETENESS Com*plete"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being complete.
COMPLETION Com*ple"tion, n. Etym: [L. completio a filling, a fulfillment.]
1. The act or process of making complete; the getting through to the end; as, the completion of an undertaking, an education, a service. The completion of some repairs. Prescott.
2. State of being complete; fulfillment; accomplishment; realization. Predictions receiving their completion in Christ. South.
COMPLETIVE Com*ple"tive, a. Etym: [L. completivus: cf. F. compl.]
Defn: Making complete. [R.] J. Harris.
COMPLETORY Com*ple"to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to fulfill. Completory of ancient presignifications. Barrow.
COMPLETORY Com"ple*to"ry ( or ), n. Etym: [L. completorium.] (Eccl.)
Defn: Same as Compline.
COMPLEX Com"plex, a. Etym: [L. complexus, p. p. of complecti to entwine around, comprise; com- + plectere to twist, akin to plicare to fold. See Plait, n.]
1. Composed of two or more parts; composite; not simple; as, a complex being; a complex idea. Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call complex; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe. Locke.
2. Involving many parts; complicated; intricate. When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is difficult and complex. Whewell. Complex fraction. See Fraction. -- Complex number (Math.), in the theory of numbers, an expression of the form a + bsq. root-1, when a and b are ordinary integers.
Syn. -- See Intricate.
COMPLEX Com"plex, n. Etym: [L. complexus]
Defn: Assemblage of related things; colletion; complication. This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel. South. Complex of lines (Geom.), all the possible straight lines in space being considered, the entire system of lines which satisfy a single relation constitute a complex; as, all the lines which meet a given curve make up a complex. The lines which satisfy two relations constitute a congruency of lines; as, the entire system of lines, each one of which meets two given surfaces, is a congruency.
COMPLEXED Com*plexed", a.
Defn: Complex, complicated. [Obs.] "Complexed significations." Sir T. Browne.
COMPLEXEDNESS Com*plex"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being complex or involved; complication. The complexedness of these moral ideas. Locke.
COMPLEXION Com*plex"ion, n. Etym: [F. complexion, fr. L. complexio. See Complex, a.]
1. The state of being complex; complexity. [Obs.] Though the terms of propositions may be complex, yet . . . it is proprly called a simple syllogism, since the complexion does not belong to the syllogistic form of it. I. Watts.
2. A combination; a complex. [Archaic] This paragraph is . . . a complexion of sophisms. Coleridge.
3. The bodily constitution; the temperament; habitude, or natural disposition; character; nature. [Obs.] If his complexion incline him to melancholy. Milton. It is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. Shak.
4. The color or hue of the skin, esp. of the face. Tall was her stature, her complexion dark. Wordswoorth. Between the pale complexion of true love, And the red glow of scron and proud disdain. Shak.
5. The general appearance or aspect; as, the complexion of the sky; the complexion of the news.
COMPLEXIONAL Com*plex"ion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to constitutional complexion. A moral rather than a complexional timidity. Burke.
COMPLEXIONALLY Com*plex"ion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Constitutionally. [R.] Though corruptible, not complexionally vicious. Burke.
COMPLEXIONARY Com*plex"ion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the complexion, or to the care of it. Jer. Taylor.
COMPLEXIONED Com*plex"ioned, a.
Defn: Having (such) a complexion; -- used in composition; as, a dark- complexioned or a ruddy-complexioned person. A flower is the best-complexioned grass, as a pearl is the best- colored clay. Fuller.
COMPLEXITY Com*plex"i*ty, n.; pl. Complexities. Etym: [Cf. F. complexité.]
1. The state of being complex; intricacy; entanglement. The objects of society are of the greatest possible complexity. Burke.
2. That which is complex; intricacy; complication. Many-corridored complexities Of Arthur's palace. Tennyson.
COMPLEXLY Com"plex`ly, adv.
Defn: In a complex manner; not simply.
COMPLEXNESS Com"plex`ness, n.
Defn: The state of being complex; complexity. A. Smith.
COMPLEXUS Com*plex"us, n. Etym: [L., an embracing.]
Defn: A complex; an aggregate of parts; a complication.
COMPLIABLE Com*pli"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of bending or yielding; apt to yield; compliant. Another compliable mind. Milton. The Jews . . . had made their religion compliable, and accemodated to their passions. Jortin.
COMPLIANCE Com*pli"ance, n. Etym: [See Comply.]
1. The act of complying; a yielding; as to a desire, demand, or proposal; concession; submission. What compliances will remove dissension Swift. Ready compliance with the wishes of his people. Macaulay.
2. A disposition to yield to others; complaisance. A man of few words and of great compliance. Clarendon.
Syn. -- Concession; submission; consent; obedience; performance; execution; acqquiescence; assent.
COMPLIANCY Com*pli"an*cy, n.
Defn: Compliance; disposition to yield to others. Goldsmith.
COMPLIANT Com*pli"ant, a.
Defn: Yielding; bending; pliant; submissive. "The compliant boughs." Milton.
COMPLIANTLY Com*pli"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a compliant manner.
COMPLICACY Com"pli*ca*cy, n.
Defn: A state of being complicate or intricate. Mitford.
COMPLICANT Com"pli*cant, a. Etym: [L. complicans, p. pr.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Overlapping, as the elytra of certain beetles.
COMPLICATE Com"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. complicatus, p. p. of complicare to fold together. See Complex.]
1. Composed of two or more parts united; complex; complicated; involved. How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, How complicate, how wonderful is man! Young.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Folded together, or upon itself, with the fold running lengthwise.
COMPLICATE Com"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Complicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Complicating.]
Defn: To fold or twist together; to combine intricately; to make complex; to combine or associate so as to make intricate or difficult. Nor can his complicated sinews fail. Young. Avarice and luxury very often become one complicated principle of action. Addison. When the disease is complicated with other diseases. Arbuthnot.
COMPLICATELY Com"pli*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a complex manner.
COMPLICATENESS Com"pli*cate*ness, n.
Defn: Complexity. Sir M. Hale.
COMPLICATION Com`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. compliasion: cf. F. complication.]
1. The act or process of complicating; the state of being complicated; intricate or confused relation of parts; entaglement; complexity. A complication of diseases. Macaulay. Through and beyond these dark complications of the present, the New England founders looked to the great necessities of future times. Palfrey.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A disease or diseases, or adventitious circumstances or conditions, coexistent with and modifying a primary disease, but not necessarily connected with it.
COMPLICE Com"plice, n.; pl. Complices. Etym: [F., fr. L. complex, -plicis, closely connected with one, confederate. See Complicate, and cf. Accomplice.]
Defn: An accomplice. [Obs.] To quell the rebels and their complices. Shak.
COMPLICITY Com*plic"i*ty, n.; pl. Complicities. Etym: [F. complicité.]
Defn: The state of being an accomplice; participation in guilt.
COMPLIER Com*pli"er, n.
Defn: One who complies, yields, or obeys; one of an easy, yieldy temper. Swift.
COMPLIMENT Com"pli*ment, n. Etym: [F. compliment. It complimento, fr. comlire to compliment, finish, suit, fr. L. complere to fill up. See Complete, and cf. Complement.]
Defn: An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard, confidence, civility, or admiration; a flattering speech or attention; a ceremonious greeting; as, to send one's compliments to a friend. Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and lies. Milton. Many a compliment politely penned. Cowper. To make one a compliment, to show one respect; to praise one in a flattering way.Locke. -- To make one's compliments to, to offer formal courtesias to. -- To stand on compliment, to treat with ceremony.
Syn. -- See Adulation.
COMPLIMENT Com"pli*ment, v. t.
Defn: To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation, respect, or congratulation; to make or pay a compliment to. Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . . Should compliment their foes and shun their friends. Prior.
Syn. -- To praise; flatter; adulate; commend.
COMPLIMENT Com"pli*ment, v. i.
Defn: To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of respect. I make the interlocutors, upon occasion, compliment with one another. Boyle.
COMPLIMENTAL Com`pli*men"tal, a.
Defn: Complimentary. [Obs.] Languages . . . grow rich and abundant in complimental phrases, and such froth. Sir H. Wotton. -- Com`pli*men"tal*ly, adv. [Obs.] Boyle. -- Com`pli*men"tal*ness, n. [Obs.] Hammond.
COMPLIMENTARY Com`pli*men"ta*ry, a.
Defn: Expressive of regard or praise; of the nature of, or containing, a compliment; as, a complimentary remark; a complimentary ticket. "Complimentary addresses." Prescott.
COMPLIMENTATIVE Com`pli*men"ta*tive, a.
Defn: Complimentary. [R.] Boswell.
COMPLIMENTER Com"pli*ment`er, n.
Defn: One who compliments; one given to complimenting; a flatterer.
COMPLINE; COMPLIN Com"pline, Com"plin, n. Etym: [From OE. complie, OF. complie, F. complies, pl., fr. LL. completa (prop. fem. of L. completus) the religious exercise which completes and closes the service of the day. See Complete.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The last division of the Roman Catholic breviary; the seventh and last of the canonical hours of the Western church; the last prayer of the day, to be said after sunset. The custom of godly man been to shut up the evening with a compline of prayer at nine of the night. Hammond.
COMPLOT Com"plot, n. Etym: [F. complot, prob. for comploit, fr.L. complicitum, prop. p. p. of complicare, but equiv. to complicatio complication, entangling. See Complicate, and cf. Plot.]
Defn: A plotting together; a confederacy in some evil design; a conspiracy. I know their complot is to have my life. Shak.
COMPLOT Com*plot", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Complotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Complotting.] Etym: [Cf. F. comploter, fr. complot.]
Defn: To plot or plan together; to conspire; to join in a secret design. We find them complotting together, and contriving a new scence of miseries to the Trojans. Pope.
COMPLOTMENT Com*plot"ment, n.
Defn: A plotting together. [R.]
COMPLOTTER Com*plot"ter, n.
Defn: One joined in a plot. Dryden.
COMPLUTENSIAN Com`plu*ten"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Complutum (now Alcala de Henares) a city near Madrid; as, the Complutensian Bible.
COMPLUVIUM Com*plu"vi*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: A space left unroofed over the court of a Roman dwelling, through which the rain fell into the impluvium or cistern.
COMPLY Com*ply", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Complied; p. pr. & vb. n. Complying.] Etym: [Perh. formed fr. compliment, influenced by ply, pliant, which are of different origin: cf. It. complire to compliment, finish, suit. See Compliment, Complete.]
1. To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's self; to consent or conform; -- usually followed by with. Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply, Scandalous or forbidden in our law. Milton. They did servilely comply with the people in worshiping God by sensible images. Tillotson. He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still. Hudibras.
2. To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPLY Com*ply", v. t. Etym: [See comply, v. i.]
1. To fulfill; to accomplish. [Obs.] Chapman.
2. Etym: [Cf. L. complicare to fold up. See Ply.]
Defn: To infold; to embrace. [Obs.] Seemed to comply, Cloudlike, the daintie deitie. Herrick.
COMPO Com"po, n.; pl. -pos (#).
Defn: Short for Composition; -- used, esp. in England, colloq. in various trade applications; as : (a) A mortar made of sand and cement. (b) A carver's mixture of resin, whiting, and glue, used instead of plaster of Paris for ornamenting walls and cornices. (c) A composition for billiard balls. (d) A preparation of which printer's rollers are made. (e) A preparation used in currying leather. (f) Composition paid by a debtor.
COMPONE Com*pone", v. t. Etym: [L. componere. See Compound.]
Defn: To compose; to settle; to arrange. [Obs.] A good pretense for componing peace. Strype.
COMPONE Com*po"ne, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Compony.
COMPONENT Com*po"nent, a. Etym: [L. componens, p. pr. of componere. See Compound, v. t.]
Defn: Serving, or helping, to form; composing; constituting; constituent. The component parts of natural bodies. Sir I. Newton.
COMPONENT Com*po"nent, n.
Defn: A constituent part; an ingredient. Component of force (Mech.), a force which, acting conjointly with one or more forces, produces the effect of a single force or resultant; one of a number of forces into which a single force may be resolved.
COMPONY; COMPONE Com*po"ny, Com*po"né, a. Etym: [F. componé.] (Her.)
Defn: Divided into squares of alternate tinctures in a single row; -- said of any bearing; or, in the case of a bearing having curved lines, divided into patches of alternate colors following the curve. If there are two rows it is called counter-compony.
COMPORT Com*port", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Comported; p. pr. & vb. n. Comporting.] Etym: [F. comporter, LL. comportare, fr.L. comportare to bring together; com- + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.]
1. To bear or endure; to put up (with); as, to comport with an injury. [Obs.] Barrow.
2. To agree; to accord; to suit; -- sometimes followed by with. How ill this dullness doth comport with greatness. Beau. & Fl. How their behavior herein comported with the institution. Locke.
COMPORT Com*port", v. t.
1. To bear; to endure; to brook; to put with. [Obs.] The malcontented sort That never can the present state comport. Daniel.
2. To carry; to conduct; -- with a reflexive pronoun. Observe how Lord Somers . . . comported himself. Burke.
COMPORT Com"port (, formerly , n. Etym: [Cf.OF. comport.]
Defn: Manner of acting; behavior; conduct; deportment. [Obs.] I knew them well, and marked their rude comport. Dryden.
COMPORTABLE Com*port"a*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable; consistent. [Obs.] "Some comportable method." Wotton.
COMPORTANCE Com*port"ance, n.
Defn: Behavior; comport. [Obs.] Goodly comportance each to other bear. Spenser.
COMPORTATION Com`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. comportatio.]
Defn: A bringing together. [Obs.] Bp. Richardson.
COMPORTMENT Com*port"ment, n. Etym: [F. comportement.]
Defn: Manner of acting; behavior; bearing. A graceful comportment of their bodies. Cowley. Her serious and devout comportment. Addison.
COMPOSE Com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Composed; p. pr. & vb. n. Composing.] Etym: [F. composer; com- + poser to place. The sense is that of L. componere, but the prigin is different. See Pose, v. t.]
1. To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put together; to make up; to fashion. Zeal ought to be composed of the hidhest degrees of all pious affection. Bp. Sprat.
2. To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to constitute. Their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb. Milton. A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions. I. Watts.
3. To construct by mental labor; to design and execute, or put together, in a manner involving the adaptation of forms of expression to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or proportion; as, to compose a sentence, a sermon, a symphony, or a picture. Let me compose Something in verse as well as prose. Pope. The genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last Supper". B. R. Haydon.
4. To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate. In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. Dryden. How in safety best we may Compose our present evils. Milton.
5. To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe; to calm; to quiet. Compose thy mind; Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed. Dryden.
6. (Print.)
Defn: To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing; to set (type).
COMPOSE Com*pose", v. i.
Defn: To come to terms. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPOSED Com*posed", a.
Defn: Free from agitation; calm; sedate; quiet; tranquil; self- possessed. The Mantuan there in sober triumph sate, Composed his posture, and his look sedate. Pope. -- Com*pos"ed*ly (, adv. -- Com*pos"ed*ness, n.
COMPOSER Com*pos"er, n.
1. One who composes; an author. Specifically, an author of a piece of music. If the thoughts of such authors have nothing in them, they at least . . . show an honest industry and a good intention in the composer. Addison. His [Mozart's] most brilliant and solid glory is founded upon his talents as a composer. Moore (Encyc. of Mus. ).
2. One who, or that which, quits or calms; one who adjust a difference. Sweet composes of the pensive sGay.
COMPOSING Com*pos"ing, a.
1. Tending to compose or soothe.
2. Pertaining to, or used in, composition. Composing frame (Print.), a stand for holding cases of type when in use. -- Composing rule (Print.), a thin slip of brass or steel, against which the type is arranged in a composing stick, or by the aid of which stickfuls or handfuls or type are lifted; -- called also setting rule. -- Composing stick (Print.), an instrument usually of metal, which the compositor holds in his left hand, and in which he arranges the type in words and lines. It has one open side, and one adjustable end by means of which the length of the lines, and consequently the width of the page or column, may be determined.
COMPOSITAE Com*pos"i*tæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. compositus made up of parts. See Composite.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large family of dicotyledonous plants, having their flowers arranged in dense heads of many small florets and their anthers united in a tube. The daisy, dandelion, and asters, are examples.
COMPOSITE Com*pos"ite, a. Etym: [L. compositus made up of parts, p. p. of componere. See Compound, v. t., and cf. Compost.]
1. Made up of distinct parts or elements; compounded; as, a composite language. Happiness, like air and water . . . is composite. Landor.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Belonging to a certain order which is composed of the Ionic order grafted upon the Corinthian. It is called also the Roman or the Italic order, and is one of the five orders recognized by the Italian writers of the sixteenth century. See Capital.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the order Compositæ; bearing involucrate heads of many small florets, as the daisy, thistle, and dandelion. Composite carriage, a railroad car having compartments of different classes. [Eng.] -- Composite number (Math.), one which can be divided exactly by a number exceeding unity, as 6 by 2 or 3.prime number. -- Composite photograph or portrait, one made by a combination, or blending, of several distinct photographs. F. Galton. -- Composite sailing (Naut.), a combination of parallel and great circle sailing. -- Composite ship, one with a wooden casing and iron frame.
COMPOSITE Com*pos"ite, n.
Defn: That which is made up of parts or compounded of several elements; composition; combination; compound. [R.]
COMPOSITION Com`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [F. composition, fr. L. compositio. See Composite.]
1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients. In specific uses: (a) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a piece of music. "The constant habit of elaborate composition." Macaulay. (b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the different parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work of art considered as such. See 4, below. (c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin, German, etc. (d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing.
2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction; combination; adjustment. View them in composition with other things. I. Watts. The elementary composition of bodies. Whewell.
3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a chemical composition. A omposition that looks . . . like marble. Addison.
4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary essay or translation done as an educational exercise.
5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.] There is no composition in these news That gives them credit. Shak.
6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of settlement; agreement. Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written. Shak.
7. (Law)
Defn: The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment. Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. Hallam. Cleared by composition with their creditors. Blackstone.
8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis. The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought ever to precede the method of composition. Sir I. Newton. Composition cloth, a kind of clotch covered with a preparation making it waterproof. -- Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a debtor and several creditors. -- Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions. -- Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force (called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions. Herbert. -- Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called Muntz metal and yellow metal. -- Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four proportionals so that the sum of the arrangement of four proportionals so that the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth.COMPOSITIVE Com*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. compositivus.]
Defn: Having the quality of entering into composition; compounded. [R.]
COMPOSITIVE Com*pos"i*tive, a. [L. compositivus.]
Defn: Having the quality of entering into composition; compounded. [R.]
COMPOSITOR Com*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., an arranger.]
1. One who composes or sets in order.
2. (Print.)
Defn: One who sets type and arranges it for use.
COMPOSITOUS Com*pos"i*tous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Compositæ; composite. [R.] Darwin.
COMPOS-MENTIS Com"pos-men"tis, n.
Defn: One who is compos mentis. [Colloq.]
COMPOSSIBLE Com*pos"si*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. com- + possible.]
Defn: Able to exist with another thing; consistent. [R.] Chillingworth.
COMPOST Com"post, n.Etym: [OF. compost, fr. L. compositus, p. p. See Composite.]
1. A mixture; a compound. [R.] A sad compost of more bitter than sweet. Hammond.
2. (Agric.)
Defn: A mixture for fertilizing land; esp., a composition of various substances (as muck, mold, lime, and stable manure) thoroughly mingled and decomposed, as in a compost heap. And do not spread the compost on the weeds To make them ranker. Shak.
COMPOST Com"post, v. t.
1. To manure with compost.
2. To mingle, as different fertilizing substances, in a mass where they will decompose and form into a compost.
COMPOSTURE Com*pos"ture, n. Etym: [L. compositura, -postura, a joining.]
Defn: Manure; compost. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPOSURE Com*po"sure, n. Etym: [From Compose.]
1. The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition. [Obs.] Signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure [in music] and teaching. Evelyn.
2. Orderly adjustment; disposition. [Obs.] Various composures and combinations of these corpuscles. Woodward.
3. Frame; make; temperament. [Obs.] His composure must be rare indeed Whom these things can not blemish. Shak.
4. A settled state; calmness; sedateness; tranquillity; repose. "We seek peace and composure." Milton. When the passions . . . are all silent, the mind enjoys its most perfect composure. I. Watts.
5. A combination; a union; a bond. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPOTATION Com`po*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. compotatio; com- + potare to drink.]
Defn: The act of drinking or tippling together. [R.] The fashion of compotation. Sir W. Scott.
COMPOTATOR Com"po*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who drinks with another. [R.] Pope.
COMPOTE Com"pote, n. Etym: [F. See Compost.]
Defn: A preparation of fruit in sirup in such a manner as to preserve its form, either whole, halved, or quartered; as, a compote of pears. Littr
COMPOTIER Com`po`tier" (kôN`po`tya"), n.; pl. Compotiers (F. tya"). [F.]
Defn: A dish for holding compotes, fruit, etc.
COMPOUND Com"pound, n. Etym: [Malay kompund a village.]
Defn: In the East Indies, an inclosure containing a house, outbuildings, etc.
COMPOUND Com*pound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Compounding.] Etym: [OE. componen, compounen, L. componere, compositum; com-+ ponere to put set. The d is excrescent. See Position, and cf. Componé.]
1. To form or make by combining different elements, ingredients, or parts; as, to compound a medicine. Incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort. Sir W. Scott.
2. To put together, as elements, ingredients, or parts, in order to form a whole; to combine, mix, or unite. We have the power of altering and compounding those images into all the varieties of picture. Addison.
3. To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part; to mingle with something else. Only compound me with forgotten dust. Shak.
4. To compose; to constitute. [Obs.] His pomp and all what state compounds. Shak.
5. To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise; to discharge from obligation upon terms different from those which were stipulated; as, to compound a debt. I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife. Shak. To compound a felony, to accept of a consideration for forbearing to prosecute, such compounding being an indictable offense. See Theftbote.
COMPOUND Com*pound", v. i.
Defn: To effect a composition; to come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; -- usually followed by with before the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the consideration. Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; . . . compound with him by the year. Shak. They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower. Clarendon. Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty pounds. R. Carew. Compound for sins they are inclined to By damning those they have no mind to. Hudibras.
COMPOUND Com"pound, a. Etym: [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See Compound, v. t.]
Defn: Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as, a compound word. Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances. I. Watts. Compound addition, substraction, multiplication, division (Arith.), the addition, substraction, etc., of compound numbers. -- Compound crystal (Crystallog.), a twin crystal, or one seeming to be made up of two or more crystals combined according to regular laws of composition. -- Compound engine (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which the steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder is made to do further service in a larger low-pressure cylinder, sometimes in several larger cylinders, successively. -- Compound ether. (Chem.) See under Ether. -- Compound flower (Bot.), a flower head resembling a single flower, but really composed of several florets inclosed in a common calyxlike involucre, as the sunflower or dandelion. -- Compound fraction. (Math.) See Fraction. -- Compound fracture. See Fracture. -- Compound householder, a householder who compounds or arranges with his landlord that his rates shall be included in his rents. [Eng.] -- Compound interest. See Interest. -- Compound larceny. (Law) See Larceny. -- Compound leaf (Bot.), a leaf having two or more separate blades or leaflets on a common leafstalk. -- Compound microscope. See Microscope. -- Compound motion. See Motion. -- Compound number (Math.), one constructed according to a varying scale of denomination; as, 3 cwt., 1 qr., 5 lb.; -- called also denominate number. -- Compound pier (Arch.), a clustered column. -- Compound quantity (Alg.), a quantity composed of two or more simple quantities or terms, connected by the sign + (plus) or - (minus). Thus, a + b - c, and bb - b, are compound quantities. -- Compound radical. (Chem.) See Radical. -- Compound ratio (Math.), the product of two or more ratios; thus ab:cd is a ratio compounded of the simple ratios a:c and b:d. -- Compound rest (Mech.), the tool carriage of an engine lathe. -- Compound screw (Mech.), a screw having on the same axis two or more screws with different pitch (a differential screw), or running in different directions (a right and left screw). -- Compound time (Mus.), that in which two or more simple measures are combined in one; as, 6-8 time is the joining of two measures of 3-8 time. -- Compound word, a word composed of two or more words; specifically, two or more words joined together by a hyphen.
COMPOUND Com"pound, n.
1. That which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture of elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of simples; a compound word; the result of composition. Shak. Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun. Goldsmith. When the word "bishopric" was first made, it was made as a compound. Earle.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen.
Note: Every definite chemical compound always contains the same elements, united in the same proportions by weight, and with the same internal arrangement. Binary compound (Chem.). See under Binary. -- Carbon compounds (Chem.). See under Carbon.
COMPOUNDABLE Com*pound"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be compounded.
COMPOUND CONTROL Com"pound con*trol". (Aëronautics)
Defn: A system of control in which a separate manipulation, as of a rudder, may be effected by either of two movements, in different directions, of a single lever, etc.
COMPOUNDER Com*pound"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, compounds or mixes; as, a compounder of medicines.
2. One who attempts to bring persons or parties to terms of agreement, or to accomplish, ends by compromises. "Compounder in politics." Burke.
3. One who compounds a debt, obligation, or crime. Religious houses made compounders For the horrid actions of their founders. Hudibras.
4. One at a university who pays extraordinary fees for the degree he is to take. [Eng.] A. Wood.
5. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A Jacobite who favored the restoration of James II, on condition of a general amnesty and of guarantees for the security of the civil and ecclesiastical constitution of the realm.
COMPRADOR Com`pra*dor, n. Etym: [Pg., a buyer.]
Defn: A kind of steward or agent. [China] S. W. Williams
COMPRECATION Com`pre*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. comprecatio, fr. comprecari to pray to. See Precarious.]
Defn: A praying together. [Obs.] Bp. Wilkins.
COMPREHEND Com`pre*hend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Comprehending.] Etym: [L. comprehendere, comprehensum; com- + prehendere to grasp, seize; prae before + hendere (used only in comp.). See Get, and cf. Comprise.]
1. To contain; to embrace; to include; as, the states comprehended in the Austrian Empire. Who hath . . . comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure. Is. xl. 12.
2. To take in or include by construction or implication; to comprise; to imply. Comprehended all in this one word, Discretion. Hobbes. And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying. Rom. xiii. 9.
3. To take into the mind; to grasp with the understanding; to apprehend the meaning of; to understand. At a loss to comprehend the question. W. Irwing. Great things doeth he, which we can not comprehend. Job. xxxvii. 5.
Syn. -- To contain; include; embrace; comprise; inclose; grasp; embody; involve; imply; apprehend; imagine; conceive; understand. See Apprehend.
COMPREHENSIBILITY Com`pre*hen`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being comprehensible; capability of being understood.
COMPREHENSIBLE Com"pre*hen"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. comprehensibilis: cf. F. compreéhensible.]
1. Capable of being comprehended, included, or comprised. Lest this part of knowledge should seem to any not comprehensible by axiom, we will set down some heads of it. Bacon.
2. Capable of being understood; intelligible; conceivable by the mind. The horizon sets the bounds . . . between what is and what is not comprehensible by us. Locke.
COMPREHENSIBLENESS Com`pre*hen"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being comprehensible; comprehensibility.
COMPREHENSIBLY Com`pre*hen"si*bly, adv.
1. With great extent of signification; comprehensively. Tillotson.
2. Intelligibly; in a manner to be comprehended or understood.
COMPREHENSION Com`pre*hen"sion, n. Etym: [L. comprehensio: cf. F. compréhension.]
1. The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion. In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in the New, an open discovery of the Old. Hooker.
2. That which is comrehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a summary; an epitome. [Obs.] Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of them. Chillingworth.
3. The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power, act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception; understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract principles.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified by a general term.
5. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.
COMPREHENSIVE Com`pre*hen"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. compréhensif.]
1. Including much; comprising many things; having a wide scope or a full view. A very comprehensive definition. Bentley. Large and comprehensive idea. Channing.
2. Having the power to comprehend or understand many things. "His comprehensive head." Pope.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Possessing peculiarities that are characteristic of several diverse groups.
Note: The term is applied chiefly to early fossil groups which have a combination of structures that appear in more fully developed or specialized forms in later groups. Synthetic, as used by Agssiz, is nearly synonymous.
Syn. -- Extensive; wide; large; full; compendious.
COMPREHENSIVELY Com`pre*hen"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a comprehensive manner; with great extent of scope.
COMPREHENSIVENESS Com`pre*hen"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being comprehensive; extensiveness of scope. Compare the beauty and comprehensiveness of legends on ancient coins. Addison.
COMPREHENSOR Com`pre*hen"sor, n.
Defn: One who comprehends; one who has attained to a full knowledge. [Obs.] When I shall have dispatched this weary pilgrimage, and from a traveler shall come to be a comprehensor, farewell faith and welcome vision. Bp. Hall.
COMPRESS Com*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compressed; p. pr & vb. n. Compressing.] Etym: [L. compressus, p. p. of comprimere to compress: com- + premere to press. See Press.]
1. To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water. Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life. D. Webster. The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through his historical harangues. Melmoth.
2. To embrace sexually. [Obs.] Pope.
Syn. -- To crowd; squeeze; condense; reduce; abridge.
COMPRESS Com"press, n. Etym: [F. compresse.] (Surg.)
Defn: A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to make due pressure on any part.
COMPRESSED Com*pressed", a.
1. Pressed together; compacted; reduced in volume by pressure.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Flattened lengthwise. Compessed air engine, an engine operated by the elastic force of compressed air.
COMPRESSED YEAST Com*pressed" yeast.
Defn: A cake yeast made by filtering the cells from the liquid in which they are grown, subjecting to heavy pressure, and mixing with starch or flour.
COMPRESSIBILITY Com*press`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. compressibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being compressible of being compressible; as, the compressibility of elastic fluids.
COMPRESSIBLE Com*press"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. compressible.]
Defn: Capable of being pressed together or forced into a narrower compass, as an elastic or spongy substance.
COMPRESSIBLENESS Com*press"ible*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being compressible; compressibility.
COMPRESSION Com*pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. compressio: cf. F. compression.]
Defn: The act of compressing, or state of being compressed. "Compression of thought." Johnson.
COMPRESSION PROJECTILE Com*pres"sion pro*jec"tile.
Defn: A projectile constructed so as to take the grooves of a rifle by means of a soft copper band firmly attached near its base or, formerly, by means of an envelope of soft metal. In small arms the modern projectile, having a soft core and harder jacket, is subjected to compression throughout the entire cylindrical part.
COMPRESSIVE Com*press"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. compressif.]
Defn: Compressing, or having power or tendency to compress; as, a compressive force.
COMPRESSOR Com*press"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Anything which serves to compress; as: (a) (Anat.) A muscle that compresses certain parts. (b) (Surg.) An instrument for compressing an artery (esp., the femoral artery) or other part. (c) An apparatus for confining or flattening between glass plates an object to be examined with the microscope; -- called also compressorium. (d) (Mach.) A machine for compressing gases; especially, an air compressor.
COMPRESSURE Com*pres"sure, n.
Defn: Compression.
COMPRINT Com*print", v. t. & i.
1. To print together.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: To print surreptitiously a work belonging to another. E. Phillips.
COMPRINT Com"print, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: The surreptitious printing of another's copy or book; a work thus printed.
COMPRISAL Com*pris"al, n.
Defn: The act of comprising or comprehending; a compendium or epitome. A comprisal . . . and sum of all wickedness. Barrow.
COMPRISE Com*prise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comprised; p. pr. & vb. n. Comprising.] Etym: [From F. compris, comprise, p. p. of comprendre, L. comprehendere. See Comprehend.]
Defn: To comprehend; to include. Comprise much matter in few words. Hocker. Friendship does two souls in one comprise. Roscommon.
Syn. -- To embrace; include; comprehend; contain; encircle; inclose; involve; imply.
COMPROBATE Com"pro*bate, v. i. Etym: [L. comprobatus, p. p. of comprobare, to approve wholly.]
Defn: To agree; to concur. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
COMPROBATION Com`pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. comprobatio.]
1. Joint attestation; proof. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. Approbation. [Obs.] Foxe.
COMPROMISE Com"pro*mise, n. Etym: [F. compromis, fr. L. compromissum a mutual promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, fr. compromittere to make such a promise; com- + promittere to promise. See Promise.]
1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of arbitrators. [Obs.] Burrill.
2. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands or rights, resulting in an agreement. But basely yielded upon compromise That which his noble ancestors achieved with blows. Shak. All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter. Burke. An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing characteristic of religious factions. Hallam.
3. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of character or right. I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim and title to them. Lamb.
COMPROMISE Com"pro*mise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compromised; p. pr. & vb. n. Compromising.] Etym: [From Compromise, n.; cf. Compromit.]
1. To bind by mutual agreement; to agree. [Obs.] Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings which were streaked and pied Should fall as Jacob's hire. Shak.
2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound. The controversy may easily be compromised. Fuller.
3. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life, reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to expose to suspicion. To pardon all who had been compromised in the late disturbances. Motley.
COMPROMISE Com"pro*mise, v. i.
1. To agree; to accord. [Obs.]
2. To make concession for concilation and peace.
COMPROMISER Com"pro*mi`ser, n.
Defn: One who compromises.
COMPROMISSORIAL Com`pro*mis*so"ri*al, a.
Defn: Relating to compromise. [R.] Chalmers.
COMPROMIT Com"pro*mit`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compromitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Compromitting.] Etym: [L. compromittere. See Compromise, n.]
1. To pledge by some act or declaration; to promise. State Trials (1529).
2. To put to hazard, by some indiscretion; to endanger; to compromise; as, to compromit the honor or the safety of a nation.
COMPROVINCIAL Com`pro*vin"cial, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or associated in, the same province. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: One who belongs to the same province. [Obs.] The six islands, comprovincial In ancient times unto Great Britain. Spenser.
COMPSOGNATHUS Comp*sog"na*thus ( , n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Dinosauria found in the Jurassic formation, and remarkable for having several birdlike features.
COMPT Compt (kount, formerly kòmt; 215), n. Etym: [F. compte. See Count an account.]
Defn: Account; reckoning; computation. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPT Compt, v. t. Etym: [F. compter. See Count, v. t.]
Defn: To compute; to count. [Obs.] See Count.
COMPT Compt, a. Etym: [L. comptus, p. p. of comere to care for, comb, arrange, adorn.]
Defn: Neat; spruce. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
COMPTER Compt"er, n.
Defn: A counter. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPTE RENDU Compte" ren`du. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A report of an officer or agent.
COMPTIBLE Compt"i*ble, a. Etym: [See Compt, v. t.]
Defn: Accountable; responsible; sensitive. [Obs.] I am very comptible even to the least sinister usage. Shak.
COMPTLY Compt"ly, adv.
Defn: Neatly. [Obs.] Sherwood.
COMPTOGRAPH Comp"to*graph, n. [F. compter to count + -graph.]
Defn: A machine for adding numbers and making a printed record of the sum.
COMPTOMETER Comp*tom"e*ter, n. [See Count; -meter.]
Defn: A calculating machine; an arithmometer.
COMPTROL Comp*trol", n. & v.
Defn: See Control.
COMPTROLER Comp*trol"er, n.
Defn: A controller; a public officer whose duty it is to examine certify accounts.
COMPULSATIVE Com*pul"sa*tive, a. Etym: [From L. compulsare, v. intens. of compellere. See Compel.]
Defn: Compulsatory. [R.] Shak.
COMPULSATIVELY Com*pul"sa*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By compulsion. [R.]
COMPULSATORY Com*pul"sa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Operating with force; compelling; forcing; constraininig; resulting from, or enforced by, compulsion. [R.] To recover of us, by strong hand And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands. Shak.
COMPULSION Com*pul"sion, n. Etym: [L. compulsio. See Compel.]
Defn: The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint; subjection to force. If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a reason upon compulsion. Shak. With what complusion and laborious flight We sunk thus low. Milton.
Syn. -- See Constraint.
COMPULSIVE Com*pul"sive, a.
Defn: Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion. Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives. Sharp.
COMPULSIVELY Com*pul"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: By compulsion; by force.
COMPULSORILY Com*pul"so*ri*ly, adv. In a compulsory manner
Defn: ; by force or constraint.
COMPULSORY Com*pul"so*ry, a. Etym: [LL. compulsorius.]
1. Having the power of compulsion; constraining.
2. Obligatory; enjoined by authority; necessary; due to complusion. This contribution therestening fall infinitely short of their hopes, they soon made it compulsory. Burke.
COMPUNCT Com*punct", a. Etym: [LL. compunctus, p. p.]
Defn: Affected with compunction; conscience-stricken. [Obs.]
COMPUNCTION Com*punc"tion, n. Etym: [OF. compunction, F. componction, L. compunctio, fr. compungere, compunctum, to prick; com- + pungere to prick, sting. See Pungent.]
1. A pricking; stimulation. [Obs.] That acid piecering spirit which, with such activity and compunction, invadeth the brains and nostrils. Sir T. Browne.
2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the sting of conscience. He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great compunction. Clarendon.
Syn. -- Compunction, Remorse, Contrition. Remorse is anguish of soul under a sense of guilt or consciousness of having offened God or brought evil upon one's self or others. Compunction is the pain occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them implies true contrition, which denotes self-condemnation, humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of remorse; of compunction for a specific act of transgression; of deep contrition in view of our past lives. See Regret.
COMPUNCTIONLESS Com*punc"tion*less, a.
Defn: Without compunction.
COMPUNCTIOUS Com*punc"tious, a.
Defn: Of the nature of compunction; caused by conscience; attended with, or causing, compunction. That no compunctious vistings of nature Shake my fell purpose. Shak.
COMPUNCTIOUSLY Com*punc"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: With compunction.
COMPUNCTIVE Com*punc"tive, a.
Defn: Sensitive in respect of wrongdoing; conscientious. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
COMPURGATION Com`pur*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. compurgatio, fr. compurgare to purify wholly; com- + purgare to make pure. See Purge, v. t.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The act or practice of justifying or confirming a man's veracity by the oath of others; -- called also wager of law. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.
2. Exculpation by testimony to one's veracity or innocence. He was privileged from his childhood from suspicion of incontinency and needed no compurgation. Bp. Hacket.
COMPURGATOR Com"pur*ga`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: One who bears testimony or swears to the veracity or innocence of another. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager. All they who know me . . . will say they have reason in this matter to be my compurgators. Chillingworth.
COMPURGATORIAL Com*pur`ga*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Relating to a compurgator or to compurgation. "Their compurgatorial oath." Milman.
COMPUTABLE Com*put"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. computabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being computed, numbered, or reckoned. Not easily computable by arithmetic. Sir M. Hale.
COMPUTATION Com`pu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. computatio: cf. F. computation.]
1. The act or process of computing; calculation; reckoning. By just computation of the time. Shak. By a computation backward from ourselves. Bacon.
2. The result of computation; the amount computed.
Syn. -- Reckoning; calculation; estimate; account.
COMPUTE Com*pute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Computed; p. pr. & vb. n. Computing.] Etym: [L. computare. See Count, v. t.]
Defn: To determine calculation; to reckon; to count. Two days, as we compute the days of heaven. Milton. What's done we partly may compute, But know not what's resisted. Burns.
Syn. -- To calculate; number; count; recken; estimate; enumerate; rate. See Calculate.
COMPUTE Com*pute", n. Etym: [L. computus: cf. F. comput.]
Defn: Computation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
COMPUTER Com*put"er, n.
Defn: One who computes.
COMPUTIST Com"pu*tist, n.
Defn: A computer.
COMRADE Com"rade ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Sp. camarada, fr. L. camara, a chamber; hence, a chamber-fellowship, and then a chamber-fellow: cf. F. camarade. Cf. Chamber.]
Defn: A mate, companion, or associate. And turned my flying comrades to the charge. J. Baillie. I abjure all roofs, and choose . . . To be a comrade with the wolf and owl. Shak.
COMRADERY Com"rade*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. camarederie.]
Defn: The spirit of comradeship; comradeship. [R.] "Certainly", said Dunham, with the comradery of the smoker. W. D. Howells.
COMRADESHIP Com"rade*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a comrade; intimate fellowship.
COMROGUE Com"rogue`, n.
Defn: A fellow rogue. [Obs.]
COMTISM Com"tism ( or ), n. Etym: [Named after the French philosopher, Auguste Comte.]
Defn: Positivism; the positive philosophy. See Positivism.
COMTIST Com"tist, n.
Defn: A disciple of Comte; a positivist.
CON; CON- Con
Defn: - (cum, signifying with, together, etc. See Com-.
CON Con, adv. Etym: [Abbrev. from L. contra against.]
Defn: Against the affirmative side; in opposition; on the negative side; -- The antithesis of pro, and usually in connection with it. See Pro.
CON Con, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conned; p. pr. & vb. n. Conning.] Etym: [AS. cunnan to know, be able, and (derived from this) cunnian to try, test. See Can, v. t. & i.]
1. To know; to understand; to acknowledge. [Obs.] Of muses, Hobbinol, I con no skill. Spenser. They say they con to heaven the highway. Spenser.
2. To study in order to know; to peruse; to learn; to commit to memory; to regard studiously. Fixedly did look Upon the muddy waters which he conned As if he had been reading in a book. Wodsworth. I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson. Burke. To con answer, to be able to answer. [Obs.] -- To con thanks, to thank; to acknowledge obligation. [Obs.] Shak.
CON Con, v. t. Etym: [See Cond.] (Naut.)
Defn: To conduct, or superintend the steering of (a vessel); to watch the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to steer.
CONACRE Con*a"cre, v. t.
Defn: To underlet a proportion of, for a single crop; -- said of a farm. [Ireland]
CONACRE Con*a"cre, n.
Defn: A system of letting a proportion of a farm for a single crop. [Ireland] Also used adjectively; as, the conacre system or principle. Mozley & W.
CONARIUM Co*na"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The pineal gland.
CONATION Co*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. conatio.] (Philos.)
Defn: The power or act which directs or impels to effort of any kind, whether muscular or psychical. Of conation, in other words, of desire and will. J. S. Mill.
CONATIVE Co"na*tive ( or ), a. Etym: [See Conatus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to conation. This division of mind into the three great classes of the cognitive faculties, the feelings, . . . and the exertive or conative powers, . . . was first promulgated by Kant. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONATUS Co*na"tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. conatus, p. p. of conari to attempt.]
Defn: A natural tendency inherent in a body to develop itself; an attempt; an effort. What conatus could give prickles to the porcupine or hedgehog, or to the sheep its fleece Paley.
CONCAMERATE Con*cam"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. concameratus, p. p. of concamerare to arch over. See Camber.]
1. To arch over; to vault. Of the upper beak an inch and a half consisteth of one concamerated bone. Grew.
2. To divide into chambers or cells. Woodward.
CONCAMERATION Con*cam`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. concameratio.]
1. An arch or vault.
2. A chamber of a multilocular shell. Glanvill.
CONCATENATE Con*cat"e*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concatenated; p. pr. & vb. n. Concatenating.] Etym: [L. concatenatus, p. p. of concatenare to concatenate. See Catenate.]
Defn: To link together; to unite in a series or chain, as things depending on one another. This all things friendly will concatenate. Dr. H. More
CONCATENATION Con*cat`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. concatenatio.]
Defn: A series of links united; a series or order of things depending on each other, as if linked together; a chain, a succession. The stoics affirmed a fatal, unchangeable concatenation of causes, reaching even to the illicit acts of man's will. South. A concatenation of explosions. W. Irving.
CONCAUSE Con*cause", n.
Defn: A joint cause. Fotherby.
CONCAVATION Con`ca*va"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making concave.
CONCAVE Con"cave ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. concavus; con- + cavus hollow: cf. F. concave. See Cave a hollow.]
1. Hollow and curved or rounded; vaulted; -- said of the interior of a curved surface or line, as of the curve of the of the inner surface of an eggshell, in opposition to convex; as, a concave mirror; the concave arch of the sky.
2. Hollow; void of contents. [R.] As concave . . . as a worm-eaten nut. Shak.
CONCAVE Con"cave, n. Etym: [L. concavum.]
1. A hollow; an arched vault; a cavity; a recess. Up to the fiery concave towering hight. Milton.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A curved sheath or breasting for a revolving cylinder or roll.
CONCAVE Con"cave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. concaved (; p. pr.& vb. n. Concaving.]
Defn: To make hollow or concave.
CONCAVED Con"caved, a. (Her.)
Defn: Bowed in the form of an arch; -- called also arched.
CONCAVENESS Con"cave*ness, n.
Defn: Hollowness; concavity.
CONCAVITY Con*cav"i*ty, n.; pl. Concavities. Etym: [L. concavitas: cf. F. concavité. See Concave.]
Defn: A concave surface, or the space bounded by it; the state of being concave.
CONCAVO-CONCAVE Con*ca`vo-con"cave, a.
Defn: Concave or hollow on both sides; double concave.
CONCAVO-CONVEX Con*ca`vo-con"vex, a.
1. Concave on one side and convex on the other, as an eggshell or a crescent.
2. (Optics)
Defn: Specifically, having such a combination of concave and convex sides as makes the focal axis the shortest line between them. See Illust. under Lens.
CONCAVOUS Con*ca*"vous, a. Etym: [L. concavus.]
Defn: Concave. Abp. potter. -- Con*ca"vous*ly, adv.
CONCEAL Con*ceal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Concealing.] Etym: [OF. conceler, L. concelare; con- + celareto hide; akin to AS. helan, G. hehlen, E. hele (to cover), helmet. See Hell, Helmet.]
Defn: To hide or withdraw from observation; to cover; to cover or keep from sight; to prevent the discovery of; to withhold knowledge of. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. Prov. xxv. 2. Declare ye among the nations, . . . publish and conceal not. Jer. 1. 2. He which finds him shall deserve our thanks, . . . He that conceals him, death. Shak.
Syn. -- To hide; secrete; screen; cover; disguise; dissemble; mask; veil; cloak; screen. -- To Conceal, Hide, Disguise, Dissemble, Secrete. To hide is the generic term, which embraces all the rest. To conceal is simply not make known what we wish to keep secret. In the Bible hide often has the specific meaning of conceal. See 1 Sam. iii. 17, 18. To disguise or dissemble is to conceal by assuming some false appearance. To secrete is to hide in some place of secrecy. A man may conceal facts, disguise his sentiments, dissemble his feelings, secrete stolen goods. Bur double griefs afflict concealing hearts. Spenser. Both dissemble deeply their affections. Shak. We have in these words a primary sense, which reveals a future state, and a secondary sense, which hides and secretes it. Warburton.
CONCEALABLE Con*ceal"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being concealed.
CONCEALED Con*cealed", a.
Defn: Hidden; kept from sight; secreted. -- Con*ceal"ed*ly (, adv. -- Con*ceal"ed*ness, n. Concealed weapons (Law), dangerous weapons so carried on the person as to be knowingly or willfully concealed from sight, -- a practice forbidden by statute.
CONCEALER Con*ceal"er, n.
Defn: One who conceals.
CONCEALMENT Con*ceal"ment, n. Etym: [OF. concelement.]
1. The act of concealing; the state of being concealed. But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on her damask cheek. Shak. Some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile. Shak.
2. A place of hiding; a secret place; a retreat frem observation. The cleft tree Offers its kind concealment to a few. Thomson.
3. A secret; out of the way knowledge. [Obs.] Well read in strange concealments. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: Suppression of such facts and circumstances as in justice ought to be made known. Wharton.
CONCEDE Con*cede", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Conceding.] Etym: [L. concedere, concessum; con- + cedere to go along, give way, yield: cf. F. concéder. See Cede.]
1. To yield or suffer; to surrender; to grant; as. to concede the point in question. Boyle.
2. To grant, as a right or privilege; to make concession of.
3. To admit to be true; to acknowledge. We concede that their citizens were those who lived under different forms. Burke.
Syn. -- To grant; allow; admit; yield; surrender.
CONCEDE Con*cede", v. i.
Defn: To yield or make concession. I wished you to concede to America, at a time when she prayed concession at our feet. Burke.
CONCEIT Con*ceit", n. Etym: [Through French, fr. L. conceptus a conceiving, conception, fr. concipere to conceive: cf. OF. p. p. nom. conciez conceived. See Conceive, and cf. Concept, Deceit.]
1. That which is conceived, imagined, or formed in the mind; idea; thought; image; conception. In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous. Bacon. A man wise in his own conceit. Prov. xxvi. 12.
2. Faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension; as, a man of quick conceit. [Obs.] How often, alas! did her eyes say unto me that they loved! and yet I, not looking for such a matter, had not my conceit open to understand them. Sir P. Sidney.
3. Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy. His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's more conceit in him than is in a mallet. Shak.
4. A fanciful, odd, or extravagant notion; a quant fancy; an unnatural or affected conception; a witty thought or turn of expression; a fanciful device; a whim; a quip. On his way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with a conceit. L'Estrange. Some to conceit alone their works confine, And glittering thoughts struck out at every line. Pope. Tasso is full of conceits . . . which are not only below the dignity of heroic verse but contrary to its nature. Dryden.
5. An overweening idea of one's self; vanity. Plumed with conceit he calls aloud. Cotton.
6. Design; pattern. [Obs.] Shak. In conceit with, in accord with; agreeing or conforming. -- Out of conceit with, not having a favorable opinion of; not pleased with; as, a man is out of conceit with his dress. -- To put [one] out conceit with, to make one indifferent to a thing, or in a degree displeased with it.
CONCEIT Con*ceit", v. t.
Defn: To conceive; to imagine. [Archaic] The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as inactive . . . as if they really were so. South. One of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a flatterer. Shak.
CONCEIT Con*ceit", v. i.
Defn: To form an idea; to think. [Obs.] Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial purposes. Milton.
CONCEITED Con*ceit"ed, a.
1. Endowed with fancy or imagination. [Obs.] He was . . . pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit. Knolles.
2. Entertaining a flattering opinion of one's self; vain. If you think me too conceited Or to passion quickly heated. Swift. Conceited of their own wit, science, and politeness. Bentley.
3. Curiously contrived or designed; fanciful. [Obs.] A conceited chair to sleep in. Evelyn.
Syn. -- Vain; proud; opinionated; egotistical.
CONCEITEDLY Con*ceit"ed*ly, adv.
1. In an egotistical manner.
2. Fancifully; whimsically.
CONCEITEDNESS Con*ceit"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being conceited; conceit; vanity. Addison.
CONCEITLESS Con*ceit"less, a.
Defn: Without wit; stupid. [Obs.] Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless. To be seduced by thy flattery Shak.
CONCEIVABLE Con*ceiv"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. concevable.]
Defn: Capable of being conceived, imagined, or understood. "Any conceivable weight." Bp. Wilkins. It is not conceivable that it should be indeed that very person whose shape and voice it assumed. Atterbury. -- Con*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n. -- Con*ceiv"a*bly, adv.
CONCEIVE Con*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conceived; p. pr. & vb. n. Conceiving.] Etym: [OF. conzoivre, concever, conceveir, F. concevoir, fr. L. oncipere to take, to conceive; con- + capere to seize or take. See Capable, and cf. Conception.]
1. To receive into the womb and begin to breed; to begin the formation of the embryo of. She hath also conceived a son in her old age. Luke i. 36.
2. To form in the mind; to plan; to devise; to generate; to originate; as, to conceive a purpose, plan, hope. It was among the ruins of the Capitol that I first conceived the idea of a work which has amused and exercised near twenty years of my life. Gibbon. Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Is. lix. 13.
3. To apprehend by reason or imagination; to take into the mind; to know; to imagine; to comprehend; to understand. "I conceive you." Hawthorne. O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart Cannot conceive nor name thee! Shak. You will hardly conceive him to have been bred in the same climate. Swift.
Syn. -- To apprehend; imagine; suppose; understand; comprehend; believe; think.
CONCEIVE Con*ceive", v. i.
1. To have an embryo or fetus formed in the womb; to breed; to become pregnant. A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. Isa. vii. 14.
2. To have a conception, idea, or opinion; think; -- with of. Conceive of things clearly and distinctly in their own natures. I. Watts.
CONCEIVER Con*ceiv"er, n.
Defn: One who conceives.
CONCELEBRATE Con*cel"e*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. concelebratus, p. p. of concelebrare to concelebrate.]
Defn: To celebrate together. [Obs.] Holland.
CONCENT Con*cent", n. Etym: [L. concentus, fr. concinere to sing together; con- + canere to sing.]
1. Concert of voices; concord of sounds; harmony; as, a concent of notes. [Archaic.] Bacon. That undisturbed song of pure concent. Milton.
2. Consistency; accordance. [Obs.] In concent to his own principles. Atterbury.
CONCENTER; CONCENTRE Con*cen"ter, Con*cen"tre, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Concentered or Concentred (; p. pr & vb. n. Concentering or Concentring (.] Etym: [F. concentrer, fr. L. con- + centrum center. See Center, and cf. Concentrate]
Defn: To come to one point; to meet in, or converge toward, a common center; to have a common center. God, in whom all perfections concenter. Bp. Beveridge.
CONCENTER; CONCENTRE Con*cen"ter, Con*cen"tre, v. t.
Defn: To draw or direct to a common center; to bring together at a focus or point, as two or more lines; to concentrate. In thee concentering all their precious beams. Milton. All is concentered in a life intense. Byren.
CONCENTRATE Con*cen"trate ( or ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concentrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Concentrating.] Etym: [Pref. con- + L. centrum center. Cf. Concenter.]
1. To bring to, or direct toward, a common center; to unite more closely; to gather into one body, mass, or force; to fix; as, to concentrate rays of light into a focus; to concentrate the attention. (He) concentrated whole force at his own camp. Motley.
2. To increase the strength and diminish the bulk of, as of a liquid or an ore; to intensify, by getting rid of useless material; to condense; as, to concentrate acid by evaporation; to concentrate by washing; -- opposed to Ant: dilute. Spirit of vinegar concentrated and reduced to its greatest strength. Arbuthnot.
Syn. -- To combine; to condense; to consolidate.
CONCENTRATE Con*cen"trate ( or ), v. i.
Defn: To approach or meet in a common center; to consolidate; as, population tends to concentrate in cities.
CONCENTRATION Con`cen*tra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. concentration.]
1. The act or process of concentrating; the process of becoming concentrated, or the state of being concentrated; concentration. Concentration of the lunar beams. Boyle. Intense concetration of thought. Sir J. Herschel.
2. The act or process of reducing the volume of a liquid, as by evaporation. The acid acquires a higher degree of concentration. Knight.
3. (Metal.)
Defn: The act or process of removing the dress of ore and of reducing the valuable part to smaller compass, as by currents of air or water.
CONCENTRATIVE Con*cen"tra*tive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to concentrate; characterized by concentration. A discrimination is only possible by a concentrative act, or act of attention. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONCENTRATIVENESS Con*cen"tra*tive*ness, n.
1. The quality of concentrating.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty or propensity which has to do with concentrating the intellectual the intellectual powers. Combe.
CONCENTRATOR Con"cen*tra`tor, n. (Mining)
Defn: An apparatus for the separation of dry comminuted ore, by exposing it to intermittent puffs of air. Knight.
CONCENTRIC; CONCENTRICAL Con*cen"tric, Con*cen"tric*al, a. Etym: [F. concentrique. See Concenter.]
Defn: Having a common center, as circles of different size, one within another. Concentric circles upon the surface of the water. Sir I. Newton. Concentrical rings like those of an onion. Arbuthnot.
CONCENTRIC Con*cen"tric, n.
Defn: That which has a common center with something else. Its pecular relations to its concentrics. Coleridge.
CONCENTRICALLY Con*cen"tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concentric manner.
CONCENTRICITY Con`cen*tric"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being concentric.
CONCENTUAL Con*cen"tu*al, a. [From Concent.]
Defn: Possesing harmony; accordant. [R.] Warton.
CONCEPT Con"cept, n. Etym: [L. conceptus (cf. neut. conceptum fetus), p. p. of concipere to conceive: cf. F. concept. See Conceit.]
Defn: An abstract general conception; a notion; a universal. The words conception, concept, notion, should be limited to the thought of what can not be represented in the imagination; as, the thought suggested by a general term. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONCEPTACLE Con*cep"ta*cle, n. Etym: [L. conceptaculum, fr. concipere to receive. See Conceive.]
1. That in which anything is contained; a vessel; a receiver or receptacle. [Obs.] Woodward.
2. (Bot.) (a) A pericarp, opening longitudinally on one side and having the seeds loose in it; a follicle; a double follicle or pair of follicles. (b) One of the cases containing the spores, etc., of flowerless plants, especially of algae.
CONCEPTIBILITY Con*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being conceivable; conceivableness. Cudworth.
CONCEPTIBLE Con*cep"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Conceive.]
Defn: Capable of being conceived; conceivable. Sir M. Hale.
CONCEPTION Con*cep"tion, n. Etym: [F. conception, L. conceptio, fr. concipere to conceive. See Conceive.]
1. The act of conceiving in the womb; the initiation of an embryonic animal life. I will greaty multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. Gen. iii. 16.
2. The state of being conceived; beginning. Joy had the like conception in our eyes. Shak.
3. The power or faculty of apprehending of forming an idea in the mind; the power of recalling a past sensation or perception. Under the article of conception, I shall confine myself to that faculty whose province it is to enable us to form a notion of our past sensations, or of the objects of sense that we have formerly perceived. Stewart.
4. The formation in the mind of an image, idea, or notion, apprehension. Conception consists in a conscious act of the understanding, bringing any given object or impression into the same class with any number of other objects or impression, by means of some character or characters common to them all. Coleridge.
5. The image, idea, or notion of any action or thing which is formed in the mind; a concept; a notion; a universal; the product of a rational belief or judgment. See Concept. He [Herodotus] says that the sun draws or attracts the water; a metaphorical term obviously intended to denote some more general and abstract conception than that of the visible operation which the word primarily signifies. Whewell.
6. Idea; purpose; design. Note this dangerous conception. Shak.
7. Conceit; affected sentiment or thought. [Obs.] He . . . is full of conceptions, points of epigram, and witticism. Dryden.
Syn. -- Idea; notion; perception; apprehemsion; comprehension.
CONCEPTIONAL Con*cep"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to conception.
CONCEPTIONALIST Con*cep"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: A conceptualist.
CONCEPTIOUS Con*cep"tious, a.
Defn: Apt to conceive; fruitful. [Obs.] Shak.
CONCEPTIVE Con*cep"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conceptif, L. conceptivus.]
Defn: Capable of conceiving. Sir T. Browne
CONCEPTUAL Con*cep"tu*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to conception.
CONCEPTUALISM Con*cep"tu*al*ism, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: A theory, intermediate between realism and nominalism, that the mind has the power of forming for itself general conceptions of individual or single objects. Stewart.
CONCEPTUALIST Con*cep"tu*al*ist, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: One who maintains the theory of conceptualism. Stewart.
CONCERN Con*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concerned; p. pr. & vb. n. Concerning.] Etym: [F. concerner, LL. concernere to regard, concern, fr. L. concernere to mix or mingle together, as in a sieve for separating; con- + cernere to separate, sift, distinguish by the senses, and especially by the eyes, to perceive, see. See Certain.]
1. To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts xxviii. 31. Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with any other nation. Addison. It much concerns a preacher first to learn The genius of his audience and their turn. Dodsley. Ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned. J. F. Cooper.
2. To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest; as, a good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects. They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favor. Rogers.
CONCERN Con*cern", v. i.
Defn: To be of importance. [Obs.] Which to deny concerns more than avails. Shak.
CONCERN Con*cern", n.
1. That which relates or belongs to one; business; affair. The private concerns of fanilies. Addison.
2. That which affects the welfare or happiness; interest; moment. Mysterious secrets of a high concern. Roscommon.
3. Interest in, or care for, any person or thing; regard; solicitude; anxiety. O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns And gentle wishes follow me to battle.--Addison.
4. (Com.)
Defn: Persons connected in business; a firm and its business; as, a banking concern. The whole concern, all connected with a particular affair or business.
Syn. -- Care; anxiety; solicitude; interest; regard; business; affair; matter; moment. See Care.
CONCERNED Con*cerned", a. Etym: [See Concern, v. t., 2.]
Defn: Disturbed; troubled; solicitous; as, to be much concerned for the safety of a friend.
CONCERNEDLY Con*cern"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concerned manner; solicitously; sympathetically.
CONCERNING Con*cern"ing, prep.
Defn: Pertaining to; regarding; having relation to; respecting; as regards. I have accepted thee concerning this thing. Gen. xix. 21. The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. Num. x. 29.
CONCERNING Con*cern"ing, a.
Defn: Important. [Archaic] So great and so concerning truth. South.
CONCERNING Con*cern"ing, n.
1. That in which one is concerned or interested; concern; affair; interest. "Our everlasting concernments." I. Watts. To mix with thy concernments I desist. Milton.
2. Importance; moment; consequence. Let every action of concernment to begun with prayer. Jer. Taylor.
3. Concern; participation; interposition. He married a daughter to the earl without any other approbation of her father or concernment in it, than suffering him and her come into his presence. Clarendon.
4. Emotion of mind; solicitude; anxiety. While they are so eager to destory the fame of others, their ambition is manifest in their concernment. Dryden.
CONCERT Con*cert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Concerting.] Etym: [F. concerter, It. concertare, conertare, prob. from L. consertus, p. p. of conserere to join together; con- + serere to join together, influenced by concertare to contend; con- + centare to strive; properly, to try to decide; fr. cernere to distinguish. See Series, and cf. Concern.]
1. To plan together; to settle or adjust by conference, agreement, or consultation. It was concerted to begin the siege in March. Bp. Burnet.
2. To plan; to devise; to arrange. A commander had more trouble to concert his defense before the people than to plan . . . the compaign. Burke.
CONCERT Con*cert", v. i.
Defn: To act in harmony or conjunction; to form combined plans. The ministers of Denmark were appointed to concert with Talbot. Bp. Burnet
CONCERT Con"cert, n. Etym: [F. concert, It. concerto, conserto, fr. concertare. See Concert, v. t.]
1. Agreement in a design or plan; union formed by mutual communication of opions and viewa; accordance in a scheme; harmony; simultaneous action. All these discontens, how ruinous soever, have arisen from the want of a due communication and concert. Swift.
2. Musical accordance or harmony; concord. Let us in concert to the season sing. Cowper.
3. A musical entertainment in which several voices or instruments take part. Visit by night your lady's chamber window With some sweet concert. Shak. And boding screech owls make the concert full. Shak. Concert pitch. See under Pitch.
CONCERTANTE Con`cer*tan"te (; It. ), n. Etym: [It., orig p. pr. of concertare to form or perform a concert. See Concert.] (Mus.)
Defn: A concert for two or more principal instruments, with orchestral accompaniment. Also adjectively; as, concertante parts.
CONCERTATION Con`cer*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. concertatio.]
Defn: Strife; contention. [Obs.] Bailey.
CONCERTATIVE Con*cer"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. concertativus.]
Defn: Contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Bailey.
CONCERTED Con*cert"ed, a.
Defn: Mutually contrived or planned; agreed on; as, concerted schemes, signals. Concerted piece (Mus.), a composition in parts for several voices or instrument, as a trio, a quartet, etc.
CONCERTINA Con`cer*ti"na, n. Etym: [From It. concerto a concert.]
Defn: A small musical imstrument on the principle of the accordion. It is a small elastic box, or bellows, having free reeds on the inside, and keys and handles on the outside of each of the two hexagonal heads.
CONCERTINO Con`cer*ti"no, n. Etym: [See Concertina.] (Mus.)
Defn: A piece for one or more solo instruments with orchestra; -- more concise than the concerto.
CONCERTION Con*cer"tion, n.
Defn: Act of concerting; adjustment. [R.] Young.
CONCERTMEISTER Con*cert`meis"ter, n. Etym: [G.] (Mus.)
Defn: The head violinist or leader of the strings in an orchestra; the sub-leader of the orchestra; concert master.
CONCERTO Con*cer"to (; It. ), n.; pl. Concertos. Etym: [It. See Concert, n.] (Mus.)
Defn: A composition (usually in symphonic form with three movements) in which one instrument (or two or three) stands out in bold relief against the orchestra, or accompaniment, so as to display its qualities or the performer's skill.
CONCERT OF EUROPE; EUROPEAN CONCERT Concert of Europe, or European concert.
Defn: An agreement or understanding between the chief European powers to take only joint action in the (European) Eastern Question.
CONCERT OF THE POWERS Concert of the powers.
Defn: An agreement or understanding between the chief European powers, the United States, and Japan in 1900 to take only joint action in the Chinese aspect of the Eastern Question.
CONCESSION Con*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. concessio, fr. concedere: cf. F. concession. See Concede.]
1. The act of conceding or yielding; usually implying a demand, claim, or request, and thus distinguished from giving, which is voluntary or spontaneous. By mutual concession the business was adjusted. Hallam.
2. A thing yielded; an acknowledgment or admission; a boon; a grant; esp. a grant by government of a privilege or right to do something; as, a concession to build a canal. This is therefore a concession , that he doth . . . believe the Scriptures to be sufficiently plain. Sharp. When a lover becomes satisfied by small compliances without further pursuits, then expect to find popular assemblies content with small concessions. Swift.
CONCESSIONAIRE; CONCESSIONNAIRE Con*ces`sion*aire", Con`ces`sion`naire", n. [F. concessionnaire.]
Defn: The beneficiary of a concession or grant.
CONCESSIONARY Con*ces"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a concession. -- n.; pl. -ries.
Defn: A concessionaire.
CONCESSIONIST Con*ces"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who favors concession.
CONCESSIVE Con*ces"sive, a. Etym: [L. concessivus.]
Defn: Implying concession; as, a concessive conjunction. Lowth.
CONCESSIVELY Con*ces"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of concession.
CONCESSORY Con*ces"so*ry, a.
Defn: Conceding; permissive.
CONCETTISM Con*cet"tism, n.
Defn: The use of concetti or affected conceits. [R.] C. Kingsley.
CONCETTO Con*cet"to (; It. ), n.; pl. Concetti. Etym: [It., fr. L. conceptus. See Conceit.]
Defn: Affected wit; a conceit. Chesterfield.
CONCH Conch, n. Etym: [L. concha, Gr. Coach, n.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to various marine univalve shells; esp. to those of the genus Strombus, which are of large size. S. gigas is the large pink West Indian conch. The large king, queen, and cameo conchs are of the genus Cassis. See Cameo.
Note: The conch is sometimes used as a horn or trumpet, as in fogs at sea, or to call laborers from work.
2. In works of art, the shell used by Tritons as a trumpet.
3. One of the white natives of the Bahama Islands or one of their descendants in the Florida Keys; -- so called from the commonness of the conch there, or because they use it for food.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: See Concha, n.
5. The external ear. See Concha, n., 2.
CONCHA Con"cha, n. Etym: [LL. (in sense 1), fr. concha. See Conch.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The plain semidome of an apse; sometimes used for the entire apse.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The external ear; esp. the largest and deepest concavity of the external ear, surrounding the entrance to the auditory canal.
CONCHAL Con"chal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the concha, or external ear; as, the conchal cartilage.
CONCHIFER Con"chi*fer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conchofère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Conchifera.
CONCHIFERA Con*chif"e*ra, n, pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. concha + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That class of Mollusca which includes the bivalve shells; the Lamellibranchiata. See Mollusca.
CONCHIFEROUS Con*chif"er*ous, a.
Defn: Producing or having shells.
CONCHIFORM Con"chi*form, a. Etym: [Conch + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like one half of a bivalve shell; shell-shaped.
CONCHININE Con"chi*nine ( or ), n. Etym: [Formed by transposition fr. cinchonine.]
Defn: See Quinidine.
CONCHITE Con"chite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conchite. See Conch.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil or petrified conch or shell.
CONCHITIC Con*chit"ic, a.
Defn: Composed of shells; containing many shells.
CONCHOID Con"choid, n. Etym: [Gr. conchoïde.] (Geom.)
Defn: A curve, of the fourth degree, first made use of by the Greek geometer, Nicomedes, who invented it for the purpose of trisecting an angle and duplicating the cube.
CONCHOIDAL Con*choid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conchoïdal.] (Min.)
Defn: Having elevations or depressions in form like one half of a bivalve shell; -- applied principally to a surface produced by fracture.
CONCHOLOGICAL Con`cho*log"ic*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, conchology.
CONCHOLOGIST Con*chol"o*gist, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One who studies, or is versed in, conchology.
CONCHOLOGY Con*chol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Conch + -logy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The science of Mollusca, and of the shells which they form; malacology.
CONCHOMETER Con*chom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Conch + -meter.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring shells, or the angle of their spire.
CONCHOMETRY Con*chom"e*try, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The art of measuring shells or their curves; conchyliometry.
CONCHO-SPIRAL Con`cho-spi"ral, n.
Defn: A kind of spiral curve found in certain univalve shells. Agassiz.
CONCHYLACEOUS; CONCHYLIACEOUS Con`chy*la"ceous, Con*chyl`i*a"ceous, a. Etym: [L. conchylium shell, Gr. Conch.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to shells; resembling a shell; as, conchyliaceous impressions. Kirwan.
CONCHYLIOLOGIST; CONCHYLIOLOGY Con*chyl`i*ol"o*gist, n., Con*chyl`i*ol"o*gy, n.
Defn: See Conchologist, and Conchology.
CONCHYLIOMETRY Con*chyl`i*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
Defn: Same as Conchometry.
CONCHYLIOUS Con*chyl"i*ous, a.
Defn: Conchylaceous.
CONCIATOR Con"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [It. conciatore, fr. conciare to adjust, dress, fr. L. comtus, p. p. See Compt, a.] (Glass Works)
Defn: The person who weighs and proportions the materials to be made into glass, and who works and tempers them.
CONCIERGE Con`cierge", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who keeps the entrance to an edifice, public or private; a doorkeeper; a janitor, male or female.
CONCIERGERIE Con`cier`ge*rie", n. [F.]
1. The office or lodge of a concierge or janitor.
2. A celebrated prison, attached to the Palais de Justice in Paris.
CONCILIABLE Con*cil"i*a*ble, n. Etym: [L. conciliabulum, fr. concitium assembly: cf. F. conciliabule. See Council.]
Defn: A small or private assembly, especially of an ecclesiastical nature. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONCILIABLE Con*cil"i*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conciliable.]
Defn: Capable of being conciliated or reconciled. Milton.
CONCILIABULE Con*cil"i*a*bule, n. Etym: [See Conciliable, n.]
Defn: An obscure ecclesiastical council; a conciliable. Milman.
CONCILIAR; CONCILIARY Con*cil"i*ar, Con*cil"i*a*ry a. Etym: [Cf. F. conciliare.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or issued by, a council. Jer. Taylor.
CONCILIATE Con*cil"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conciliated; p. pr & vb. n. Conciliating.] Etym: [L. conciliatus, p. p. of conciliare to draw or bring together, unite, from concilium council. See Council.]
Defn: To win ower; to gain from a state of hostility; to gain the good will or favor of; to make friendly; to mollify; to propitiate; to appease. The rapacity of his father's administration had excited such universal discontent, that it was found expedient to conciliate the nation. Hallam.
Syn. -- To reconcile; propitiate; appease; pacify.
CONCILIATION Con*cil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. conciliatio.]
Defn: The act or process of conciliating; the state of being conciliated. The house has gone further; it has declared conciliation admissible previous to any submission on the part of America. Burke.
CONCILIATIVE Con*cil"i*a*tive, a.
Defn: Conciliatory. Coleridge.
CONCILIATOR Con*cil"i*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who conciliates.
CONCILIATORY Con*cil"i*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to conciliate; pacific; mollifying; propitiating. The only alternative, therefore, was to have recourse to the conciliatory policy. Prescott.
CONCINNATE Con*cin"nate, v. t. Etym: [L. concinnatus, p. p. of concinnare to concinnate. See Concinnity.]
Defn: To place fitly together; to adapt; to clear. [Obs.] Holland.
CONCINNITY Con*cin"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. concinnitas, fr. concinnus skillfully put together, beautiful. Of uncertain origin.]
Defn: Internal harmony or fitness; mutual adaptation of parts; elegance; -- used chiefly of style of discourse. [R.] An exact concinnity and eveness of fancy. Howell.
CONCINNOUS Con*cin"nous, a. Etym: [L. concinnus.]
Defn: Characterized by concinnity; neat; elegant. [R.] The most concinnous and most rotund of proffessors, M. Heyne. De Quiency.
CONCIONATE Con"cio*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. concionatus, p. p. of concionari to adress.]
Defn: To preach. [Obs.] Lithgow.
CONCIONATOR Con"cio*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. An haranguer of the people; a preacher.
2. (Old Law)
Defn: A common councilman. [Obs.]
CONCIONATORY Con"cio*na`to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to preaching or public addresses. [Obs.] Howell.
CONCISE Con*cise", a. Etym: [L. concisus cut off, short, p. p. of concidere to cut to pieces; con- + caedere to cut; perh. akin to scindere to cleave, and to E. shed, v.t.; cf. F. concis.]
Defn: Expressing much in a few words; condensed; brief and compacted; -- used of style in writing or speaking. The concise style, which expresseth not enough, but leaves somewhat to be understood. B. Jonson. Where the author is . . . too brief and concise, amplify a little. I. Watts.
Syn. -- Laconic; terse; brief; short; compendious; summary; succinct. See Laconic, and Terse.
CONCISELY Con*cise"ly, adv.
Defn: In a concise manner; briefly.
CONCISENESS Con*cise"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being concise.
CONCISION Con*ci"sion, n. Etym: [L. concisio: cf. F. concision. See Concise.]
Defn: A cutting off; a division; a schism; a faction. South.
CONCITATION Con`ci*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. concitatio. See Concite.]
Defn: The act of stirring up, exciting, or agitating. [Obs.] "The concitation of humors." Sir T. Browne.
CONCITE Con*cite", v. t. Etym: [L. concitare; con- + citare. See Cite.]
Defn: To excite or stir up. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
CONCLAMATION Con`cla*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. conclamatio.]
Defn: An outcry or shout of many together. [R.] Before his funeral conclamation. May (Lucan).
CONCLAVE Con"clave ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. conclave a room that may locked up; con- + clavis key. See Clavicle.]
1. The set of apartments within which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church are continuously secluded while engaged in choosing a pope.
2. The body of cardinals shut up in the conclave for the election of a pope; hence, the body of cardinals. It was said a cardinal, by reason of his apparent likelihood to step into St. Peter's chair, that in two conclaves he went in pope and came out again cardinal. South.
3. A private meeting; a close or secret assembly. The verdicts pronounced by this conclave (Johnson's Club) on new books, were speedily known over all London. Macaulay. To be in conclave, to be engaged in a secret meeting; -- said of several, or a considerable number of, persons.
CONCLAVIST Con"cla`vist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conclaviste, It. conclavista.]
Defn: One of the two ecclesiastics allowed to attend a cardinal in the conclave.
CONCLUDE Con*clude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Concluding.] Etym: [L. concludere, conclusum; con- + claudere to shut. See Close, v. t.]
1. To shut up; to inclose. [Obs.] The very person of Christ [was] concluded within the grave. Hooker.
2. To include; to comprehend; to shut up together; to embrace. [Obs.] For God hath concluded all in unbelief. Rom. xi. 32. The Scripture hath concluded all under sin. Gal. iii. 22.
3. To reach as an end of reasoning; to infer, as from premises; to close, as an argument, by inferring; -- sometimes followed by a dependent clause. No man can conclude God's love or hatred to any person by anything that befalls him. Tillotson. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith. Rom. iii. 28.
4. To make a final determination or judgment concerning; to judge; to decide. But no frail man, however great or high, Can be concluded blest before he die. Addison. Is it concluded he shall be protector Shak.
5. To bring to an end; to close; to finish. I will conclude this part with the speech of a counselor of state. Bacon.
6. To bring about as a result; to effect; to make; as, to conclude a bargain. "If we conclude a peace." Shak.
7. To shut off; to restrain; to limit; to estop; to bar; -- generally in the passive; as, the defendant is concluded by his own plea; a judgment concludes the introduction of further evidence argument. If therefore they will appeal to revelation for their creation they must be concluded by it. Sir M. Hale.
Syn. -- To infer; decide; determine; settle; close; finish; terminate; end.
CONCLUDE Con*clude", v. i.
1. To come to a termination; to make an end; to close; to end; to terminate. A train of lies, That, made in lust, conclude in perjuries. Dryden. And, to conclude, The victory fell on us. Shak.
2. To form a final judgment; to reach a decision. Can we conclude upon Luther's instability Bp. Atterbury. Conclude and be agreed. Shak.
CONCLUDENCY Con*clud"en*cy, n.
Defn: Deduction from premises; inference; conclusion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
CONCLUDENT Con*clud"ent, a. Etym: [L. concludens, p. pr.]
Defn: Bringing to a close; decisive; conclusive. [Obs.] Arguments highly consequential and concludent to my purpose. Sir M. Hale.
CONCLUDER Con*clud"er, n.
Defn: One who concludes.
CONCLUDINGLY Con*clud"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Conclusively. [R.] Digby.
CONCLUSIBLE Con*clu"si*ble, a.
Defn: Demonstrable; determinable. [Obs.] Hammond.
CONCLUSION Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude.]
1. The last part of anything; close; termination; end. A fluorish of trumpets announced the conclusion of the contest. Prescott.
2. Final decision; determination; result. And the conclusion is, she shall be thine. Shak.
3. Any inference or result of reasoning.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The inferred proposition of a syllogism; the necessary consequence of the conditions asserted in two related propositions called premises. See Syllogism. He granted him both the major and minor, but denied him the conclusion. Addison.
5. Drawing of inferences. [Poetic] Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes And still conclusion. Shak.
6. An experiment, or something from which a conclusion may be drawn. [Obs.] We practice likewise all conclusions of grafting and inoculating. Bacon.
7. (Law) (a) The end or close of a pleading, e.g., the formal ending of an indictment, "against the peace," etc. (b) An estoppel or bar by which a person is held to a particular position. Wharton. Conclusion to the country (Law), the conclusion of a pleading by which a party "puts himself upon the country," i.e., appeals to the verdict of a jury. Mozley & W. -- In conclusion. (a) Finally. (b) In short. -- To try conclusions, to make a trial or an experiment. Like the famous ape, To try conclusions, in the basket creep. Shak.
Syn. -- Inference; deduction; result; consequence; end; decision. See Inference.
CONCLUSIVE Con*clu"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conclusif.]
Defn: Belonging to a close or termination; decisive; convincing; putting an end to debate or question; leading to, or involving, a conclusion or decision. Secret reasons . . . equally conclusive for us as they were for them. Rogers. Conclusive evidence (Law), that of which, from its nature, the law allows no contradiction or explanation. -- Conclusive presumption (Law), an inference which the law makes so peremptorily that it will not allow it to be overthrown by any contrary proof, however strong.
Syn. -- Final; ultimate; unanswerable. See Final.
CONCLUSIVELY Con*clu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of conclusion; decisively; positively. Burke.
CONCLUSIVENESS Con*clu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conclusive; decisiveness.
CONCLUSORY Con*clu"so*ry, a.
Defn: Conclusive. [R.]
CONCOCT Con*coct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concocted; p. pr. & vb. n. Concocting.] Etym: [L. concoctus, p. p. of concoquere to cook together, to digest, mature; con- + coquere to cook. See Cook.]
1. To digest; to convert into nourishment by the organs of nutrition. [Obs.] Food is concocted, the heart beats, the blood circulates. Cheyne.
2. To purify or refine chemically. [Obs.] Thomson.
3. To prepare from crude materials, as food; to invent or prepare by combining different ingredients; as, to concoct a new dish or beverage.
4. To digest in the mind; to devise; to make up; to contrive; to plan; to plot. He was a man of a feeble stomach, unable to concoct any great fortune. Hayward.
5. To mature or perfect; to ripen. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONCOCTER Con*coct"er, n.
Defn: One who concocts.
CONCOCTION Con*coc"tion, n. Etym: [L. concoctio.]
1. A change in food produced by the organs of nutrition; digestion. [Obs.]
2. The act of concocting or preparing by combining different ingredients; also, the food or compound thus prepared.
3. The act of digesting in the mind; planning or devising; rumination. Donne.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Abatement of a morbid process, as a fever and return to a normal condition. [Obs.]
5. The act of perfecting or maturing. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONCOCTIVE Con*coct"ive, a.
Defn: Having the power of digesting or ripening; digestive. Hence the concoctive powers, with various art, Subdue the cruder aliments to chyle. J. Armstrong.
CONCOLOR Con"col`or, a. Etym: [L. concolor; con- + color color.]
Defn: Of the same color; of uniform color. [R.] "Concolor animals." Sir T. Browne.
CONCOLOROUS Con"col`or*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of the same color throughout.
CONCOMITANCE; CONCOMITANCY Con*com"i*tance, Con*com"i*tan*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. concomitance, fr. LL. concomitantia.]
1. The state of accompanying; accompaniment. The secondary action subsisteth not alone, but in concomitancy with the other. Sir T. Browne.
2. (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: The doctrine of the existence of the entire body of Christ in the eucharist, under each element, so that the body and blood are both received by comunication in one kind only.
CONCOMITANT Con*com"i*tant, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. con- + comitari to accompany, comes companion. See Count a nobleman.]
Defn: Accompanying; conjoined; attending. It has pleased our wise Creator to annex to several objects, as also to several of our thoughts, a concomitant pleasure. Locke.
CONCOMITANT Con*com"i*tant, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, accompanies, or is collaterally connected with another; a companion; an associate; an accompaniment. Reproach is a concomitant to greatness. Addison. The other concomitant of ingratitude is hardheartedness. South.
CONCOMITANTLY Con*com"i*tant*ly, adv.
Defn: In company with others; unitedly; concurrently. Bp. pearson.
CONCORD Con"cord, n. Etym: [F. concorde, L. concordia, fr. concors of the same mind, agreeing; con- + cor, cordis, heart. See Heart, and cf. Accord.]
1. A state of agreement; harmony; union. Love quarrels oft in pleasing concord end. Milton.
2. Agreement by stipulation; compact; covenant; treaty or league. [Obs.] The concord made between Henry and Roderick. Davies.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Agreement of words with one another, in gender, number, person, or case.
4. (Old Law)
Defn: An agreement between the parties to a fine of land in reference to the manner in which it should pass, being an acknowledgment that the land in question belonged to the complainant. See Fine. Burril.
5. Etym: [Prob. influenced by chord.] (Mus.)
Defn: An agreeable combination of tones simultaneously heard; a consonant chord; consonance; harmony.
CONCORD Con"cord, n.
Defn: A variety of American grape, with large dark blue (almost black) grapes in compact clusters.
CONCORD Con*cord", v. i. Etym: [F. concorder, L. concordare.]
Defn: To agree; to act together. [Obs.] Clarendon.
CONCORDABLE Con*cord"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. concordabilis.]
Defn: Capable of according; agreeing; harmonious.
CONCORDANCE Con*cord"ance, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. concordantia.]
1. Agreement; accordance. Contrasts, and yet concordances. Carlyle.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Concord; agreement. [Obs.] Aschlam.
3. An alphabetical verbal index showing the places in the text of a book where each principal word may be found, with its immediate context in each place. His knowledge of the Bible was such, that he might have been called a living concordance. Macaulay.
4. A topical index or orderly analysis of the contents of a book.
CONCORDANCY Con*cord"an*cy, n.
Defn: Agreement. W. Montagu.
CONCORDANT Con*cord"ant, a. Etym: [L. concordans, p. pr. of concordare: cf. F. concordant. See Concord.]
Defn: Agreeing; correspondent; harmonious; consonant. Were every one employed in points concordant to their natures, professions, and arts, commonwealths would rise up of themselves. Sir T. Browne
CONCORDANTLY Con*cord"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concordant manner.
CONCORDAT Con*cor"dat, n. Etym: [F. concordat, L. concordato, prop. p. p. of concordare. See Concord.]
1. A compact, covenant, or agreement concerning anything.
2. An agreement made between the pope and a sovereign or government for the regulation of ecclesiastical matters with which both are concerned; as, the concordat between Pope Pius VIL and Bonaparte in 1801. Hook.
CONCORD BUGGY Con"cord bug"gy (kon"kerd). [From Concord, New Hampshire, where first made.]
Defn: A kind of buggy having a body with low sides, and side springs.
CONCORDIST Con*cord"ist, n.
Defn: The compiler of a concordance.
CONCORPORATE Con*cor"po*rate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. concorporatus, p. p. of concorporare.]
Defn: To unite in one mass or body; to incorporate. [Archaic.] Jer. Taylor.
CONCORPORATE Con*cor"po*rate, a.
Defn: United in one body; incorporated. [Archaic] B. Jonson.
CONCORPORATION Con*cor`po*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. concorporatio.]
Defn: Union of things in one mass or body. [R.] Dr. H. More.
CONCOURSE Con"course, n. Etym: [F. concours, L. concursus, fr. concurrere to run together. See Concur.]
1. A moving, flowing, or running together; confluence. The good frame of the universe was not the product of chance or fortuitous concourse of particles of matter. Sir M. Hale.
2. An assembly; a gathering formed by a voluntary or spontaneous moving and meeting in one place. Amidst the concourse were to be seen the noble ladies of Milan, in gay, fantastic cars, shining in silk brocade. Prescott.
3. The place or point of meeting or junction of two bodies. [Obs.] The drop will begin to move toward the concourse of the glasses. Sir I. Newton.
4. An open space where several roads or paths meet; esp. an open space in a park where several roads meet.
5. Concurrence; coöperation. [Obs.] The divine providence is wont to afford its concourse to such proceeding. Barrow.
CONCREATE Con`cre*ate" ( or ), v. t.
Defn: To create at the same time. If God did concreate grace with Adam. Jer. Taylor.
CONCREMATION Con`cre*ma"tion ( or ), n. Etym: [L. concrematio, fr. concremare. See Cremate.]
Defn: The act of burning different things together. [Obs.]
CONCREMENT Con"cre*ment, n. Etym: [L. concrementum, fr. concrescere. See Concrete.]
Defn: A growing together; the collection or mass formed by concretion, or natural union. [Obs.] The concrement of a pebble or flint. Sir M. Hale
CONCRESCENCE Con*cres"cence, n. Etym: [L. concrescentia.]
Defn: Coalescence of particles; growth; increase by the addition of particles. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.
CONCRESCIBLE Con*cres"ci*ble, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Capable of being changed from a liquid to a solid state. [Obs.] They formed a . . . fixed concrescible oil. Fourcroy (Trans. ).
CONCRESCIVE Con*cres"cive, a.
Defn: Growing together, or into union; uniting. [R.] Eclec. Rev.
CONCRETE Con"crete ( or ), a. Etym: [L. concretus, p. p. of concrescere to grow together; con- + crescere to grow; cf. F. concret. See Crescent.]
1. United in growth; hence, formed by coalition of separate particles into one mass; united in a solid form. The first concrete state, or consistent surface, of the chaos must be of the same figure as the last liquid state. Bp. Burnet.
2. (Logic) (a) Standing for an object as it exists in nature, invested with all its qualities, as distingushed from standing for an attribute of an object; -- opposed to abstract. Hence: (b) Applied to a specific object; special; particular; -- opposed to general. See Abstract, 3. Concrete is opposed to a abstract. The names of individuals are concrete, those of classes abstract. J. S. Mill. Concrete terms, while they express the quality, do also express, or imply, or refer to, some subject to which it belongs. I. Watts. Concrete number, a number associated with, or applied to, a particular object, as three men, five days, etc., as distinguished from an abstract number, or one used without reference to a particular object. -- Concrete quantity, a physical object or a collection of such objects. Davies & Peck. -- Concrete science, a physical science, one having as its subject of knowledge concrete things instead of abstract laws. -- Concrete sound or movement of the voice, one which slides continuously up or down, as distinguished from a discrete movement, in which the voice leaps at once from one line of pitch to another. Rush.
CONCRETE Con"crete, n.
1. A compound or mass formed by concretion, spontaneous union, or coalescence of separate particles of matter in one body. To divide all concretes, minerals and others, into the same number of distinct substances. Boyle.
2. A mixture of gravel, pebbles, or broken stone with cement or with tar, etc., used for sidewalks, roadways, foundations, etc., and esp. for submarine structures.
3. (Logic)
Defn: A term designating both a quality and the subject in which it exists; a concrete term. The concretes "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts "paternity" and "filiety". J. S. Mill.
4. (Sugar Making)
Defn: Sugar boiled down from cane juice to a solid mass.
CONCRETE Con*crete", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Concreted; p. pr & vb. n. Concreting.]
Defn: To unite or coalesce, as separate particles, into a mass or solid body.
Note: Applied to some substances, it is equivalent to indurate; as, metallic matter concretes into a hard body; applied to others, it is equivalent to congeal, thicken, inspissate, coagulate, as in the concretion of blood. "The blood of some who died of the plague could not be made to concrete." Arbuthnot.
CONCRETE Con*crete", v. t.
1. To form into a mass, as by the cohesion or coalescence of separate particles. There are in our inferior world divers bodies that are concreted out of others. Sir M. Hale.
2. To cover with, or form of, concrete, as a pavement.
CONCRETELY Con*crete"ly, adv.
Defn: In a concrete manner.
CONCRETENESS Con*crete"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being concrete.
CONCRETION Con*cre"tion, n. Etym: [L. concretio.]
1. The process of concreting; the process of uniting or of becoming united, as particles of matter into a mass; solidification.
2. A mass or nodule of solid matter formed by growing together, by congelation, condensation, coagulation, induration, etc.; a clot; a lump; a calculus. Accidental ossifications or deposits of phosphates of lime in certain organs . . . are called osseous concretions. Dunglison.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: A rounded mass or nodule produced by an aggregation of the material around a center; as, the calcareous concretions common in beds of clay.
CONCRETIONAL Con*cre"tion*al, a.
Defn: Concretionary.
CONCRETIONARY Con*cre"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or formed by, concretion or aggregation; producing or containing concretions.
CONCRETIVE Con*cre"tive, a.
Defn: Promoting concretion. Sir T. Browne.
CONCRETIVELY Con*cre"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concrete manner.
CONCRETURE Con*cre"ture, n.
Defn: A mass formed by concretion. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONCREW Con*crew", v. i. Etym: [See Concrete, a., and Accrue.]
Defn: To grow together. [Obs.] Spenser.
CONCRIMINATION Con*crim`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: A joint accusation.
CONCUBINACY Con*cu"bi*na*cy, n.
Defn: The practice of concubinage. [Obs.] Strype.
CONCUBINAGE Con*cu"bi*nage, n.
1. The cohabiting of a man and a woman who are not legally married; the state of being a concubine.
Note: In some countries, concubinage is marriage of an inferior kind, or performed with less solemnity than a true or formal marriage; or marriage with a woman of inferior condition, to whom the husband does not convey his rank or quality. Under Roman law, it was the living of a man and woman in sexual relations without marriage, but in conformity with local law.
2. (Law)
Defn: A plea, in which it is alleged that the woman suing for dower was not lawfully married to the man in whose lands she seeks to be endowed, but that she was his concubine.
CONCUBINAL Con*cu"bi*nal, a. Etym: [L. concubinalis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to concubinage.
CONCUBINARIAN Con*cu`bi*na"ri*an, a. & n.
Defn: Concubinary. The married and concubinarian, as well as looser clergy. Milman.
CONCUBINARY Con*cu"bi*na*ry, a. Etym: [LL. concubinarius.]
Defn: Relating to concubinage; living in concubinage.
CONCUBINARY Con*cu"bi*na*ry, n.; pl. Concubinaries.
Defn: One who lives in concubinage. Jer. Taylor.
CONCUBINATE Con*cu"bi*nate, n. Etym: [L. concubinatus.]
Defn: Concubinage. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONCUBINE Con"cu*bine, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. concubina; con- + cubare to lie down, concumbere to lie together, akin to E. cubit.]
1. A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a paramour.
Note: Concubine has been sometimes, but rarely, used of a male paramour as well as of a female. Trench.
2. A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines were allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of their father.
CONCULCATE Con*cul"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concultated; p. pr. & vb. n. Conculcating.] Etym: [L. conculcatus, p. p. of conculcare to conculcate fr. calx heel.]
Defn: To tread or trample under foot. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu -- Con`cul*ca"tion (, n. [Obs.]
CONCUPISCENCE Con*cu"pis*cence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. concupiscentia.]
Defn: Sexual lust; morbid carnal passion. Concupiscence like a pestilence walketh in darkness. Horne.
CONCUPISCENT Con*cu"pis*cent, a. Etym: [L. concupiscens, p. pr. of concupiscere, v. incho. of concupere to long for; con- + cupere. See Covet.]
Defn: Having sexual lust; libidinous; lustful; lecherous; salacious. Johnson.
CONCUPISCENTIAL Con*cu`pis*cen"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to concupiscence. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONCUPISCENTIOUS Con*cu`pis*cen"tious, a.
Defn: Concupiscent. [Obs.]
CONCUPISCIBLE Con*cu`pis*ci*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. concupiscible.]
1. Exciting to, or liable to be affected by, concupiscence; provoking lustful desires. Shak.
2. Exciting desire, good or evil. The schools reduce all the passions to these two heads, the concupiscible and irascible appetite. South.
CONCUPISCIBLENESS Con*cu"pis*ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being concupiscible. [Obs.]
CONCUPY Con"cu*py, n.
Defn: Concupiscence.
Note: [Used only in "Troilus and Cressida"] Shak.
CONCUR Con*cur", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Concurred (; p. pr. & vb. n. Concurring.] Etym: [L. concurrere to run together, agree; con- + currere to run. See Current.]
1. To run together; to meet. [Obs.] Anon they fierce encountering both concurred With grisly looks and faces like their fates. J. Hughes.
2. To meet in the same point; to combine or conjoin; to contribute or help toward a common object or effect. When outward causes concur. Jer. Colier.
3. To unite or agree (in action or opinion); to join; to act jointly; to agree; to coincide; to correspond. Mr. Burke concurred with Lord Chatham in opinion. Fox. Tories and Whigs had concurred in paying honor to Walker. Makaulay. This concurs directly with the letter. Shak.
4. To assent; to consent. [Obs.] Milton.
Syn. -- To agree; unite; combine; conspire; coincide; approve; acquiesce; assent.
CONCURRENCE Con*cur"rence, n. Etym: [F., competition, equality of rights, fr. LL. concurrentia competition.]
1. The act of concurring; a meeting or coming together; union; conjunction; combination. We have no other measure but our own ideas, with the concurence of other probable reasons, to persuade us. Locke.
2. A meeting of minds; agreement in opinion; union in design or act; -- implying joint approbation. Tarquin the Proud was expelled by the universal concurrence of nobles and people. Swift.
3. Agreement or consent, implying aid or contribution of power or influence; coöperation. We collect the greatness of the work, and the necessity of the divine concurrence to it. Rogers. An instinct that works us to its own purposes without our concurrence. Burke.
4. A common right; coincidence of equal powers; as, a concurrence of jurisdiction in two different courts.
CONCURRENCY Con*cur"ren*cy, n.
Defn: Concurrence.
CONCURRENT Con*cur"rent, a. Etym: [F. concurrent, L. concurrens, p. pr. of concurrere.]
1. Acting in conjunction; agreeing in the same act or opinion; contibuting to the same event of effect; coöperating. I join with these laws the personal presence of the kings' son, as a concurrent cause of this reformation. Sir J. Davies. The concurrent testimony of antiquity. Bp. Warburton.
2. Conjoined; associate; concomitant; existing or happening at the same time. There is no difference the concurrent echo and the iterant but the quickness or slowness of the return. Bacon. Changes . . . concurrent with the visual changes in the eye. Tyndall.
3. Joint and equal in authority; taking cognizance of similar questions; operating on the same objects; as, the concurrent jurisdiction of courts.
4. (Geom.)
Defn: Meeting in one point.
Syn. -- Meeting; uniting; accompanying; conjoined; associated; coincident; united.
CONCURRENT Con*cur"rent, n.
1. One who, or that which, concurs; a joint or contributory cause. To all affairs of importance there are three necessary concurrents . . . time, industry, and faculties. Dr. H. More.
2. One pursuing the same course, or seeking the same objects; hence, a rival; an opponent. Menander . . . had no concurrent in his time that came near unto him. Holland.
3. (Chron.)
Defn: One of the supernumerary days of the year over fifty-two complete weeks; -- so called because they concur with the solar cycle, the course of which they follow.
CONCURRENTLY Con*cur"rent*ly, adv.
Defn: With concurrence; unitedly.
CONCURRENTNESS Con*cur"rent*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being concurrent; concurrence.
CONCURRING Con*cur"ring, a.
Defn: Agreeing. Concurring figure (Geom.), one which, being laid on another, exactly meets every part of it, or one which correspondends with another in all its parts.
CONCUSS Con*cuss", v. t. Etym: [L. concussus, p. p. of concutere. See Concussion.]
1. To shake or agitate. "Concussed with uncertainty." Daniel.
2. (Law)
Defn: To force (a person) to do something, or give up something, by intimidation; to coerce. Wharton.
CONCUSSATION Con`cus*sa"tion, n.
Defn: A violent shock or agitation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CONCUSSION Con*cus"sion, n. Etym: [L. concussio, fr. concutere, concussum, to shake violenty; con- + quatere to shake. See Cashier, Quash.]
1. A shaking or agitation; a shock; caused by the collision of two bodies. It is believed that great ringing of bells, in populous cities, hath dissipated pestilent air; which may be from the concussion of the air. Bacon.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A condition of lowered functional activity, without visible structural change, produced in an organ by a shock, as by fall or blow; as, a concussion of the brain.
3. (Civil Law)
Defn: The unlawful forcing of another by threats of violence to yield up something of value. Then concussion, rapine, pilleries, Their catalogue of accusations fill. Daniel. Concussion fuse (Mil.), one that is ignited by the concussion of the shell when it strikes.
Syn. -- See Shock.
CONCUSSIVE Con*cus"sive, a.
Defn: Having the power or quality of shaking or agitating. Johnson.
COND Cond, v. t. Etym: [OE. conduen, condien, F. conduire to conduct, fr. L. conducere. See Conduct, and cf. Con (Naut.), Conn. Cun.] (Naut.)
Defn: To con, as a ship.
CONDEMN Con*demn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condemned; p. pr. & vb. n. Condemning ( or ]. Etym: [L. condemnare; con- + damnare to condemn: cf. F. condamner. See Damn.]
1. To pronounce to be wrong; to disapprove of; to censure. Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's condemned ere it be done. Shak. Wilt thou condemn him that is most just Job xxxiv. 17.
2. To declare the guilt of; to make manifest the faults or unworthiness of; to convict of guilt. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it. Matt. xii. 42.
3. To pronounce a judicial sentence against; to sentence to punishment, suffering, or loss; to doom; -- with to before the penalty. Driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorred deep to utter woe. Milton. To each his sufferings; all are men, Condemned alike to groan. Gray. And they shall condemn him to death. Matt. xx. 18. The thief condemned, in law already dead. Pope. No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn. Goldsmith.
4. To amerce or fine; -- with in before the penalty. The king of Egypt . . . condemned the land in a hundred talents of silver. 2 Cron. xxxvi. 3.
5. To adjudge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service; to adjudge or pronounce to be forfeited; as, the ship and her cargo were condemned.
6. (Law)
Defn: To doom to be taken for public use, under the right of eminent domain.
Syn. -- To blame; censure; reprove; reproach; upbraid; reprobate; convict; doom; sentence; adjudge.
CONDEMNABLE Con"dem*na"ble, a. Etym: [L. condemnabilis.]
Defn: Worthy of condemnation; blamable; culpable.
CONDEMNATION Con"dem*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. condemnatio.]
1. The act of condemning or pronouncing to be wrong; censure; blame; disapprobation. In every other sense of condemnation, as blame, censure, reproof, private judgment, and the like. Paley.
2. The act of judicially condemning, or adjudging guilty, unfit for use, or forfeited; the act of dooming to punishment or forfeiture. A legal and judicial condemnation. Paley. Whose condemnation is pronounced. Shak.
3. The state of being condemned. His pathetic appeal to posterity in the hopeless hour of condemnation. W. Irving.
4. The ground or reason of condemning. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather light, because their deeds were evil. John iii. 19.
CONDEMNATORY Con*dem"na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Condemning; containing or imposing condemnation or censure; as, a condemnatory sentence or decree.
CONDEMNED Con*demned", a.
1. Pronounced to be wrong, guilty, worthless, or forfeited; adjudged or sentenced to punishment, destruction, or confiscation.
2. Used for condemned persons. Richard Savage . . . had lain with fifty pounds weight of irons on his legs in the condemned ward of Newgate. Macaulay.
CONDEMNER Con*dem"ner ( or ), n.
Defn: One who condemns or censures.
CONDENSABILITY Con*den`sa*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being condensed.
CONDENSABLE Con*den"sa*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. condensable.]
Defn: Capable of being condensed; as, vapor is condensable.
CONDENSATE Con*den"sate, a. Etym: [L. condensatus, p. p. of condensare. See Condense, v. t.]
Defn: Made dense; condensed. Water . . . thickened or condensate. Peacham.
CONDENSATE Con*den"sate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condensated; p. pr. & vb. n. Condensating.]
Defn: To condense. [R.] Hammond.
CONDENSATION Con`den*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. condensatio: cf. F. condensation.]
1. The act or process of condensing or of being condensed; the state of being condensed. He [Goldsmith] was a great and perhaps an unequaled master of the arts of selection and condensation. Macaulay.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The act or process of reducing, by depression of temperature or increase of pressure, etc., to another and denser form, as gas to the condition of a liquid or steam to water.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: A rearrangement or concentration of the different constituents of one or more substances into a distinct and definite compound of greater complexity and molecular weight, often resulting in an increase of density, as the condensation of oxygen into ozone, or of acetone into mesitylene. Condensation product (Chem.), a substance obtained by the polymerization of one substance, or by the union of two or more, with or without separation of some unimportant side products. -- Surface condensation, the system of condensing steam by contact with cold metallic surfaces, in distinction from condensation by the injection of cold water.
CONDENSATIVE Con*den"sa*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. condensatif.]
Defn: Having the property of condensing.
CONDENSE Con*dense", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condensed; p. pr. & vb. n. Condensing.] Etym: [L. condensare; con- + densare to make thick or dense, densus thick, dense: cf. F. condenser. See Dense, and cf. Condensate.]
1. To make more close, compact, or dense; to compress or concentrate into a smaller compass; to consolidate; to abridge; to epitomize. In what shape they choose, Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure. Milton. The secret course pursued at Brussels and at Madrid may be condensed into the usual formula, dissimulation, procrastination, and again dissimulation. Motley.
2. (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: To reduce into another and denser form, as by cold or pressure; as, to condense gas into a liquid form, or steam into water. Condensed milk, milk reduced to the consistence of very thick cream by evaporation (usually with addition of sugar) for preservation and transportation. -- Condensing engine, a steam engine in which the steam is condensed after having exerted its force on the piston.
Syn. -- To compress; contract; crowd; thicken; concentrate; abridge; epitomize; reduce.
CONDENSE Con*dense", v. i.
1. To become more compact; to be reduced into a denser form. Nitrous acid is gaseous at ordinary temperatures, but condenses into a very volatile liquid at the zero of Fahrenheit. H. Spencer.
2. (Chem.) (a) To combine or unite (as two chemical substances) with or without separation of some unimportant side products. (b) To undergo polymerization.
CONDENSE Con*dense", a. Etym: [L. condensus.]
Defn: Condensed; compact; dense. [R.] The huge condense bodies of planets. Bentley.
CONDENSER Con*dens"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, condenses.
2. (Physic) (a) An instrument for condensing air or other elastic fluids, consisting of a cylinder having a movable piston to force the air into a receiver, and a valve to prevent its escape. (b) An instrument for concentrating electricity by the effect of induction between conducting plates separated by a nonconducting plate. (c) A lens or mirror, usually of short focal distance, used to concentrate light upon an object.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for receiving and condensing the volatile products of distillation to a liquid or solid form, by cooling.
4. (Steam Engine)
Defn: An apparatus, separate from the cylinder, in which the exhaust steam is condensed by the action of cold water or air. See Illust. of Steam engine. Achromatic condenser (Optics), an achromatic lens used as a condenser. -- Bull's-eye condenser, or Bull's-eye (Optics), a lens of short focal distance used for concentrating rays of light. -- Injection condenser, a vessel in which steam is condensed by the direct contact of water. -- Surface condenser, an apparatus for condensing steam, especially the exhaust of a steam engine, by bringing it into contact with metallic surface cooled by water or air.
CONDENSIBLE Con*den"si*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being condensed; as, a gas condensible to a liquid by cold.
CONDER Cond"er, n. Etym: [From Cond.]
Defn: One who watches shoals of fish; a balker. See Balker.
CONDESCEND Con`de*scend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condescended; p. pr. & vb. n. Condescending.] Etym: [F. condescendre, LL. condescendere, fr. L. con- + descendere. See Descend.]
1. To stoop or descend; to let one's self down; to submit; to waive the privilege of rank or dignity; to accommodate one's self to an inferior. "Condescend to men of low estate." Rom. xii. 16. Can they think me so broken, so debased With corporal servitude, that my mind ever Will condescend to such absurd commands Milton. Spain's mighty monarch, In gracious clemency, does condescend, On these conditions, to become your friend. Dryden.
Note: Often used ironically, implying an assumption of superiority. Those who thought they were honoring me by condescending to address a few words to me. F. W. Robinson.
2. To consent. [Obs.] All parties willingly condescended heruento. R. Carew.
Syn. -- To yield; stoop; descend; deign; vouchsafe.
CONDESCENDENCE; CONDESCENDENCY Con`de*scend"ence, Con`de*scend"en*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. condescendance.]
Defn: Condescension. [Obs.]
CONDESCENDINGLY Con`de*scend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a condescending manner. Atterbury.
CONDESCENSION Con`de*scen"sion, n. Etym: [L. condescensio.]
Defn: The act of condescending; voluntary descent from one's rank or dignity in intercourse with an inferior; courtesy toward inferiors. It forbids pride . . . and commands humility, modesty, and condescension to others. Tillotson. Such a dignity and condescension . . . as are suitable to a superior nature. Addison.
Syn. -- Complaisance; courtesy; affability.
CONDESCENT Con`de*scent", n. Etym: [Cf. Condescend, Descent.]
Defn: An act of condescension. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONDIGN Con*dign", a. Etym: [F. condigne, L. condignus very worthy; con- + dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Digne.]
1. Worthy; suitable; deserving; fit. [Obs.] Condign and worthy praise. Udall. Herself of all that rule she deemend most condign. Spenser.
2. Deserved; adequate; suitable to the fault or crime. "Condign censure." Milman. Unless it were a bloody murderer . . . I never gave them condign punishment. Shak.
CONDIGNITY Con*dig"ni*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. condignité.] (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: Merit, acguired by works, which can claim reward on the score of general benevolence. Such a worthiness of condignity, and proper merit of the heavenly glory, cannot be found in any the best, most perfect, and excellent of created beings. Bp. Bull.
CONDIGNLY Con*dign"ly, adv.
Defn: According to merit.
CONDIGNNESS Con*dign"ness, n.
Defn: Agreeableness to deserts; suitableness.
CONDIMENT Con"di*ment, n. Etym: [L. condimentum, fr. condire. See Condite.]
Defn: Something used to give relish to food, and to gratify the taste; a pungment and appetizing substance, as pepper or mustard; seasoning. As for radish and the like, they are for condiments, and not for nourishment. Bacon.
CONDISCIPLE Con`dis*ci"ple, n. Etym: [L. condiscipulus. See Disciple.]
Defn: A schoolfellow; a fellow-student. [R.]
CONDITE Con"dite, a. Etym: [L. conditus, p. p. of condire to preserve, pickle, season. See Recondite.]
Defn: Preserved; pickled. [Obs.] Burton.
CONDITE Con*dite", v. t.
Defn: To pickle; to preserve; as, to condite pears, quinces, etc. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
CONDITION Con*di"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. conditio (better condicio) agreement, compact, condition; con- + a root signifying to show, point out, akin to dicere to say, dicare to proclaim, dedicate. See Teach, Token.]
1. Mode or state of being; state or situation with regard to external circumstances or influences, or to physical or mental integrity, health, strength, etc.; predicament; rank; position, estate. I am in my condition A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king. Shak. And O, what man's condition can be worse Than his whom plenty starves and blessings curse Cowley. The new conditions of life. Darwin.
2. Essential quality; property; attribute. It seemed to us a condition and property of divine powers and beings to be hidden and unseen to others. Bacon.
3. Temperament; disposition; character. [Obs.] The condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil. Shak.
4. That which must exist as the occasion or concomitant of something else; that which is requisite in order that something else should take effect; an essential qualification; stipulation; terms specified. I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at the high cross every morning. Shak. Many are apt to believe remission of sins, but they believe it without the condition of repentance. Jer. Taylor.
5. (Law)
Defn: A clause in a contract, or agreement, which has for its object to suspend, to defeat, or in some way to modify, the principal obligation; or, in case of a will, to suspend, revoke, or modify a devise or bequest. It is also the case of a future uncertain event, which may or may not happen, and on the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, the accomplishment, recission, or modification of an obligation or testamentary disposition is made to depend. Blount. Tomlins. Bouvier. Wharton. Equation of condition. (Math.) See under Equation. -- On or Upon condition (that), used for if in introducing conditional sentences. "Upon condition thou wilt swear to pay him tribute . . . thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him." Shak. -- Conditions of sale, the terms on which it is proposed to sell property by auction; also, the instrument containing or expressing these terms.
Syn. -- State; situation; circumstances; station; case; mode; plight; predicament; stipulation; qualification; requisite; article; provision; arrangement. See State.
CONDITION Con*di"tion, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conditioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Conditioning.]
1. To make terms; to stipulate. Pay me back my credit, And I'll condition with ye. Beau. & Fl.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: To impose upon an object those relations or conditions without which knowledge and thought are alleged to be impossible. To think of a thing is to condition. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONDITION Con*di"tion, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LL. conditionare. See Condition, n.]
1. To invest with, or limit by, conditions; to burden or qualify by a condition; to impose or be imposed as the condition of. Seas, that daily gain upon the shore, Have ebb and flow conditioning their march. Tennyson.
2. To contract; to stipulate; to agree. It was conditioned between Saturn and Titan, that Saturn should put to death all his male children. Sir W. Raleigh.
3. (U. S. Colleges)
Defn: To put under conditions; to require to pass a new examination or to make up a specified study, as a condition of remaining in one's class or in college; as, to condition a student who has failed in some branch of study.
4. To test or assay, as silk (to ascertain the proportion of moisture it contains). McElrath.
Defn: train; acclimate.
CONDITIONAL Con*di"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. conditionalis.]
1. Containing, implying, or depending on, a condition or conditions; not absolute; made or granted on certain terms; as, a conditional promise. Every covenant of God with man . . . may justly be made (as in fact it is made) with this conditional punishment annexed and declared. Bp. Warburton.
2. (Gram. & Logic)
Defn: Expressing a condition or supposition; as, a conditional word, mode, or tense. A conditional proposition is one which asserts the dependence of one categorical proposition on another. Whately. The words hypothetical and conditional may be . . . used synonymously. J. S. Mill.
CONDITIONAL Con*di"tion*al, n.
1. A limitation. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A conditional word, mode, or proposition. Disjunctives may be turned into conditionals. L. H. Atwater.
CONDITIONALITY Con*di`tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being conditional, or limited; limitation by certain terms.
CONDITIONALLY Con*di"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conditional manner; subject to a condition or conditions; not absolutely or positively. Shak.
CONDITIONATE Con*di"tion*ate, a. Etym: [LL. conditionatus, p. p. See Condition, v. t.]
Defn: Conditional. [Obs.] Barak's answer is faithful, though conditionate. Bp. Hall.
CONDITIONATE Con*di"tion*ate, v. t.
1. To qualify by conditions; to regulate. [Obs.]
2. To put under conditions; to render conditional.
CONDITIONED Con*di"tioned, a.
1. Surrounded; circumstanced; in a certain state or condition, as of property or health; as, a well conditioned man. The best conditioned and unwearied spirit. Shak.
2. Having, or known under or by, conditions or relations; not independent; not absolute. Under these, thought is possible only in the conditioned interval. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONDITIONLY Con*di"tion*ly, adv.
Defn: Conditionally. [Obs.]
CONDITORY Con"di*to*ry, n.; pl. Conditories. Etym: [L. conditorium, fr. condere to hide. See Recondite.]
Defn: A repository for holding things; a hinding place.
CONDOG Con*dog", v. i. Etym: [A punning corruption of concur.]
Defn: To concur; to agree. [Burlesque]
Note: This word appears in early dictionaries as a synonym for the word agree; thus. "Agree; concurre, cohere, condog, condescend." Cockeram.
CONDOLATORY Con*do"la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Expressing condolence. Smart.
CONDOLE Con*dole", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condoled; p. pr. & vb. n. Condoling.] Etym: [L. condolere; con- + dolere to feel pain, grieve. See Doleful.]
Defn: To express sympathetic sorrow; to grieve in sympathy; -- followed by with. Your friends would have cause to rejoice, rather than condole with you. Sir W. Temple.
CONDOLE Con*dole", v. t.
Defn: To lament or grieve over. [R.] I come not, Samson, to condole thy chance. Milton.
CONDOLEMENT Con*dole"ment, n.
1. Condolence. "A pitiful condolement." Milton.
2. Sorrow; mourning; lamentation. Shak.
CONDOLENCE Con*do"lence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. condoléance.]
Defn: Expression of sympathy with another in sorrow or grief. Their congratulations and their condolences. Steele. A special mission of condolence. Macaulay.
CONDOLER Con*dol"er, n.
Defn: One who condoles.
CONDONATION Con`do*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. condonatio a giving away.]
1. The act of condoning or pardoning.
2. (Law)
Defn: Forgiveness, either express or implied, by a husband of his wife or by a wife of her husband, for a breach of marital duty, as adultery, with an implied condition that the offense shall not be repeated. Bouvier. Wharton.
CONDONE Con*done", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Condoning.] Etym: [L. condonare, -donatum, to give up, remit, forgive; con- + donare to give. See Donate.]
1. To pardon; to forgive. A fraud which he had either concocted or condoned. W. Black. It would have been magnanimous in the men then in power to have overlooked all these things, and, condoning the politics, to have rewarded the poetry of Burns. J. C. Shairp.
2. (Law)
Defn: To pardon; to overlook the offense of; esp., to forgive for a violation of the marriage law; -- said of either the husband or the wife.
CONDOR Con"dor, n. Etym: [Sp. condor, fr. Peruvian cuntur.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large bird of the Vulture family (Sarcorhamphus gryphus), found in the most elevated parts of the Andes.
CONDOTTIERE Con`dot*tie"re, n.; pl. Condottieri. Etym: [It., captain.]
Defn: A military adventurer of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, who sold his services, and those of his followers, to any party in any contest.
CONDUCE Con*duce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Conducing.] Etym: [L. conducere to bring together, conduce, hire; con- + ducere to lead. See Duke and cf. Conduct, n., Cond.]
Defn: To lead or tend, esp. with reference to a favorable or desirable result; to contribute; -- usually followed by to or toward. He was sensible how much such a union would conduce to the happiness of both. Macaulay. The reasons you allege do more conduce To the hot passion of distemper'd blood. Shak.
Syn. -- To contribute; aid; assist; tend; subserve.
CONDUCE Con*duce", v. t.
Defn: To conduct; to lead; to guide. [Obs.] He was sent to conduce hither the princess. Sir H. Wotton.
CONDUCENT Con*du"cent, a. Etym: [L. conducens, p. pr.]
Defn: Conducive; tending. Conducent to the good success of this business. Abp. Laud.
CONDUCIBILITY Con*du"ci*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being conducible; conducibleness. Bp. Wilkins.
CONDUCIBLE Con*du"ci*ble, a. Etym: [L. conducibilis.]
Defn: Conducive; tending; contributing. Bacon. All his laws are in themselves conducible to the temporal interest of them that observe them. Bentley.
CONDUCIBLENESS Con*du"ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being conducible.
CONDUCIBLY Con*du"ci*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to promote. [R.]
CONDUCIVE Con*du"cive, a.
Defn: Loading or tending; helpful; contributive; tending to promote. However conducive to the good or our country. Addison.
CONDUCIVENESS Con*du"cive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of conducing.
CONDUCT Con"duct, n. Etym: [LL. conductus defense, escort, fr. L. conductus, p. p. of conducere. See Conduce, and cf. Conduit.]
1. The act or method of conducting; guidance; management. Christianity has humanized the conduct of war. Paley. The conduct of the state, the administration of its affairs. Ld. Brougham.
2. Skillful guidance or management; generalship. Conduct of armies is a prince's art. Waller. Attacked the Spaniards . . . with great impetuosity, but with so little conduct, that his forces were totally routed. Robertson.
3. Convoy; escort; guard; guide. [Archaic] I will be your conduct. B. Jonson. In my conduct shall your ladies come. Shak.
4. That which carries or conveys anything; a channel; a conduit; an instrument. [Obs.] Although thou been conduct of my chame. Shak.
5. The manner of guiding or carrying one's self; personal deportment; mode of action; behavior. All these difficulties were increased by the conduct of Shrewsbury. Macaulay. What in the conduct of our life appears So well designed, so luckily begun, But when we have our wish, we wish undone Dryden.
6. Plot; action; construction; manner of development. The book of Job, in conduct and diction. Macaulay. Conduct money (Naut.), a portion of a seaman's wages retained till the end of his engagement, and paid over only if his conduct has been satisfactory.
Syn. -- Behavior; deportment; demeanor; bearing; management; guidance. See Behavior.
CONDUCT Con*duct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conducted; p. pr. & vb. n. Conducting.] Etym: [See Conduct, n.]
1. To lead, or guide; to escort; to attend. I can conduct you, lady, to a low But loyal cottage, where you may be safe. Milton.
2. To lead, as a commander; to direct; to manage; to carry on; as, to conduct the affairs of a kingdom. Little skilled in the art of conducting a siege. Prescott.
3. To behave; -- with the reflexive; as, he conducted himself well.
4. (Physics)
Defn: To serve as a medium for conveying; to transmit, as heat, light, electricity, etc.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: To direct, as the leader in the performance of a musical composition.
CONDUCT Con*duct", v. i.
1. To act as a conductor (as of heat, electricity, etc.); to carry.
2. To conduct one's self; to behave. [U. S.]
CONDUCTANCE Con*duct"ance (kon*duk"tans), n. [Conduct, v. + -ance.] (Elec.)
Defn: Conducting power; -- the reciprocal of resistance. A suggested unit is the mho, the reciprocal of the ohm.
Conductance is an attribute of any specified conductor, and refers to its shape, length, and other factors. Conductivity is an attribute of any specified material without direct reference to its shape or other factors. Sloane's Elec. Dict.
CONDUCTIBILITY Con*duct`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conductibilité.]
1. Capability of being conducted; as, the conductibility of heat or electricity.
2. Conductivity; capacity for receiving and transmitting.
CONDUCTIBLE Con*duct"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conducted.
CONDUCTION Con*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. conductio a bringing together: cf. F. conduction.]
1. The act of leading or guiding. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. The act of training up. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. (Physics)
Defn: Transmission through, or by means of, a conductor; also, conductivity. [The] communication [of heat] from one body to another when they are in contact, or through a homogenous body from particle to particle, constitutes conduction. Amer. Cyc.
CONDUCTIVE Con*duct"ive, a.
Defn: Having the quality or power of conducting; as, the conductive tissue of a pistil. The ovarian walls . . . are seen to be distinctly conductive. Goodale (Gray's Bot. ).
CONDUCTIVITY Con`duc*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or power of conducting, or of receiving and transmitting, as, the conductivity of a nerve. Thermal conductivity (Physics), the quantity of heat that passes in unit time through unit area of plate whose thickness is unity, when its opposite faces differ in temperature by one degree. J. D. Everett. -- Thermometic conductivity (Physics), the thermal conductivity when the unit of heat employed is the heat required to raise unit volume of the substance one degree.
CONDUCTOR Con*duct"or, n. Etym: [LL., a carrier, transporter, L., a lessee.]
1. One who, or that which, conducts; a leader; a commander; a guide; a manager; a director. Zeal, the blind conductor of the will. Dryden.
2. One in charge of a public conveyance, as of a railroad train or a street car. [U. S.]
3. (Mus.)
Defn: The leader or director of an orchestra or chorus.
4. (Physics)
Defn: A substance or body capable of being a medium for the transmission of certain forces, esp. heat or electricity; specifically, a lightning rod.
5. (Surg.)
Defn: A grooved sound or staff used for directing instruments, as lithontriptic forceps, etc.; a director.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Leader. Prime conductor (Elec.), the largest conductor of an electrical machine, serving to collect, accumulate, or retain the electricity.
CONDUCTORY Con*duct"o*ry, a. Etym: [LL. conductorius.]
Defn: Having the property of conducting. [R.]
CONDUCTRESS Con*duct"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who leads or directs; a directress.
CONDUIT Con"duit ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. conductus escort, conduit. See Conduct.]
1. A pipe, canal, channel, or passage for conveying water or fluid. All the conduits of my blood froze up. Shak. This is the fountain of all those bitter waters, of which, through a hundred different conduits, we have drunk. Burke.
2. (Arch.) (a) A structure forming a reservoir for water. Oxf. Gloss. (b) A narrow passage for private communication.
CONDUIT SYSTEM; CONDUIT RAILWAY Con"duit sys"tem. (Elec.)
Defn: A system of electric traction, esp. for light railways, in which the actuating current passes along a wire or rail laid in an underground conduit, from which the current is "picked up" by a plow or other device fixed to the car or electric locomotive. Hence Conduit railway.
CONDUPLICATE Con*du"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. conduplicatus, p. p. of conduplicare. See Duplicate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Folded lengthwise along the midrib, the upper face being within; -- said of leaves or petals in vernation or æstivation.
CONDUPLICATION Con*du`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. conduplicatio.]
Defn: A doubling together or folding; a duplication. [R.]
CONDURANGO Con`du*ran"go, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Cundurango.
CONDURRITE Con*dur"rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of the mineral domeykite, or copper arsenide, from the Condurra mine in Cornwall, England.
CONDYLAR Con"dy*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a condyle. Condylar foramen (Anat.), a formen in front of each condyle of the occipital bone; -- sometimes called the anterior condylar foramen when a second, or posterior, foramen is present behind the condyle, as often happens in man.
CONDYLE Con"dyle ( or ), n. Etym: [L. condylus knuckle, joint, Gr. condyle.] (Anat.)
Defn: A bony prominence; particularly, an eminence at the end of a bone bearing a rounded articular surface; -- sometimes applied also to a concave articular surface.
CONDYLOID Con"dy*loid, a. Etym: [Condyle + -oid: cf. F. condyloïde.] (Anat.)
Defn: Shaped like or pertaining to a condyle.
CONDYLOMA; CONDYLOME Con`dy*lo"ma, Con"dy*lome, n.; pl. Condylomata or, E. Condylomes. Etym: [NL. condyloma, fr. Gr. -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A wartlike new growth on the outer skin or adjoining mucous membrance.
Note: There are two kinds of condylomata, the pointed and the broad, the latter being of syphilitic origin.
CONDYLOPOD Con*dyl"o*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arthropod.
CONE Cone, n. Etym: [L. conus cone (in sense 1), Gr. çana whetstone, L. cuneus wedge, and prob. to E. hone. See Hone, n.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A solid of the form described by the revolution of a right- angled triangle about one of the sides adjacent to the right angle; - - called also a right cone. More generally, any solid having a vertical point and bounded by a surface which is described by a straight line always passing through that vertical point; a solid having a circle for its base and tapering to a point or vertex.
2. Anything shaped more or less like a mathematical cone; as, a volcanic cone, a collection of scoriæ around the crater of a volcano, usually heaped up in a conical form. Now had Night measured with her shadowy cone Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault. Milton.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit or strobile of the Coniferæ, as of the pine, fir, cedar, and cypress. It is composed of woody scales, each one of which has one or two seeds at its base.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shell of the genus Conus, having a conical form. Cone of rays (Opt.), the pencil of rays of light which proceed from a radiant point to a given surface, as that of a lens, or conversely. -- Cone pulley. See in the Vocabulary. -- Oblique or Scalene cone, a cone of which the axis is inclined to the plane of its base. -- Eight cone. See Cone, 1.
CONE Cone, v. t.
Defn: To render coneshaped; to bevel like the circular segment of a cone; as, to cone the tires of car wheels.
CONE CLUTCH Cone clutch. (Mach.)
Defn: A friction clutch with conical bearing surfaces.
CONEFLOWER Cone"flow`er, n.
Defn: Any plant of the genus Rudbeckia; -- so called from the cone- shaped disk of the flower head. Also, any plant of the related genera Ratibida and Brauneria, the latter usually known as purple coneflower.
CONE-IN-CONE Cone"-in-cone", a. (Geol.)
Defn: Consisting of a series of parallel cones, each made up of many concentric cones closely packed together; -- said of a kind of structure sometimes observed in sedimentary rocks.
CONEINE Co*ne"ine ( or ; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Conine.
CONE-NOSE Cone"-nose`, n.
Defn: A large hemipterous insect of the family Reduviidæ, often found in houses, esp. in the southern and western United States. It bites severely, and is one of the species called kissing bugs. It is also called big bedbug.
CONEPATE; CONEPATL Co"ne*pate, Co"ne*patl, n. Etym: [Mexican conepatl and epatl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The skunk.
CONE PULLEY Cone" pul"ley.
Defn: A pulley for driving machines, etc., having two or more parts or steps of different diameters; a pulley having a conical shape.
CONESTOGA WAGON; CONESTOGA WAIN Con`es*to"ga wag`on, Con`es*to"ga wain. [From Conestoga, Pennsylvania.]
Defn: A kind of large broad-wheeled wagon, usually covered, for traveling in soft soil and on prairies.
CONEY Co"ney ( or ), n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rabbit. See Cony.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish. See Cony.
CONFAB Con"fab, n. Etym: [Contr. from confabulation.]
Defn: Familiar talk or conversation. [Colloq.]
CONFABULATE Con*fab"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Confabulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Confabulating.] Etym: [L. confabulatus, p. p. of confabulary, to converse together; con- + fabulary to speak, fr. fabula. See Fable.]
Defn: To talk familiarly together; to chat; to prattle. I shall not ask Jean Jaques Rousseau If birds confabulate or no. Cowper.
CONFABULATION Con*fab`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. confabulatio.]
Defn: Familiar talk; easy, unrestrained, unceremonious conversation. Friends' confabulations are comfortable at all times, as fire in winter. Burton.
CONFABULATORY Con*fab"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of familiar talk; in the form of a dialogue. Weever.
CONFALON Con"fa*lon, n. Etym: [F. See Confalon.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: One of a fraternity of seculars, also called Penitents.
CONFARREATION Con*far`re*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. confarreatio, fr. confarreare to marry; con- + farreum (sc. libum cake) a spelt cake, fr. farreus made of spelt, fr. far a sort of grain.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A form of marriage among the Romans, in which an offering of bread was made, in presence of the high priest and at least ten witnesses.
CONFATED Con*fat"ed, p.a.
Defn: Fated or decreed with something else. [R.] A. Tucker.
CONFECT Con*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confected; p. pr. & vb. n. Confecting.] Etym: [L. confectus, p. p. of conficere to prepare. See Comfit.]
1. To prepare, as sweetmeats; to make a confection of. [Obs.] Saffron confected in Cilicia. W. Browne.
2. To construct; to form; to mingle or mix. [Obs.] Of this were confected the famous everlasting lamps and tapers. Sir T. Herbert. [My joys] are still confected with some fears. Stirling.
CONFECT Con"fect, n.
Defn: A comfit; a confection. [Obs.] At supper eat a pippin roasted and sweetened with sugar of roses and caraway confects. Harvey.
CONFECTION Con*fec"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. confectio.]
1. A composition of different materials. [Obs.] A new confection of mold. Bacon.
2. A preparation of fruits or roots, etc., with sugar; a sweetmeat. Certain confections . . . are like to candied conserves, and are made of sugar and lemons. Bacon.
3. A composition of drugs. Shak.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A soft solid made by incorporating a medicinal substance or substances with sugar, sirup, or honey.
Note: The pharmacopoeias formerly made a distinction between conserves (made of fresh vegetable substances and sugar) and electuaries (medicinal substances combined with sirup or honey), but the distinction is now abandoned and all are called confections.
CONFECTIONARY Con*fec"tion*a*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. confectionaris a pharmacist.]
Defn: A confectioner. [Obs.] He will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks. 1 Sam. viii. 13.
CONFECTIONARY Con*fec"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Prepared as a confection. The biscuit or confectionary plum. Cowper.
CONFECTIONER Con*fec"tion*er, n.
1. A compounder. [Obs.] Canidia Neapolitana was confectioner of unguents. Haywood.
2. One whose occupation it is to make or sell confections, candies, etc.
CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR Con*fec"tion*ers' sug`ar.
Defn: A highly refined sugar in impalpable powder, esp. suited to confectioners' uses.
CONFECTIONERY Con*fec"tion*er*y, n.
1. Sweetmeats, in general; things prepared and sold by a confectioner; confections; candies.
2. A place where candies, sweetmeats, and similar things are made or sold.
CONFECTORY Con*fec"to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of making sweetmeats. [Obs.] Beaumont.
CONFECTURE Con*fec"ture, n.
Defn: Same as Confiture. [Obs.]
CONFEDER Con*fed"er, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. conf. See Confederate.]
Defn: To confederate. [Obs.] Sir T. North.
CONFEDERACY Con*fed"er*a*cy, n.; pl. Confederacies. Etym: [From Confederate, a.]
1. A league or compact between two or more persons, bodies of men, or states, for mutual support or common action; alliance. The friendships of the world are oft Confederacies in vice or leagues of pleasure. Addison. He hath heard of our confederacy. Shak. Virginia promoted a confederacy. Bancroft.
2. The persons, bodies, states, or nations united by a league; a confederation. The Grecian common wealth, . . . the most heroic confederacy that ever existed. Harris. Virgil has a whole confederacy against him. Dryden.
3. (Law)
Defn: A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act, or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy.
Syn. -- League; compact; alliance; association; union; combination; confederation.
CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. confoederatus, p. p. of confoederare to join by a league; con- + foederare to establish by treaty or league, fr. foedus league, compact. See Federal.]
1. United in a league; allied by treaty; engaged in a confederacy; banded together; allied. All the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. Shak.
2. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the government of the eleven Southern States of the United States which (1860-1865) attempted to establish an independent nation styled the Confederate States of America; as, the Confederate congress; Confederate money.
CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, n.
1. One who is united with others in a league; a person or a nation engaged in a confederacy; an ally; also, an accomplice in a bad sense. He found some of his confederates in gaol. Macaulay.
2. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: A name designating an adherent to the cause of the States which attempted to withdraw from the Union (1860-1865).
CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confederated; p. pr. & vb. n. Confederating.]
Defn: To unite in a legue or confederacy; to ally. With these the Piercies them confederate. Daniel.
CONFEDERATE Con*fed"er*ate, v. i.
Defn: To unite in a league; to join in a mutual contract or covenant; to band together. By words men . . . covenant and confederate. South.
CONFEDERATER Con*fed"er*a`ter, n.
Defn: A confederate.
CONFEDERATION Con*fed`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. confoederatio: cf. F. confédération.]
1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support; alliance, particulary of princes, nations, or states. The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation among themselves. Bacon. This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of New England. Palfrey.
2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a confederacy. Articles of confederation. See under Article.
CONFEDERATIVE Con*fed"er*a*tive ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a confederation.
CONFEDERATOR Con*fed"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: A confederate. Grafton.
CONFER Con*fer", v.t. [imp. & p. p. Conferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Conferring.] Etym: [L. conferre to bring together, contribute, consult; con- + ferre to bear: cf. F. conférer. See 1st Bear.]
1. To bring together for comparison; to compare. [Obs.] If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we may find cause to rectify the general opinion. Boyle.
2. To grant as a possession; to bestow. The public marks of honor and reward Conferred upon me. Milton.
3. To contribute; to conduce. [Obs.] The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much confer to the strength of the union. Glanvill.
CONFER Con*fer", v. i.
Defn: To have discourse; to consult; to compare views; to deliberate. Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered. Acts xxv. 12. You shall hear us confer of this. Shak.
Syn. -- To counsel; advise; discourse; converse.
CONFEREE Con`fer*ee", n. Etym: [Cf. Referee.]
1. One who is conferred with, or who takes part in a conference; as, the conferees on the part of the Senate.
2. One upon whom something is conferred.
CONFERENCE Con"fer*ence, n. Etym: [F. conférence. See Confer.]
1. The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison. [Obs.] Helps and furtherances which . . . the mutual conference of all men's collections and observations may afford. Hocker.
2. The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or discussion; interchange of views. Nor with such free and friendly conference As he hath used of old. Shak.
3. A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of opinions.
4. A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their committees, to adjust between them.
5. (Methodist Church)
Defn: A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.
6. A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district; the district in which such churches are. Conference meeting, a meeting for conference. Specifically, a meeting conducted (usually) by laymen, for conference and prayer. [U. S.] -- Conference room, a room for conference and prayer, and for the pastor's less formal addresses. [U. S.]
CONFERENTIAL Con`fer*en"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to conference. [R.] Clarke.
CONFERRABLE Con*fer"ra*ble a.
Defn: Capable of being conferred.
CONFERREE Con`fer*ree", n.
Defn: Same as Conferee.
CONFERRER Con*fer"rer, n.
1. One who confers; one who converses. Johnson.
2. One who bestows; a giver.
CONFERRUMINATE; CONFERRUMINATED Con`fer*ru"mi*nate, Con`fer*ru"mi*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. conferruminare to cement. See Ferruminate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Closely united by the coalescence, or sticking together, of contiguous faces, as in the case of the cotyledons of the live-oak acorn.
CONFERVA Con*fer"va, n.; pl. Confervæ. Etym: [L., a kind of water plant. See Comfrey.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any unbranched, slender, green plant of the fresh-water algae. The word is frequently used in a wider sense.
CONFERVACEOUS Con`fer*va"ceous, a.
Defn: Belonging to the confervae.
CONFERVOID Con*fer"void, a. Etym: [Conferva + -oid.]
Defn: Like, or related to, the confervae. Loudon.
CONFERVOUS Con*fer"vous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to confervae; consisting of, or resembling, the confervae. Yon exiguous pool's confervous scum. O. W. Holmes.
CONFESS Con*fess", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confessed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confessing.] Etym: [F. confesser, fr. L. confessus, p.p. of confiteri to confess; con- + fateri to confess; akin to fari to speak. See 2d Ban, Fame.]
1. To make acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one's self; to acknowledge, own, or admit, as a crime, a fault, a debt. And there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg. Milton. I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none of them have mentioned. Addison.
2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in. Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess, also, before my Father which is in heaven. Matt. x. 32. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Acts xxiii. 8.
3. To admit as true; to assent to; to acknowledge, as after a previous doubt, denial, or concealment. I never gave it him. Send for him hither, And let him confess a truth. Shak. As I confess it needs must be. Tennyson. As an actor confessed without rival to shine. Goldsmith.
4. (Eccl.) (a) To make known or acknowledge, as one's sins to a priest, in order to receive absolution; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun. Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to this celebrated father. Addison.
(b) To hear or receive such confession; -- said of a priest. He . . . heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most part of his company were confessed. Ld. Berners.
5. To disclose or reveal, as an effect discloses its cause; to prove; to attest. Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold. Pope.
Syn. -- Admit; grant; concede; avow; own; assent; recognize; prove; exhibit; attest. -- To Confess, Acknowledge, Avow. Acknowledge is opposed to conceal. We acknowledge what we feel must or ought to be made known. (See Acknowledge.) Avow is opposed to withhold. We avow when we make an open and public declaration, as against obloquy or opposition; as, to avow one's principles; to avow one's participation in some act. Confess is opposed to deny. We confess (in the ordinary sense of the word) what we feel to have been wrong; as, to confess one's errors or faults. We sometimes use confess and acknowledge when there is no admission of our being in the wrong; as, this, I confess, is my opinion; I acknowledge I have always thought so; but in these cases we mean simply to imply that others may perhaps think us in the wrong, and hence we use the words by way of deference to their opinions. It was in this way that the early Christians were led to use the Latin confiteor and confessio fidei to denote the public declaration of their faith in Christianity; and hence the corresponding use in English of the verb confess and the noun confession.
CONFESS Con*fess", v. i.
1. To make confession; to disclose sins or faults, or the state of the conscience. Every tongue shall confess to God. Rom. xiv. 11.
2. To acknowledge; to admit; to concede. But since (And I confess with right) you think me bound. Tennyson.
CONFESSANT Con*fess"ant, n. Etym: [F. confessant.]
Defn: One who confesses to a priest. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONFESSARY Con*fess"a*ry, n. Etym: [LL. confessarius.]
Defn: One who makes a confession. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CONFESSEDLY Con*fess"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By confession; without denial. [Written also confessly.]
CONFESSER Con*fess"er, n.
Defn: One who makes a confession.
CONFESSION Con*fes"sion, n. Etym: [F. confession, L. confessio.]
1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime. With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Shak.
2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith. With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. x. 10.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution. Auricular confession . . . or the private and special confession of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution. Hallam.
4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith.
5. (Law)
Defn: An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed, in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted. Wharton. Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them. Mozley & W. Confession of faith, a formulary containing the articles of faith; a creed. -- General confession, the confession of sins made by a number of persons in common, as in public prayer. -- Westminster Confession. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.
CONFESSIONAL Con*fes"sion*al, n. Etym: [F. confessional.]
Defn: The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him or heard by others.
CONFESSIONAL Con*fes"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a confession of faith. Confessional equality, equality before the law of persons confessing different creeds.
CONFESSIONALISM Con*fes"sion*al*ism, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: An exaggerated estimate of the importance of giving full assent to any particular formula of the Christian faith. Shaff.
CONFESSIONALIST Con*fes"sion*al*ist, n.
Defn: A priest hearing, or sitting to hear, confession. [R.] Boucher
CONFESSIONARY Con*fes"sion*a*ry, n. Etym: [LL. confessionarium.]
Defn: A confessional. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONFESSIONARY Con*fes"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to auricular confession; as, a confessionary litany.
CONFESSIONIST Con*fes"sion*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. confessioniste.]
Defn: One professing a certain faith. Bp. Montagu.
CONFESSOR Con*fess"or, n. Etym: [OF. confessor, F. confesseur, fr. L. & LL. confessor.]
1. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith. He who dies for religion is a martyr; he who suffers for it is a confessor. Latham. Our religion which hath been sealed with the blood of so many martyrs and confessors. Bacon.
2. A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to grant them absolution.
CONFESSORSHIP Con*fess"or*ship, n.
Defn: The act or state of suffering persecution for religious faith. Our duty to contend even to confessorship. J. H. Newman.
CONFESTLY Con*fest"ly, adv.
Defn: See Cofessedly.
CONFETTI Con*fet"ti, n. pl.; sing. -fetto. [It. Cf. Comfit.]
Defn: Bonbons; sweetmeats; confections; also, plaster or paper imitations of, or substitutes for, bonbons, often used by carnival revelers, at weddings, etc.
CONFIDANT; CONFIDANTE Con`fi*dant"; 277), n. masc., Con`fi*dante", n. fem.Etym: [F. confident, confidente, formerly also spelt confidant, confidante. See Confide, and cf. Confident.]
Defn: One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend. You love me for no other end Than to become my confidant and friend; As such I keep no secret from your sight. Dryden.
CONFIDE Con*fide", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Confided; p.pr. & vb.n. Confiding.] Etym: [L. confidere; con- + fidere to trust. See Faith, and cf. Affiance.]
Defn: To put faith (in); to repose confidence; to trust; -- usually followed by in; as, the prince confides in his ministers. By thy command I rise or fall, In thy protection I confide. Byron. Judge before friendships, then confide till death. Young.
CONFIDE Con*fide", v. t.
Defn: To intrust; to give in charge; to commit to one's keeping; -- followed by to. Congress may . . . confide to the Circuit jurisdiction of all offenses against the United States. Story.
CONFIDENCE Con"fi*dence, n. Etym: [L. confidentia firm trust in, self- confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust; reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in. Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one another's integrity. South. A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay.
2. That in which faith is put or reliance had. The Lord shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii. 26.
3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or his circumstamces; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. Shak. But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.
4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were confidences between them. Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak. Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler. -- Confidence man, a swindler. -- To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's feelings, purposes, or affairs.
Syn. -- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope. I am confident that very much be done. Boyle.
2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved. Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself. Shak.
3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted. As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight. Shak.
4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical; impudent; presumptuous. The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16.
5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.] The cause was more confident than the event was prosperious. Jer. Taylor.
CONFIDENT Con"fi*dent, n.
Defn: See Confidant. South. Dryden.
CONFIDENTIAL Con`fi*den"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confidentiel.]
1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy; as, a confidential servant or clerk.
2. Communicated in confidence; secret. "Confidential messages." Burke. Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication, under Privileged. -- Confidential creditors, those whose claims are of such a character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors. -- Confidential debts, debts incurred for borrowed money, and regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts. McElrath.
CONFIDENTIALLY Con`fi*den"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.
CONFIDENTLY Con"fi*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.
CONFIDENTNESS Con"fi*dent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being confident.
CONFIDER Con*fid"er, n.
Defn: One who confides.
CONFIDING Con*fid"ing, a.
Defn: That confides; trustful; unsuspicious. -- Con*fid"ing*ly, adv. -- Con*fid"ing*ness, n.
CONFIGURATE Con*fig"ur*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. configuratus, p.p. of configurare to form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure.]
Defn: To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure; to agree with a pattern. Known by the name of uniformity; Where pyramids to pyramids relate And the whole fabric doth configurate. Jordan.
CONFIGURATION Con*fig`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. configuratio.]
1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a thing' shape; figure. It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any time. They [astrologers] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment of his birth. Whewell.
CONFIGURE Con*fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Configured; p.pr. & vb.n. Configuring.] Etym: [L. configurare: cf. F. configurer. See Configurate.]
Defn: To arrange or dispose in a certain form, figure, or shape. Bentley.
CONFINABLE Con*fin"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being confined, restricted, or limited. Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall.
CONFINE Con*fine", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confined; p.pr. & vb.n. Confining.] Etym: [F. confiner to border upon, LL. confinare to set bounds to; con- + finis boundary, end. See Final, Finish.]
Defn: To restrain within limits; to restrict; to limit; to bound; to shut up; to inclose; to keep close. Now let not nature's hand Keep the wild flood confined! let order die! Shak. He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of rhyme. Dryden. To be confined, to be in childbed.
Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrain; imprison; immure; inclose; circumscribe; restrict.
CONFINE Con"fine or
Defn: (v. i. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous; to touch; -- followed by on or with. [Obs.] Where your g;oomy bounds Confine with heaven. Milton. Beywixt hezven and earth and skies there stands a place. Confuining on all three. Dryden.
CONFINE Con"fine, n.
1. Common boundary; border; limit; -- used chiefly in the plural. Events that came to pass within the confines of Judea. Locke. And now in little space The confines met of emryrean heaven, And of this world. Milton. On the confines of the city and the Temple. Macaulay.
2. Apartment; place of restraint; prison. [Obs.] Confines, wards, and dungeons. Shak. The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine. Shak.
CONFINELESS Con"fine`less ( or ), a.
Defn: Without limitation or end; boundless. Shak.
CONFINEMENT Con*fine"ment, n.
1. Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty; seclusion. The mind hates restraint, and is apt to fancy itself under confinement when the sight is pent up. Addison.
2. Restraint within doors by sickness, esp. that caused by childbirth; lying-in.
CONFINER Con*fin"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, limits or restrains.
CONFINER Con"fi`ner ( or , n.
Defn: One who lives on confines, or near the border of a country; a borderer; a near neighbor. [Obs.] Bacon. Happy confiners you of other lands, That shift your soil, and oft 'scape tyrants' hands. Daniel.
CONFINITY Con*fin"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. confinité.]
Defn: Community of limits; contiguity. [R.] Bailey.
CONFIRM Con*firm", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confrmed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confirming.] Etym: [OE. confermen, confirmen, OF. confermer, F. confirmer, fr. L. confirmare; con- + firmare to make firm, fr. firmus firm. See Firm.]
1. To make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as, health is confirmed by exercise. Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. Shak. Annd confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law. Ps. cv. 10.
2. To strengthen in judgment or purpose. Confirmed, then, I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe. Milton.
3. To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor. Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale. Pope. These likelihoods confirm her flight. Shak.
4. To render valid by formal assent; to complete by a necessary sanction; to ratify; as, to confirm the appoinment of an official; the Senate confirms a treaty. That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than confimed. Swift.
5. (Eccl.)
Defn: To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation, 3. Those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for admission to the sacrament. Hammond.
Syn. -- To strengthen; corroborate; substantiate; establish; fix; ratify; settle; verify; assure.
CONFIRMABLE Con*firm"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be confirmed.
CONFIRMANCE Con*firm"ance, n.
Defn: Confirmation. [Obs.]
CONFIRMATION Con`fir*ma"tion, n. Etym: [F. confirmation, L. confirmatio.]
1. The act of confirming or strengthening; the act of establishing, ratifying, or sanctioning; as, the confirmation of an appointment. Their blood is shed In confirmation of the noblest claim. Cowper.
2. That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance; as to a statement or belief; additional evidence; proof; convincing testimony. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As proofs of holy writ. Shak.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: A rite supplemental to baptism, by which a person is admitted, through the laying on of the hands of a bishop, to the full privileges of the church, as in the Roman Catholic, the Episcopal Church, etc. This ordinance is called confirmation, because they who duly receive it are confirmed or strengthened for the fulfillment of their Christian duties, by the grace therein bestowed upon them. Hook.
4. (Law)
Defn: A conveyance by which a voidable estate is made sure and not voliable, or by which a particular estate is increased; a contract, express or implied, by which a person makes that firm and binding which was before voidable.
CONFIRMATIVE Con*firm"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. confirmativus: cf. F. confirmatif.]
Defn: Tending confirm or establish. Sherwood. -- Con*firm"a*tive*ly, adv.
CONFIRMATOR Con"fir*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, confirms; a confirmer. Sir T. Browne.
CONFIRMATORY Con*firm"a*to*ry, a. .
Defn: Serving to confirm; corroborative. A fact confirmatory of the conclusion. I. Taylor.
2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation. Compton.
CONFIRMEDLY Con*firm"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With confirmation.
CONFIRMEDNESS Con*firm"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A fixed state.
CONFIRMEE Con`fir*mee", n. Etym: [F. confirm, p.p. of confirmer.] (Law)
Defn: One to whom anuthing is confirmed.
CONFIRMER Con*firm"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, confirms, establishes, or ratifies; one who corroborates. Shak.
CONFIRMINGLY Con*firm"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a confirming manner.
CONFISCABLE Con*fis"ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confiscable.]
Defn: Capable of being confiscated; liable to forfeiture.
CONFISCATE Con"fis*cate ( or , a. Etym: [L. confiscatus, p.p. of confiscare to confiscate, prop., to lay up in a chest; con- + fiscus basket, purse, treasury. See Fiscal.]
Defn: Seized and appropriated by the government to the public use; forfeited. Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. Shak.
CONFISCATE Con"fis*cate ( or , v. t. [imp & p. p. Confiscated; p.pr & vb. n. Confiscating.]
Defn: To seize as forfeited to the public treasury; to appropriate to the public use. It was judged that he should be banished and his whole estate confiscated and seized. Bacon.
CONFISCATION Con`fis*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. confiscatio.]
Defn: The act or process of taking property or condemning it to be taken, as forfeited to the public use. The confiscations following a subdued rebellion. Hallam.
CONFISCATOR Con"fis*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L., a treasurer.]
Defn: One who confiscates. Burke.
CONFISCATORY Con*fis"ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Effecting confiscation; characterized by confiscations. "Confiscatory and exterminatory periods." Burke.
CONFIT Con"fit, n.
Defn: Same as Comfit. [Obs.]
CONFITENT Con"fi*tent, n. Etym: [L. confitens, p.pr.]
Defn: One who confesses his sins and faults. [Obs.]
CONFITEOR Con*fit"e*or, n. Etym: [L., I confess. See Confess.] (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: A form of prayer in which public confession of sins is made.
CONFITURE Con"fi*ture ( or , n.
Defn: The state or quality of being congenial; natural affinity; adaptation; suitableness. Sir J. Reynolds. If congeniality of tastes could have made a marriage happy, that union should have been thrice blessed. Motley.
CONFIX Con*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Confixing.] [L. confixus, p. p. of configere to fasten together.]
Defn: To fix; to fasten. [Obs.] Shak.
CONFIXURE Con*fix"ure (; 135), n.
Defn: Act of fastening. [Obs.]
CONFLAGRANT Con*fla"grant, a. [L. conflagrans, p. pr. of conflagrare; con- + flagrare to blaze. See Flagrant.]
Defn: Burning together in a common flame. [R.] "The conflagrant mass." Milton.
CONFLAGRATION Con`fla*gra"tion, n. [L. conflagratio: cf. F. conflagration.]
Defn: A fire extending to many objects, or over a large space; a general burning.
Till one wide conflagration swallows all. Pope.
CONFLATE Con*flate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conflated; p. pr. & vb. n. Conflating.] [L. conflatus, p. p. of conflare to blow together; con- + flare to blow.]
Defn: To blow together; to bring together; to collect; to fuse together; to join or weld; to consolidate.
The State-General, created and conflated by the passionate effort of the whole nation. Carlyle.
CONFLATION Con*fla"tion, n. [L. conflatio.]
Defn: A blowing together, as of many instruments in a concert, or of many fires in a foundry. [R.] Bacon.
CONFLICT Con"flict, n. [L. conflictus a striking together, fr. confligere, - flictum, to strike together, to fight: cf. F. conflit, formerly also conflict. See Conflict, v.]
1. A striking or dashing together; violent collision; as, a conflict of elements or waves.
2. A strife for the mastery; hostile contest; battle; struggle; fighting.
As soon as he [Atterbury] was himself again, he became eager for action and conflict. Macaulay.
An irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces. W. H. Seward.
Conflict of laws, that branch of jurisprudence which deals with individual litigation claimed to be subject to the conflicting laws of two or more states or nations; -- often used as synonymous with Private international law.
Syn. -- Contest; collision; struggle; combat; strife; contention; battle; fight; encounter. See Contest.
CONFLICT Con*flict", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conflicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Conflicting.] [L. conflictus, p. p. of confligere to conflict (cf. conflictare); con- + fligere to strike; cf. Gr. fli`bein, qli`bein, to press, L. flagrum whip.]
1. To strike or dash together; to meet in violent collision; to collide. Shak.
Fire and water conflicting together. Bacon.
2. To maintain a conflict; to contend; to engage in strife or opposition; to struggle.
A man would be content to . . . conflict with great difficulties, in hopes of a mighty reward. Abp. Tillotson.
3. To be in opposition; to be contradictory.
The laws of the United States and of the individual States may, in some cases, conflict with each other. Wheaton.
Syn. -- To fight; contend; contest; resist; struggle; combat; strive; battle.
CONFLICTING Con*flict"ing, a.
Defn: Being in conflict or collision, or in opposition; contending; contradictory; incompatible; contrary; opposing.
Torn with sundry conflicting passions. Bp. Hurd.
CONFLICTIVE Con*flict"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to conflict; conflicting. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONFLUENCE Con"flu*ence, n. [L. confluentia.]
1. The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or more streams; the place of meeting.
New York stood at the confluence of two rivers. Bancroft.
2. Any running together of separate streams or currents; the act of meeting and crowding in a place; hence, a crowd; a concourse; an assemblage.
You see this confluence, this great flood of vistors. Shak.
The confluence . . . of all true joys. Boyle.
CONFLUENT Con"flu*ent, a. [L. confluens, -entis, p. pr. of confluere, -fluxum; con- + fluere to flow. See Fluent.]
1. Flowing together; meeting in their course; running one into another.
These confluent steams make some great river's head. Blackmore.
2. (Bot.) Blended into one; growing together, so as to obliterate all distinction.
3. (Med.) (a) Running together or uniting, as pimples or pustules. (b) Characterized by having the pustules, etc., run together or unite, so as to cover the surface; as, confluent smallpox. Dunglison.
CONFLUENT Con"flu*ent, n.
1. A small steam which flows into a large one.
2. The place of meeting of steams, currents, etc. [Obs.] Holland.
CONFLUX Con"flux, n. [From L. confluxus, p. p. See Confluent.]
1. A flowing together; a meeting of currents. "The conflux of meeting sap." Shak.
The general conflux and concourse of the whole people. Clarendon.
2. A large assemblage; a passing multitude.
To the gates cast round thine eye, and see What conflux issuing forth, or entering in. Milton.
CONFLUXIBILITY Con*flux`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The tendency of fluids to run together. [R.] Boyle.
CONFLUXIBLE Con*flux"i*ble, a.
Defn: Inclined to flow or run together. --Con*flux"i*ble*ness, n.
CONFOCAL Con*fo"cal, a. (Math.)
Defn: Having the same foci; as, confocal quadrics.
CONFORM Con*form", a. [L. conformis; con- + forma form: cf. F. conforme.]
Defn: Of the same form; similar in import; conformable. Bacon.
Care must be taken that the interpretation be every way conform to the analogy of faith. Bp.Hall.
CONFORM Con*form", v. i.
1. To be in accord or harmony; to comply; to be obedient; to submit; -- with to or with.
A rule to which experience must conform. Whewell.
2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) To comply with the usages of the Established Church; to be a conformist.
About two thousand ministers whose consciences did not suffer them to conform were driven from their benefices in a day. Macaulay.
CONFORM Con*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Conforming.] [F. conformer, L. conformare, -formatum; con- + formare to form, forma form. See Form.]
Defn: To shape in accordance with; to make like; to bring into harmony or agreement with; -- usually with to or unto.
Demand of them wherefore they conform not themselves unto the order of the church. Hooker.
CONFORMABILITY Con*form`a*bil"i*ty, n.
1. The state of being conformable.
2. (Geol.) The parallelism of two sets of strata which are in contact.
CONFORMABLE Con*form"a*ble, a.
1. Corresponding in form, character, opinions, etc.; similar; like; consistent; proper or suitable; --usually followed by to.
The fragments of Sappho give us a taste of her way of writing perfectly conformable with that character. Addison.
Conformable to Scripture as well as to philosophy. Whewell.
To make matters somewhat conformable for the old knight. Sir W. Scott.
2. Disposed to compliance or obedience; ready to follow directions; submissive; compliant.
I have been to you a true and humble wife, At all times to your will conformable. Shak.
3. (Geol.) Parallel, or nearly so; -- said of strata in contact.
CONFORMABLENESS Con*form"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conformable; conformability.
CONFORMABLY Con*form"a*bly, adv.
Defn: With conformity or in conformity; suitably; agreeably.
Conformably to the law and nature of God. Bp. Beveridge.
CONFORMANCE Con*form"ance, n.
Defn: Conformity. [R.] Marston.
CONFORMATE Con*form"ate, a. [L. conformatus, p. p. See Conform.]
Defn: Having the same form. [R.]
CONFORMATION Con`for*ma"tion, n. [L. conformatio: cf. F. conformation.]
1. The act of conforming; the act of producing conformity.
The conformation of our hearts and lives to the duties of true religion and morality. I. Watts.
2. The state of being conformed; agreement; hence; structure, as depending on the arrangement of parts; form; arrangement.
In Hebrew poetry, there may be observed a certain conformation of the sentences. Lowth.
A structure and conformation of the earth. Woodward.
CONFORMATOR Con"for*ma`tor, n. [L., a framer.]
Defn: An apparatus for taking the conformation of anything, as of the head for fitting a hat, or, in craniometry, finding the largest horizontal area of the head.
CONFORMER Con*form"er, n.
Defn: One who conforms; one who complies with established forms or doctrines.
CONFORMIST Con*form"ist, n.
Defn: One who conforms or complies; esp., one who conforms to the Church of England, or to the Established Church, as distinguished from a dissenter or nonconformist.
A cheeful conformist to your judgment. Jer.Taylor.
CONFORMITY Con*form"i*ty, n.; pl. Conformities (#). [Cf. F. conformité.]
1. Correspondence in form, manner, or character; resemblance; agreement; congruity; -- followed by to, with, or between.
By our conformity to God. Tillotson.
The end of all religion is but to draw us to a conformity with God. Dr. H.More.
A conformity between the mental taste and the sensitive taste. Addison.
2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) Compliance with the usages of the Established Church.
The king [James I.] soon afterward put forth a proclamation requiring all ecclesiastical and civil officers to do their duty by enforcing conformity. Hallam.
CONFORTATION Con`for*ta"tion, n. [Cf. F. confortation, LL. confortatio. Cf. Comfort.]
Defn: The act of strengthening. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONFOUND Con*found" (kon*found"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Confounding.] [F. confondre, fr. L. confundere, -fusum, to pour together; con- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt, and cf. Confuse.]
1. To mingle and blend, so that different elements can not be distinguished; to confuse.
They who strip not ideas from the marks men use for them, but confound them with words, must have endless dispute. Locke.
Let us go down, and there confound their language. Gen. xi. 7.
2. To mistake for another; to identify falsely.
They [the tinkers] were generally vagrants and pilferers, and were often confounded with the gypsies. Macaulay.
3. To throw into confusion or disorder; to perplex; to strike with amazement; to dismay.
The gods confound... The Athenians both within and out that wall. Shak.
They trusted in thee and were not confounded. Ps. xxii. 5.
So spake the Son of God, and Satan stood A while as mute, confounded what to say. Milton.
4. To destroy; to ruin; to waste. [Obs.]
One man's lust these many lives confounds. Shak.
How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour Shak.
Syn. -- To abash; confuse; baffle; dismay; astonish; defeat; terrify; mix; blend; intermingle. See Abash.
CONFOUNDED Con*found"ed, a.
1. Confused; perplexed.
A cloudy and confounded philosopher. Cudworth.
2. Excessive; extreme; abominable. [Colloq.]
He was a most confounded tory. Swift.
The tongue of that confounded woman. Sir. W. Scott.
CONFOUNDEDLY Con*found"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Extremely; odiously; detestably. [Colloq.] "Confoundedly sick." Goldsmith.
CONFOUNDEDNESS Con*found"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being confounded.
Their witty descant of my confoundedness. Milton.
CONFOUNDER Con*found"er, n.
Defn: One who confounds.
CONFRACT Con"fract`, a. [L. confractus, p. p. of confringere.]
Defn: Broken in pieces; severed. [Obs.]
CONFRAGOSE Con`fra*gose", a. [L. confragosus; con- + fragosus, fr. frangere. See Fragile.]
Defn: Broken; uneven. [Obs.] "Confragose cataracts." Evelyn.
CONFRATERNITY Con`fra*ter"ni*ty, n.; pl. Confraternities (#). [LL. confraternitas: cf. F. confraternité. See Fraternity.]
Defn: A society or body of men united for some purpose, or in some profession; a brotherhood.
These live in one society and confraternity. Stow.
CONFRERE Con`frere", n. [F.]
Defn: Fellow member of a fraternity; intimate associate.
CONFRICATION Con`fri*ca"tion, n. [L. confricatio, fr. confricare to rub vigorously.]
Defn: A rubbing together; friction. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONFRIER Con*fri"er, n. [Cf. F. confrère. See Friar.]
Defn: A confrère. [Obs.] Weever.
CONFRONT Con*front", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confronted; p. pr. & vb. n. Confronting.] [F. confronter; L. con- + frons the forehead or front. See Front.]
1. To stand facing or in front of; to face; esp. to face hostilely; to oppose with firmness.
We four, indeed, confronted were with four In Russian habit. Shak.
He spoke and then confronts the bull. Dryden.
Hester caught hold of Pearl, and drew her forcibly into her arms, confronting the old Puritan magistrate with almost a fierce expression. Hawthorne.
It was impossible at once to confront the might of France and to trample on the liberties of England. Macaulay.
2. To put face to face; to cause to face or to meet; as, to confront one with the proofs of his wrong doing.
3. To set in opposition for examination; to put in contrast; to compare.
When I confront a medal with a verse, I only show you the same design executed by different hands. Addison.
CONFRONTATION Con`fron*ta"tion, n. [LL. confrontatio.]
Defn: Act of confronting. H. Swinburne.
CONFRONTE Con`fron`té", a. [F., p. p. confronter.] (Her.)
Defn: Same as Affronté.
CONFRONTER Con*front"er, n.
Defn: One who confronts.
A confronter in authority. Speed.
CONFRONTING confronting n.
Defn: dealing with (a person or problem) directly; taking the bull by the horns. Syn. -- braving, coping with, grappling, tackling. [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
CONFRONTMENT Con*front"ment, n.
Defn: The act of confronting; the state of being face to face.
CONFRONTMENT Con*front"ment, n.
Defn: The act of confronting; the state of being face to face.
CONFUCIAN Con*fu"cian, a.
Defn: Of, or relating to, Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher and teacher. -- n.
Defn: A Confucianist.
CONFUCIANISM Con*fu"cian*ism, n.
Defn: The political morality taught by Confucius and his disciples, which forms the basis of the Chinese jurisprudence and education. It can hardly be called a religion, as it does not inculcate the worship of any god. S. W. Williams.
CONFUCIANIST Con*fu"cian*ist, n.
Defn: A follower of Confucius; a Confucian. S. W. Williams.
CONFUS Con*fus, a. [F. See Confuse, a.]
Defn: Confused, disturbed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONFUSABILITY Con*fus`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being confused.
CONFUSABLE Con*fus"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being confused.
CONFUSE Con*fuse", a. [F. confus, L. confusus, p. p. of confundere. See Confound.]
Defn: Mixed; confounded. [Obs.] Baret.
CONFUSE Con*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confused; p. pr. & vb. n. Confusing.]
1. To mix or blend so that things can not be distinguished; to jumble together; to confound; to render indistinct or obscure; as, to confuse accounts; to confuse one's vision.
A universal hubbub wild Of stunning sounds and voices all confused. Milton.
2. To perplex; to disconcert; to abash; to cause to lose self- possession.
Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse A life that leads melodious days. Tennyson.
Confused and sadly she at length replied. Pope.
Syn. -- To abash; disorder; disarrange; disconcert; confound; obscure; distract. See Abash.
CONFUSEDLY Con*fus"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a confused manner.
CONFUSEDNESS Con*fus"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of confusion. Norris.
CONFUSELY Con*fuse"ly, adv.
Defn: Confusedly; obscurely. [Obs.]
CONFUSION Con*fu"sion, n. [F. confusion, L. confusio.]
1. The state of being mixed or blended so as to produce indistinctness or error; indistinct combination; disorder; tumult.
The confusion of thought to which the Aristotelians were liable. Whewell.
Moody beggars starving for a time Of pellmell havoc and confusion. Shak.
2. The state of being abashed or disconcerted; loss self-possession; perturbation; shame.
Confusion dwelt in every face And fear in every heart. Spectator.
3. Overthrow; defeat; ruin.
Ruin seize thee, ruthless king, Confusion on thy banners wait. Gray.
4. One who confuses; a confounder. [Obs.] Chapmen.
Confusion of goods (Law), the intermixture of the goods of two or more persons, so that their respective portions can no longer be distinguished. Blackstone. Bouvier.
CONFUSIVE Con*fu"sive, a.
Defn: Confusing; having a tendency to confusion. Bp. Hall.
CONFUTABLE Con*fut"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be confuted.
A conceit . . . confutable by daily experience. Sir T.Browne.
CONFUTANT Con*fut"ant, n. [L. confutans, p. pr. of confutare.]
Defn: One who undertakes to confute. Milton.
CONFUTATION Con`fu*ta"tion, n. [L. confutatio: cf. F. confutation.]
Defn: The act or process of confuting; refutation. "For the edification of some and the confutation of others." Bp. Horne.
CONFUTATIVE Con*fut"a*tive, a.
Defn: Adapted or designed to confute. Bp. Warburton
CONFUTE Con*fute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Confuting.] [L. confutare to chek (a boiling liquid), to repress, confute; con- + a root seen in futis a water vessel), prob. akin to fundere to pour: cf. F. confuter. See Fuse to melt.]
Defn: To overwhelm by argument; to refute conclusively; to prove or show to be false or defective; to overcome; to silence.
Satan stood . . . confuted and convinced Of his weak arguing fallacious drift. Milton.
No man's error can be confuted who doth not . . . grant some true principle that contradicts his error. Chillingworth.
I confute a good profession with a bad conversation. Fuller.
Syn. -- To disprove; overthrow; sed aside; refute; oppugn. -- To Confute, Refute. Refute is literally to and decisive evidence; as, to refute a calumny, charge, etc. Confute is literally to check boiling, as when cold water is poured into hot, thus serving to allay, bring down, or neutralize completely. Hence, as applied to arguments (and the word is never applied, like refute, to charges), it denotes, to overwhelm by evidence which puts an end to the case and leaves an opponent nothing to say; to silence; as, "the atheist is confuted by the whole structure of things around him."
CONFUTEMENT Con*fute"ment, n.
Defn: Confutation. [Obs.] Milton.
CONFUTER Con*fut"er, n.
Defn: One who confutes or disproves.
CONG Cong, n. (Med.)
Defn: An abbreviation of Congius.
CONGE Con"ge, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Congeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Congeing.] [OF. congier, congeer, F. congédier, fr. congé. See Congé, n.]
Defn: To take leave with the customary civilities; to bow or courtesy.
I have congeed with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest. Shak.
CONGE Con`gé" (kôN`zhay"; E. kon"je; 277), n. [F., leave, permission, fr. L. commeatus a going back and forth, a leave of absence, furlough, fr. commeare, -meatum, to go and come; com- + meare to go. Cf. Permeate.] [Formerly written congie.]
1. The act of taking leave; parting ceremony; farewell; also, dismissal.
Should she pay off old Briggs and give her her congé Thackeray.
2. The customary act of civility on any occasion; a bow or a courtesy.
The captain salutes you with congé profound. Swift.
3. (Arch.) An apophyge. Gwilt.
Congé d'élire [F., leave to choose] (Eccl.), the sovereign's license or permission to a dean and chapter to choose as bishop the person nominated in the missive.
CONGEABLE Con"ge*a*ble, a. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Permissible; done lawfully; as, entry congeable.
CONGEAL Con*geal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Congealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Congealing.] [F. congeler, L. congelare, -gelatumn; con- + gelare to freeze, gelu frost. See Gelid.]
1. To change from a fluid to a solid state by cold; to freeze.
A vapory deluge lies to snow congealed. Thomson.
2. To affect as if by freezing; to check the flow of, or cause to run cold; to chill.
As if with horror to congeal his blood. Stirling.
CONGEAL Con*geal", v. i.
Defn: To grow hard, stiff, or thick, from cold or other causes; to become solid; to freeze; to cease to flow; to run cold; to be chilled.
Lest zeal, now melted . . . Cool and congeal again to what it was. Shak.
CONGEALABLE Con*geal"a*ble, a. [Cf. F. congelable.]
Defn: Capable of being congealed. --Con*geal"a*ble*ness, n.
CONGEALEDNESS Con*geal"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being congealed. Dr. H.More.
CONGEALMENT Con*geal"ment, n.
1. The act or the process of congealing; congeliation.
2. That which is formed by congelation; a clot. [Obs.]
Wash the congealment from your wounds. Shak.
CONGEE Con"gee, n. & v.
Defn: See Congé, Conge. [Obs.]
And unto her his congee came to take. Spenser.
CONGEE Con*gee", n.
1. [Tamil kashi boilings.]
Defn: Boiled rice; rice gruel. [India]
2. A jail; a lockup. [India]
Congee discharges, rice water discharges. Dunglison. -- Congee water, water in which rice has been boiled.
CONGELATION Con`ge*la"tion, n. [F. congélation, L. congelatio.]
1. The act or process of passing, or causing to pass, from a fluid to a solid state, as by the abstraction of heat; the act or process of freezing.
The capillary tubes are obstructed either by outward compression or congelation of the fluid. Arbuthnot.
2. The state of being congealed.
3. That which is congealed.
Sugar plums . . . with a multitude of congelations in jellies of various colors. Taller.
CONGENER Con"ge*ner (; 277), n. [From L. congener. See Congenerous.]
Defn: A thing of the same genus, species, or kind; a thing allied in nature, character, or action.
The cherry tree has been often grafted on the laurel, to which it is a congener. P. Miller.
Our elk is more polygamous in his habits than any other deer except his congener, the red deer of Europe. Caton.
CONGENERACY Con*gen"er*a*cy, n.
Defn: Similarity of origin; affinity. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONGENERIC; CONGENERICAL Con`ge*ner"ic, Con`ge*ner"ic*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to the same genus; allied in origin, nature, or action. R. Owen.
CONGENEROUS Con*gen"er*ous, a. [L. congener; con- + genus, generis, birth, kind, race. See Genus, and cf. Congener.]
Defn: Allied in origin or cause; congeneric; as, congenerous diseases. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
-- Con*gen"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Hallywell.
CONGENIAL Con*gen"ial (; 106), a. [Pref. con- + genial.]
1. Partaking of the same nature; allied by natural characteristics; kindred; sympathetic.
Congenial souls! whose life one avarice joins. Pope.
2. Naturally adapted; suited to the disposition. "Congenial clime." C. J. Fox.
To defame the excellence with which it has no sympathy . . . is its congenial work. I. Taylor.
CONGENIALITY Con*ge`ni*al"i*ty ( or ; 106), n.
Defn: The state or quality of being congenial; natural affinity; adaptation; suitableness. Sir J. Reynolds.
If congeniality of tastes could have made a marriage happy, that union should have been thrice blessed. Motley.
CONGENIALIZE Con*gen"ial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make congenial. [R.]
CONGENIALLY Con*gen"ial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a congenial manner; as, congenially married or employed.
CONGENIALNESS Con*gen"ial*ness, n.
Defn: Congeniality.
CONGENIOUS Con*gen"ious, a.
Defn: Congeneric. [Obs.]
CONGENITAL Con*gen"i*tal, a. Etym: [From Congenite.]
Defn: Existing at, or dating from, birth; pertaining to one from birth; born with one; connate; constitutinal; natural; as, a congenital deformity. See Connate.
CONGENITALLY Con*gen"i*tal*ly, dv.
Defn: In a congenital manner.
CONGENITE Con*gen"ite, a. Etym: [L. congenitus; con- + genitus, p.p. of gignere to beget. See Generate.]
Defn: Congenital; connate; inborn. See Congenital. [Obs.] Many conclusions, of moral and intellectual truths, seem . . . to be congenite with us. Sir M. Hale.
CONGER Con"ger, n. Etym: [L. conger, congrus, akin to Gr. congre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The conger eel; -- called also congeree. Conger sea (Zoöl.), the sea eel; a large species of eel (Conger vulgaris), which sometimes grows to the length of ten feet.
CONGERIES Con*ge"ri*es, n. sing & pl. Etym: [L., fr. congerere. See Congest.]
Defn: A collection of particles or bodies into one mass; a heap; an aggregation.
CONGEST Con*gest", v. t. Etym: [L. congestus, p. p. of congere to bring together; con- + gerere. See Gerund.]
1. To collect or gather into a mass or aggregate; to bring together; to accumulate. To what will thy congested guilt amount Blackmore.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To cause an overfullness of the blood vessels (esp. the capillaries) of an organ or part.
CONGESTED Con*gest"ed, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Crowded together. Gray.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Containing an unnatural accumulation of blood; hyperæmic; -- said of any part of the body.
CONGESTION Con*ges"tion, n. Etym: [L. congestio: cf. F. congestion.]
1. The act of gathering into a heap or mass; accumulation. [Obs.] The congestion of dead bodies one upon another. Evelyn.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Overfullness of the capillary and other blood vessels, etc., in any locality or organ (often producing other morbid symptoms); local hyperas, arterial congestion; venous congestion; congestion of the lungs.
CONGESTIVE Con*gest"ive, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, indicating, or attended with, congestion in some part of the body; as, a congestive fever.
CONGIARY Con"gi*a*ry, n.; pl. Congiaries. Etym: [L. congiarium, fr. congius a liquid measure.]
Defn: A present, as of corn, wine, or oil, made by a Roman emperor to the soldiers or the people; -- so called because measured to each in a congius. Addison.
Note: In later years, when gifts of money were distributed, the name congius was retained.
CONGIUS Con"gi*us, n. Etym: [L.]
1. (Roman Antiq.)
Defn: A liquid measure containing about three quarts.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A gallon, or four quarts. [Often abbreviated to cong.]
CONGLACIATE Con*gla"ci*ate (; 221), v. t. & i. Etym: [L. conglaciatus, p.p. of conglaciare. See Glaciate.]
Defn: To turn to ice; to freeze. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONGLACIATION Con*gla`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conglaciation.]
Defn: The act or process of changing into ice, or the state of being converted to ice; a freezing; congelation; also, a frost. Bacon.
CONGLOBATE Con*glo"bate, a. Etym: [L. conglobatus, p.p. of conglobare to conglobate. See Globate.]
Defn: Collected into, or forming, a rounded mass or ball; as, the conglobate [lymphatic] glands; conglobate flowers.
CONGLOBATE Con*glo"bate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglobated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conglobating.] Etym: [Cf. Conglore.]
Defn: To collect or form into a ball or rounded mass; to gather or mass together. Conglobated bubbles undissolved. Wordsworth.
CONGLOBATION Con`glo*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglobatio: cf. F. conglobation.]
1. The act or process of forming into a ball. Sir T. Browne.
2. A round body.
CONGLOBE Con*globe", v. t. [imp & p. p. Conglobed; p. pr. & vb. n. Conglobing.] Etym: [L. conglobare: cf. F. conglober. Cf. Conglobate.]
Defn: To gather into a ball; to collect into a round mass. Then founded, then conglobed Like things to like. Milton.
CONGLOBE Con*globe", v. i.
Defn: To collect, unite, or coalesce in a round mass. Milton.
CONGLOBULATE Con*glob"u*late, v. i. Etym: [Pref. con- + globule.]
Defn: To gather into a small round mass.
CONGLOMERATE Con*glom"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. conglomeratus, p.p. of conglomerare to roll together; con- + glomerare to wind into a ball. See Glomerate.]
1. Gathered into a ball or a mass; collected together; concentrated; as, conglomerate rays of light. Beams of light when they are multiplied and conglomerate. Bacon. Fluids are separated in the liver and the other conglobate and conglomerate glands. Cheyne.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Closely crowded together; densly clustered; as, conglomerate flowers. Gray.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Composed of stones, pebbles, or fragments of rocks, cemented together.
CONGLOMERATE Con*glom"er*ate, n.
1. That which is heaped together in a mass or conpacted from various sources; a mass formed of fragments; collection; accumulation. A conglomerate of marvelous anecdotes, marvelously heaped together. Trench.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: A rock, composed or rounded fragments of stone cemented together by another mineral substance, either calcareous, siliceous, or argillaceous; pudding stone; -- opposed to agglomerate. See Breccia. A conglomerate, therefore, is simply gravel bound together by a cement. Lyell.
CONGLOMERATE Con*glom"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglomerated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conglomerating.]
Defn: To gather into a ball or round body; to collect into a mass.
CONGLOMERATION Con*glom`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglomeratio: cf. F. conglomeration.]
Defn: The act or process of gathering into a mass; the state of being thus collected; collection; accumulation; that which is conglomerated; a mixed mass. Bacon.
CONGLUTIN Con*glu"tin, n. Etym: [From Conglutinate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A variety of vegetable casein, resembling legumin, and found in almonds, rye, wheat, etc.
CONGLUTINANT Con*glu"ti*nant, a. Etym: [L., conglutinans, p.pr.]
Defn: Cementing together; uniting closely; causing to adhere; promoting healing, as of a wound or a broken bone, by adhesion of the parts.
CONGLUTINATE Con*glu"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. conglutinatus, p.p. of conglutinare to glue; con- + glutinare to glue, gluten glue.]
Defn: Glued together; united, as by some adhesive substance.
CONGLUTINATE Con*glu"ti*nate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglutinated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conglutinating.]
Defn: To glue together; to unite by some glutinous or tenacious substance; to cause to adhere or to grow together. Bones . . . have had their broken parts conglutinated within three or four days. Boyle.
CONGLUTINATE Con*glu"ti*nate, v. i.
Defn: To unite by the intervention of some glutinous substance; to coalesce.
CONGLUTINATION Con*glu`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglutinatio: cf. F. conglutination.]
Defn: A gluing together; a joining by means of some tenacious substance; junction; union. Conglutination of parts separated by a wound. Arbuthnot.
CONGLUTINATIVE Con*glu"ti*na"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conglutinatif.]
Defn: Conglutinant.
CONGO; CONGOU Con"go, Con"gou, n. Etym: [Chin. kung-foo labor.]
Defn: Black tea, of higher grade (finer leaf and less dusty) than the present bohea. See Tea. Of black teas, the great mass is called Congou, or the "well worked", a name which took the place of the Bohea of 150 years ago, and is now itself giving way to the term "English breakfast tea." S. W. Williams.
CONGO GROUP Con"go group. [From Congo red.]
Defn: A group of artificial dyes with an affinity for vegetable fibers, so that no mordant is required. Most of them are azo compounds derived from benzidine or tolidine. Called also benzidine dyes.
CONGO RED Congo red. (Chem.)
Defn: An artificial red dye from which the Congo group received its name. It is also widely used either in aqueous solution or as test paper (Congo paper) for the detection of free acid, which turns it blue.
CONGO SNAKE Con"go snake". (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibian (Amphiuma means) of the order Urodela, found in the southern United States. See Amphiuma.
CONGRATULANT Con*grat"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. congratulans, p. pr.]
Defn: Rejoicing together; congratulatory. With like joy Congratulant approached him. Milton.
CONGRATULATE Con*grat"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Congratulated; p.pr. & vb.n. Congratulating.] Etym: [L. congratulatus, p.p. of congratulari to wish joy abundantly; con- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus pleasing. See Grateful.]
Defn: To address with expressions of sympathetic pleasure on account of some happy event affecting the person addressed; to wish joy to. It is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the princess at her pavilion. Shak. To congratulate one's self, to rejoice; to feel satisfaction; to consider one's self happy or fortunate.
Syn. -- To Congratulate, Felicitate. To felicitate is simply to wish a person joy. To congratulate has the additional signification of uniting in the joy of him whom we congratulate. Hence they are by no means synonymous. One who has lost the object of his affections by her marriage to a rival, might perhaps felicitate that rival on his success, but could never be expected to congratulate him on such an event. Felicitations are little better than compliments; congratulations are the expression of a genuine sympathy and joy. Trench.
CONGRATULATE Con*grat"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To express of feel sympathetic joy; as, to congratulate with one's country. [R.] Swift. The subjects of England may congratulate to themselves. Dryden.
CONGRATULATION Con*grat`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. congratulatio: cf. F. congratulation.]
Defn: The act of congratulating; an expression of sympathetic pleasure. With infinite congratulations for our safe arrival. Dr. J. Scott.
CONGRATULATOR Con*grat"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who offers congratulation. Milton.
CONGRATULATORY Con*grat"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Expressive of sympathetic joy; as, a congratulatory letter.
CONGREE Con*gree", v. i. Etym: [Pref.on-+ L. gratus pleasing. Cf. Agree.]
Defn: To agree. [bs.] Shak.
CONGREET Con*greet", v. t.
Defn: To salute mutually. [Obs.]
CONGREGATE Con"gre*gate, a. Etym: [L. congregatus, p.p. of congregare to congregate; on- + gregare to collect into a flock, fr. grex flock, herd. See Gregarious.]
Defn: Collected; compact; close. [R.] Bacon.
CONGREGATE Con"gre*gate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Congregated; p.pr. & vb.n. Congregating]
Defn: To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to assemble; to bring into one place, or into a united body; to gather together; to mass; to compact. Any multitude of Christian men congregated may be termed by the name of a church. Hooker. Cold congregates all bodies. Coleridge. The great receptacle Of congregated waters he called Seas. Milton.
CONGREGATE Con"gre*gate, v. i.
Defn: To come together; to assemble; to meet. Even there where merchants most do congregate. Shak.
CONGREGATION Con`gre*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. congregatio: cf. F. congrégation.]
1. The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of collecting into one aggregate or mass. The means of reduction in the fire is but by the congregation of homogeneal parts. Bacon.
2. A collection or mass of separate things. A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. Shak.
3. An assembly of persons; a gathering; esp. an assembly of persons met for the worship of God, and for religious instruction; a body of people who habitually so meet. He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached there to large and attentive congregations. Macaulay.
4. (Anc. Jewish Hist.)
Defn: The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also Congregation of the Lord. It is a sin offering for the congregation. Lev. iv. 21.
5. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A body of cardinals or other ecclesiastics to whom as intrusted some departament of the church business; as, the Congregation of the Propaganda, which has charge of the missions of the Roman Catholic Church. (b) A company of religious persons forming a subdivision of a monastic order.
6. The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [Eng.]
7. (Scotch Church Hist.)
Defn: the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation.
CONGREGATIONAL Con`gre*ga"tion*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a congregation; conducted, or participated in, by a congregation; as, congregational singing.
2. Belonging to the system of Congregationalism, or to Congregationalist; holding to the faith and polity of Congregationalism; as, a Congregational church.
CONGREGATIONALISM Con`gre*ga"tion*al*ism, n.
1. That system of church organization which vests all ecclesiastical power in the assembled brotherhood of each local church.
2. The faith and polity of the Congregational churches, taken collectively.
Note: In this sense (which is its usual signification) Congregationalism is the system of faith and practice common to a large body of evangelical Trinitarian churches, which recognize the local brotherhood of each church as independent of all dictation in ecclesiastical matters, but are united in fellowship and joint action, as in councils for mutual advice, and in consociations, conferences, missionary organizations, etc., and to whose membership the designation "Congregationalists" is generally restricted; but Unitarian and other churches are Congregational in their polity.
CONGREGATIONALIST Con`gre*ga"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who belongs to a Congregational church or society; one who holds to Congregationalism.
CONGRESS Con"gress, n.; pl. Congresses. Etym: [L. congressus, fr. congredi, p.p. -gressus, to go or come together; con- + grati to go or step, gradus step: cf. F. congr. See Grade.]
1. A meeting of individuals, whether friendly or hostile; an encounter. [Obs.] Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there;congress in the field great Jove withstands. Dryden.
2. A sudden encounter; a collision; a shock; -- said of things. [Obs.] From these laws may be deduced the rules of the congresses and reflections of two bodies. Cheyne.
3. The coming together of a male and female in sexual commerce; the act of coition. Pennant.
4. A gathering or assembly; a conference.
5. A formal assembly, as of princes, deputies, representatives, envoys, or commissioners; esp., a meeting of the representatives of several governments or societies to consider and determine matters of common interest. The European powers strove to . . . accommodate their differences at the congress of Vienna. Alison.
6. The collective body of senators and representatives of the people of a nation, esp. of a republic, constituting the chief legislative body of the nation.
Note: In the Congress of the United States (which took the place of the Federal Congress, March 4, 1789), the Senate consists of two Senators from each State, chosen by the State legislature for a term of six years, in such a way that the terms of one third of the whole number expire every year; the House of Representatives consists of members elected by the people of the several Congressional districts, for a term of two years, the term of all ending at the same time. The united body of Senators and Representatives for any term of two years for which the whole body of Representatives is chosen is called one Congress. Thus the session which began in December, 1887, was the first (or long) session, and that which began in December, 1888, was the second (or short) session, of the Fiftieth Congress. When an extra session is had before the date of the first regular meeting of a Congress, that is called the first session, and the following regular session is called the second session.
7. The lower house of the Spanish Cortes, the members of which are elected for three years. The Continental Congress, an assembly of deputies from the thirteen British colonies in America, appointed to deliberate in respect to their common interests. They first met in 1774, and from time thereafter until near the close of the Revolution. -- The Federal Congress, the assembly of representatives of the original States of the American Union, who met under the Articles of Confederation from 1781 till 1789. -- Congress boot or gaiter, a high shoe or half-boot, coming above the ankle, and having the sides made in part of some elastic material which stretches to allow the boot to be drawn on and off. [U.S.] -- Congress water, a saline mineral water from the Congress spring at Saratoga, in the State of New York.
Syn. -- Assembly; meeting; convention; convocation; council; diet; conclave; parliament; legislature.
CONGRESSION Con*gres"sion ( or , n. Etym: [L. congressio.]
Defn: A coming or bringing together, as in a public meeting, in a dispute, in the act of comparing, or in sexual intercourse. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
CONGRESSIONAL Con*gres"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a congress, especially, to the Congress of the United States; as, congressional debates. Congressional and official labor. E. Everett. Congressional District, one of the divisions into which a State is periodically divided (according to population), each of which is entitled to elect a Representative to the Congress of the United States.
CONGRESSIVE Con*gres"sive, a.
Defn: Encountering, or coming together. Sir T. Browne.
CONGRESSMAN Con"gress*man, n.; pl. Congressmen (.
Defn: A member of the Congress of the United States, esp. of the House of Representatives.
CONGREVE ROCKET Con"greve rock"et.
Defn: See under Rocket.
CONGRUE Con"grue", v. i. Etym: [L. congruere. See Congruous.]
Defn: To agree; to be suitable. [Obs.] Shak.
CONGRUENCE Con"gru*ence, n. Etym: [L. congruentia: cf. OF. cornguence.]
Defn: Suitableness of one thing to another; agreement; consistency. Holland.
CONGRUENCY Con"gru*en*cy ( or ), n.
Defn: Congruence. Congruency of lines. (Geom.) See Complex of lines, under Complex, n.
CONGRUENT Con"gru*ent, a. Etym: [L. congruens, p.pr. of congruere: cf. F. congruent.]
Defn: Possessing congruity; suitable; agreeing; corresponding. The congruent and harmonious fitting of parts in a sentence. B. Jonson. Congruent figures (Geom.), concurring figures.
CONGRUISM Con"gru*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. congruisme.] (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: See Congruity.
CONGRUITY Con*gru"i*ty ( or , n.; pl. Congruities. Etym: [Cf. F. congruit.]
1. The state or quality of being congruous; the relation or agreement between things; fitness; harmony; correspondence; consistency. With what congruity doth the church of Rome deny that her enemies do at all appertain to the church of Christ Hooker. A whole sentence may fail of its congruity by wanting one particle. Sir P. Sidney.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: Coincidence, as that of lines or figures laid over one another.
3. (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: That, in an imperfectly good persons, which renders it suitable for God to bestow on him gifts of grace.
CONGRUOUS Con"gru*ous, a. Etym: [L. congruus, fr. congruere to come together, to coincide, to agree. Of uncertain origin.]
Defn: Suitable or concordant; accordant; fit; harmonious; correspondent; consistent. Not congruous to the nature of epic poetry. Blair. It is no ways congruous that God should be always frightening men into an acknowledgment of the truth. Atterbury.
CONGRUOUSLY Con"gru*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a congruous manner.
CONHYDRINE Con*hy"drine ( or , n. Etym: [Conium + hydrate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A vegetable alkaloid found with conine in the poison hemlock (Conium maculatum). It is a white crystalline substance, C8H17NO, easily convertible into conine.
CONIA Co*ni"a ( or , n. Etym: [NL. See Conium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Conine.
CONIC; CONICAL Con"ic, Con"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. conique. See Cone.]
1. Having the form of, or resembling, a geometrical cone; round and tapering to a point, or gradually lessening in circumference; as, a conic or conical figure; a conical vessel.
2. Of or pertaining to a cone; as, conic sections. Conic section (Geom.), a curved line formed by the intersection of the surface of a right cone and a plane. The conic sections are the parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. The right lines and the circle which result from certain positions of the plane are sometimes, though not generally included. -- Conic sections, that branch of geometry which treats of the parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. -- Conical pendulum. See Pendulum. -- Conical projection, a method of delineating the surface of a sphere upon a plane surface as if projected upon the surface of a cone; -- much used by makers of maps in Europe. -- Conical surface (Geom.), a surface described by a right line moving along any curve and always passing through a fixed point that is not in the plane of that curve.
CONIC Con"ic, n. (Math.)
Defn: A conic section.
CONICALITY Con`i*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Conicalness.
CONICALLY Con"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form of a cone.
CONICALNESS Con"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being conical.
CONICO- Con"i*co- (, a. Etym: [See Conic.]
Defn: A combining form, meaning somewhat resembling a cone; as, conico-cylindrical, resembling a cone and a cylinder; conico- hemispherical; conico-subulate.
CONICOID Con"i*coid, a. Etym: [Conic + -oid.] (Math.)
Defn: Same as Conoidal.
CONICS Con"ics, n.
1. That branch of geometry which treats of the cone and the curves which arise from its sections.
2. Conic sections.
CONIDIUM Co*nid"i*um, n.; pl. Conida. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A peculiar kind of reproductive cell found in certain fungi, and often containing zoöspores.
CONIFER Co"ni*fer, n. Etym: [L. conifer; conus cone + ferre to bear: cf. F. conifère.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree or shrub bearing cones; one of the order Coniferae, which includes the pine, cypress, and (according to some) the yew.
CONIFERIN Co*nif"er*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from the cambium layer of coniferous trees as a white crystalline substance.
CONIFEROUS Co*nif"er*ous, a. (a) Bearing cones, as the pine and cypress. (b) Pertaining to the order Coniferae, of which the pine tree is the type.
CONIFORM Co"ni*form, a. Etym: [Cone + -form: cf. F. coniforme.]
Defn: Cone-shaped; conical.
CONIINE Co*ni"ine ( or , n.
Defn: See Conine.
CONIMENE Co"ni*mene, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Olibene.
CONINE Co"nine ( or , n. Etym: [From Conium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A powerful and very poisonous vegetable alkaloid found in the hemlock (Conium maculatum) and extracted as a colorless oil, C8H17N, of strong repulsive odor and acrid taste. It is regarded as a derivative of piperidine and likewise of one of the collidines. It occasions a gradual paralysis of the motor nerves. Called also coniine, coneine, conia, etc. See Conium, 2.
CONIROSTER Co`ni*ros"ter, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Conirostres.
CONIROSTRAL Co`ni*ros"tral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Conirostres.
CONIROSTRES Co`ni*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. conus cone + rostrum beak: cf. F. conirostre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tribe of perching birds, including those which have a strong conical bill, as the finches.
CONISOR Con`i*sor", n. Etym: [Obs.]
Defn: See Cognizor.
CONISTRA Co*nis"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Greek Antiq.)
Defn: Originally, a part of the palestra, or gymnasium among the Greeks; either the place where sand was stored for use in sprinkling the wrestlers, or the wrestling ground itself. Hence, a part of the orchestra of the Greek theater.
CONITE Co"nite, n. Etym: [Gr. conite. So called on account of its gray color.] (Min.)
Defn: A magnesian variety of dolomite.
CONIUM Co*ni"um ( or , n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of biennial, poisonous, white-flowered, umbelliferous plants, bearing ribbed fruit ("seeds") and decompound leaves.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The common hemlock (Conium maculatum, poison hemlock, spotted hemlock, poison parsley), a roadside weed of Europe, Asia, and America, cultivated in the United States for medicinal purpose. It is an active poison. The leaves and fruit are used in medicine.
CONJECT Con*ject", v. t. Etym: [L. conjectus, p.p. of conjicere. See Conjecture, n.]
Defn: To throw together, or to throw. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.
CONJECT Con*ject", v. t.
Defn: To conjecture; also, to plan. [Obs.]
CONJECTOR Con*ject"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who guesses or conjectures. [Obs.] A great conjector at other men by their writings. Milton.
CONJECTURABLE Con*jec"tur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conjectured or guessed.
CONJECTURAL Con*jec"tur*al, a. Etym: [L. conjecturalis: cf. F. conjectural.]
Defn: Dependent on conjecture; fancied; imagined; guessed at; undetermined; doubtful. And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me. Shak. A slight expense of conjectural analogy. Hugh Miller. Who or what such editor may be, must remain conjectural. Carlyle.
CONJECTURALIST Con*jec"tur*al*ist, n.
Defn: A conjecturer. [R.] Month. rev.
CONJECTURALLY Con*jec`tur*al"ly, n.
Defn: That which depends upon guess; guesswork. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
CONJECTURALLY Con*jec`tur*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conjectural manner; by way of conjecture. Boyle.
CONJECTURE Con*jec"ture, n. Etym: [L. conjectura, fr. conjicere, conjectum, to throw together, infer, conjecture; con- + jacere to throw: cf. F. conjecturer. See Jet a shooting forth.]
Defn: An opinion, or judgment, formed on defective or presumptive evidence; probable inference; surmise; guess; suspicion. He [Herodotus] would thus have corrected his first loose conjecture by a real study of nature. Whewell. Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm. Milton.
CONJECTURE Con*jec"ture, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjectured; p.pr. & vb.n. Conjecturing.] Etym: [Cf. F. conjecturer. Cf. Conject.]
Defn: To arrive at by conjecture; to infer on slight evidence; to surmise; to guess; to form, at random, opinions concerning. Human reason can then, at the best, but conjecture what will be. South.
CONJECTURE Con*jec"ture, v. i.
Defn: To make conjectures; to surmise; to guess; to infer; to form an opinion; to imagine.
CONJECTURER Con*jec"tur*er, n.
Defn: One who conjectures. Hobbes.
CONJOIN Con*join, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjoined; p.pr. & vb.n. Conjoining.] Etym: [F. conjoindre, fr. L. conjungere, -junctum; con- + jungere to join. See Join, and cf. Conjugate, Conjunction.]
Defn: To join together; to unite. The English army, that divided was Into two parties, is now conjoined in one. Shak. If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be conjoined. Shak. Let that which he learns next be nearly conjoined with what he knows already. Locke.
CONJOIN Con*join", v. i.
Defn: To unite; to join; to league. Shak.
CONJOINED Con*joined", a. (Her.)
Defn: Joined together or touching.
CONJOINT Con*joint", a. Etym: [F. conjoint, p.p. of conjoindre. See Conjoin, and cf. Conjunct.]
Defn: United; connected; associated. "Influence conjoint." Glover. Conjoint degrees (Mus.), two notes which follow each other immediately in the order of the scale, as ut and re. Johnson. Conjoint tetrachords (Mus.), two tetrachords or fourths, where the same note is the highest of one and the lowest of the other; -- also written conjunct.
CONJOINTLY Con*joint"ly, adv.
Defn: In a conjoint manner; untitedly; jointly; together. Sir T. Browne.
CONJOINTNESS Con*joint"ness, n.
Defn: The qquality of being conjoint.
CONJUBILANT Con*ju"bi*lant, a.
Defn: Shouting together for joy; rejoicing together. [R.] Neale.
CONJUGAL Con"ju*gal, a. Etym: [L. conjugalis, fr. conjux husband, wife, consort, fr. conjungere to unite, join in marriage. See Conjoin.]
Defn: Belonging to marriage; suitable or appropriate to the marriage state or to married persons; matrimonial; connubial. "Conjugal affection." Milton.
CONJUGALITY Con`ju*gal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The conjugal state; sexual intercourse. [R.] Milton.
CONJUGALLY Con"ju*gal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conjugal manner; matrimonially; connubially.
CONJUGATE Con"ju*gate, a. Etym: [L. conjugatus, p.p. or conjugare to unite; con- + jugare to join, yoke, marry, jugum yoke; akin to jungere to join. See Join.]
1. United in pairs; yoked together; coupled.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: In single pairs; coupled.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Containing two or more radicals supposed to act the part of a single one. [R.]
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Agreeing in derivation and radical signification; -- said of words.
5. (Math.)
Defn: Presenting themselves simultaneously and having reciprocal properties; -- frequently used in pure and applied mathematics with reference to two quantities, points, lines, axes, curves, etc. Conjugate axis of a hyperbola (Math.), the line through the center of the curve, perpendicular to the line through the two foci. -- Conjugate diameters (Conic Sections), two diameters of an ellipse or hyperbola such that each bisects all chords drawn parallel to the other. -- Conjugate focus (Opt.) See under Focus. -- Conjugate mirrors (Optics), two mirrors so placed that rays from the focus of one are received at the focus of the other, especially two concave mirrors so placed that rays proceeding from the principal focus of one and reflected in a parallel beam are received upon the other and brought to the principal focus. -- Conjugate point (Geom.), an acnode. See Acnode, and Double point. -- Self-conjugate triangle (Conic Sections), a triangle each of whose vertices is the pole of the opposite side with reference to a conic.
CONJUGATE Con`ju*gate, n. Etym: [L. conjugatum a combining, etymological relationship.]
1. A word agreeing in derivation with another word, and therefore generally resembling it in signification. We have learned, in logic, that conjugates are sometimes in name only, and not in deed. Abp. Bramhall.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A complex radical supposed to act the part of a single radical. [R.]
CONJUGATE Con"ju*gate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjugated; p.pr. & vb.n. Conjugating.]
1. To unite in marriage; to join. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: To inflect (a verb), or give in order the forms which it assumed in its several voices, moods, tenses, numbers, and persons.
CONJUGATE Con"ju*gate, v. i. (Biol.)
Defn: To unite in a kind of sexual union, as two or more cells or individuals among the more simple plants and animals.
CONJUGATION Con`ju*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. conjugatio conjugation (in senses 1 & 3).]
1. the act of uniting or combining; union; assemblage. [Obs.] Mixtures and conjugations of atoms. Bentley.
2. Two things conjoined; a pair; a couple. [Obs.] The sixth conjugations or pair of nerves. Sir T. Browne.
3. (Gram.) (a) The act of conjugating a verb or giving in order its various parts and inflections. (b) A scheme in which are arranged all the parts of a verb. (c) A class of verbs conjugated in the same manner.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: A kind of sexual union; -- applied to a blending of the contents of two or more cells or individuals in some plants and lower animals, by which new spores or germs are developed.
CONJUGATIONAL Con`ju*ga"tion*al, a.
Defn: relating to conjugation. Ellis.
CONJUGIAL Con*ju"gi*al, a. Etym: [L. conjugialis, fr. conjugium. Cf. Conjugal.]
Defn: Conjugal. [R.] Swedenborg.
CONJUGIUM Con*ju"gi*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: The marriage tie.
CONJUNCT Con*junct", a. Etym: [L. conjunctus, p.p. See Conjoin.]
1. United; conjoined; concurrent. [Archaic]
2. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Conjoined.
CONJUNCTION Con*junc"tion, n. Etym: [L. conjunctio: cf. F. conjunction. See Conjoin.]
1. The act of conjoining, or the state of being conjoined, united, or associated; union; association; league. He will unite the white rose and the red: Smille heaven upon his fair conjunction. Shak. Man can effect no great matter by his personal strength but as he acts in society and conjunction with others. South.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The meeting of two or more stars or planets in the same degree of the zodiac; as, the conjunction of the moon with the sun, or of Jupiter and Saturn. See the Note under Aspect, n., 6.
Note: Heavenly bodies are said to be in conjunction when they are seen in the same part of the heavens, or have the same longitude or right ascension. The inferior conjunction of an inferior planet is its position when in conjunction on the same side of the sun with the earth; the superior conjunction of a planet is its position when on the side of the sun most distant from the earth.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A connective or connecting word; an indeclinable word which serves to join together sentences, clauses of a sentence, or words; as, and, but, if. Though all conjunctions conjoin sentences, yet, with respect to the sense, some are conjunctive and some disjunctive. Harris.
CONJUNCTIONAL Con*junc"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to a conjunction.
CONJUNCTIVA Con`junc*ti"va, n. Etym: [NL., from L. conjunctivus connective.] (Anat.)
Defn: The mucous membrane which covers the external surface of the ball of the eye and the inner surface of the lids; the conjunctival membrance.
CONJUNCTIVAL Con`junc*ti"val, a.
1. Joining; connecting.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the conjunctiva.
CONJUNCTIVE Con*junc"tive, a. Etym: [L. conjunctivus.]
1. Serving to unite; connecting together.
2. Closely united. [Obs.] Shak. Conjunctive mood (Gram.), the mood which follows a conjunction or expresses contingency; the subjunctive mood. -- Conjunctive tissue (Anat.), the tissue found in nearly all parts of most animals. It yields gelatin on boiling, and consists of vriously arranged fibers which are imbedded protoplasmic cells, or corpuscles; -- called also cellular tissue and connective tissue. Adipose or fatty tissue is one of its many forms, and cartilage and bone are sometimes included by the phrase.
CONJUNCTIVELY Con*junc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In conjunction or union; together. Sir T. Browne.
CONJUNCTIVENESS Con*junc"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being conjunctive. Johnson.
CONJUNCTIVITIS Con*junc`ti*vi"tis ( or , n. (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the conjunctiva.
CONJUNCTLY Con*junct"ly, adv.
Defn: In union; conjointly; unitedly; together. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONJUNCTURE Con*junc"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conjoncture, LL. conjunctura.]
1. The act of joining, or state of being joined; union; connection; combination. The conjuncture of philosophy and divinity. Hobbes. A fit conjuncture or circumstances. Addison.
2. A crisis produced by a combination of circumstances; complication or combination of events or circumstances; plight resulting from various conditions. He [Chesterfield] had recently governed Ireland, at a momentous conjuncture, with eminent firmness, wisdom, and humanity. Macaulay.
CONJURATION Con`ju*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. conjuratio, cf. F. conjuration.]
1. The act of calling or summoning by a sacred name, or in solemn manner; the act of binding by an oath; an earnest entreaty; adjuration. We charge you, in the name of God, take heed; . . . Under this conjuration speak, my lord. Shak.
2. The act or process of invoking supernatural aid by the use of a magical form of words; the practice of magic arts; incantation; enchantment. Pretended conjurations and prophecies of that event. Hallam.
3. A league for a criminal purpose; conspiracy. [Obs.] "The conjuration of Catiline." Sir T. Elyot.
CONJURATOR Con"ju*ra`tor, n. Etym: [LL.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: One who swears or is sworn with others; one bound by oath with others; a compurgator. Burrill.
CONJURE Con*jure", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjured; p.pr. & vb.n. Conjuring.] Etym: [F. conjurer, fr. L. conjurare to swear together, to conspire; con- + jurare to swear. See Jury.]
Defn: To call on or summon by a sacred name or in solemn manner; to implore earnestly; to adjure. I conjure you, let him know, Whate'er was done against him, Cato did it. Addison.
CONJURE Con*jure", v. i.
Defn: To combine together by an eath; to conspire; to confederate. [A Latinism] Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons Conjured against the Highest. Milton.
CONJURE Con"jure, v. t.
Defn: To affect or effect by conjuration; to call forth or send away by magic arts; to excite or alter, as if by magic or by the aid of supernatural powers. The habitation which your prophet . . . conjured the devil into. Shak. To conjure up, or make visible, as a spirit, by magic arts; hence, to invent; as, to conjure up a story; to conjure up alarms.
CONJURE Con"jure, v. i.
Defn: To practice magical arts; to use the tricks of a conjurer; to juggle; to charm. She conjures; away with her. Shak.
CONJUREMENT Con*jure"ment, n.
Defn: Serious injunction; solemn demand or entreaty. [Obs.] Milton.
CONJURER Con*jur"er, n.
Defn: One who conjures; one who calls, entreats, or charges in a solemn manner.
CONJURER Con"jur*er, n.
1. One who practices magic arts; one who pretends to act by the aid super natural power; also, one who performs feats of legerdemain or sleight of hand. Dealing with witches and with conjurers. Shak. From the account the loser brings, The conjurer knows who stole the things. Prior.
2. One who conjectures shrewdly or judges wisely; a man of sagacity. [Obs.] Addison.
CONJUROR Con*ju"ror, n. (Law)
Defn: One bound by a common cath with others. [Obs.]
CONJURY Con"ju*ry, n.
Defn: The practice of magic; enchantment. Motley.
CONN Conn, v. t.
Defn: See Con, to direct a ship.
CONNASCENCE; CONNASCENCY Con*nas"cence, Con*nas"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. con- + nascentia birth, fr. nascens, p.pr. of nasci to be born.]
1. The common birth of two or more at the same tome; production of two or more together. Johnson.
2. That which is born or produced with another.
3. The act of growing together. [Obs.] Wiseman.
CONNASCENT Con*nas"cent, a.
Defn: Born together; produced at the same time. Craig.
CONNATE Con"nate, a. Etym: [L. connatus; con- + natus born, p.p. of nasci. See Cognate.]
1. Born with another; being of the same birth.
2. Congenital; existing from birth. "Connate notions." South. A difference has been made by some; those diseases or conditions which are dependent on original conformation being called congenital; while the diseases of affections that may have supervened during gestation or delivery are called connate. Dunglison.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Congenitally united; growing from one base, or united at their bases; united into one body; as, connate leaves or athers. See Illust. of Connate-perfoliate.
CONNATE-PERFOLIATE Con"nate-per*fo"li*ate, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Connate or coalescent at the base so as to produce a broad foliaceous body through the center of which the stem passes; -- applied to leaves, as the leaves of the boneset.
CONNATION Con*na"tion, n.
Defn: Connection by birth; natural union. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONNATURAL Con*nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. con- + natural.]
1. Connected by nature; united in nature; inborn; inherent; natural. These affections are connatural to us. L'Estrange.
2. Partaking of the same nature. And mix with our connatural dust. Milton.
CONNATURALITY Con*nat`u*ral"i*ty, n.
Defn: Participation of the same nature; natural union or connection. [R.] A congruity and connaturality between them. Sir M. Hale.
CONNATURALIZE Con*nat"u*ral*ize, v. t.
Defn: To bring to the same nature as something else; to adapt. [Obs.] Dr. J. Scott.
CONNATURALLY Con*nat"u*ral*ly, adv.
Defn: By the act of nature; originally; from birth. Sir M. Hale.
CONNATURALNESS Con*nat"u*ral*ness, n.
Defn: Participation of the same nature; natural union. I. Walton.
CONNATURE Con*na"ture, n.
Defn: Participation in a common nature or character. [R.] Connature was defined as likeness in kind between either two changes in consciousness, or two states of consciousness. H. Spencer.
CONNECT Con*nect", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Connected; p.pr. & vb.n. Connecting.] Etym: [L. connectere, -nexum; con- + nectere to bind. See Annex.]
1. To join, or fasten together, as by something intervening; to associate; to combine; to unite or link together; to establish a bond or relation between. He fills, he bounds, connect and equals all. Pope. A man must the connection of each intermediate idea with those that it connects before he can use it in a syllogism. Locke.
2. To associate (a person or thing, or one's self) with another person, thing, business, or affair. Connecting rod (Mach.), a rod or bar joined to, and connecting, two or more moving parts; esp. a rod connecting a crank wrist with a beam, crosshead, piston rod, or piston, as in a steam engine.
CONNECT Con*nect", v. i.
Defn: To join, unite, or cohere; to have a close relation; as, one line of railroad connects with another; one argument connect with another.
CONNECTEDLY Con*nect"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a connected manner.
CONNECTION Con*nec"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. Connexion.]
1. The act of connecting, or the state of being connected; junction; union; alliance; relationship. He [Algazel] denied the possibility of a known connection between cause and effect. Whewell. The eternal and inserable connection between virtue and hapiness. Atterbury.
2. That which connects or joins together; bond; tie. Any sort of connection which is perceived or imagined between two or more things. I. Taylor.
3. A relation; esp. a person connected with another by marriage rather than by blood; -- used in a loose and indefinite, and sometimes a comprehensive, sense.
4. The persons or things that are connected; as, a business connection; the Methodist connection. Men elevated by powerful connection. Motley. At the head of a strong parliamentary connection. Macaulay. Whose names, forces, connections, and characters were perfectly known to him. Macaulay. In this connection, in connection with this subject.
Note: [A phrase objected to by some writers.]
Note: This word was formerly written, as by Milton, with x instead of t in the termination, connexion, and the same thing is true of the kindred words inflexion, reflexion, and the like. But the general usage at present is to spell them connection, inflection, reflection, etc.
Syn. -- Union; coherence; continuity; junction; association; dependence; intercourse; commerce; communication; affinity; relationship.
CONNECTIVE Con*nect"ive, a.
Defn: Connecting, or adapted to connect; involving connection. Connection tissue (Anat.) See Conjunctive tissue, under Conjunctive.
CONNECTIVE Con*nect"ive, n.
Defn: That which connects. Specifically: (a) (Gram.) A word that connect words or sentences; a conjunction or preposition. (b) (Bot.) That part of an anther which connects its thecæ, lobes, or cells.
CONNECTIVELY Con*nect"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In connjunction; jointly.
CONNECTOR Con*nect"or, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, connects; as: (a) A flexible tube for connecting the ends of glass tubes in pneumatic experiments. (b) A device for holding two parts of an electrical conductor in contact.
CONNER Con"ner, n. Etym: [Cf. Cunner.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine European fish (Crenilabrus melops); also, the related American cunner. See Cunner.
CONNEX Con*nex", v. t. Etym: [L. connexus, p.p. See Connect.]
Defn: To connect. Sir M. Hale.
CONNEXION Con*nex"ion, n. Etym: [L. connexio: cf. F. connexion.]
Defn: Connection. See Connection.
CONNEXIVE Con*nex"ive, a.
Defn: See Connective.
CONNING TOWER Con"ning tow"er, n.
Defn: The shotproof pilot house of a war vessel.
CONNIVANCE Con*niv"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. connivence, L. conniventia.]
1. Intentional failure or forbearance to discover a fault or wrongdoing; voluntary oversight; passive consent or co
2. (Law)
Defn: Corrupt or guilty assent to wrongdoing, not involving actual participation in, but knowledge of, and failure to prevent or oppose it.
Syn. -- See Collusion.
CONNIVE Con*nive", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Connived; p.pr. & vb.n. Conniving.] Etym: [L. connivere to shut the eues, connive, fr. con- + (perh.) a word akin to nicere to beckon, nictare to wink.]
1. To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink. [Obs.] The artist is to teach them how to nod judiciously, and to connive with either eye. Spectator.
2. To close the eyes upon a fault; to wink (at); to fail or forbear by intention to discover an act; to permit a proceeding, as if not aware of it; -- usually followed by at. To connive at what it does not approve. Jer. Taylor. In many of these, the directors were heartily concurring; in most of them, they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they were conniving. Burke. The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the violation of this rule. Macaulay.
CONNIVE Con*nive", v. t.
Defn: To shut the eyes to; to overlook; to pretend not to see. [R. & Obs.] "Divorces were not connived only, but with eye open allowed." Milton.
CONNIVENCY Con*niv"en*cy, n.
Defn: Connivance. [Obs.]
CONNIVENT Con*niv"ent, a. Etym: [L. connivens, p. pr.]
1. Forbearing to see; designedly inattentive; as, connivent justice. [R.] Milton.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Brought close together; arched inward so that the points meet; converging; in close contact; as, the connivent petals of a flower, wings of an insect, or folds of membrane in the human system, etc.
CONNIVER Con*niv"er, n.
Defn: One who connives.
CONNOISSEUR Con`nois*seur", n. Etym: [F. connaisseur, formerly connoisseur, fr. connaître to know, fr. L. cognoscere to become acquainted with; co- + noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know. See Know, amd cf. Cognizor.]
Defn: One well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a critical judge of any art, particulary of one of the fine arts. The connoisseur is "one who knows," as opposed to the dilettant, who only "thinks he knows." Fairholt.
CONNOISSEURSHIP Con`nois*seur"ship, n.
Defn: State of being a connoisseur.
CONNOTATE Con"no*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. con- + notatus, p.p.of notare to mark. Cf. Connote.]
Defn: To connote; to suggest or designate (something) as additional; to include; to imply. Hammond.
CONNOTATION Con`no*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. connotation.]
Defn: The act of connoting; a making known or designating something additional; implication of something more than is asserted.
CONNOTATIVE Con*no"ta*tive ( or ), a.
1. Implying something additional; illative.
2. (Log.)
Defn: Implying an attribute. See Connote. Connotative term, one which denotes a subject and implies an attribute. J. S. Mill.
CONNOTATIVELY Con*no"ta*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a connotative manner; expressing connotation.
CONNOTE Con*note", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Connoted; p.pr. & vb.n. Connoting.] Etym: [See Connotate, and Note.]
1. To mark along with; to suggest or indicate as additional; to designate by implication; to include in the meaning; to imply. Good, in the general notion of it, connotes also a certain suitableness of it to some other thing. South.
2. (Logic)
Defn: To imply as an attribute. The word "white" denotes all white things, as snow, paper, the foam of the sea, etc., and ipmlies, or as it was termed by the schoolmen, connotes, the attribute "whiteness." J. S. Mill.
CONNUBIAL Con*nu"bi*al, a. Etym: [L. connubialis, fr. connubium marriage; con- + nubere to veil, to marry. See Nupital.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to marriage, or the marriage state; conjugal; nuptial. Nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refused. Milton. Kind, connubial tenderness. Goldsmith.
CONNUBIALITY Con*nu`bi*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being connubial; something characteristics of the conjugal state; an expression of connubial tenderness. Some connubialities which had begun to pass between Mr. and Mrs. B. Dickens.
CONNUMERATION Con*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. connumeratio, fr. L. connumerare, - numeratum, to number with.]
Defn: A reckoning together. [R.] Porson.
CONNUSANCE Con"nu*sance, n. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizance. [Obs.]
CONNUSANT Con"nu*sant, a. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizant. [Obs.]
CONNUSOR Con`nu*sor", n. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizor. [Obs.]
CONNUTRITIOUS Con`nu*tri"tious, a.
Defn: Nutritious by force of habit; -- said of certain kinds of food. [Obs.] Crabb.
CONNY Con"ny, a. [Canny, Gunning.]
Defn: Brave; fine; canny. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
CONODONT Co"no*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar toothlike fossil of many forms, found especially in carboniferous rocks. Such fossils are supposed by some to be the teeth of marsipobranch fishes, but they are probably the jaws of annelids.
CONOID Co"noid, n. Etym: [Gr. conoïde.]
1. Anything that has a form resembling that of a cone.
2. (Geom.) (a) A solid formed by the revolution of a conic section about its axis; as, a parabolic conoid, elliptic conoid, etc.; -- more commonly called paraboloid, ellipsoid, etc. (b) A surface which may be generated by a straight line moving in such a manner as always to meet a given straight line and a given curve, and continue parallel to a given plane. Math. Dict.
CONOID Co"noid
Defn: , Resembling a cone; conoidal.
CONOIDAL Co*noid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conoïdal.]
Defn: Nearly, but not exactly, conical. Lindley.
CONOIDIC; CONOIDICAL Co*noid"ic, Co*noid"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a conoid; having the form of a conoid.
CONOMINEE Co*nom`i*nee", n.
Defn: One nominated in conjunction with another; a joint nominee. Kirby.
CONQUADRATE Con*quad"rate, v. t. Etym: [L. conquadratus, p.p. of conquadrare.]
Defn: To bring into a square. [R.] Ash.
CONQUASSATE Con*quas"sate, v. t. Etym: [L. conquassatus, p.p. of conquassare.]
Defn: To shake; to agitate. [Obs.] Harvey. -- Con`quas*sa"tion, n. [Obs.]
CONQUER Con"quer, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conquered; p.pr. & vb.n. Conquering.] Etym: [OF. conquerre, F. conquérir, fr. L. conquirere, -quisitum, to seek or search for, to bring together, LL., to conquer; con- + quaerere to seek. See Quest.]
1. To gain or acquire by force; to take possession of by violent means; to gain dominion over; to subdue by physical means; to reduce; to overcome by force of arms; to cause to yield; to vanquish. "If thou conquer Rome." Shak. If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us. Shak. We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms. Pope.
2. To subdue or overcome by mental or moral power; to surmount; as, to conquer difficulties, temptatin, etc. By winning words to conquer hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear. Milton.
3. To gain or obtain, overcoming obstacles in the way; to win; as, to conquer freedom; to conquer a peace.
Syn. -- To subdue; vanquish; overcome; overpower; overthrow; defeat; rout; discomfit; subjugate; reduce; humble; crush; surmount; subject; master. -- To Conquer, Vanquish, Subdue, Subjugate, Overcome. These words agree in the general idea expressed by overcome, -- that of bringing under one's power by the exertion of force. Conquer is wider and more general than vanquish, denoting usually a succession of conflicts. Vanquish is more individual, and refers usually to a single conflict. Thus, Alexander conquered Asia in a succession of battles, and vanquished Darius in one decisive engagement. Subdue implies a more gradual and continual pressure, but a surer and more final subjection. We speak of a nation as subdued when its spirit is at last broken, so that no further resistance is offered. Subjugate is to bring completely under the yoke of bondage. The ancient Gauls were never finally subdued by the Romans until they were completely subjugated. These words, when used figuratively, have correspondent meanings. We conquer our prejudices or aversions by a succesion of conflicts; but we sometimes vanquish our reluctance to duty by one decided effort: we endeavor to subdue our evil propensities by watchful and persevering exertions. Subjugate is more commonly taken in its primary meaning, and when used figuratively has generally a bad sense; as, his reason was completely subjugated to the sway of his passions.
CONQUER Con"quer, v. i.
Defn: To gain the victory; to overcome; to prevail. He went forth conquering and to conquer. Rev. vi. 2. The champions resolved to conquer or to die. Waller.
CONQUERABLE Con*quer*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conquered or subdued. South. -- Con"quer*a*ble*ness, n.
CONQUERESS Con"quer*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who conquers. Fairfax.
CONQUEROR Con"quer*or, n. Etym: [OF. conquereor, fr. conquerre,]
Defn: One who conquers. The Conqueror (Eng. Hist.). William the Norman (1027-1067) who invaded England, defeated Harold in the battle of Hastings, and was crowned king, in 1066.
CONQUEST Con"quest, n. Etym: [OF. conquest, conqueste, F. conquête, LL. conquistum, conquista, prop. p.p. from L. conquirere. See Conquer.]
1. The act or process of conquering, or acquiring by force; the act of overcoming or subduing opposition by force, whether physical or moral; subjection; subjugation; victory. In joys of conquest he resigns his breath. Addison. Three years sufficed for the conquest of the country. Prescott.
2. That which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral. Wherefore rejoice What conquest brings he home Shak.
3. (Feudal Law)
Defn: The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition. Blackstone.
4. The act of gaining or regaining by successful strugle; as, the conquest of liberty or peace. The Conquest (Eng. Hist.), the subjugation of England by William of Normandy in 1066.
Syn. -- Victory; triumph; mastery; reduction; subjugation; subjection.
CONQUIAN Con"qui*an, n. (Card Playing)
Defn: A game for two, played with 40 cards, in which each player tries to form three or four of a kind or sequences.
CONSANGUINEAL Con`san*guin"e*al, a.
Defn: Of the same blood; related by birth. Sir T. Browne.
CONSANGUINED Con*san"guined, a.
Defn: Of kin blood; related. [R.] Johnson.
CONSANGUINEOUS Con`san*guin"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. conguineus; con- + sanguis blood: cf. F. consanguin. See Sanquine.]
Defn: Of the same blood; related by birth; descended from the same parent or ancestor. Shak.
CONSANGUINITY Con`san*guin"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. consanguinitas: cf. F. consanguintit.]
Defn: The relation of person by blood, is distinction from affinity or relation by marriage; blood relationship; as, lineal consanguinity; collateral consanguinity. Invoking aid by the ties of consanguinity. Prescott.
CONSARCINATION Con*sar`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consarcinare, -natum, to patch together.]
Defn: A patching together; patchwork. [Obs.] Bailey.
CONSCIENCE Con"science, n. Etym: [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science.]
1. Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [Obs.] The sweetest cordial we receive, at last, Is conscience of our virtuous actions past. Denham.
2. The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self; the moral sense. My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain. Shak. As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self- knowledge . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . . Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation. Whewell.
3. The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty. Conscience supposes the existence of some such [i.e., moral] faculty, and properly signifies our consciousness of having acted agreeably or contrary to its directions. Adam Smith.
4. Tenderness of feeling; pity. [Obs.] Chaucer. Conscience clause, a clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths, rendering military service, etc. -- Conscience money, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money paid into the United States treasury by unknown debtors is called the Conscience fund. -- Court of Conscience, a court established for the recovery of small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts. [Eng.] Blackstone. -- In conscience, In all conscience, in deference or obedience to conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably. "This is enough in conscience." Howell. "Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require." Swift. -- To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.
CONSCIENCED Con"scienced, a.
Defn: Having a conscience. [R.] "Soft-conscienced men." Shak.
CONSCIENCELESS Con"science*less, a.
Defn: Without conscience; indifferent to conscience; unscrupulous. Conscienceless and wicked patrons. Hookre.
CONSCIENT Con"scient, a. Etym: [L. consciens, -entis, p.pr.]
Defn: Conscious. [R.] Bacon.
CONSCIENTIOUS Con`sci*en"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consciencieux, LL. conscientiosus.]
1. Influenced by conscience; governed by a strict regard to the dictates of conscience, or by the known or supposed rules of right and wrong; -- said of a person. The advice of wise and conscientious men. Prescott.
2. Characterized by a regard to conscience; conformed to the dictates of conscience; -- said of actions. A holy and conscientious course. Abp. Tillotson.
Syn. -- Scrupulous; exact; faithful; just; upright.
CONSCIENTIOUSLY Con`sci*en"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conscientious manner; as a matter of conscience; hence; faithfully; accurately; completely.
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS Con`sci*en"tious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conscientious; a scrupulous regard to the dictates of conscience.
CONSCIONABLE Con"scion*a*ble, a. Etym: [Irregularly formed fr. conscience.]
Defn: Governed by, or according to, conscience; reasonable; just. Let my debtors have conscionable satisfaction. Sir H. Wotton.
CONSCIONABLENESS Con"scion*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conscionable; reasonableness. Johnson.
CONSCIONABLY Con"scion*a*bly, adv.
Defn: Reasonably; justly.
CONSCIOUS Con"scious, a. Etym: [L. conscius; con- + scire to know. See Conscience.]
1. Possessing the faculty of knowing one's own thoughts or mental operations. Some are thinking or conscious beings, or have a power of thought. I. Watts.
2. Possessing knowledge, whether by internal, conscious experience or by external observation; cognizant; aware; sensible. Her conscious heart imputed suspicion where none could have been felt. Hawthorne. The man who breathes most healthilly is least conscious of his own breathing. De Quincey.
3. Made the object of consciousness; known to one's self; as, conscious guilt. With conscious terrors vex me round. Milton.
Syn. -- Aware; apprised; sensible; felt; known.
CONSCIOUSLY Con"scious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conscious manner; with knowledge of one's own mental operations or actions.
CONSCIOUSNESS Con"scious*ness, n.
1. The state of being conscious; knowledge of one's own existence, condition, sensations, mental operations, acts, etc. Consciousness is thus, on the one hand, the recognition by the mind or "ego" of its acts and affections; -- in other words, the self- affirmation that certain modifications are known by me, and that these modifications are mine. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. Immediate knowledge or perception of the presence of any object, state, or sensation. See the Note under Attention. Annihilate the consciousness of the object, you annihilate the consciousness of the operation. Sir W. Hamilton. And, when the steam Which overflowed the soul had passed away, A consciousness remained that it had left. . . . images and precious thoughts That shall not die, and can not be destroyed. Wordsworth. The consciousness of wrong brought with it the consciousness of weakness. Froude.
3. Feeling, persuasion, or expectation; esp., inward sense of guilt or innocence. [R.] An honest mind is not in the power of a dishonest: to break its peace there must be some guilt or consciousness. Pope.
CONSCRIBE Con*scribe", v. t. Etym: [L. conscribere. See Conscript.]
Defn: To enroll; to enlist. [Obs.] E. Hall.
CONSCRIPT Con"script, a. Etym: [L. conscriptus, p.p. of conscribere to write together, to enroll; con- + scribere to write. See Scribe.]
Defn: Enrolled; written; registered. Conscript fathers (Rom. Antiq.), the senators of ancient Rome. When certain new senators were first enrolled with the "fathers" the body was called Patres et Conscripti; afterward all were called Patres conscripti.
CONSCRIPT Con"script, n.
Defn: One taken by lot, or compulsorily enrolled, to serve as a soldier or sailor.
CONSCRIPT Con*script", v. t.
Defn: To enroll, by compulsion, for military service.
CONSCRIPTION Con*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [L. conscriptio: cf. F. conscription.]
1. An enrolling or registering. The conscription of men of war. Bp. Burnet.
2. A compulsory enrollment of men for military or naval service; a draft.
CONSCRIPTION Con*scrip"tion, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or of the nature of, a conspiration.
CONSECRATE Con"se*crate, a. Etym: [L. consceratus, p.p. of conscerare to conscerate; con- + sacrare to consecrate, sacer sacred. See Sacred.]
Defn: Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred. They were assembled in that consecrate place. Bacon.
CONSECRATE Con"se*crate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consecrated; p.pr. & vb.n. Consecrating.]
1. To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service or worship of God; as, to consecrate a church; to give (one's self) unreservedly, as to the service of God. One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy rest. Sharp.
2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a bishop. Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. Ex. xxix. 9.
3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the gods, as a Roman emperor.
4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as, rules or principles consecrated by time. Burke.
Syn. -- See Addict.
CONSECRATER Con"se*cra`ter, n.
Defn: Consecrator.
CONSECRATION Con`se*cra"tion, n. Etym: [L. consecratio: cf. F. consécration.]
Defn: The act or ceremony of consecrating; the state of being consecrated; dedication. Until the days of your consecration be at an end. Lev. viii. 33. Consecration makes not a place sacred, but only solemny declares it so. South.
CONSECRATOR Con"se*cra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who consecrates; one who performs the rites by which a person or thing is devoted or dedicated to sacred purposes. [Written also consecrater.]
CONSECRATORY Con"se*cra*to*ry ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the act of consecration; dedicatory. The consecratory prayer. Bp. Burnet.
CONSECTANEOUS Con`sec*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. consectaneus.]
Defn: Following as a matter of course. Blount.
CONSECTARY Con"sec*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. consectarius, fr. consectari to follow after eagerly; con- + sectari to follow eagerly, fr. sequi to follow.]
Defn: Following by consequence; consequent; deducible. [R.] "Consectary impieties." Sir T. Browne.
CONSECTARY Con"sec*ta*ry, n.
Defn: That which follows by consequence or is logically deducible; deduction from premises; corollary. [R.] Milton.
CONSECUTE Con"se*cute, v. t.
Defn: To follow closely; to endeavor to overtake; to pursue. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
CONSECUTION Con`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. consecutio. See Consequent.]
1. A following, or sequel; actual or logical dependence. Sir M. Hale.
2. A succession or series of any kind. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton. Month of consecution (Astron.), a month as reckoned from one conjunction of the moon with the sun to another.
CONSECUTIVE Con*sec"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consécutif. See Consequent.]
1. Following in a train; suceeding one another in a regular order; successive; uninterrupted in course or succession; with no interval or break; as, fifty consecutive years.
2. Following as a consequence or result; actually or logically dependent; consequential; succeeding. The actions of a man consecutive to volition. Locke.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: Having similarity of sequence; -- said of certain parallel progressions of two parts in a piece of harmony; as, consecutive fifths, or consecutive octaves, which are forbidden. Consecutive chords (Mus.), chords of the same kind suceeding one another without interruption.
CONSECUTIVELY Con*sec"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consecutive manner; by way of sequence; successively.
CONSECUTIVENESS Con*sec"u*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being consecutive.
CONSENSION Con*sen"sion, n. Etym: [L. consensio.]
Defn: Agreement; accord. Bentley.
CONSENSUAL Con*sen"su*al, a. Etym: [See Consent, v. i., and cf. Sensual.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Existing, or made, by the mutual consent of two or more parties.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Excited or caused by sensation, sympathy, or reflex action, and not by conscious volition; as, consensual motions. Consensual contract (Law), a contract formed merely by consent, as a marriage contract.
CONSENSUS Con*sen"sus, n. Etym: [L. See Consent.]
Defn: Agreement; accord; consent. That traditional consensus of society which we call public opinion. Tylor.
CONSENT Con*sent", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consented; p.pr. & vb.n Consenting.] Etym: [F. consentir, fr. L. consentire, -sensum, to feel together, agree; con- + sentire to feel. See Sense.]
1. To agree in opinion or sentiment; to be of the same mind; to accord; to concur. And Saul was consenting unto his death. Acts. viii. 1. Flourishing many years before Wyclif, and much consenting with him in jugdment. Fuller.
2. To indicate or express a willingness; to yield to guidance, persuasion, or necessity; to give assent or approval; to comply. My poverty, but not my will, consents. Shak. And whispering "I will ne'er consent," -- consented. Byron.
Syn. -- To accede; yield; assent; comply; agree; allow; concede; permit; admit; concur; acquiesce.
CONSENT Con*sent", v. t.
Defn: To grant; to allow; to assent to; to admit. [Obs.] Interpreters . . . will not consent it to be a true story. Milton.
CONSENT Con*sent", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. consent.]
1. Agreement in opinion or sentiment; the being of one mind; accord. All with one consent began to make exuse. Luke xiv. 18. They feil together all, as by consent. Shak.
2. Correspondence in parts, qualities, or operations; agreement; harmony; coherence. The melodious consent of the birds. Holland. Such is the world's great harmony that springs From union, order, full consent of things. Pope.
3. Voluntary accordance with, or concurrence in, what is done or proposed by another; acquiescence; compliance; approval; permission. Thou wert possessed of David's throne By free consent of all. Milton.
4. (Law)
Defn: Capable, deliberate, and voluntary assent or agreement to, or concurrence in, some act or purpose, implying physical and mental power and free action.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: Sympathy. See Sympathy, 4.
Syn. -- Assent; acquiescence; concurrence; agreement; approval; permission. See Assent. Age of consent (Law), an age, fixed by statute and varying in different jurisdictions, at which one is competent to give consent. Sexual intercourse with a female child under the age of consent is punishable as rape.
CONSENTANEITY Con*sen`ta*ne"i*ty, n.
Defn: Mutual agreement. [R.]
CONSENTANEOUS Con`sen*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. consentaneus.]
Defn: Consistent; agreeable; suitable; accordant to; harmonious; concurrent. A good law and consentaneous to reason. Howell. -- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ness, n.
CONSENTANT Con*sent"ant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of consentir.]
Defn: Consenting. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONSENTER Con*sent"er, a.
Defn: One who consents.
CONSENTIENT Con*sen"tient, a. Etym: [L. consentients, p. pr. See Consent.]
Defn: Agreeing in mind; accordant. The consentient judgment of the church. Bp. Pearson.
CONSENTINGLY Con*sent"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With consent; in a compliant manner. Jer. Taylor.
CONSEQUENCE Con"se*quence, n. Etym: [L., consequentia: cf. F. conséquence. See Consequent.]
1. That which follows something on which it depends; that which is produced by a cause; a result. Shun to taste, And shun the bitter consequence. Milton.
2. (Logic)
Defn: A proposition collected from the agreement of other previous propositions; any conclusion which results from reason or argument; inference.
3. Chain of causes and effects; consecution. Such fatal consequence unites us three. Milton. Link follows link by necessary consequence. Coleridge.
4. Importance with respect to what comes after; power to influence or produce an effect; value; moment; rank; distinction. It is a matter of small consequence. Shak. A sense of your own worth and consequence. Cowper. In consequence, hence; for this cause. -- In consequence of, by reason of; as the effect of.
Syn. -- Effect; result; end. See Effect.
CONSEQUENCING Con"se*quen`cing, n.
Defn: Drawing inference. [R.] Milton.
CONSEQUENT Con"se*quent, a. Etym: [L. consequens, -entis, p. pr. of consequi to follow; con- + sequi to follow: cf. F. conséquent. See Second, and cf. Consecution.]
1. Following as a result, inference, or natural effect. The right was consequent to, and built on, an act perfectly personal. Locke.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Following by necessary inference or rational deduction; as, a proposition consequent to other propositions. Consequent points, Consequent poles (Magnetism), a number of poles distributed under certain conditions, along the axis of a magnetized steel bar, which regularly has but the two poles at the extremities.
CONSEQUENT Con"se*quent, n.
1. That which follows, or results from, a cause; a result or natural effect. They were ill-governed, which is always a consequent of ill payment. Sir J. Davies.
2. (Logic)
Defn: That which follows from propositions by rational deduction; that which is deduced from reasoning or argumentation; a conclusion, or inference.
3. (Math.)
Defn: The second term of a ratio, as the term b in the ratio a:b, the first a, being the antecedent.
CONSEQUENTIAL Con`se*quen"tial, a.
1. Following as a consequence, result, or logical inference; consequenment. All that is revealed in Scripture has a consequential necessity of being believed . . . because it is of divine authority. Locke. These kind of arguments . . . are highly consequential and concludent to my purpose. Sir M. Hale.
2. Assuming or exhibiting an air of consequence; pretending to importance; pompous; self-important; as, a consequential man. See Consequence, n., 4. His stately and consequential pace. Sir W. Scott. Consequential damage (Law) (a) Damage so remote as not to be actionable (b) Damage which although remote is actionable. (c) Actionable damage, but not following as an immediate result of an act.
CONSEQUENTIALLY Con`se*quen"tial*ly, adv.
1. With just deduction of consequence; with right connection of ideas; logically. The faculty of writing consequentially. Addison.
2. By remote consequence; not immediately; eventually; as, to do a thing consequentially. South.
3. In a regular series; in the order of cause and effect; with logical concatenation; consecutively; continuously.
4. With assumed importance; pompously.
CONSEQUENTIALNESS Con`se*quen"tial*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being consequential.
CONSEQUENTLY Con"se*quent*ly, adv.
Defn: By consequence; by natural or logical sequence or connection.
Syn. -- See Accordingly.
CONSERTION Con*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. consertio, fr. conserere, -sertum to connect; con- + serere to join.]
Defn: Junction; adaptation [R.] Consertion of design, how exquisite. Young.
CONSERVABLE Con*serv"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. conservabilitis.]
Defn: Capable of being preserved from decay or injury.
CONSERVANCY Con*serv"an*cy, n.
Defn: Conservation, as from injury, defilement, or irregular use. [An act was] passed in 1866, for vesting in the Conservators of the River Thames the conservancy of the Thames and Isis. Mozley & W.
CONSERVANT Con*serv"ant, a. Etym: [L. conservans, p.pr.]
Defn: Having the power or quality of conservation.
CONSERVATION Con`ser*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. conservatio: cf. F. conservation.]
Defn: The act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; the keeping (of a thing) in a safe or entire state; preservation. A step necessary for the conservation of Protestantism. Hallam. A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation. Burke. Conservation of areas (Astron.), the principle that the radius vector drawn from a planet to the sun sweeps over equal areas in equal times. -- Conservation of energy, or Conservation of force (Mech.), the principle that the total energy of any material system is a quantity which can neither be increased nor diminished by any action between the parts of the system, though it may be transformed into any of the forms of which energy is susceptible. Clerk Maxwell.
CONSERVATIONAL Con`ser*va"tion*al, a.
Defn: Tending to conserve; preservative.
CONSERVATISM Con*serv"a*tism, n. Etym: [For conservatism.]
Defn: The disposition and tendency to preserve what is established; opposition to change; the habit of mind; or conduct, of a conservative.
CONSERVATIVE Con*serv"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatif.]
1. Having power to preserve in a safe of entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.
2. Tending or disposed to maintain existing institutions; opposed to change or innovation.
3. Of or pertaining to a political party which favors the conservation of existing institutions and forms of government as the Conservative party in england; -- contradistinguished from Liberal and Radical. We have always been conscientuously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propierty be called the Conservative, party. Quart. Rev. (1830). Conservative system (Mech.), a material sustem of such a nature that after the system has undergone any series of changes, and been brought back in any manner to its original state, the whole work done by external agents on the system is equal to the whole work done by the system overcoming external forces. Clerk Maxwell.
CONSERVATIVE Con*serv"a*tive, n.
1. One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury, innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a conserver. The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new life. Jer. Taylor.
2. One who desires to maintain existing institutions and customs; also, one who holds moderate opinions in politics; -- opposed to revolutionary or radical.
3. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A member of the Conservative party.
CONSERVATIVENESS Con*serv"a*tive*ness, a.
Defn: The quality of being conservative.
CONSERVATOIRE Con`ser"va*toire`, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A public place of instruction in any special branch, esp. music and the arts. [See Conservatory, 3].
CONSERVATOR Con"ser*va`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. conservateur.]
1. One who preserves from injury or violation; a protector; a preserver. The great Creator and Conservator of the world. Derham.
2. (Law) (a) An officer who has charge of preserving the public peace, as a justice or sheriff. (b) One who has an official charge of preserving the rights and privileges of a city, corporation, community, or estate. The lords of the secret council were likewise made conservators of the peace of the two kingdoms. Clarendon. The conservator of the estate of an idiot. Bouvier. Conservators of the River Thames, a board of comissioners instituted by Parliament to have the conservancy of the Thames.
CONSERVATORY Con*serv"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatoire, LL. conservatorius.]
Defn: Having the quality of preserving from loss, decay, or injury.
CONSERVATORY Con*serv"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatoire, LL. conservatorium.]
1. That which preserves from injury. [Obs.] "A conservatory of life." Jer. Taylor.
2. A place for preserving anything from loss, decay, waste, or injury; particulary, a greenhouse for preserving exotic or tender plants.
3. A public place of instruction, designed to preserve and perfect the knowledge of some branch of science or art, esp. music.
CONSERVATRIX Con`ser*va"trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A woman who preserves from loss, injury, etc.
CONSERVE Con*serve", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conserved; p.pr. & vb.n. Conserving.] Etym: [F. conserver, L. conservare; con- + servare to keep, guard. See Serve.]
1. To keep in a safe or sound state; to save; to preserve; to protect. The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the emperor. Strype.
2. To prepare with sugar, etc., for the purpose of preservation, as fruits, etc.; to make a conserve of.
CONSERVE Con"serve, n. Etym: [F. conserve, fr. conserver.]
1. Anything which is conserved; especially, a sweetmeat prepared with sugar; a confection. I shall . . . study broths, plasters, and conserves, till from a fine lady I become a notable woman. Tatler.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A medicinal confection made of freshly gathered vegetable substances mixed with finely powdered refined sugar. See Confection.
3. A conservatory. [Obs.] Evelyn.
CONSERVER Con*serv"er, n.
Defn: One who conserves.
CONSIDER Con*sid"er, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Considered; p.pr. & vb.n. Considering.] Etym: [F. considérer, L. considerare, -sideratum, to consider, view attentively, prob. fr. con- + sidus, sideris, star, constellation; orig., therefore, to look at the stars. See Sidereal, and cf. Desire.]
1. To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to thank on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on. I will consider thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 95. Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind Considered all things visible. Milton.
2. To look at attentively; to observe; to examine. She considereth a field, and buyeth it. Prov. xxxi. 16.
3. To have regard to; to take into view or account; to pay due attention to; to respect. Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day Was yours by accident. Shak. England could grow into a posture of being more united at home, and more considered abroad. Sir W. Temple.
4. To estamate; to think; to regard; to view. Considered as plays, his works are absurd. Macaulay.
Note: The proper sense of consider is often blended with an idea of the result of considering; as, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor." Ps. xli. 1. ; i.e., considers with sympathy and pity. "Which [services] if I have not enough considered." Shak. ; i.e., requited as the sufficient considering of them would suggest. "Consider him liberally." J. Hooker.
Syn. -- To ponder; weigh; revolve; study; reflect or meditate on; contemplate; examine. See Ponder.
CONSIDER Con*sid"er, v. i.
1. To think seriously; to make examination; to reflect; to deliberate. We will consider of your suit. Shak. 'T were to consider too curiously, to consider so. Shak. She wished she had taken a moment to consider, before rushing down stairs. W. Black
2. To hesitate. [Poetic & R.] Dryden.
CONSIDERABLE Con*sid"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. considérable.]
1. Worthy of consideration, borne in mind, or attended to. It is considerable, that some urns have had inscriptions on them expressing that the lamps were burning. Bp. Wilkins. Eternity is infinitely the most considerable duration. Tillotson.
2. Of some distinction; noteworthy; influential; respectable; -- said of persons. You are, indeed, a very considerable man. Junius.
3. Of importance or value. In painting, not every action, nor every person, is considerable enough to enter into the cloth. Dryden. A considerable sum of money. Prescott.
CONSIDERABLENESS Con*sid"er*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Worthiness of consideration; dignity; value; size; amount.
CONSIDERABLY Con*sid"er*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner or to a degree not trifling or unimportant; greatly; much. The breeds . . . differ considerably from each other. Darwin.
CONSIDERANCE Con*sid"er*ance, n. Etym: [L. considerantia.]
Defn: Act of considering; consideration. [Obs.] Shak.
CONSIDERATE Con*sid"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. consideratus, p.p.]
1. Given to consideration or to sober reflection; regardful of consequences or circumstances; circumspect; careful; esp. careful of the rights, claims, and feelings of other. Of dauntless courage and considerate pride. Milton. considerate, and careful of his people. Dryden. The wisest and most considerate men in the world. Sharp.
2. Having respect to; regardful. [R.] They may be . . . more considerate of praise. Dr. H. More.
Syn. -- Thoughtful; reflective; careful; discreet; prudent; deliberate; serious. See Thoughtful. -- Con*sid"er*ate*ly, adv. -- Con*sid"er*ate*ness, n.
CONSIDERATION Con*sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. consideratio: cf. F. consid.]
1. The act or process of considering; continuous careful thought; examination; contemplation; deliberation; attention. Let us think with consideration. Sir P. Sidney. Consideration, like an angel, came. Shak.
2. Attentive respect; appreciative regard; -- used especially in diplomatic or stately correspondence. The undersigned has the honor to repeat to Mr. Hulseman the assurance of his high consideration. D. Webster. The consideration with which he was treated. Whewell.
3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or notice. Consideration for the poor is a doctrine of the church. Newman.
4. Claim to notice or regard; some degree of importance or consequence. Lucan is the only author of consideration among the Latin poets who was not explained for . . . the Dauphin. Addison.
5. The result of delibration, or of attention and examonation; matured opinion; a reflection; as, considerations on the choice of a profession.
6. That which is, or should be, taken into account as a ground of opinion or action; motive; reason. He was obliged, antecedent to all other considerations, to search an asylum. Dryden. Some considerations which are necessary to the forming of a correct judgment. Macaulay.
7. (Law)
Defn: The cause which moves a contracting party to enter into an agreement; the material cause of a contract; the price of a stripulation; compensation; equivalent. Bouvier.
Note: Consideration is what is done, or promised to be done, in exchange for a promise, and "as a mere advantage to the promisor without detriment to the promisee would not avail, the proper test is detriment to the promisee." Wharton.
CONSIDERATIVE Con*sid"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Considerate; careful; thoughtful. [Archaic] I love to be considerative. B. Jonson.
CONSIDERATOR Con*sid"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who considers. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONSIDERER Con*sid"er*er, n.
Defn: One who considers; a man of reflection; a thinker. Milton.
CONSIDERINGLY Con*sid"er*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With consideration or deliberation.
CONSIGN Con*sign", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consigned 3; p.pr. & vb.n. Consigning.] Etym: [F. consigner, L. consignare, -signatu,, to seal or sign; con- + signare, fr. signum mark. See Sign.]
1. To give, transfer, or deliver, in a formal manner, as if by signing over into the possession of another, or into a different state, with the sense of fixedness in that state, or permanence of possession; as, to consign the body to the grave. At the day of general account, good men are to be consigned over to another state. Atterbury.
2. To give in charge; to commit; to intrust. Atrides, parting for the Trojan war, Consigned the youthful consort to his care. Pope. The four evangelists consigned to writing that history. Addison.
3. (Com.)
Defn: To send or address (by bill of lading or otherwise) to an agent or correspondent in another place, to be cared for or sold, or for the use of such correspondent; as, to cosign a cargo or a ship; to set apart.
4. To assign; to devote; to set apart. The French commander consigned it to the use for which it was intended by the donor. Dryden.
5. To stamp or impress; to affect. [Obs.] Consign my spirit with great fear. Jer. Taylor.
Syn. -- To commit; deliver; intrust; resign. See Commit.
CONSIGN Con*sign", v. i.
1. To submit; to surrender or yield one's self. [Obs.] All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust. Shak.
2. To yield consent; to agree; to acquiesce. [Obs.] Augment or alter . . . And we'll consign thereto. Shak.
CONSIGNATARY Con*sig"na*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Consignitary.]
Defn: A consignee. [Obs.] Jenkins.
CONSIGNATION Con`sig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consignatio written proof, document: cf. F. consignation comsignation.]
1. The act of consigning; the act of delivering or committing to another person, place, or state. [Obs.] So is despair a certain consignation to eternal ruin. Jer. Taylor.
2. The act of ratifying or establishing, as if signing; confirmation; ratuficator. A direct consignation of pardon. Jer. Taylor.
3. A stamp; an indication; a sign. [Obs.] The most certain consignations of an excellent virtue. Jer. Taylor.
CONSIGNATORY Con*sig"na*to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Consignitary.]
Defn: One of several that jointly sign a written instrument, as a treaty. Fallows.
CONSIGNATURE Con*sig"na*ture; 135), n.
Defn: Joint signature. [R.] Colgrave.
CONSIGNE Con"signe, n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.) (a) A countersign; a watchword. (b) One who is orders to keep within certain limits.
CONSIGNEE Con`sign*ee", n. Etym: [F. consign, p.p. of consigner.]
Defn: The person to whom goods or other things are consigned; a factor; -- correlative to consignor. Consigner and consignee are used by merchants to express generally the shipper of merchandise, and the person to whom it is addressed, by bill of lading or otherwise. De Colange.
CONSIGNER Con*sign"er, n.
Defn: One who consigns. See Consignor.
CONSIGNIFICANT Con`sig*nif"i*cant, a.
Defn: Having joint or equal signification; synonymous. [R.] Spelman.
CONSIGNIFICATION Con*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Joint signification. [R.]
CONSIGNIFICATIVE Con`sig*nif"i*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Consignificant; jointly significate. [R.]
CONSIGNIFY Con*sig"ni*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. con- + sognify.]
Defn: To signify or denote in combination with something else. The cipher . . . only serves to connote and consignify, and to change the value or the figures. Horne Tooke.
CONSIGNMENT Con*sign"ment, n.
1. The act of consigning; consignation.
2. (Com.)
Defn: The act of consigning or sending property to an agent or correspondent in another place, as for care, sale, etc.
3. (Com.)
Defn: That which is consigned; the goods or commodities sent or addressed to a consignee at one time or by one conveyance. To increase your consignments of this valuable branch of national commerce. Burke.
4. The writing by which anything is consigned.
CONSIGNOR Con*sign"or ( or , n.
Defn: One who consigns something to another; -- opposed to consignee. [Written also consigner.]
CONSILIENCE Con*sil"i*ence, n. Etym: [con- + salire to leap.]
Defn: Act of concurring; coincidence; concurrence. The consilience of inductions takes place when one class of facts coincides with an induction obtained from another different class. Whewell.
CONSIMILITUDE; CONSIMILITY Con`si*mil"i*tude, Con`si*mil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consimilitude. See Similitude.]
Defn: Common resemblance. [Obs.] Aubrey.
CONSIST Con*sist", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consisted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consisting.] Etym: [L. consistere to stand still or firm; con- + sistere to stand, cause to stand, stare to stand: cf. F. consister. See Stand.]
1. To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained. He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. i. 17.
2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of. The land would consist of plains and valleys. T. Burnet.
3. To have as its substance or character, or as its foundation; to be; -- followed by in. If their purgation did consist in words. Shak. A man's life consisteth not in the abudance of the things which he possesseth. Luke xii. 15.
4. To be cosistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; -- formerly used absolutely, now followed by with. This was a consisting story. Bp. Burnet. Health consists with temperance alone. Pope. For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well consist. Milton.
5. To insist; -- followed by on. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. -- To Consist, Consist of, Consist in. The verb consist is employed chiefly for two purposes, which are marked and distinguished by the prepositions used. When we wish to indicate the parts which unite to compose a thing, we use of; as when we say, "Macaulay's Miscellanies consist chiefly of articles which were first published in the Edinburgh Review." When we wish to indicate the true nature of a thing, or that on which it depends, we use in; as, "There are some artists whose skill consists in a certain manner which they have affected." "Our safety consists in a strict adherence to duty."
CONSISTENCE; CONSISTENCY Con*sist"ence, Con*sist"en*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consistance.]
1. The condition of standing or adhering together, or being fixed in union, as the parts of a body; existence; firmness; coherence; solidity. Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to the natural consistence. Bacon. We are as water, weak, and of no consistence. Jer. Taylor. The same form, substance, and consistency. T. Burned.
2. A degree of firmness, density, or spissitude. Let the expressed juices be boiled into the consistence of a sirup. Arbuthnot.
3. That which stands together as a united whole; a combination. The church of God, as meaning whole consistence of orders and members. Milton.
4. Firmness of constitution or character; substantiality; durability; persistency. His friendship is of a noble make and a lasting consistency. South.
5. Agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; the harmony of conduct with profession; congruity; correspondence; as, the consistency of laws, regulations, or judicial decisions; consistency of opinions; consistency of conduct or of character. That consistency of behavior whereby he inflexibly pursues those measures which appear the most just. Addison. Consistency, thou art a jewel. Popular Saying.
CONSISTENT Con*sist"ent, a. Etym: [L. consistens, p.pr.: cf. F. consistant.]
1. Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid. The humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey.
2. Having agreement with itself or with something else; having harmony among its parts; possesing unity; accordant; harmonious; congruous; compatible; uniform; not contradictory. Show me one that has it in his power To act consistent with himself an hour. Pope. With reference to such a lord, to serve and to be free are terms not consistent only, but equivalent. South.
3. Living or acting in conformity with one's belief or professions. It was utterly to be at once a consistent Quaker and a conspirator. Macaulay.
CONSISTENTLY Con*sist"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consistent manner.
CONSISTORIAL Con`sis*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consistorial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a consistory. "Consistorial laws." Hooker. "Consistorial courts." Bp. Hoadley.
CONSISTORIAN Con`sis*to"rian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a Presbyterian consistory; -- a contemptuous term of 17th century controversy. You fall next on the consistorian schismatics; for so you call Presbyterians. Milton.
CONSISTORY Con*sis"to*ry ( or ; 277) n.; pl. Consistories. Etym: [L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See Consist.]
1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council. To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. Milton.
2. (Eng. Ch.)
Defn: The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon.
4. A church tribunal or governing body.
Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs.
5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONSISTORY Con*sis"to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." Strype.
CONSOCIATE Con*so"ci*ate, n. Etym: [L. nsociatus, p.p. of consociare to associate, unite; con- + sociare to join, unite. See Social.]
Defn: An associate; an accomplice. [Archaic] "Wicked consociates." Bp. Hall.
CONSOCIATE Con*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consociated; p.pr. & vb.n. Consociating.]
1. To bring into alliance, confederacy, or relationship; to bring together; to join; to unite. [R.] Join pole to pole, consociate severed worlds. Mallet.
2. To unite in an ecclesiastical consociation. [U.S.]
CONSOCIATE Con*so"ci*ate, v. i.