Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 9 of 60)

Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 9 of 60)

CASSUMUNAR; CASSUMUNIAR Cas`su*mu"nar, Cas`su*mu"ni*ar, n. Etym: [Hind.] (Med.)

Defn: A pungent, bitter, aromatic, gingerlike root, obtained from the East Indies.

CAST Cast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cast; p. pr. & vb. n. Casting.] Etym: [Cf. Dan. kastw, Icel. & Sw. kasta; perh. akin to L. gerer to bear, carry. E. Jest.]

1. To send or drive by force; to throw; to fling; to hurl; to impel. Uzziash prepared . . . slings to cast stones. 2 Chron. xxvi. 14 Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. Acts. xii. 8 We must be cast upon a certain island. Acts. xxvii. 26.

2. To direct or turn, as the eyes. How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Shak.

3. To drop; to deposit; as, to cast a ballot.

4. To throw down, as in wrestling. Shak.

5. To throw up, as a mound, or rampart. Thine enemies shall cast a trench [bank] about thee. Luke xix. 48.

6. To throw off; to eject; to shed; to lose. His filth within being cast. Shak. Neither shall your vine cast her fruit. Mal. iii. 11 The creatures that cast the skin are the snake, the viper, etc. Bacon.

7. To bring forth prematurely; to slink. Thy she-goats have not cast their young. Gen. xxi. 38.

8. To throw out or emit; to exhale. [Obs.] This . . . casts a sulphureous smell. Woodward.

9. To cause to fall; to shed; to reflect; to throw; as, to cast a ray upon a screen; to cast light upon a subject.

10. To impose; to bestow; to rest. The government I cast upon my brother. Shak. Cast thy burden upon the Lord. Ps. iv. 22.

11. To dismiss; to discard; to cashier. [Obs.] The state can not with safety casthim.

12. To compute; to reckon; to calculate; as, to cast a horoscope. "Let it be cast and paid." Shak. You cast the event of war my noble lord. Shak.

13. To contrive; to plan. [Archaic] The cloister . . . had, I doubt not, been cast for [an orange- house]. Sir W. Temple.

14. To defeat in a lawsuit; to decide against; to convict; as, to be cast in damages. She was cast to be hanged. Jeffrey. Were the case referred to any competent judge, they would inevitably be cast. Dr. H. More.

15. To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make preponderate; to decide; as, a casting voice. How much interest casts the balance in cases dubious! South.

16. To form into a particular shape, by pouring liquid metal or other material into a mold; to fashion; to found; as, to cast bells, stoves, bullets.

17. (Print.)

Defn: To stereotype or electrotype.

18. To fix, distribute, or allot, as the parts of a play among actors; also to assign (an actor) for a part. Our parts in the other world will be new cast. Addison. To cast anchor (Naut.) Se under Anchor. -- To cast a horoscope, to calculate it. -- To cast a horse, sheep, or other animal, to throw with the feet upwards, in such a manner as to prevent its rising again. -- To cast a shoe, to throw off or lose a shoe, said of a horse or ox. -- To cast aside, to throw or push aside; to neglect; to reject as useless or inconvenient. -- To cast away. (a) To throw away; to lavish; to waste. "Cast away a life" Addison. (b) To reject; to let perish. "Cast away his people." Rom. xi. 1. "Cast one away." Shak. (c) To wreck. "Cast away and sunk." Shak. -- To cast by, to reject; to dismiss or discard; to throw away. -- To cast down, to throw down; to destroy; to deject or depress, as the mind. "Why art thou cast down. O my soul" Ps. xiii. 5. -- To cast forth, to throw out, or eject, as from an inclosed place; to emit; to send out. -- To cast in one's lot with, to share the fortunes of. -- To cast in one's teeth, to upbraid or abuse one for; to twin. -- To cast lots. See under Lot. -- To cast off. (a) To discard or reject; to drive away; to put off; to free one's self from. (b) (Hunting) To leave behind, as dogs; also, to set loose, or free, as dogs. Crabb. (c) (Naut.) To untie, throw off, or let go, as a rope. -- To cast off copy, (Print.), to estimate how much printed matter a given amount of copy will make, or how large the page must be in order that the copy may make a given number of pages. -- To cast one's self on or upon to yield or submit one's self unreservedly to. as to the mercy of another. -- To cast out, to throy out; to eject, as from a house; to cast forth; to expel; to utter. -- To cast the lead (Naut.), to sound by dropping the lead to the botton. -- To cast the water (Med.), to examine the urine for signs of disease. [Obs.]. -- To cast up. (a) To throw up; to raise. (b) To compute; to reckon, as the cost. (c) To vomit. (d) To twit with; to throw in one's teeth.

CAST Cast, v. i.

1. To throw, as a line in angling, esp, with a fly hook.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To turn the head of a vessel around from the wind in getting under weigh. Weigh anchor, cast to starboard. Totten.

3. To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan; as, to cast about for reasons. She . . . cast in her mind what manner of salution this should be. Luke. i. 29.

4. To calculate; to compute. [R.] Who would cast and balance at a desk. Tennyson.

5. To receive form or shape in a mold. It will not run thin, so as to cast and mold. Woodward.

6. To warp; to become twisted out of shape. Stuff is said to cast or warp when . . . it alters its flatness or straightness. Moxon.

7. To vomit. These verses . . . make me ready to cast. B. Jonson.

CAST Cast,

Defn: 3d pres. of Cast, for Casteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CAST Cast, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel., Dan., & Sw. kast.]

1. The act of casting or throwing; a throw.

2. The thing thrown. A cast of dreadful dust. Dryden.

3. The distance to which a thing is or can be thrown. "About a stone's cast." Luke xxii. 41.

4. A throw of dice; hence, a chance or venture. An even cast whether the army should march this way or that way. Sowth. I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die. Shak.

5. That which is throw out or off, shed, or ejected; as, the skin of an insect, the refuse from a hawk's stomach, the excrement of a earthworm.

6. The act of casting in a mold. And why such daily cast of brazen cannon. Shak.

7. An impression or mold, taken from a thing or person; amold; a pattern.

8. That which is formed in a mild; esp. a reproduction or copy, as of a work of art, in bronze or plaster, etc.; a casting.

9. Form; appearence; mien; air; style; as, a pecullar cast of countenance. "A neat cast of verse." Pope. An heroic poem, but in another cast and figure. Prior. And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought. Shak.

10. A tendency to any color; a tinge; a shade. Gray with a cast of green. Woodward.

11. A chance, opportunity, privilege, or advantage; specifically, an opportunity of riding; a lift. [Scotch] We bargained with the driver to give us a cast to the next stage. Smollett. If we had the cast o' a cart to bring it. Sir W. Scott.

12. The assignment of parts in a play to the actors.

13. (Falconary)

Defn: A flight or a couple or set of hawks let go at one time from the hand. Grabb. As when a cast of falcons make their flight. Spenser.

14. A stoke, touch, or trick. [Obs.] This was a cast of Wood's politics; for his information was wholly false. Swift.

15. A motion or turn, as of the eye; direction; look; glance; squint. The cast of the eye is a gesture of aversion. Bacon. And let you see with one cast of an eye. Addison. This freakish, elvish cast came into the child's eye. Hawthorne.

16. A tube or funnel for conveying metal into a mold.

17. Four; that is, as many as are thrown into a vessel at once in counting herrings, etc; a warp.

18. Contrivance; plot, design. [Obs.] Chaucer. A cast of the eye, a slight squint or strabismus. -- Renal cast (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys; -- so called because they are formed of matter deposited in, and preserving the outline of, the renal tubes. -- The last cast, the last throw of the dice or last effort, on which every thing is ventured; the last chance.

CASTALIAN Cas*ta"li*an, a. Etym: [L. Castalius]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Castalia, a mythical fountain of inspiration on Mt. Parnassus sacred to the Muses. Milton.

CASTANEA Cas*ta"ne*a, n. Etym: [L., a chestnut, fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of nut-bearing trees or shrubs including the chestnut and chinquapin.

CASTANET Cas"ta*net, n.

Defn: See Castanets.

CASTANETS Cas"ta*nets, n. pl. Etym: [F. castagnettes, Sp. castañetas, fr. L. castanea (Sp. castaña) a chestnut. So named from the resemblance to two chestnuts, or because chestnuts were first used for castanets. See Chestnut.]

Defn: Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle finger; -- used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to their dance and guitars.

Note: The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or, sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument. The dancer, holding a castanet in each hand, rattles then to the motion of his feet. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

CASTAWAY Cast"a*way, n.

1. One who, or that which, is cast away or shipwrecked.

2. One who is ruined; one who has made moral shipwreck; a reprobate. Lest . . . when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. ix. 27.

CASTAWAY Cast"a*way, a.

Defn: Of no value; rejected; useless.

CASTE Caste, n. Etym: [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste: cf. F. caste, of same origin.]

1. One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindoos are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism.

Note: The members of the same caste are theoretically of equal rank, and same profession or occupation, and may not eat or intermarry with those not of their own caste. The original are four, viz., the Brahmans, or sacerdotal order; the Kshatriyas, or soldiers and rulers; the Vaisyas, or husbandmen and merchants; and the Sudras, or laborers and mechanics. Men of no caste are Pariahs, outcasts. Numerous mixed classes, or castes, have sprung up in the progress of time.

2. A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves. The tinkers then formed an hereditary caste. Macaulay. To lose caste, to be degraded from the caste to which one has belonged; to lose social position or consideration.

CASTELLAN Cas"tel*lan, n. Etym: [OF. castelain, F. châtelain, L. castellanus pertaining to a castle, an occupant of a caste, LL., a governor of a castle, fr. L. catellum castle, citadel, dim. of castrum fortifled place. See Castle, and cf. Chatelaine.]

Defn: A goveror or warden of a castle.

CASTELLANY Cas"tel*la*ny, n.; pl. Castellanies. Etym: [LL. castellania.]

Defn: The lordship of a castle; the extent of land and jurisdiction appertaining to a castle.

CASTELLATED Cas"tel*la`ted, a. Etym: [LL. castellatus, fr. castellare. See Castle.]

1. Inclosed within a building; as, a fountain or cistern castellated. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. Furnished with turrets and battlements, like a castle; built in the style of a castle.

CASTELLATION Cas`tel*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. castellation, fr. castellare, fr. L. castellum. See Castle.]

Defn: The act of making into a castle.

CASTER Cast"er, n.

1. One who casts; as, caster of stones, etc. ; a caster of cannon; a caster of accounts.

2. A vial, cruet, or other small vessel, used to contain condiments at the table; as, a set of casters.

3. A stand to hold a set of cruets.

4. A small wheel on a swivel, on which furniture is supported and moved.

CASTIGATE Cas"ti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Castigating.] Etym: [L. castigatus, p. p. of castigare to correct, punish; castus pure, chaste + agere to move, drive. See Caste, and cf. Chasten.]

1. To punish by stripes; to chastise by blows; to chasten; also, to chastise verbally; to reprove; to criticise severely.

2. To emend; to correct. [Obs.]

CASTIGATION Cas`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. catigatio.]

1. Corrective punishment; chastisement; reproof; pungent criticism. The keenest castigation of her slanderers. W. Irving.

2. Emendation; correction. [Obs.]

CASTIGATOR Cas`ti*ga"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who castigates or corrects.

CASTIGATORY Cas`ti*ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. castigatorius.]

Defn: Punitive in order to amendment; corrective.

CASTIGATORY Cas"ti*ga*to*ry, n.

Defn: An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant scolds; -- called also a ducking stool, or trebucket. Blacktone.

CASTILE SOAP Cas"tile soap". Etym: [From Castile, or Castilia, a province in Spain, from which it originally came.]

Defn: A kind of fine, hard, white or mottled soap, made with olive and soda; also, a soap made in imitation of the above-described soap.

CASTILIAN Cas*til"ian, n. Etym: [Sp. castellano, from Castila, NL. Castilia, Castella. Castile, which received its name from the castles erected on the frontiers as a barrier against the Moors.]

1. An inhabitant or native of Castile, in Spain.

2. The Spanish language as spoken in Castile.

CASTILLAN Cas*til"lan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Castile, in Spain.

CASTING Cast"ing, n.

1. The act of one who casts or throws, as in fishing.

2. The act or process of making cast or impressions, or of shaping metal or plaster in a mold; the act or the process of pouring molten metal into a mold.

3. That which is cast in a mold; esp. the mass of metal so cast; as, a casting in iron; bronze casting.

4. The warping of a board. Brande & C.

5. The act of casting off, or that which is cast off, as skin, feathers, excrement, etc. Casting of draperies, the proper distribution of the folds of garments, in painting and sculpture. -- Casting line (Fishing), the leader; also, sometimes applied to the long reel line. Casting net, a net which is cast and drawn, in distinction from a net that is set and left. -- Casting voice, Casting vote, the decisive vote of a presiding officer, when the votes of the assembly or house are equally divided. "When there was an equal vote, the governor had the casting voice." B. Trumbull. -- Casting weight, a weight that turns a balance when exactly poised.

CAST IRON Cast" i`ron.

Defn: Highly carbonized iron, the direct product of the blast furnace; -- used for making castings, and for conversion into wrought iron and steel. It can not be welded or forged, is brittle, and sometimes very hard. Besides carbon, it contains sulphur, phosphorus, silica, etc.

CAST-IRON Cast"-i`ron, a.

Defn: Made of cast iron. Hence, Fig.: like cast iron; hardy; unyielding.

CASTLE Cas"tle, n. Etym: [AS. castel, fr. L. castellum, dim. of castrum a fortified place, castle.]

1. A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress. The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke. Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn. Shak.

Note: Originally the mediæval castle was a single strong tower or keep, with a palisaded inclosure around it and inferior buidings, such as stables and the like, and surrounded by a moat; then such a keep or donjon, with courtyards or baileys and accessory buildings of greater elaboration a great hall and a chapel, all surrounded by defensive walls and a moat, with a drawbridge, etc. Afterwards the name was retained by large dwellings that had formerly been fortresses, or by those which replaced ancient fortresses. A Donjon or Keep, an irregular building containing the dwelling of the lord and his family; B C Large round towers ferming part of the donjon and of the exterior; D Square tower, separating the two inner courts and forming part of the donjon; E Chapel, whose apse forms a half-round tower, F, on the exterior walls; G H Round towers on the exterior walls; K Postern gate, reached from outside by a removable fight of steps or inclined plane for hoisting in stores, and leading to a court, L (see small digagram) whose pavement is on a level with the sill of the postern, but below the level of the larger court, with which it communicates by a separately fortified gateway; M Turret, containing spiral stairway to all the stories of the great tower, B, and serving also as a station for signal fire, banner, etc.; N Turret with stairway for tower, C; O Echauguettes; P P P Battlemants consisting of merlons and crenels alternately, the merlons being pierced by loopholes; Q Q Machicolations (those at Q defend the postern K); R Outwork defending the approach, which is a road ascending the hill and passing under all four faces of the castle; S S Wall of the outer bailey. The road of approach enters the bailey at T and passes thence into the castle by the main entrance gateway (which is in the wall between, and defended by the towers, C H) and over two drawbridges and through fortified passages to the inner court.

2. Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.

3. A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.

4. A piece, made to represent a castle, used in the game of chess; a rook. Castle in the air, a visionary project; a baseless scheme; an air castle; -- sometimes called a castle in Spain (F. Château en Espagne).

Syn. -- Fortress; fortification; citadel; stronghold. See Fortress.

CASTLE Cas"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Castled (. p. pr. & vb. n. Castling.] (Chess)

Defn: To move the castle to the square next to king, and then the king around the castle to the square next beyond it, for the purpose of covering the king.

CASTLEBUILDER Cas"tle*build`er, n.

Defn: Fig.: one who builds castles in the air or forms visionary schemes. -- Cas"tle*build`ing, n.

CASTLED Cas"tled, a.

Defn: Having a castle or castles; supporting a castle; as, a castled height or crag.

2. Fortified; turreted; as, castled walls.

CASTLE-GUARD Cas"tle-guard`, n.

1. The guard or defense of a castle.

2. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A tax or imposition an a dwelling within a certain distance of a castle, for the purpose of maintaining watch and ward in it; castle-ward.

3. A feudal tenure, obliging the tenant to perform service within the realm, without limitation of time.

CASTLERY Cas"tle*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. castelerie. See Castle.]

Defn: The government of a castle. Blount.

CASTLET Cas"tlet, n.

Defn: A small castle. Leland.

CASTLEWARD Cas"tle*ward`, n.

Defn: Same as Castleguard.

CASTLING Cast"ling, n.

Defn: That which is cast or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. Sir T. Browne.

CASTLING Cas"tling, n. (Chess)

Defn: A compound move of the king and castle. See Castle, v. i.

CAST-OFF Cast"-off`, a.

Defn: Cast or laid aside; as, cast-off clothes.

CASTOR Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L. castor the beaver, Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of rodents, including the beaver. See Beaver.

2. Castoreum. See Castoreum.

3. A hat, esp. one made of beaver fur; a beaver. I have always been known for the jaunty manner in which I wear my castor. Sir W. Scott.

4. A heavy quality of broadcloth for overcoats.

CASTOR Cast"or, n.

Defn: See Caster, a small wheel.

CASTOR Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L.] (Astron.)

Defn: the northernmost of the two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the other being Pollux.

CASTOR; CASTORITE Cas"tor, Cas"tor*ite, n. Etym: [The minerals castor and pollux were so named because found together on the island of Elba. See Castor and Pollux.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of the mineral called petalite, from Elba.

CASTOR AND POLLUX Cas"tor and Pol"lux. Etym: [Castor and Pollux were twin sons of Jupiter and Leda.] (Naut.)

Defn: See Saint Elmo's fire, under Saint.

CASTOR BEAN Cas"tor bean". (Bot.)

Defn: The bean or seed of the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi.)

CASTOREUM Cas*to"re*um, n. Etym: [L. See Castor.]

Defn: A peculiar bitter orange-brown substance, with strong, penetrating odor, found in two sacs between the anus and external genitals of the beaver; castor; -- used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and by perfumers.

CASTORIN Cas"to*rin, n. Etym: [From 1st Castor.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance obtained from castoreum.

CASTOR OIL Cas"tor oil.

Defn: A mild cathartic oil, expressed or extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi. When fresh the oil is inodorus and insipid. Castor-oil plant. Same as Palma Christi.

CASTRAMETATION Cas`tra*me*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. castramétation, fr. L. castra camp + metari to measure off, fr. meta limit.] (Mil.)

Defn: The art or act of encamping; the making or laying out of a camp.

CASTRATE Cas"trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Castrating.] Etym: [L. castrarus, p; p. of castrare to castrate, asin to Skr. çastra knife.]

1. To deprive of the testicles; to emasculate; to geld; to alter.

2. To cut or take out; esp. to remove anything erroneous, or objectionable from, as the obscene parts of a writing; to expurgate. My . . . correspondent . . . has sent me the following letter, which I have castrated in some places. Spectator.

CASTRATION Cas*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. castratio; cf. F. castration.]

Defn: The act of castrating.

CASTRATO Cas*tra"to, n. Etym: [L., properly p. p. of castrare. See Castrate.]

Defn: A male person castrated for the purpose of improving his voice for singing; an artificial, or male, soprano. Swift.

CASTREL Cas"trel, n. Etym: [Cf. F. crécerelle, cristel, OF. crecel, cercele. Cf. Kestrel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Kestrel.

CASTRENSIAL Cas*tren"sial, a. Etym: [L. castrensis, fr. castra camp.]

Defn: Belonging to a camp. Sir T. Browne.

CASTRENSIAN Cas*tren"sian, a.

Defn: Castrensial. [R.]

CAST STEEL Cast" steel".

Defn: See Cast steel, under Steel.

CASUAL Cas"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. casuel, F. casuel, fr. L. casualis, fr. casus fall, accident, fr. cadere to fall. See Case.]

1. Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance. Casual breaks, in the general system. W. Irving.

2. Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses. A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture. Hawthorne.

Syn. -- Accidental; fortutious; incidental; occasional; contingent; unforeseen. See Accidental.

CASUAL Cas"u*al, n.

Defn: One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.

CASUALISM Cas"u*al*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine that all things exist or are controlled by chance.

CASUALIST Cas"u*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in casualism.

CASUALLY Cas"u*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Without design; accidentally; fortuitously; by chance; occasionally.

CASUALNESS Cas"u*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being casual.

CASUALTY Cas"u*al*ty, n.; pl. Casualties. Etym: [F. casualité, LL. casualitas.]

1. That which comes without design or without being foreseen; contingency. Losses that befall them by mere casualty. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Any injury of the body from accident; hence, death, or other misfortune, occasioned by an accident; as, an unhappy casualty.

3. pl. (Mil. & Naval)

Defn: Numerical loss caused by death, wounds, discharge, or desertion. Casualty ward, A ward in a hospital devoted to the treatment of injuries received by accident.

Syn. -- Accident; contingency; fortuity; misfortune.

CASUARINA Cas`u*a*ri"na, n. Etym: [NL., supposed to be named from the resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the genus Casuarius.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of leafles trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of Australia. Some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.

CASUIST Cas"u*ist, n. Etym: [L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See Casual.]

Defn: One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry. The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence. South.

CASUIST Cas"u*ist, v. i.

Defn: To play the casuist. Milton.

CASUISTIC; CASUISTICAL Cas`u*is"tic, Cas`u*is"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to casuists or casuistry.

CASUISTRY Cas"u*ist*ry, a.

1. The science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and principles drawn from the Scriptures, from the laws of society or the church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general moral rules to particular cases. The consideration of these nice and puzzling question in the science of ethics has given rise, in modern times, to a particular department of it, distinguished by the title of casuistry. Stewart. Casuistry in the science of cases (i.e., oblique deflections from the general rule). De Quincey.

2. Sophistical, equivocal, or false reasoning or teaching in regard to duties, obligations, and morals.

CASUS Ca"sus, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: An event; an occurrence; an occasion; a combination of circumstances; a case; an act of God. See the Note under Accident. Casus belli, an event or combination of events which is a cause war, or may be alleged as a justification of war. -- Casus fortuitus, an accident against which due prudence could not have provided. See Act of God, under Act. -- Casus omissus, a case not provided for by the statute.

CAT Cat, n. Etym: [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel. köttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL. catus, Bisc. catua, NGr cot, Turk. kedi, Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. Ketten.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal of various species of the genera Felis and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (Lynx rufus) See Wild cat, and Tiger cat.

Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from their place of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the Angora cat; the Maltese cat; the Manx cat.

Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals, from some fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher cat, catbird, catfish shark, sea cat.

2. (Naut.) (a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal and timber trade. (b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the cathead of a ship. Totten.

3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position in is placed.

4. An old game; (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is played. See Tipcat. (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.

5. A cat o' nine tails. See below. Angora cat, blind cat, See under Angora, Blind. -- Black cat the fisher. See under Black. -- Cat and dog, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonius. "I am sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it." Coleridge. -- Cat block (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead. -- Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block. -- Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] -- Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back. -- Cat's cradle, game played, esp. by children, with a string looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The string is transferred from the fingers of one to those of another, at each transfer with a change of form. See Cratch, Cratch cradle. -- To let the cat out of the bag, to tell a secret, carelessly or willfully. [Colloq.] -- Bush cat, the serval. See Serval.

CAT Cat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. tted; p. pr. & vb. n. Catting.] (Naut.)

Defn: To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See Anchor. Totten.

CATA Cat"a. Etym: [Gr. kata`.]

Defn: The Latin and English form of a Greek preposition, used as a prefix to signify down, downward, under, against, contrary or opposed to, wholly, completely; as in cataclysm, catarrh. It sometimes drops the final vowel, as in catoptric; and is sometimes changed to cath, as in cathartic, catholic.

CATABAPTIST Cat`a*bap"tist, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + aptist. See Baptist.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One who opposes baptism, especially of infants. [Obs.] Featley.

CATABASION Cat`a*ba"sion, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: A vault under altar of a Greek church.

CATABIOTIC Cat`a*bi*ot"ic, a.

Defn: Aee under Force.

CATACAUSTIC Cat`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + caustic.] (Physics)

Defn: Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol.

CATACAUSTIC Cat`a*caus"tic, n. (Physics)

Defn: A caustic curve formed by reflection of light. Nichol.

CATACHRESIS Cat`a*chre"sis, n. Etym: [L. fr. Gr. (Rhel.)

Defn: A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, "To take arms against a sea of troubles. " Shak. "Her voice was but the shadow of a sound." Young.

CATACHRESTIC; CATACHRESTICAL Cat`a*chres"tic, Cat"a*chres"tic*al, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; wrested from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fatched. -- Cat`a*chres"tic*al*ly, adv. [A] catachrestical and improper way of speaking. Jer. Taylor.

CATACLASM Cat"a*clasm, n. [Gr. ; down + to break.]

Defn: A breaking asunder; disruption.

CATACLYSM Cat"a*clysm, n. Etym: [L. cataclysmos, Gr. cataclysme.]

1. An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.

CATACLYSMAL; CATACLYSMIC Cat`a*clys"mal, Cat"a*clys"mic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a cataclysm.

CATACLYSMIST Cat`a*clys"mist, n.

Defn: One who believes that the most important geological phenomena have been produced by cataclysms.

CATACOMB Cat"a*comb, n. Etym: [It. catacomba, fr. L. catacumba perh. from Gr.

Defn: A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; -- commonly in the plural.

Note: The terms is supposed to have been applied originally to the tombs under the church of St. Sebastain in Rome. The most celebrated catacombs are those near Rome, on the Appian Way, supposed to have been the place or refuge and interment of the early Chrictians; those of Egypt, extending for a wide distance in the vicinity of Cairo; and those of Paris, in abandoned stone quarries, excavated under a large portion of the city.

CATACOUSTIC Cat`a*cous"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. cata _ acoustics: cf. F. caraconstique.] (Physics)

Defn: That part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes See Acoustics. Hutton.

CATACROTIC Cat`a*crot"ic, a. [Cata- + Gr. a beating.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Designating, pertaining to, or characterized by, that form of pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the curve is marked by secondary elevations due to two or more expansions of the artery in the same beat. -- Ca*tac"rotism (#), n.

CATADICROTISM Cat`a*di"cro*tism, n. [Cata-+ dicrotism.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Quality or state of being catacrotic. -- Cat`a*di*crot"ic (#), a.

CATADIOPTRIC; CATADIOPTRICAL Cat`a*di*op"tric, Cat`a*di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + dioptric: cf. F. catadioptrique.] (Physics)

Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light. Hutton.

CATADIOPTRICS Cat`a*di*op"trics, n.

Defn: The science which treats of catadioptric phenomena, or of the used of catadioptric instruments.

CATADROME Cat"a*drome, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. A race course.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A machine for raising or lowering heavy weights.

CATADROMOUS Ca*tad"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis than the lowest superior one; -- said of a mode of branching in ferns, and opposed to anadromous.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Living in fresh water, and going to the sea to spawn; -- opposed to anadromous, and of the eel.

CATAFALCO Cat`a*fal"co, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: See Catafalque.

CATAFALQUE Cat"a*falque`, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. catafalco, scaffold, funeral canopy; of uncertain origin; cf. Sp. catafalso, cadahalso, cadalso, Pr. casafalc, OF. chafaut. Cf. Scaffold.]

Defn: A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial.

CATAGMATIC Cat`*ag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. catagmatique.] (Med.)

Defn: Having the quality of consolidating broken bones.

CATAIAN Ca*ta"ian, n.

Defn: A native of Cathay or China; a foreigner; -- formerly a term of reproach. Shak.

CATALAN Cat"a*lan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Catalonia. -- n.

Defn: A native or inbabitant of Catalonia; also, the language of Catalonia. Catalan furnace, Catalan forge (Metal.), a kind of furnace for producing wrought iron directly from the ore. It was formerly much used, esp. in Catalonia, and is still used in some parts of the United States and elsewhere.

CATALECTIC Cat`a*lec"tic, a. Etym: [L. catalecticus, Gr.

1. (Pros.)

Defn: Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.

2. (Photog. & Chem.)

Defn: Incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance. Abney.

CATALEPSY; CATALEPSIS Cat"a*lep`sy, Cat`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL. catalepsis, fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues.

CATALEPTIC Cat`a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy; affected with catalepsy; as, a cataleptic fit.

CATALLACTA Cat`al*lac"ta, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Catallactics.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Protozoa, of which Magosphæra is the type. They exist both in a myxopod state, with branched pseudopodia, and in the form of ciliated bodies united in free, spherical colonies.

CATALLACTICS Cat`al*lac"tics n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The science of exchanges, a branch of political economy.

CATALOG Cat"a*log, n. & v.

Defn: Catalogue.

CATALOGIZE Cat"a*lo*gize, v. t.

Defn: To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue. [R.] Coles.

CATALOGUE Cat"a*logue, n. Etym: [F., fr. catalogus, fr. Gr.

Defn: A list or enumeration of names, or articles arranged methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the students of a college, or of books, or of the stars. Card catalogue, a catalogue, as of books, having each item entered on a separate card, and the cards arranged in cases by subjects, or authors, or alphabetically. -- Catalogue raisonné Etym: [F.], a catalogue of books, etc., classed according to their subjects. Syn. -- List; roll; index; schedule; enumeration; inventory. See List.

CATALOGUE Cat"a*logue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catalogued; p. pr. & vb. n. Cataloguing.]

Defn: To make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.

CATALOGUER Cat"a*log`uer, n.

Defn: A maker of catalogues; esp. one skilled in the making of catalogues.

CATALPA Ca*tal"pa, n. Etym: [From the language of the Indians of Carolina, where Catesby discovered this tree in the year 1726.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of American and East Indian trees, of which the best know species are the Catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental North American tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the C. speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; -- called also Indian bean.

CATALYSIS Ca*tal"y*sis, n.; pl. Catalyse. Etym: [ML., fr. Gr.

1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.] Sad catalysis and declension of piety. Evelyn.

2. (Chem.) (a) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch. (b) The catalytic force.

CATALYTIC Cat`a*ly"tic, a.

Defn: Relating to, or causing, catalysis. "The catalytic power is ill understood." Ure. Catalytic force, that form of chemical energy formerly supposed to determine catalysis.

CATALYTIC Cat`a*lyt"ic, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.

CATAMARAN Cat`a*ma*ran", n. Etym: [The native East Indian name.]

1. A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; -- used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.

2. Any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by steam; esp., one of a class of double-hulled pleasure boats remarkable for speed.

3. A kind of fire raft or torpedo bat. The incendiary rafts prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the French flotilla at Boulogne, 1804, were called catamarans. Knight.

4. A quarrelsome woman; a scold. [Colloq.]

CATAMENIA Cat`a*me"nia, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.

CATAMENIAL Cat`a*me"ni*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.

CATAMITE Cat"a*mite, n. Etym: [L. Catamitus, an old form of Ganymedes Ganymede, Gr.

Defn: A boy kept for unnatural purposes.

CATAMOUNT Cat"a*mount, n. Etym: [Cat + mount; cf. Sp. gato mentes mountain cat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cougar. Applied also, in some parts of the United States, to the lynx.

CATANADROMOUS Cat"a*nad`ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous. [R.]

CATAPASM Cat"a*pasm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc. Dunglison.

CATAPELTIC Cat`a*pel"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catapult.

CATAPETALOUS Cat`a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + petalous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.

CATAPHONIC Cat`a*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.

CATAPHONICS Cat`a*phon"ics, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + phonic: cf. F. cataphonique.] (Physics)

Defn: That branch of acoustics which treats of reflested sounds; catacoustics.

CATAPHRACT Cat"a*phract, n. Etym: [L. cataphractes, Gr.

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: Defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern nations.

2. A horseman covered with a cataphract. Archers and slingers, cataphracts, and spears. Milton.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The armor or plate covering some fishes.

CATAPHRACTED Cat"a*phract`ed, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

CATAPHRACTIC Cat`a*phrac"tic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.

CATAPHYSICAL Cat`a*phys"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + physical.]

Defn: Unnatural; contrary to nature. [R.] Some artists . . . have given to Sir Walter Scott a pile of forehead which is unpleassing and cataphysical. De Quincey.

CATAPLASM Cat"a*plasm, n. Etym: [L. cataplasma, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice. Dunglison.

CATAPLEXY Cat"a*plex`y, n. [Gr. amazement: cf. Apoplexy.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles. -- Cat`a*plec"tic (#), a.

CATAPUCE Cat"a*puce, n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)

Defn: Spurge. [Obs.]

CATAPULT Cat"a*pult, n. Etym: [L. catapulta, Gr.

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.

2. A forked stick with elasti band for throwing small stones, etc.

CATARACT Cat"a*ract, n. Etym: [L. cataracta, catarracles, a waterfall, Gr.

1. A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight.

3. (Mach.)

Defn: A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.

CATARACTOUS Cat`a*rac"tous, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.

CATARRH Ca*tarrh", n. Etym: [L. catarrhus, Gr. Stream.] (Med.)

Defn: An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.

Note: In America, the term catarrh is applied especially to a chronic inflammation of, and hypersecretion fron, the membranes of the nose or air passages; in England, to an acute influenza, resulting a cold, and attended with cough, thirst, lassitude, and watery eyes; also, to the cold itself.

CATARRHAL Ca*tarrh"al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.

CATARRHINE Cat"ar*rhine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See Monkey.

CATARRHOUS Ca*tarrh"ous, a.

Defn: Catarrhal. [R.]

CATASTALTIC Cat`a*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Checking evacutions through astringent or styptic qualities.

CATASTASIS Ca*tas"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Rhet.)

Defn: That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.

CATASTERISM Ca*tas"ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars. The catasterisms of Eratosthenes. Whewell.

CATASTROPHE Ca*tas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L. catastropha, Gr.

1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune. The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. Bp. Buret. The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw. Woodward.

2. The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes. Whewell.

CATASTROPHIC Cat`a*stroph"ic, a.

Defn: Of a pertaining to a catastrophe. B. Powell.

CATASTROPHISM Ca*tas"tro*phism, n. (Geol.)

Defn: The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.

CATASTROPHIST Ca*tas"tro*phist, n. (Geol.)

Defn: One who holds the theory or catastrophism.

CATAWBA Ca*taw"ba, n.

1. A well known light red variety of American grape.

2. A light-colored, sprightly American wine from the Catawba grape.

CATAWBAS Ca*taw"bas, n. pl.

Defn: ; sing. Catawba. (Ethnol.) An appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.

CATBIRD Cat"bird, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

CATBOAT Cat"boat`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a graff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.

CATCALL Cat"call`, n.

Defn: A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise. Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the great consort of catcalls which was exhibited. Addison.

CATCH Catch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caught or Catched (; p. pr. & vb. n. Catching. Catched is rarely used.] Etym: [OE. cacchen, OF. cachier, dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL. captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See Capacious, and cf. Chase, Case a box.]

1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.

2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They pursued . . . and caught him." Judg. i. 6.

3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.

4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words". Mark xii. 13.

5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. "Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue." Tennyson.

6. To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.

7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm. The soothing arts that catch the fair. Dryden.

8. To get possession of; to attain. Torment myself to catch the English throne. Shak.

9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.

10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.

11. To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train. To catch fire, to become inflamed or ignited. -- to catch it to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment. [Colloq.] -- To catch one's eye, to interrupt captiously while speaking. [Colloq.] "You catch me up so very short." Dickens. -- To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.

CATCH Catch, v. i.

1. To attain possession. [Obs.] Have is have, however men do catch. Shak.

2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.

3. To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.

4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate. Does the sedition catch from man to man Addison. To catch at, to attempt to seize; to be egger to get or use. "[To] catch at all opportunities of subverting the state." Addison. -- To catch up with, to come up with; to overtake.

CATCH Catch, n.

1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney.

2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.

3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic] Addison. The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. T. Fuller.

4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish. Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains. Shak.

5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. [Colloq.] Marryat.

6. pl.

Defn: Passing opportunities seized; snatches. It has been writ by catches with many intervals. Locke.

7. A slight remembrance; a trace. We retain a catch of those pretty stories. Glanvill.

8. (Mus.)

Defn: A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

CATCHABLE Catch"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being caught. [R.]

CATCH-BASIN Catch"-ba`sin, n.

Defn: A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to oatch bulky matters which would not pass readly throught the sewer. Knight.

CATCH CROP Catch crop.

Defn: Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time. -- Catch"- crop`ping, n.

Radishes . . . are often grown as a catch crop with other vegetables. L. H. Bailey.

CATCHDRAIN Catch"drain`, n.

Defn: A dich or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.

CATCHER Catch"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, catches.

2. (Baseball)

Defn: The player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball.

CATCHFLY Catch"fly, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.

CATCHING Catch"ing a.

1. Infections; contagious.

2. Captavating; alluring.

CATCHING Catch"ing, n.

Defn: The act of seizing or taking hold of Catching bargain (Law), a bargain made with an heir expectant for the purchase of his expectancy at an inadequate price. Bouvier.

CATCH-MEADOW Catch"-mead`ow, n.

Defn: meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.

CATCHMENT Catch"ment, n.

Defn: A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.

CATCHPENNY Catch"pen*ny, a.

Defn: Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. -- n.

Defn: Some worthless catchpenny thing.

CATCHPOLL Catch"poll`, n. Etym: [OF. chacepol, chacipol.]

Defn: A bailiff's assistant.

CATCH TITLE Catch title.

Defn: A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.

CATCHUP; CATSUP Catch"up, Cat"sup, n. Etym: [Probably of East Indian origin, because it was originally a kind of East Indian pickles.]

Defn: A table sauce made from mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, etc. [Written also ketchup.]

CATCHWATER Catch"wa`ter, n.

Defn: A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.

CATCHWEED Catch"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cleavers.

CATCHWEIGHT Catch"weight`, adv. (Horseracing)

Defn: Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as, to ride catchweight.

CATCHWORD Catch"word`, n.

1. Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.

2. (Print.)

Defn: The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing.

3. A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as, the catchword of a political party, etc.

CATCHWORK Catch"work`, n.

Defn: A work or artificial watercourse for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.

CATCHY Catch"y, a.

1. Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking; as, catchy music.

2. Tending to catch or insnare; entangling; -- usually used fig.; as, a catchy question.

3. Consisting of, or occuring in, disconnected parts or snatches; changeable; as, a catchy wind.

It [the fox's scent] is . . . flighty or catchy, if variable. Encyc. of Sport.

CATE Cate, n.

Defn: Food. [Obs.] See Cates.

CATECHETIC; CATECHETICAL Cat`e*chet"ic, Cat`e*chet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catechise.]

Defn: Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching. Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.

CATECHETICALLY Cat`e*chet"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.

CATECHETICS Cat`e*chet"ics, n.

Defn: The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers.

CATECHIN Cat"e*chin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: One of the tannic acids, extracted from catechu as a white, crystaline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, and catechuin.

CATECHISATION Cat`e*chi*sa"tion, n. Etym: [LL. catechizatio.]

Defn: The act of catechising.

CATECHISE Cat"e*chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catechised; p. pr. & vb. n. Catechising.] Etym: [L. catechizare, Gr.

1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving answeres, and offering explanations and corrections, -- esp. in regard to points of religious faith.

2. To question or interrogate; to examine or try by questions; -- sometimes with a view to reproof, by eliciting from a person answers which condemn his own conduct. Swift.

CATECHISER Cat"e*chi`ser, n.

Defn: One who catechises.

CATECHISM Cat"e*chism, n. Etym: [L. catechismus, fr. Gr. See Catechise.]

1. A form of instruction by means of questions answers.

2. A book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers. The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms. Hooker. The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

CATECHISMAL Cat`e*chis"mal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions and answers; catechical.

CATECHIST Cat"e*chist, n. Etym: [L. catechista, fr. Gr.]

Defn: One who instructs by question and answer, especially in religions matters.

CATECHISTIC; CATECHISTICAL Cat`e*chis"tic, Cat`e*chis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechist or to a catechism. Dr. H. More.

CATECHIZE Cat"e*chize, v. t.

Defn: See Catechise.

CATECHU Cat"e*chu, n. Etym: [See Cashoo.] (Chem.)

Defn: A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc. Ure. Dunglison.

CATECHUIC Cat`e*chu"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. See catechin.

CATECHUMEN Cat"e*chu`men, n. Etym: [L. catechunenus, Gr. Catechise.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines of Christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially recognized as a Christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to admission to full membership in the church.

CATECHUMENATE Cat`e*chu"men*ate, n.

Defn: The state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which one is a catechumen.

CATECHUMENICAL Cat`e*chu*men"i*cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical instructions.

CATECHUMENIST Cat`e*chu"men*ist, n.

Defn: A catechumen. Bp. Morton.

CATEGOREMATIC Cat`e*gor`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Category.] (Logic.)

Defn: Capable of being employed by itself as a term; -- said of a word.

CATEGORICAL Cat`e*gor"ic*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a category.

2. Not hypothetical or relative; admitting no conditions or exceptions; declarative; absolute; positive; express; as, a categorical proposition, or answer. The scriptures by a multitude of categorical and intelligible decisions . . . distinguish between the things seen and temporal and those that are unseen and eternal. I. Taylor.

CATEGORICALLY Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Absolutely; directly; expressly; positively; as, to affirm categorically.

CATEGORICALNESS Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being categorical, positive, or absolute. A. Marvell.

CATEGORIST Cat"e*go*rist, n.

Defn: One who inserts in a category or list; one who classifies. Emerson.

CATEGORIZE Cat"e*go*rize, v. t.

Defn: To insert in a category or list; to class; to catalogue.

CATEGORY Cat"e*go*ry, n.; pl. Categories Etym: [L. categoria, Gr.

1. (Logic.)

Defn: One of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament. The categories or predicaments -- the former a Greek word, the latter its literal translation in the Latin language -- were intended by Aristotle and his followers as an enumeration of all things capable of being named; an enumeration by the summa genera i.e., the most extensive classes into which things could be distributed. J. S. Mill.

2. Class; also, state, condition, or predicament; as, we are both in the same category. There is in modern literature a whole class of writers standing within the same category. De Quincey.

CATEL Cat"el, n. Etym: [See Chattel.]

Defn: Property; -- often used by Chaucer in contrast with rent, or income. "For loss of catel may recovered be, But loss of tyme shendeth us," quod he. Chaucer.

CATELECTRODE Cat`e*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + elecrode.] (Physics)

Defn: The negative electrode or pole of a voltaic battery. Faraday.

CATELECTROTONIC Cat`e*lec`tro*ton"ic, a. (Physics)

Defn: Relating to, or characterized by, catelectrotonus.

CATELECTROTONUS Cat`e*lec*trot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Electro-) + (Physics)

Defn: The condition of increased irritability of a nerve in the region of the cathode or negative electrode, on the passage of a current of electricity through it.

CATENA Ca*te"na, n.; pl. Catene. Etym: [L., a chain.]

Defn: A chain or series of things connected with each other. I have . . . in no case sought to construct those catenæ of games, which it seems now the fashion of commentators to link together. C. J. Ellicott.

CATENARY; CATENARIAN Cat"e*na*ry, Cat`e*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. catenarius, fr. catena a chain. See Chain.]

Defn: Relating to a chain; like a chain; as, a catenary curve.

CATENARY Cat"e*na*ry, n.; pl. Catenaries (. (Geol.)

Defn: The curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension, not in the same vertical line.

CATENATE Cat"e*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catenated; p. pr. & vb. n. Catenating.] Etym: [L. catenatus, p. p. of catenare, fr. catena chain. See Chain.]

Defn: To connect, in a series of links or ties; to chain. E. Darwin.

CATENATION Cat`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. catenatio.]

Defn: Connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular or connected series. See Concatenation. Sir T. Browne.

CATENULATE Ca*ten"u*late, a. Etym: [L. catenuia, dim. of catena chain.]

1. Consisting of little links or chains.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Chainlike; -- said both or color marks and of indentations when arranged like the links of a chain, as on shells, etc.

CATER Ca"ter, n. Etym: [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr. acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad + captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to take, seize. Cf. Acater, Capacious.]

Defn: A provider; a purveyor; a caterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CATER Ca"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Catered; p. pr. & vb. n. Catering.] Etym: [From Cater, n.]

1. To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions. [He] providently caters for the sparrow. Shak.

2. By extension: To supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical or musical entertainments; -- followed by for or to.

CATER Ca"ter, n. Etym: [F. quatre four.]

Defn: The four of cards or dice.

CATER Ca"ter, v. t.

Defn: To cut diagonally. [Obs.] Halliwell.

CATERAN Cat"e*ran, n. Etym: [Gael. ceatharnach. Cf. Kern Irish foot soldier.]

Defn: A Highland robber: a kind of irregular soldier. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

CATER-CORNERED Ca"ter-cor"nered, a. Etym: [Cf. Cater to cut diagonally.]

Defn: Diagonal. [Colloq.]

CATER-COUSIN Ca"ter-cous`in, n.

Defn: A remote relation. See Quater-cousin. Shak.

CATERER Ca"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who caters. The little fowls in the air have God for Their provider and caterer. Shelton.

CATERESS Ca"ter*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who caters. Milton.

CATERPILLAR Cat"er*pil`lar, n. Etym: [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See Cat, and Pile hair.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars. Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater (Zoöl.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds. -- Caterpillar hunter (Zoöl.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed habitually upon caterpillars.

CATERWAUL Cat"er*waul, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caterwauled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caterwauling.] Etym: [Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a cat.]

Defn: To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise. Coleridge.

CATERWAUL Cat"er*waul, n.

Defn: A caterwauling.

CATERWAULING Cat"er*waul`ing, n.

Defn: The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats. Shak.

CATERY Ca"ter*y, n. Etym: [See Cater, n.]

Defn: The place where provisions are deposited. [Obs.]

CATES Cates, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Acates, and see Cater, n.]

Defn: Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. Shak. Cates for which Apicius could not pay. Shurchill. Choicest cates and the fiagon's best spilth. R. Browning.

CAT-EYED Cat"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.

CATFALL Cat"fall`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead. Totten.

CATFISH Cat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name given in the United States to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat (Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhead.

CATGUT Cat"gut`, n. Etym: [Cat + gut.]

1. A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.

2. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.

CATHARINE WHEEL Cath"a*rine wheel`.

Defn: See catherine wheel.

CATHARIST Cath"a*rist, n. Etym: [LL. catharista, fr. Gr.

Defn: One aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than others about him; -- applied to persons of various sects. See Albigenses.

CAT-HARPIN Cat"-harp`in, n.

Defn: See Cat-harping.

CAT-HARPING Cat"-harp`ing n. (Naut.)

Defn: One of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.

CATHARSIS Ca*thar"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)

Defn: A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

CATHARTIC; CATHARICAL Ca*thar"tic, Ca*thar"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. chaste.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.

2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.

CATHARTIC Ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.

Note: The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges, which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ness, n.

CATHARTIN ca*thar"tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The bitter, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.

CATHAY Ca*thay", n.

Defn: China; -- an old name for the Celestial Empire, said have been introduced by Marco Polo and to be a corruption of the Tartar name for North China (Khitai, the country of the Khitans.) Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay. Tennyson.

CATHEAD Cat"head`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to which the anchor is hoisted and secured.

CATHEDRA Cath"e*dra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Chair.]

Defn: The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority. Ex cathedra Etym: [L., from the chair], in the exercise of one's office; with authority. The Vatican Council declares that the Pope, is infallible "when he speaks ex cathedra." Addis & Arnold's Cath. Dict.

CATHEDRAL Ca*the"dral, n. Etym: [LL. cathedralis (sc. ecclesia): cf. F. cathédrale. See Cathedra.]

Defn: The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

CATHEDRAL Ca*the"dral, a. Etym: [LL. cathedralis: cf. F. cathédral.]

1. Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service.

2. Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative. Now, what solemnity can be more required for the pope to make a cathedral determination of an article! Jer. Taylor.

3. Resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks. Pope.

CATHEDRALIC Cath`e*dral"ic, a.

Defn: Cathedral. [R.]

CATHEDRATED Cath`e*dra"ted, a. Etym: [From Cathedra.]

Defn: Relating to the chair or office of a teacher. [Obs.]

CATHERETIC Cath`e*ret"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A mild kind caustic used to reduce warts and other excrescences. Dunglison.

CATHERINE WHEEL Cath"er*ine wheel`. Etym: [So called from St. Catherine of Alexandria, who is represented with a wheel, in allusion to her martyrdom.]

1. (Geoth.Arth.)

Defn: Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine- wheel window.

2. (Pyrotechny)

Defn: A revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of the same name. [Written also Catharine wheel.]

CATHETER Cath"e*ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The name of various instruments for passing along mucous canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine. Eustachian catheter. See under Eustachian. -- Prostatic catheter, one adapted for passing an enlarged prostate.

CATHETERISM; CATHETERIZATION Cath"e*ter*ism, Cath`e*ter*i*za"tion, n. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of introducing a catheter.

CATHETERIZE Cath"e*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catheterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Catheterizing.] (Med.)

Defn: To operate on with a catheter. Dunglison.

CATHETOMETER Cath`e*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [From Gr. -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same column at different times. It consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic standard very finely graduated (bb). The telescope is raised or depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated standard. [Written also kathetometer.]

CATHETUS Cath"e*tus, n.; pl. catheti. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Catheter.] (Geom.)

Defn: One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle. Barlow.

CATHODE Cath"ode, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)

Defn: The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; -- opposed to anode. Faraday. Cathode ray (Phys.), a kind of ray generated at the cathode in a vacuum tube, by the electrical discharge.

CATHODIC Ca*thod"ic, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: A term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent course of the nervous infuence. Marshall Hall.

CATHODOGRAPH; CATHODEGRAPH Ca*thod"o*graph, n. Also Ca*thod"e*graph. [Cathode + -graph.] (Physics)

Defn: A picture produced by the Röntgen rays; a radiograph.

CAT-HOLE Cat"-hole`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: One of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through which hawsers may be passed.

CATHOLIC Cath"o*lic, a. Etym: [L. catholicus, Gr. solid: cf. F. catholique.]

1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith. Men of other countries [came] to bear their part in so great and catholic a war. Southey.

Note: This epithet, which is applicable to the whole Christian church, or its faith, is claimed by Roman Catholics to belong especially to their church, and in popular usage is so limited.

2. Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes.

3. Of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the Catholic emancipation act. Catholic epistles, the espistles of the apostles which are addressed to all the faithful, and not to a particular church; being those of James, Peter, Jude, and John.

CATHOLIC Cath"o*lic, n.

1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.

2. An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic. Old Catholic, the name assumed in 1870 by members of the Roman Catholic church, who denied the ecumenical character of the Vatican Council, and Rejected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith.

CATHOLICAL Ca*thol"i*cal, a.

Defn: Catholic. [Obs.]

CATHOLICISM Ca*thol"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catholicisme.]

1. The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity. Jer. Taylor.

2. Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view.

3. The faith of the whole orthodox Christian church, or adherence thereto.

4. The doctrines or faith of the Roman Catholic church, or adherence thereto.

CATHOLICITY Cath`o*lic"i*ty, n.

1. The state or quality of being catholic; universality.

2. Liberality of sentiments; catholicism.

3. Adherence or conformity to the system of doctrine held by all parts of the orthodox Christian church; the doctrine so held; orthodoxy.

4. Adherence to the doctrines of the church of Rome, or the doctrines themselves.

CATHOLICIZE Ca*thol"i*cize, v. t. & i.

Defn: To make or to become catholic or Roman Catholic.

CATHOLICLY Cath"o*lic*ly, adv.

Defn: In a catholic manner; generally; universally. Sir L. Cary.

CATHOLICNESS Cath"o*lic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being catholic; universality; catholicity.

CATHOLICON Ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Gr. Catholic.] (Med.)

Defn: A remedy for all diseases; a panacea.

CATHOLICOS Ca*thol"i*cos, n. Etym: [NL. See Catholic.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who resides at Etchmiadzin, Russia, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over, and consecrates the holy oil for, the Armenians of Russia, Turkey, and Persia, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Sis.

Note: The Patriarch of Constantinople is the civil head of the Armenians in Turkey.

CATILINARIAN Cat`i*li*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Catilinarius.]

Defn: Pertaining to Catiline, the Roman conspirator; resembling Catiline's conspiracy.

CATION Cat"i*on, n. Etym: [Gr. p. pr. of (Chem.)

Defn: An electro-positive substance, which in electro-decomposition is evolved at the cathode; -- opposed to anion. Faraday.

CATKIN Cat"kin, n. Etym: [Cat + -kin.] (Bot.)

Defn: An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

CATLIKE Cat"like`, a.

Defn: Like a cat; stealthily; noiselessly.

CATLING Cat"ling, n. Etym: [Cat + -ing.]

1. A little cat; a kitten. "Cat nor catling." Drummond.

2. Catgut; a catgut string. [R.] Shak.

3. (Surg.)

Defn: A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife. [Spelt also catlin.] Crobb.

CATLINITE Cat"lin*ite, n. Etym: [From George Catlin, an American traveler.]

Defn: A red clay from the Upper Missouri region, used by the Indians for their pipes.

CATNIP; CATMINT Cat"nip`, Cat"mint`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A well-know plant of the genus Nepeta (N. Cataria), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.

CATO-CATHARTIC Cat`o-ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)

Defn: A remedy that purges by alvine discharges.

CATONIAN Ca*to"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Catonionus.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the stern old Roman, Cato the Censor; severe; inflexible.

CAT O' NINE TAILS Cat" o' nine" tails`.

Defn: See under Cat.

CATOPRON Ca*top"ron, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Catopter.

CATOPTER; CATOPTRON Ca*top"ter, Ca*top"tron, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A reflecting optical glass or instrument; a mirror. [Obs.]

CATOPTRIC; CATOPTRICAL Ca*top"tric, Ca*top"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catopter.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to catoptrics; produced by reflection. Catoptric light, a light in which the rays are concentrated by reflectors into a beam visible at a distance.

CATOPTRICS Ca*top"trics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catoptrique. See Catropric.] (Physics)

Defn: That part of optics which explants the properties and phenomena of reflected light, and particularly that which is reflected from mirrors or polished bodies; --- formerly caled anacamptics.

CATOPTROMANCY Ca*top"tro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy. See Catopter.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A species of divination, which was perforned by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favorable.

CATPIPE Cat`pipe", n.

Defn: See Catcall.

CAT-RIGGED Cat"-rigged`, a.

Defn: Rigged like a catboat.

CAT-SALT Cat"-salt`, n.

Defn: A sort of salt, finely granulated, formed out of the bittern or leach brine.

CAT'S-EYE Cat's"-eye`, n. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. The mane is given to other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.

CAT'S-FOOT Cat's`-foot, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Nepeta Glechoma) of the same genus with catnip; ground ivy.

CAT-SILVER Cat"-sil`ver, n.

Defn: Mica. [Archaic]

CATSKILL PERIOD Cats"kill pe`ri*od. (Geol.)

Defn: The closing subdivision of the Devonian age in America. The rocks of this period are well developed in the Catskill mountains, and extend south and west under the Carboniferous formation. See the Diagram under Geology.

CATSO Cat"so, n.; pl. Catsos. Etym: [It. cazzo.]

Defn: A base fellow; a rogue; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CAT'S-PAW Cat's"-paw`, n.

1. (Naut.) (a) A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air. (b) A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a tackle may be hooked.

2. A dupe; a tool; one who, or that which, is used by another as an instrument to a accomplish his purposes.

Note: In this sense the term refers to the fable of the monkey using the cat's paw to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire.

CAT'S-TAIL Cat's"-tail, n.

Defn: See Timothy, Cat-tail, Cirrus.

CATSTICK Cat"stick`, n.

Defn: A stick or club employed in the game of ball called cat or tipcat. Massinger.

CATSTITCH Cat"stitch, v. t. (Needlework)

Defn: To fold and sew down the edge of with a coarse zigzag stitch.

CATSUP Cat"sup, n.

Defn: Same as Catchup, and Ketchup.

CAT-TAIL Cat"-tail, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tall rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing in marshes, with long, glat leaves, and having its flowers in a close cylindrical spike at the top of the stem. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.

Note: The lesser cat-tail is Typha angustifolia.

CATTISH Cat"tish, a.

Defn: Catlike; feline Drummond.

CATTLE Cat"tle, n. pl. Etym: [OE. calet, chatel, goods, property, OF. catel, chatel, LL. captale, capitale, goods, property, esp. cattle, fr. L. capitals relating to the head, chief; because in early ages beasts constituted the chief part of a man's property. See Capital, and cf. Chattel.]

Defn: Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and swine. Belted cattle, Black cattle. See under Belted, Black. -- Cattle guard, a trench under a railroad track and alongside a crossing (as of a public highway). It is intended to prevent cattle from getting upon the track. -- cattle louse (Zoöl.), any species of louse infecting cattle. There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and H. vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair. -- Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague. -- Cattle range, or Cattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. [U. S.] Bartlett. -- Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of stock breeding; -- usually accompanied with the exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of implements.

CATTY Cat"ty, n. Etym: [Malay kati. See Caddy.]

Defn: An East Indian Weight of 11/3 pounds.

CAUCASIAN Cau*ca"sian, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the Caucasus, a mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas.

2. Of or pertaining to the white races of mankind, of whom the people about Mount Caucasus were formerly taken as the type.

CAUCASIAN Cau*ca"sian, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of the Caucasus, esp. a Circassian or Georgian.

2. A member of any of the white races of mankind.

CAUCUS Cau"cus, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain. Mr. J. H. Trumbull finds the origin of caucus in the N. A. Indian word cawcawwassough or caú cau- as'u one who urges or pushes on, a promoter. See citation for an early use of the word caucus.]

Defn: A meeting, especially a preliminary meeting, of persons belonging to a party, to nominate candidates for public office, or to select delegates to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding measures of party policy; a political primary meeting. This day learned that the caucus club meets, at certain times, in the garret of Tom Dawes, the adjutant of the Boston regiment. John Adams's Diary [Feb. , 1763].

CAUCUS Cau"cus, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caucused; p. pr. & vb. n. Caucusing.]

Defn: To hold, or meet in, a caucus or caucuses.

CAUDAD Cau"dad, adv. Etym: [L. cauda tail + ad to.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Backwards; toward the tail or posterior part.

CAUDA GALLI Cau"da gal*li, (. Etym: [L., tail of a cock.] (Paleon.)

Defn: A plume-shaped fossil, supposed to be a seaweed, characteristic of the lower Devonian rocks; as, the cauda galli grit. Gauda galli epoch (Geol.), an epoch at the begining of the Devonian age in eastern America, so named from the characteristic gritty sandstone marked with impressions of cauda galli. See the Diagram under Geology.

CAUDAL Cau"dal, a. Etym: [L. Cauda tail. Cf. Coward.]

Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a tail; having a tail-like appendage. The male widow-bird, remarkable for his caudal plumes. Darwin. Caudal fin (Zoöl.), the terminal fin (or "tail") of a fish.

CAUDATA Cau*da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cauda tail.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Urodela.

CAUDATE; CAUDATED Cau"date, Cau"da*ted. a. Etym: [L. cauda tail.]

Defn: Having a taill; having a termination like a tail.

CAUDEX Cau"dex, n.; pl. L. Caudices, E. Caudexes. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: The sterm of a tree., esp. a sterm without a branch, as of a palm or a tree fern; also, the pernnial rootstock of an herbaceous plant.

CAUDICLE; CAUDICULA Cau"di*cle, Cau*dic"u*la, n. Etym: [Dim. of L. cauda tail, appendage.] (Bot.)

Defn: A slender, elastic process, to which the masses of pollen in orchidaceous plants are attached.

CAUDLE Cau"dle, n. Etym: [OF. caudel, F. chaudeau, dim. of LL calidum a sweet drink, fr. L. caidus warm. See Caldron.]

Defn: A kind of warm drink for sick persons, being a mixture of wine with eggs, bread, sugar, and spices.

CAUDLE Cau"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caudled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caudling.]

1. To make into caudle.

2. Too serve as a caudle to; to refresh. [R.] Shak.

CAUF Cauf, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to Celtic caff, cav, cau, L. cavus hollow, or to L. caphinus, Gr.

Defn: A chest with holes for keeping fish alive in water. Philips.

CAUFLE Cau"fle, n.

Defn: A gung of slaves. Same as Coffle.

CAUGHT Caught, imp. & p. p.

Defn: f Catch.

CAUK; CAUKER Cauk, n., Cauk"er, n.

Defn: See Cawk, Calker.

CAUL Caul, n. Etym: [OE. calle, kelle, prob. fr. F. cale; cf. Ir. calla a veil.]

1. A covering of network for the head, worn by women; also, a net. Spenser.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The fold of membrane loaded with fat, which covers more or less of the intestines in mammals; the great omentum See Omentum. The caul serves for warming of the lower belly. Ray.

3. A part of the amnion, one of the membranes enveloping the fetus, which sometimes is round the head of a child at its birth. It is deemed lucky to be with a caul or membrane over the face. This caul is esteemed an infallible preservative against drowning . . . According to Chysostom, the midwives frequently sold it for magic uses. Grose. I was born with a caul, which was advertised for sale, in the newspapers, at the low price of fifteen guineas. Dickens.

CAULESCENT Cau*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. caulis stalk, stem: cf. F. caulescent.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having a leafy stem.

CAULICLE Cau"li*cle, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A short caulis or stem, esp. the rudimentary stem seen in the embryo of seed; -- otherwise called a radicle.

CAULICULUS Cau*lic"u*lus, n.; pl. Cauliculi Etym: [L. caulculus little stalk, dim. of caulis.] (Arch.)

Defn: In the Corinthian capital, one of the eight stalks rising out of the lower leafage and terminating in leaves which seem to suport the volutes. See Illust. of Corinthian order, under Corinthian.

CAULIFLOWER Cau"li*flow`er, n. Etym: [F. choufleur, modified by E. Cole. L. caulis, and by E. flower; F. chou cabbage is fr. L. caulis stalk, cabbage, and fleur flower is fr. L. flos flower. See Cole, and Flower.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.

2. The edible head or "curd" of a caulifower plant.

CAULIFORM Cau"li*form, a. Etym: [L. caulis + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a caulis.

CAULINE Cau"line, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Growing immediately on a caulis; of or pertaining to a caulis.

CAULIS Cau"lis, n.; L. pl. Caules. Etym: [L., a stem.] (Bot.)

Defn: An herbaceous or woody stem which bears leaves, and may bear flowers.

CAULK Caulk, v. t. & n.

Defn: See Calk.

CAULOCARPOUS Cau`lo*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having stems which bear flowers and fruit year after year, as most trees and shrubs.

CAULOME Cau"lome, n. [Gr. kalo`s stem + -ome as in rhizome.] (Bot.)

Defn: A stem structure or stem axis of a plant, viewed as a whole. -- Cau*lom"ic (#), a.

CAUMA Cau"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Great heat, as of the body in fever.

CAUPONIZE Cau"po*nize, v. i. Etym: [L. cauponari, fr. caupo huckster, innkeeper.]

Defn: To sell wine or victuals. [Obs.] Warburfon.

CAUSABLE Caus"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being caused.

CAUSAL Caus"al, a. Etym: [L. causalis. See Cause.]

Defn: Relating to a cause or causes; inplying or containing a cause or causes; expressing a cause; causative. Causal propositions are where two propositions are joined by causal words. Watts.

CAUSAL Caus"al, n.

Defn: A causal word or form of speech. Anglo-Saxon drencan to drench, causal of Anglo-Saxon drincan to drink. Skeat.

CAUSALITY Cau*sal"i*ty, n.; pl. Causalities (.

1. The agency of a cause; the action or power of a cause, in producing its effect. The causality of the divine mind. Whewell.

2. (Phren.)

Defn: The faculty of tracing effects to their causes. G. Combe.

CAUSALLY Caus"al*ly, adv.

Defn: According to the order or series of causes; by tracing effects to causes.

CAUSALLY Caus"al*ly, n. (Mining.)

Defn: The lighter, earthy parts of ore, carried off washing.

CAUSATION Cau*sa"tion, n.

Defn: The act of causing; also the act or agency by which an effect is produced. The kind of causation by which vision is produced. Whewell. Law of universal causation, the theoretical or asserted law that every event or phenomenon results from, or is the sequel of, some previous event or phenomenon, which being present, the other is certain to take place.

CAUSATIONIST Cau*sa"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in the law of universal causation.

CAUSATIVE Caus"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. causativus pertaining to a lawsuit (causa), but in the English sense from E. cause.]

1. Effective, as a cause or agent; causing. Causative in nature of a number of effects. Bacon.

2. Expressing a cause or reason; causal; as, the ablative is a causative case.

CAUSATIVE Caus"a*tive, n.

Defn: A word which expresses or suggests a cause.

CAUSATIVELY Caus"a*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a causative manner.

CAUSATOR Cau*sa"tor, n. Etym: [See Cause.]

Defn: One who causes. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

CAUSE Cause, n. Etym: [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. Cause, v., Kickshaw.]

1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be. Locke.

2. That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.

3. Sake; interest; advantage. [Obs.] I did it not for his cause. 2 Cor. vii. 12.

4. (Law)

Defn: A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

5. Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general. What counsel give you in this weighty cause! Shak.

6. The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain. God befriend us, as our cause is just. Shak. The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause. Burke. Efficient cause, the agent or force that produces a change or redult. -- Final cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is done. -- Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea viewed as a formative principle and coöperating with the matter. -- Material cause, that of which anything is made. -- Proximate cause. See under Proximate. -- To make common cause with, to join with in purposes and aims. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Origin; source; mainspring; motive; reason; incitement; inducement; purpose; object; suit; action.

CAUSE Cause, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caused; p. pr. & v. n. Causing.] Etym: [F. causer, fr. cause, fr. L. causa. See Cause, n., and cf. Acouse.]

Defn: To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to bring about; to bring into existence; to make; -- usually followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb. I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days. Gen. vii. 4. Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. Col. iv. 16.

Syn. -- To create; produce; beget; effect; occasion; originate; induce; bring about.

CAUSE Cause, v. i.

Defn: To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse. [Obs.] Spenser.

CAUSE Cause, conj.

Defn: Abbreviation of Because. B. Jonson.

CAUSEFUL Cause"ful, n.

Defn: Having a cause. [Obs.]

CAUSELESS Cause"less, a.

Defn: 1. Self-originating; uncreated.

2. Without just or sufficient reason; groundless. My fears are causeless and ungrounded. Denham.

CAUSELESS Cause"less, adv.

Defn: Without cause or reason.

CAUSELESSNESS Cause"less*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being causeless.

CAUSER Caus"er, n.

Defn: One who or that which causes.

CAUSERIE Cause`rie", n. [F., fr. causer to chat.]

Defn: Informal talk or discussion, as about literary matters; light conversation; chat.

CAUSEUSE Cau`seuse", n. Etym: [F., fr. causer to talk.]

Defn: A kind of sofa for two person. A tête-a-tête.

CAUSEWAY; CAUSEY Cause"way, Cau"sey, n. Etym: [OE. cauci, cauchie, OF. cauchie, F. chaussée, from LL. (via) calciata, fr calciare to make a road, either fr. L. calx lime, hence, to pave with limestone (cf. E. chalk), or from L. calceus shoe, from calx heel, hence, to shoe, pave, or wear by treading.]

Defn: A way or road rasid above the natural level of the ground, serving as a dry passage over wet or marshy ground. But that broad causeway will direct your way. Dryden. The other way Satan went down The causey to Hell-gate. Milton.

CAUSEWAYED; CAUSEYED Cause"wayed, Cau"seyed. a.

Defn: Having a raised way (causeway or causey); paved. Sir W. Scott. C. Bronté.

CAUSIDICAL Cau*sid"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. causidicakis; causa a cause in law + dicare to say.]

Defn: Pertaining to an advocate, or to the maintenance and defense of suits.

CAUSTIC; CAUSTICAL Caus"tic, Caus"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. caustucs, Ge. Calm, Ink.]

1. Capable of destroying the texture of anything or eating away its substance by chemical action; burning; corrosive; searing.

2. Severe; satirical; sharp; as, a caustic remark. Caustic curve (Optics), a curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane. -- Caustic lime. See under Lime. -- Caustic potash, Caustic soda (Chem.), the solid hydroxides potash, KOH, and soda, NaOH, or solutions of the same. -- Caustic silver, nitrate of silver, lunar caustic. -- Caustic surface (Optics), a surface to which rays reflected or refracted by another surface are tangents. Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.

Syn. -- Stinging; cutting; pungent; searching.

CAUSTIC Cau"stic, n. Etym: [L. causticum (sc. medicamentum). See Caustic, a.]

1. Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic.

2. (Optics)

Defn: A caustic curve or caustic surface.

CAUSTICALLY Caus"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a caustic manner.

CAUSTICILY Caus*tic"i*ly, n.

1. The quality of being caustic; corrosiveness; as, the causticity of potash.

2. Severity of language; sarcasm; as, the causticity of a reply or remark.

CAUSTICNESS Caus"tic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being caustic; causticity.

CAUTEL Cau"tel, n. Etym: [F. cautèle, L. cautela, fr. cavere to be on one's guard, to take care.]

1. Caution; prudence; wariness. [Obs.] Fulke.

2. Craft; deceit; falseness. [Obs.] Shak.

CAUTELOUS Cau"te*lous, a. Etym: [F. cauteleux, LL. cautelosus. See Cautel.]

1. Caution; prudent; wary. [Obs.] "Cautelous, though young." Drayton.

2. Crafty; deceitful; false. [Obs.] Shak. -- Cau"te*lous*ly, adv. -- Cau"te*lous*ness, n. [Obs.]

CAUTER Cau"ter, n. Etym: [F. cautère, L. cauterium, fr. Gr. Caustic, Cautery.]

Defn: A hot iron for searing or cauterizing. Minsheu.

CAUTERANT Cau"ter*ant, n.

Defn: A cauterizing substance.

CAUTERISM Cau"ter*ism, n.

Defn: The use or application of a caustic; cautery. Ferrand.

CAUTERIZATION Cau`ter*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cautèrisation.] (Med.)

Defn: The act of searing some morbid part by the application of a cautery or caustic; also, the effect of such application.

CAUTERIZE Cau"ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cauterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Cauterizing.] Etym: [L. cauterizare, Gr. cautérised.. See cauter.]

1. To burn or sear with a cautery or caustic. Dunglison.

2. To sear, as the conscience. Jer. Taylor.

CAUTERY Cau"ter*y, n.; pl. Cauteries. Etym: [L. cauterium, Gr. Cauter.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a hot iron, or by application of a caustic that will burn, corrode, or destroy animal tissue.

2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing. Actual cautery, a substance or agent (as a hot iron) which cauterizes or sears by actual heat; or the burning so effected. -- Potential cautery, a substance which cauterizes by chemical action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced by such substance.

CAUTION Cau"tion, n. Etym: [F. caution a security, L. cautio, fr. cavere (For scavere) to be on one's guard, to take care (orig.) to be on the watch, see; akin to E. show.]

1. A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.

2. Security; guaranty; bail. [R.] The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the war should be prosecuted. Clarendon.

3. Precept or warning against evil of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction. In way of caution I must tell you. Shak. Caution money, money deposited by way of security or guaranty, as by a student at an English university.

Syn. -- Care; forethought; forecast; heed; prudence; watchfulness; vigilance; circumspection; anxiety; providence; counsel; advice; warning; admonition.

CAUTION Cau"tion v. t. [imp & p. p. Cautioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cautioning.]

Defn: To give notice of danger to; to warn; to exhort [one] to take heed. You cautioned me against their charms. Swift.

CAUTIONARY Cau"tion*a*ry, a.

1. Conveying a caution, or warning to avoid danger; as, cautionary signals.

2. Given as a pledge or as security. He hated Barnevelt, for his getting the cautionary towns out of his hands. Bp. Burnet.

3. Wary; cautious. [Obs.] Bacon.

CAUTIONARY BLOCK Cau"tion*a*ry block. (Railroads)

Defn: A block in which two or more trains are permitted to travel, under restrictions imposed by a caution card or the like.

CAUTIONER Cau"tion*er, n.

1. One who cautions or advises.

2. (Scots Law)

Defn: A surety or sponsor.

CAUTIONRY Cau"tion*ry, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: Suretyship.

CAUTIOUS Cau"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. L. cautus, fr. caver. See Caution.]

Defn: Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect; wary; watchful; as, a cautious general. Cautious feeling for another's pain. Byron. Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. Watts.

Syn. -- Wary; watchful; vigilant; prudent; circumspect; discreet; heedful; thoughtful; scrupulous; anxious; careful. -- Cautious, Wary, Circumspect. A man is cautious who realizes the constant possibility of danger; one may be wary, and yet bold and active; a man who is circumspect habitually examines things on every side in order to weigh and deliberate. It is necessary to be cautious at all times; to be wary in cases of extraordinary danger; to be circumspect in matters of peculiar delicacy and difficulty.

CAUTIOUSLY Cau"tious*ly, adv.

Defn: In a cautious manner.

CAUTIOUSNESS Cau"tious*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being cautious.

CAVALCADE Cav"al*cade`, n. Etym: [F. cavalcade, fr. It. cavalcata, fr. cavalcare to go on horseback, fr. LL. caballicare, fr. L. caballus an inferior horse, Gr. Cavalier, Cavalry.]

Defn: A procession of persons on horseback; a formal, pompous march of horsemen by way of parade. He brought back war-worn cavalcade to the city. Prescott.

CAVALERO; CAVALIERO Cav`a*le"ro, Cav`a*lie"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. caballero. See Cavalier.]

Defn: A cavalier; a gallant; a libertine. Shak.

CAVALIER Cav`a*lier", n. Etym: [F. cavalier, It. cavaliere, LL. caballarius, fr. L. caballus. See Cavalcade, and cf. Cavallier, Caballine.]

1. A military man serving on horseback; a knight.

2. A gay, sprightly, military man; hence, a gallant.

3. One of the court party in the time of king Charles L. as contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament. Clarendon.

4. (Fort.)

Defn: A work of more that ordinary heigh, rising from the level ground of a bastion, etc., and overlooking surrounding parts.

CAVALIER Cav`a*lier", a.

Defn: Gay; easy; offhand; frank. The plodding, persevering scupulous accuracy of the one, and the easy, cavalier, verbal fluency of the other, from a complete contrast. Hazlitt.

2. High-spirited. [Obs.] "The people are naturally not valiant, and not much cavalier." Suckling.

3. Supercilious; haughty; disdainful; curt; brusque.

4. Of or pertaining to the party of King Charles I. "An old Cavalier family." Beaconsfleld.

CAVALIERISH Cav`a*lier"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat like a cavalier.

CAVALIERISM Cav`a*lier"ism, n.

Defn: The practice or principles of cavaliers. Sir. W. Scott.

CAVALIERLY Cav`a*lier"ly, adv.

Defn: In a supercilious, disdainful, or haughty manner; arroganty. Junius.

CAVALIERNESS Cav`a*lier"ness, n.

Defn: A disdanful manner.

CAVALLY Ca*val"ly, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. cavalla a kind of fish; Sp. caballa; prob. fr. Pg. cavallo horse, Sp. caballa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A carangoid fish of the Atlantic coast (Caranx hippos): -- called also horse crevallé.

Note: [See Illust. under Carangoid.]

CAVALRY Cav"al*ry, n. Etym: [F. cavalerie, fr. It. cavalleria. See Cavalier, and cf. chivalry.] (Mil.)

Defn: That part of military force which serves on horseback.

Note: Heavy cavalry and light cavalry are so distinguished by the character of their armament, and by the size of the men and horses.

CAVALRYMAN Cav"al*ry*man, n.; pl. Cavalrymen (.

Defn: One of a body of cavalry.

CAVATINA Ca`va*ti"na, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Originally, a melody of simpler form than the aria; a song without a second part and a da capo; -- a term now variously and vaguely used.

CAVE Cave, n. Etym: [F. cave, L. cavus hollow, whence cavea cavity. Cf. Cage.]

1. A hollow place in the earth, either natural or artificial; a subterraneous cavity; a cavern; a den.

2. Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. [Obs.] "The cave of the ear." Bacon. Cave bear (Zoöl.), a very large fossil bear (Ursus spelæus) similar to the grizzly bear, but large; common in European caves. -- Cave dweller, a savage of prehistoric times whose dwelling place was a cave. Tylor. -- Cave hyena (Zoöl.), a fossil hyena found abundanty in British caves, now usually regarded as a large variety of the living African spotted hyena. -- Cave lion (Zoöl.), a fossil lion found in the caves of Europe, believed to be a large variety of the African lion. -- Bone cave. See under Bone.

CAVE Cave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caved; p. pr. & vb. n. Caving.] Etym: [Cf. F. caver. See Cave, n.]

Defn: To make hollow; to scoop out. [Obs.] The mouldred earth cav'd the banke. Spenser.

CAVE Cave, v. i.

1. To dwell in a cave. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Etym: [See To cave in, below.]

Defn: To fall in or down; as, the sand bank caved. Hence (Slang), to retreat from a position; to give way; to yield in a disputed matter. To cave in. Etym: [Flem. inkalven.] (a) To fall in and leave a hollow, as earth on the side of a well or pit. (b) To submit; to yield. [Slang] H. Kingsley.

CAVEAT Ca"ve*at, n. Etym: [L. caved let him beware, pres. subj. of cavere to be on one's guard to, beware.]

1. (Law)

Defn: A notice given by an interested party to some officer not to do a certain act until the party is heard in opposition; as, a caveat entered in a probate court to stop the proving of a will or the taking out of letters of administration, etc. Bouvier.

2. (U. S. Patent Laws)

Defn: A description of some invention, designed to be patented, lodged in the patent office before the patent right is applied for, and operating as a bar to the issue of letters patent to any other person, respecting the same invention.

Note: A caveat is operative for one year only, but may be renewed.

3. Intimation of caution; warning; protest. We think it right to enter our caveat against a conclusion. Jeffrey. Caveat emptor Etym: [L.] (Law), let the purchaser beware, i. e., let him examine the article he is buying, and act on his own judgment.

CAVEATING Ca"ve*a`ting, n. (Fencing)

Defn: Shifting the sword from one side of an adversary's sword to the other.

CAVEATOR Ca"ve*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who enters a caveat.

CAVENDISH Cav"en*dish, n.

Defn: Leaf tobacco softened, sweetened, and pressed into plugs or cakes. Cut cavendish, the plugs cut into long shreds for smoking.

CAVERN Cav"ern, n. Etym: [L. caverna, fr. cavus hollow: cf. F. caverne.]

Defn: A large, deep, hollow place in the earth; a large cave.

CAVERNED Cav"erned, a.

1. Containing caverns. The wolves yelled on the caverned hill. Byron.

2. Living in a cavern. "Caverned hermit." Pope.

CAVERNOUS Cav"ern*ous, a. Etym: [L. cavernosus: cf. F. caverneux.]

1. Full of caverns; resembling a cavern or large cavity; hollow.

2. Filled with small cavities or cells.

3. Having a sound caused by a cavity. Cavernous body, a body of erectile tissue with large interspaces which may be distended with blood, as in the penis or clitoris. -- Cavernous respiration, a peculiar respiratory sound andible on auscultation, when the bronchial tubes communicate with morbid cavities in the lungs.

CAVERNULOUS Ca*ver"nu*lous, a.Etym: [L. cavernula, dim. of caverna cavern.]

Defn: Full of little cavities; as, cavernulous metal. Black.

CAVESSON; CAVEZON Cav"es*son, Cav"e*zon, n. Etym: [F. caveçon, augm. fr. LL. capitium a head covering hood, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Caberzon.] (Man.)

Defn: A kind of noseband used in breaking and training horses. [Written also caveson, causson.] White.

CAVETTO Ca*vet"to, n. Etym: [It. cavetto, fr. cavo hollow, L. cavus.] (Arch.)

Defn: A concave molding; -- used chiefly in classical architecture. See Illust. of Calumn.

CAVIARE; CAVIAR Ca*viare", Cav"i*ar, n. Etym: [F. caviar, fr. It. caviale, fr. Turk. Havi\'ber.]

Defn: The roes of the sturgeon, prepared and salted; -- used as a relish, esp. in Russia.

Note: Caviare was considered a delicacy, by some, in Shakespeare's time, but was not relished by most. Hence Hamlet says of a certain play. "'T was caviare to the general," i. e., above the taste of the common people.

CAVICORN Cav"i*corn, a. Etym: [L. cavus hollow + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having hollow horns.

CAVICORNIA Cav`i*cor"ni*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of ruminants whose horns are hollow, and planted on a bony process of the front, as the ox.

CAVIL Cav"il, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling.] Etym: [L. cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]

Defn: To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason. You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak.

CAVIL Cav"il, v. t.

Defn: To cavil at. [Obs.] Milton.

CAVIL Cav"il, n.

Defn: A captious or frivolous objection. All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak.

CAVIL; CAVILER; CAVILLER Cav"il or Cav"il*er, n.

Defn: One who cavils. Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle.

CAVILING Cav"il*ing, a.

Defn: Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See Captious. His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis.

CAVILINGLY Cav"il*ing*ly, adb.

Defn: In a caviling manner.

CAVILLATION Cav`il*la"tion, n.Etym: [F. cavillation, L. cavillatio.]

Defn: Frivolous or sophistical objection. [Obs.] Hooker.

CAVILOUS; CAVILLOUS Cav"il*ous or Cav"il*lous, a. Etym: [L. cavillosus.]

Defn: Characterized by caviling, or disposed to cavil; quibbing. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ly, adv. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ness, n. [R.]

CAVIN Cav"in, n. Etym: [F. See Cave.] (Mil.)

Defn: A hollow way, adapted to cover troops, and facilitate their aproach to a place. Farrow.

CAVITARY Cav"i*ta*ry, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Containing a body cavity; as, the cavitary or nematoid worms.

CAVITY Cav"i*ty, n.; pl. Cavities. Etym: [L. cavus hollow: cf. F. cavité.]

1. Hollowness. [Obs.] The cavity or hollowness of the place. Goodwin.

2. A hollow place; a hollow; as, the abdominal cavity. An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon. Arbuthot. Abnormal spaces or excavations are frequently formed in the lungs, which are designated cavities or vomicæ. Quain. Body cavity, the coelum. See under Body.

CAVO-RELIEVO Ca"vo-re*lie"vo, n.

Defn: Cavo-rilievo.

CAVO-RILIEVO Ca"vo-ri*lie"vo, n. Etym: [It.] (Sculp.)

Defn: Hollow relief; sculpture in relief within a sinking made for the purpose, so no part of it projects beyond the plain surface around.

CAVORT Ca*vort", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cavorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Cavorting.]

Defn: To prance ostentatiously; -- said of a horse or his rider. [Local slang U. S.]

CAVY Ca"vy, n.; pl. Cavies (. Etym: [NL. cavia, fr. Brazilian cabiai: cf. F. cabiai.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rodent of the genera cavia and Dolichotis, as the guinea pig (Cavia cabaya). Cavies are natives of South America. Water cavy (Zoöl.), The capybara.

CAW Caw, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cawing.] Etym: [Imitative. *22 Cf. Chough.]

Defn: To cry like a crow, rook, or raven. Rising and cawing at the gun's report. Shak.

CAW Caw, n.

Defn: The cry made by the crow, rook, or raven.

CAWK Cawk, n. Etym: [Prov. E. cauk limestone. A doublet of chalk.] (Min.)

Defn: An opaque, compact variety of barite, or heavy spar. [Also written cauk.]

CAWKER Cawk"er, n.

Defn: See Calker.

CAWKY Cawk"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cawk; like cawk.

CAXON Cax"on, n.

Defn: A kind of wig. [Obs.] Lamb.

CAXTON Cax"ton, n. (Bibliog.)

Defn: Any book printed by William Caxton, the first English printer. Hansard.

CAY Cay, n.

Defn: See Key, a ledge.

CAYENNE Cay*enne, n. Etym: [From Cayenne, a town and island in French Guiana, South America.]

Defn: Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper. (a) (Bot.) A species of capsicum (C. frutescens) with small and intensely pungent fruit. (b) A very pungent spice made by drying and grinding the fruits or seeds of several species of the genus Capsicum, esp. C. annuum and C. Frutescens; -- Called also red pepper. It is used chiefly as a condiment.

CAYMAN Cay"man, n. Etym: [From the language of Guiana: cf. Sp. caiman.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The south America alligator. See Alligator. [Sometimes written caiman.]

CAYO Ca"yo, n.; pl. -yos (#). [Sp.]

Defn: A small island or ledge of rock in the water; a key. [Sp. Am.]

CAYUGAS Ca*yu"gas, n. pl.

Defn: ; sing Cayuga. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians formerly inbabiting western New-York, forming part of the confederacy called the Five Nations.

CAYUSE Cay*use", n.

Defn: An Indian pony. [Northw. U. S.]

CAZIQUE; CAZIC Ca*zique", Cazic", n. Etym: [Sp. Cacique, fr. the language of Hayti.]

Defn: A chief or petty king among some tribes of Indians in America.

CC IRA Ça" i*ra". [F. ça ira, ça ira, les aristocrates à la lanterne, it shall go on, it shall go on, [hang]the arictocrats to the lantern (lamp-post).]

Defn: The refrain of a famous song of the French Revolution.

CEASE Cease, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ceased; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceasing.] Etym: [OE. cessen, cesen, F. cesser, fr. L. cessare, v. intemsive fr. cedere to withdraw. See Cede , and cf. Cessation.]

1. To come to an end; to stop; to leave off or give over; to desist; as, the noise ceased "To cease from strife." Prov. xx. 3.

2. To be wanting; to fail; to pass away. The poor shall never cease out of the land. Deut. xv. 11.

Syn. -- To intermit; desist; stop; abstain; quit; discontinue; refrain; leave off; pause; end.

CEASE Cease, v. t.

Defn: To put a stop to; to bring to an end. But he, her fears to cease Sent down the meek-eyed peace. Milton. Cease, then, this impious rage. Milton

CEASE Cease, n.

Defn: Extinction. [Obs.] Shak.

CEASELESS Cease"less, a.

Defn: Without pause or end; incessant.

CEASELESS Cease"less, adv.

Defn: Without intermission or end.

CECIDOMYIA Cec`i*do*my"i*a, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of small dipterous files, including several very injurious species, as the Hessian fly. See Hessian fly.

CECITY Ce"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. caecitas, fr. caecus blind: cf. F. cécité.]

Defn: Blindness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

CECUTIENCY Ce*cu"tien*cy, n. Etym: [L. caecutire to be blind, fr. caecus blind.]

Defn: Partial blindness, or a tendency to blindness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

CEDAR Ce"dar, n. Etym: [AS. ceder, fr. L. cedrus, Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The name of several evergreen trees. The wood is remarkable for its durability and fragrant odor.

Note: The cedar of Lebanon is the Cedrus Libani; the white cedar (Cupressus thyoides) is now called Chamoecyparis sphæroidea; American red cedar is the Juniperus Virginiana; Spanish cedar, the West Indian Cedrela odorata. Many other trees with odoriferous wood are locally called cedar. Cedar bird (Zoöl.), a species of chatterer (Ampelis cedrarum), so named from its frequenting cedar trees; -- called also cherry bird, Canada robin, and American waxwing.

CEDAR Ce"dar, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cedar.

CEDARED Ce"dared, a.

Defn: Covered, or furnished with, cedars.

CEDARN Ce"darn, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the cedar or its wood. [R.]

CEDE Cede, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceding.] Etym: [L. cedere to withdraw, yield; akin to cadere to fall, and to E. chance; cf. F. céder.]

Defn: To yield or surrender; to give up; to resign; as, to cede a fortress, a province, or country, to another nation, by treaty. The people must cede to the government some of their natural rights. Jay.

CEDILLA Ce*dil"la, n. Etym: [Sp. cedilla, cf. F. cédille; dim. of zeta, the Gr. name of the letter z, because this letter was formerly written after the c, to give it the sound of s.]

Defn: A mark placed under the letter c [thus, ç], to show that it is to be sounded like s, as in façade.

CEDRAT Ce"drat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cédrat. See Cedar.] (Bot.)

Defn: Properly the citron, a variety of Citrus medica, with large fruits, not acid, and having a high perfume.

CEDRENE Ce"drene, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A rich aromatic oil, C15H24, extracted from oil of red cedar, and regarded as a polymeric terpene; also any one of a class of similar substances, as the essential oils of cloves, cubebs, juniper, etc., of which cedrene proper is the type. [Written also cedren.]

CEDRINE Ce"drine, a. Etym: [L. cedrinus, Gr. Cedar.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to cedar or the cedar tree.

CEDRIRET Ce"dri*ret, n.

Defn: Same as Coerulignone.

CEDRY Ce"dry, a.

Defn: Of the nature of cedar. [R.]

CEDULE Ced"ule, n. Etym: [F. cédule, fr. L. shedula. See Shedule.]

Defn: A scroll; a writing; a schedule. [Obs.]

CEDUOUS Ced"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. caeduus, fr. caedere to cut down.]

Defn: Fit to be felled. [Obs.] Eyelyn.

CEIL Ceil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceiling.] Etym: [From an older noun, fr. F. ciel heaven, canopy, fr. L. carlum heaven, vault, arch, covering; cf. Gr.

1. To overlay or cover the inner side of the roof of; to furnish with a ceiling; as, to ceil a room. The greater house he ceiled with fir tree. 2 Chron. iii. 5

2. To line or finish a surface, as of a wall, with plaster, stucco, thin boards, or the like.

CEILING Ceil"ing, n. Etym: [See Cell, v. t.]

1. (Arch.) (a) The inside lining of a room overhead; the under side of the floor above; the upper surface opposite to the floor. (b) The lining or finishing of any wall or other surface, with plaster, thin boards, etc.; also, the work when done.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: The inner planking of a vessel. Camp ceiling. See under Camp. -- Ceiling boards, Thin narrow boards used to ceil with.

CEINT Ceint, n. Etym: [See Cincture.]

Defn: A girdle. [Obs.]

CEINTURE Cein`ture", n. [F.]

Defn: A cincture, girdle, or belt; -- chiefly used in English as a dressmaking term.

CELADON Cel"a*don, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A pale sea-green color; also, porcelain or fine pottery of this tint.

CELANDINE; CALANDINE Cel"an*dine, Cal"an*dine, n. Etym: [OE. celidoine, OF. celidoine, F. chélidoine, fr. L. chelidonia (sc. herba), fr. chelidonius pertaining to the swallow, Gr. hirundo a swallow.] (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial herbaceous plant (Chelidonium majus) of the poppy family, with yellow flowers. It is used as a medicine in jandice, etc., and its acrid saffron-colored juice is used to cure warts and the itch; -- called also greater celandine and swallowwort. Lasser celandine, the pilewort (Ranunculus Ficaria).

CELATURE Cel"a*ture, n. Etym: [L. caelatura, fr. caelare to engrave in relief.]

1. The act or art of engraving or embossing.

2. That which is engraved. [Obs.] Hakewill.

CELEBRANT Cel"e*brant, n. Etym: [L. celebrans, p. pr. of celebrare. See Celebrate.]

Defn: One who performs a public religious rite; -- applied particularly to an officiating priest in the Roman Catholic Church, as distinguished from his assistants.

CELEBRATE Cel"e*brate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Celebrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Celebrating.] Etym: [L. celebratus, p. p. of celebrare to frequent, to celebrate, fr. celeber famous.]

1. To extol or honor in a solemn manner; as, to celebrate the name of the Most High.

2. To honor by solemn rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep; as, to celebrate a birthday. Fron even unto shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Lev. xxiii. 32.

3. To perforn or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites; as, to celebrate a marriage.

Syn. -- To commemorate; distinguish; honor. -- To Celebrate, Commemorate. We commemorate events which we desire to keep in remembrance, when we recall them by some special observace; as, to commemorate the death of our Savior. We celebrate by demonstrations of joy or solemnity or by appropriate ceremonies; as, to celebrate the birthday of our Independence. We are called upon to commemorate a revolution as surprising in its manner as happy in its consequences. Atterbury. Earth, water, air, and fire, with feeling glee, Exult to celebrate thy festival. Thomson.

CELEBRATED Cel"e*bra`ted, a.

Defn: Having celebrity; distinguished; renowned. Celebrated for the politeness of his manners. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Distinguished; famous; noted; famed; renowned; illustrious. See Distinguished.

CELEBRATION Cel`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. celebratio.]

Defn: The act, process, or time of celebrating. His memory deserving a particular celebration. Clarendok. Celebration of Mass is equivalent to offering Mass Cath. Dict. To hasten the celebration of their marriage. Sir P. Sidney.

CELEBRATOR Cel"e*bra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who celebrates; a praiser. Boyle.

CELEBRIOUS Ce*le"bri*ous, a.

Defn: Famous. [Obs.] Speed.

CELEBRITY Ce*leb"ri*ty, n.; pl. Celebriries. Etym: [L. celebritas: cf. F. célébrité.]

1. Celebration; solemnization. [Obs.] The celebrity of the marriage. Bacon.

2. The state or condition of being celebrated; fame; renown; as, the celebrity of Washington. An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy. Whewell.

3. A person of distinction or renown; -- usually in the plural; as, he is one of the celebrities of the place.

CELERIAC Ce*le"ri*ac, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Turnip-rooted celery, a from of celery with a large globular root, which is used for food.

CELERITY Ce*ler"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. celeritas, from celer swiftm speedy: sf. F. célérité.]

Defn: Rapidity of motion; quickness; swiftness. Time, with all its celerity, moves slowly to him whose whole employment is to watch its flight. Johnson.

CELERY Cel"er*y, n. Etym: [F. céleri, cf. Prov. It. seleno, seler; fr. Gr. celery. Cf. Parsley.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the Parsley family (Apium graveolens), of which the blanched leafstalks are used as a salad.

CELESTIAL Ce*les"tial, a. Etym: [OF. celestial, celestied, fr. L. caelestic, fr. caelum heaved. See Cell.]

1. Belonging to the aërial regions, or visible heavens. "The twelve celestial signs." Shak.

2. Of or pertaining to the spiritual heaven; heavenly; divine. "Celestial spirits." "Celestial light," Milton. Celestial city, heaven; the heavenly Jerusalem. Bunyan. -- Celestial empire, China; -- so called from the Chinese words, tien chan, Heavenly Dynasty, as being the kingdom ruled over by the dynasty appoined by heaven. S. W. Williams.

CELESTIAL Ce*les"tial, n.

1. An inhabitant of heaven. Pope.

2. A native of China.

CELESTIALIZE Ce*les"tial*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make celestial. [R.]

CELESTIALLY Ce*les"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a celestial manner.

CELESTIFY Ce*les"ti*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. caelestis heavenly + -fly.]

Defn: To make like heaven. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CELESTINE; CELESTITE Cel"es*tine, Cel"es*tite,, n. Etym: [LL. caelestinus bine.] (Min.)

Defn: Native strontium sulphate, a mineral so named from its occasional delicate blue color. It occurs crystallized, also in compact massive and fibrous forms.

CELESTINE; CELESTINIAN Cel"es*tine, Cel`es*tin"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: A monk of the austere branch of the Franciscan Order founded by Celestine V. in the 13th centry.

CELIAC Ce"li*ac, a. (Anat.)

Defn: See Coellac.

CELIBACY Ce*lib"a*cy, n. Etym: [See Celibate, n.]

Defn: The state of being unmarried; single life, esp. that of a bachelor, or of one bound by vows not to marry. "The celibacy of the clergy." Hallom.

CELIBATE Cel"i*bate, n. Etym: [L. aelibatus, fr. caelebs unmarried, single.]

1. Celibate state; celibacy. [Obs.] He . . . preferreth holy celibate before the estate of marrige. Jer. Taylor.

2. One who is unmarried, esp. a bachelor, or one bound by vows not to marry.

CELIBATE Cel"i*bate, a.

Defn: Unmarried; single; as, a celibate state.

CELIBATIST Ce*lib"a*tist, n.

Defn: One who lives unmarried. [R.]

CELIDOGRAPHY Cel`i*dog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. célidographie.]

Defn: A description of apparent spots on the disk of the sun, or on planets.

CELL Cell, n. Etym: [OF. celle, fr. L. cella; akin to celare to hide, and E. hell, helm, conceal. Cf. Hall.]

1. A very small and close apartment, as in a prison or in a monastery or convent; the hut of a hermit. The heroic confessor in his cell. Macaulay.

2. A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent. "Cells or dependent priories." Milman.

3. Any small cavity, or hollow place.

4. (Arch.) (a) The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof. (b) Same as Cella.

5. (Elec.)

Defn: A jar of vessel, or a division of a compound vessel, for holding the exciting fluid of a battery.

6. (Biol.)

Defn: One of the minute elementary structures, of which the greater part of the various tissues and organs of animals and plants are composed.

Note: All cells have their origin in the primary cell from which the organism was developed. In the lowest animal and vegetable forms, one single cell constitutes the complete individual, such being called unicelluter orgamisms. A typical cell is composed of a semifluid mass of protoplasm, more or less granular, generally containing in its center a nucleus which in turn frequently contains one or more nucleoli, the whole being surrounded by a thin membrane, the cell wall. In some cells, as in those of blood, in the amoeba, and in embryonic cells (both vegetable and animal), there is no restricting cell wall, while in some of the unicelluliar organisms the nucleus is wholly wanting. See Illust. of Bipolar. Air cell. See Air cell. -- Cell development (called also cell genesis, cell formation, and cytogenesis), the multiplication, of cells by a process of reproduction under the following common forms; segmentation or fission, gemmation or budding, karyokinesis, and endogenous multiplication. See Segmentation, Gemmation, etc. -- Cell theory. (Biol.) See Cellular theory, under Cellular.

CELL Cell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Celled.]

Defn: To place or inclosed in a cell. "Celled under ground." [R.] Warner.

CELLA Cel"la, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)

Defn: The part inclosed within the walls of an ancient temple, as distinguished from the open porticoes.

CELLAR Cel"lar, n. Etym: [OE. celer, OF. celier, F. celier, fr. L. cellarium a receptacle for food, pantry, fr. cella storeroom. See Cell.]

Defn: A room or rooms under a building, and usually below the surface of the ground, where provisions and other stores are kept.

CELLARAGE Cel"lar*age, n.

1. The space or storerooms of a cellar; a cellar. Sir W. Scott. You hear this fellow in the cellarage. Shak.

2. Chare for storage in a cellar.

CELLARER Cel"lar*er, n. Etym: [LL. cellararius, equiv. to L. cellarius steward: cf. F. cellérier. See Cellar.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A steward or butler of a monastery or chapter; one who has charge of procuring and keeping the provisions.

CELLARET Cel`lar*et", n. Etym: [Dim of cellar.]

Defn: A receptacle, as in a dining room, for a few bottles of wine or liquor, made in the form of a chest or coffer, or a deep drawer in a sideboard, and usually lined with metal.

CELLARIST Cel"lar*ist, n.

Defn: Same as Cellarer.

CELLED Celled, a.

Defn: Containing a cell or cells.

CELLEPORE Cel"le*pore, n. Etym: [L. cella cell + porus, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of delicate branching corals, made up of minute cells, belonging to the Bryozoa.

CELLIFEROUS Cel*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cell + -ferous.]

Defn: Bearing or producing cells.

CELLO Cel"lo, n.; pl. E. Cellos (, It. Celli (.

Defn: A contraction for Violoncello.

CELLULAR Cel"lu*lar, a. Etym: [L. cellula a little cell: cf. F. cellulaire. See Cellule.]

Defn: Consisting of, or containing, cells; of or pertaining to a cell or cells. Cellular plants, Cellular cryptogams (Bot.), those flowerless plants which have no ducts or fiber in their tissue, as mosses, fungi, lichens, and algæ. -- Cellular theory, or Cell theory (Biol.), a theory, according to which the essential element of every tissue, either vegetable or animal, is a cell; the whole series of cells having been formed from the development of the germ cell and by differentiation converted into tissues and organs which, both in plants ans animals, are to be considered as a mass of minute cells communicating with each other. -- Cellular tissue. (a) (Anat.) See conjunctive tissue under Conjunctive. (b) (Bot.) Tissue composed entirely of parenchyma, and having no woody fiber or ducts. cellular telephone, a portable radio- telephone transmitting and receiving the radio-telephonic signals from one of a group of transmitter-receiver stations so arranged that they provide adequate signal contact for such telephones over a certain geographical area. The area within which one transmitter may service such portable telephones is called its "cell.

CELLULATED Cel"lu*la`ted, a.

Defn: Cellular. Caldwell.

CELLULE Cel"lule, n. Etym: [L. cellula a small apartment, dim. of cella: cf. F. cellule. See Cell.]

Defn: A small cell.

CELLULIFEROUS Cel`lu*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. cellula + -ferous.]

Defn: Bearing or producing little cells.

CELLULITIS Cel`lu*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cellula + -itis.]

Defn: An inflammantion of the cellular or areolar tissue, esp. of that lying immediately beneath the skin.

CELLULOID Cel"lu*loid`, n. Etym: [Cellulose + -oid.]

Defn: A substance composed essentially of gun cotton and camphor, and when pure resembling ivory in texture and color, but variously colored to imitate coral, tortoise shell, amber, malachite, etc. It is used in the manufacture of jewelry and many small articles, as combs, brushes, collars, and cuffs; -- originaly called xylonite.

CELLULOSE Cel"lu*lose`, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or containing, cells.

CELLULOSE Cel"lu*lose`, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The substance which constitutes the essential part of the solid framework of plants, of ordinary wood, linen, paper, etc. It is also found to a slight extent in certain animals, as the tunicates. It is a carbohydrate, (C6H10O5)n, isomeric with starch, and is convertible into starches and sugars by the action of heat and acids. When pure, it is a white amorphous mass. See Starch, Granulose, Lignin. Unsized, well bleached linen paper is merely pure cellulose. Goodale. Starch cellulose, the delicate framework which remains when the soluble part (granulose) of starch is removed by saliva or pepsin. Goodale.

CELOTOMY Ce*lot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The act or operation of cutting, to relieve the structure in strangulated hernia. [Frequently written kelotomy.]

CELSITURE Cel"si*ture, n. Etym: [L. celstudo, from celsus high: cf. celsitude.]

Defn: Height; altitude. [Obs.]

CELSIUS Cel"si*us, n.

Defn: The Celsius thermometer or scale, so called from Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer, who invented it. It is the same as the centigrade thermometer or scale.

CELT Celt, n. Etym: [L. Celtae, Gr. Celtiad one that dwells in a covert, an inhabitant of the wood, a Celt, fr. celt covert, shelter, celu to hide.]

Defn: One of an ancient race of people, who formerly inhabited a great part of Central and Western Europe, and whose descendants at the present day occupy Ireland, Wales, the Highlands of Scotland, and the northern shores of France. [Written also Kelt. The letter C was pronounced hard in Celtic languages.]

CELT Celt, n. Etym: [LL. celts a chisel.] (Archæol.)

Defn: A weapon or implement of stone or metal, found in the tumuli, or barrows, of the early Celtic nations.

CELTIBERIAN Celt`i*be"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Celtiber, Celtibericus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the ancient Celtiberia (a district in Spain lying between the Ebro and the Tagus) or its inhabitants the Celtiberi (Celts of the river Iberus). -- n.

Defn: An inhabitant of Celtiberia.

CELTIC Celt"ic, a. Etym: [L. Celticus, Gr. Celt.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Celts; as, Celtic people, tribes, literature, tongue. [Written also Keltic.]

CELTIC Celt"ic, n.

Defn: The language of the Celts.

Note: The remains of the old Celtic language are found in the Gaelic, the Erse or Irish the Manx, and the Welsh and its cognate dialects Cornish and Bas Breton.

CELTICISM Celt"i*cism, n.

Defn: A custom of the Celts, or an idiom of their language. Warton.

CELTICIZE Celt"i*cize`, v. t.

Defn: To render Celtic; to assimilate to the Celts.

CELTIUM Cel"ti*um, n. [NL.] (Chem.)

Defn: A supposed new element of the rare-earth group, accompanying lutecium and scandium in the gadolinite earths. Symbol, Ct (no period).

CEMBALO Cem"ba*lo, n. Etym: [It. See Cymbal.]

Defn: An old mname for the harpsichord.

CEMENT Ce*ment", n. Etym: [OF. cement, ciment, F. ciment, fr. L. caementum a rough, unhewn stone, pieces or chips of marble, from which mortar was made, contr. fr. caedimentum, fr. caedere to cut, prob. akin to scindere to cleave, and to E. shed, v. t.]

1. Any substance used for making bodies adhere to each other, as mortar, glue, etc.

2. A kind of calcined limestone, or a calcined mixture of clay and lime, for making mortar which will harden under water.

3. The powder used in cementation. See Cementation, n.., 2.

4. Bond of union; that which unites firmly, as persons in friendship, or men in society. "The cement of our love."

5. (Anat.)

Defn: The layer of bone investing the root and neck of a tooth; -- called also cementum. Hydraulic cement. See under Hydraulic.

CEMENT Ce*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cemented; p. pr. & vb. n. Cementing.] Etym: [Cf. F. cimenter. See Cement, n.]

1. To unite or cause to adhere by means of a cement. Bp. Burnet.

2. To unite firmly or closely. Shak.

3. To overlay or coat with cement; as, to cement a cellar bottom.

CEMENT Ce*ment", v. i.

Defn: To become cemented or firmly united; to cohere. S. Sharp.

CEMENTAL Ce*ment"al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cement, as of a tooth; as, cemental tubes. R. Owen.

CEMENTATION Cem`en*ta"tion, n.

1. The act or process of cementing.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: A process which consists in surrounding a solid body with the powder of other substances, and heating the whole to a degree not sufficient to cause fusion, the physical properties of the body being changed by chemical combination with powder; thus iron becomes steel by cementation with charcoal, and green glass becomes porcelain by cementation with sand.

CEMENTATORY Ce*ment"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Having the quality of cementating or uniting firmly.

CEMENTER Ce*ment"er, n.

Defn: A person or thing that cements.

CEMENTITIOUS Cem`en*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. caementitius pertaining to quarry stones. See Cement, n. ]

Defn: Of the nature of cement. [R.] Forsyth.

CEMENT STEEL Ce*ment" steel.

Defn: Steel produced by cementation; blister steel.

CEMETERIAL Cem`e*te"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a cemetery. "Cemeterial cells." [R.] Sir T. Browne.

CEMETERY Cem"e*ter*y, n.; pl. Cemeteries (. Etym: [L. cemeterium, Gr.

Defn: A place or ground set apart for the burial of the dead; a graveyard; a churchyard; a necropolis.

CENANTHY Ce*nan"thy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The absence or suppression of the essential organs (stamens and pistil) in a flower.

CENATION Ce*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. cenatio.]

Defn: Meal-taking; dining or supping. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CENATORY Cen"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. cenatorius, fr. cenare to dine, sup, fr. cena, coena, dinner, supper.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [R.] The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment. Sir T. Browne.

CENOBITE Cen"o*bite, n. Etym: [L. coenobita, fr. Gr. cénobite.]

Defn: One of a religious order, dwelling in a convent, or a community, in opposition to an anchoret, or hermit, who lives in solitude. Gibbon.

CENOBITIC; CENOBITICAL Cen`o*bit"ic, Cen`o*bit"ic*al a. Etym: [Cf. F. cénobitique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a cenobite.

CENOBITISM Cen"o*bi*tism, n.

Defn: The state of being a cenobite; the belief or practice of a cenobite. Milman.

CENOGAMY Ce*nog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The state of a communty which permits promiseuous sexual intercourse among its members, as in certain societies practicing communism.

CENOTAPH Cen"o*taph, n. Etym: [Gr. cénotaphe.]

Defn: An empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person who is buried elsewhere. Dryden. A cenotaph in Westminster Abbey. Macaulay.

CENOTAPHY Cen"o*taph`y, n.

Defn: A cenotaph. [R.] Lord Cobham honored him with a cenotaphy. Macaulay.

CENOZOIC Ce`no*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)

Defn: Belonging to the most recent division of geological time, including the tertiary, or Age of mammals, and the Quaternary, or Age of man. [Written also cænozoic, cainozoic, kainozoic.] See Geology.

Note: This word is used by many authors as synonymous with Tertiary, the Quaternary Age not being included.

CENSE Cense, n. Etym: [OF. cense, F. cens, L. census. See Census.]

1. A census; -- also, a public rate or tax. [Obs.] Howell. Bacon.

2. Condition; rank. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CENSE Cense, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Censed; p. pr. & vb. n. Censing.] Etym: [Abbrev. from incense.]

Defn: To perfume with odors from burning gums and spices. The Salii sing and cense his altars round. Dryden.

CENSE Cense, v. i.

Defn: To burn or scatter incense.

CENSER Cen"ser, n. Etym: [For incenser, fr. OF. encensier, F. encensoir, fr. LL. incensarium, incensorium, fr. L. incensum incense. See Incense, and cf. Incensory.]

Defn: A vessel for perfumes; esp. one in which incense is burned.

Note: The ecclesiastical censer is usually cup-shaped, has a cover pierced with holes, and is hung by chains. The censer bearer swings it to quicken the combustion. Her thoughts are like the fume of frankincense Which from a golden censer forth doth rise. Spenser.

CENSOR Cen"sor, n. Etym: [L. censor, fr. censere to value, tax.]

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: One of two magistrates of Rome who took a register of the number and property of citizens, and who also exercised the office of inspector of morals and conduct.

2. One who is empowered to examine manuscripts before they are committed to the press, and to forbid their publication if they contain anything obnoxious; -- an official in some European countries.

3. One given to fault-finding; a censurer. Nor can the most circumspect attention, or steady rectitude, escape blame from censors who have no inclination to approve. Rambler.

4. A critic; a reviewer. Received with caution by the censors of the press. W. Irving.

CENSORIAL Cen*so"ri*al, a.

1. Belonging to a censor, or to the correction of public morals. Junius.

2. Full of censure; censorious. The censorial declamation of Juvenal. T. Warton.

CENSORIAN Cen*so"ri*an, a.

Defn: Censorial. [R.] Bacon.

CENSORIOUS Cen*so"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. censorius pertaining to the censor. See Censor.]

1. Addicted to censure; apt to blame or condemn; severe in making remarks on others, or on their writings or manners. A dogmatical spirit inclines a man to be consorious of his neighbors. Watts.

2. Implying or expressing censure; as, censorious remarks.

Syn. -- Fault-finding; carping; caviling; captious; severe; condemnatory; hypercritical. -- Cen*so"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Cen*so"ri*ous*ness, n.

CENSORSHIP Cen"sor*ship, n.

Defn: The office or power of a censor; as, to stand for a censorship. Holland. The press was not indeed at that moment under a general censorship. Macaulay.

CENSUAL Cen"su*al, a. Etym: [L. censualis, fr. census.]

Defn: Relating to, or containing, a census. He caused the whole realm to be described in a censual roll. Sir R. Baker.

CENSURABLE Cen"sur*a*ble, a.

Defn: Deserving of censure; blamable; culpable; reprehensible; as, a censurable person, or censurable conduct. -- Cen"sur*a*bleness, n. -- Cen"sur*a*bly, adv.

CENSURE Cen"sure, n. Etym: [L. censura fr. censere: cf. F. censure. Cf. Censor.]

1. Judgment either favorable or unfavorable; opinion. [Obs.] Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Shak.

2. The act of blaming or finding fault with and condemning as wrong; reprehension; blame. Both the censure and the praise were merited. Macaulay.

3. Judicial or ecclesiastical sentence or reprimand; condemnatory judgment. Excommunication or other censure of the church. Bp. Burnet.

Syn. -- Blame; reproof; condemnation; reprobation; disapproval; disapprobation; reprehension; animadversion; reprimand; reflection; dispraise; abuse.

CENSURE Cen"sure, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Censured; p. pr. & vb. n. Censuring.] Etym: [Cf. F. ensurer.]

1. To form or express a judgment in regard to; to estimate; to judge. [Obs.] "Should I say more, you might well censure me a flatterer." Beau. & Fl.

2. To find fault with and condemn as wrong; to blame; to express disapprobation of. I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty. Shak.

3. To condemn or reprimand by a judicial or ecclesiastical sentence. Shak.

Syn. -- To blame; reprove; rebuke; condemn; reprehend; reprimand.

CENSURE Cen"sure, v. i.

Defn: To judge. [Obs.] Shak.

CENSURER Cen"sur*er, n.

Defn: One who censures. Sha.

CENSUS Cen"sus, n. Etym: [L. census, fr. censere. See Censor.]

1. (Bot. Antiq.)

Defn: A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; -- usually made once in five years.

2. An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country.

Note: A general census of the United States was first taken in 1790, and one has been taken at the end of every ten years since.

CENT Cent, n. Etym: [F. cent hundred, L. centum. See Hundred.]

1. A hundred; as, ten per cent, the proportion of ten parts in a hundred.

2. A United States coin, the hundredth part of a dollar, formerly made of copper, now of copper, tin, and zinc.

3. An old game at cards, supposed to be like piquet; -- so called because 100 points won the game. Nares.

CENTAGE Cent"age, n.

Defn: Rate by the hundred; percentage.

CENTAL Cen"tal, n. Etym: [L. centum a hundred.]

Defn: A weight of one hundred pounds avoirdupois; -- called in many parts of the United States a Hundredweight.

CENTAL Cen"tal, n.

Defn: Relating to a hundred. Cental system, the method of buying and selling by the cental, or hundredweight.

CENTARE Cen"tare`, n. Etym: [F. centiare; centi- (L. centum) + -are.]

Defn: A measure of area, the hundredth part of an are; one square meter, or about 1

CENTAUR Cen"taur, n. Etym: [L. centaurus, Gr.

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A fabulous being, represented as half man and half horse.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A constellation in the southern heavens between Hydra and the Southern Cross.

CENTAUREA Cen`tau*re"a, n. Etym: [NL. See Centaury.] (Bot.)

Defn: A large genus of composite plants, related to the thistles and including the cornflower or bluebottle (Centaurea Cyanus) and the star thistle (C. Calcitrapa).

CENTAUROMACHY Cen`tau*rom"a*chy, n. [Gr. ; centaur + battle.] (Ancient Art)

Defn: A fight in which centaurs take part, -- a common theme for relief sculpture, as in the Parthenon metopes.

CENTAURY Cen"tau*ry, n. Etym: [L. centaureum and centauria, Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A gentianaceous plant not fully identified. The name is usually given to the Erytheræa Centaurium and the Chlora perfoliata of Europe, but is also extended to the whole genus Sabbatia, and even to the unrelated Centaurea.

CENTENARIAN Cen`te*na"ri*an, a.

Defn: Of or relating to a hundred years. -- n.

Defn: A person a hundred years old.

CENTENARY Cen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [L. centenarius, fr. centum a hundred.]

1. Relating to, or consisting of, a hundred.

2. Occurring once in every hundred years; centennial. "Centenary solemnities." Fuller.

CENTENARY Cen"te*na*ry, n.; pl. Centenaries (.

1. The aggregate of a hundred single things; specifically, a century. "Every centenary of years." Hakewill.

2. A commemoration or celebration of an event which occurred a hudred years before.

CENTENNIAL Cen*ten"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + annus year.]

1. Relating to, or associated with, the commemoration of an event that happened a hundred years before; as, a centennial ode.

2. Happening once in a hundred years; as, centennial jubilee; a centennial celebration.

3. Lasting or aged a hundred years. Thet opened through long lines Of sacred ilex and centennial pines. Longfellow.

CENTENNIAL Cen*ten"ni*al, n.

Defn: The celebration of the hundredth anniversary of any event; a centenary. [U. S.]

CENTENNIALLY Cen*ten"ni*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Once in a hundred years.

CENTENNIAL STATE Centennial State.

Defn: Colorado; -- a nickname alluding to the fact that it was admitted to the Union in the centennial year, 1876.

CENTER Cen"ter, n. Etym: [F. centre, fr. L. centrum, fr. round which a circle is described, fr.

1. A point equally distant from the extremities of a line, figure, or body, or from all parts of the circumference of a circle; the middle point or place.

2. The middle or central portion of anything.

3. A principal or important point of concentration; the nucleus around which things are gathered or to which they tend; an object of attention, action, or force; as, a center of attaction.

4. The earth. [Obs.] Shak.

5. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who support the existing government. They sit in the middle of the legislative chamber, opposite the presiding officer, between the conservatives or monarchists, who sit on the right of the speaker, and the radicals or advanced republicans who occupy the seats on his left, See Right, and Left.

6. (Arch.)

Defn: A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position util the work becomes self-supporting.

7. (Mech.) (a) One of the two conical steel pins, in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves. (b) A conical recess, or indentation, in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.

Note: In a lathe the live center is in the spindle of the head stock; the dead center is on the tail stock. Planer centers are stocks carrying centers, when the object to be planed must be turned on its axis. Center of an army, the body or troops ossupying the place in the line between the wings. -- Center of a curve or surface (Geom.) (a) A point such that every line drawn through the point and terminated by the curve or surface is bisected at the point. (b) The fixed point of reference in polar coördinates. See Coördinates. -- Center of curvature of a curve (Geom.), the center of that circle which has at any given point of the curve closer contact with the curve than has any other circle whatever. See Circle. -- Center of a fleet, the division or column between the van and rear, or between the weather division and the lee. -- Center of gravity (Mech.), that point of a body about which all its parts can be balanced, or which being supported, the whole body will remain at rest, though acted upon by gravity. -- Center of gyration (Mech.), that point in a rotating body at which the whole mass might be concentrated (theoretically) without altering the resistance of the intertia of the body to angular acceleration or retardaton. -- Center of inertia (Mech.), the center of gravity of a body or system of bodies. -- Center of motion, the point which remains at rest, while all the other parts of a body move round it. -- Center of oscillation, the point at which, if the whole matter of a suspended body were collected, the time of oscillation would be the same as it is in the actual form and state of the body. -- Center of percussion, that point in a body moving about a fixed axis at which it may strike an obstacle without communicating a shock to the axis. -- Center of pressure (Hydros.), that point in a surface pressed by a fluid, at which, if a force equal to the whole pressure and in the same line be applied in a contrary direction, it will balance or counteract the whole pressure of the fluid.

CENTER; CENTRE Cen"ter, Cen"tre v. i. [imp. & p. p. Centered or Centred (; p. pr. & vb. n. Centering or Centring.]

1. To be placed in a center; to be central.

2. To be collected to a point; to be concentrated; to rest on, or gather about, as a center. Where there is no visible truth wherein to center, error is as wide as men's fancies. Dr. H. More. Our hopes must center in ourselves alone. Dryden.

CENTER; CENTRE Cen"ter , Cen"tre, v. t.

1. To place or fix in the center or on a central point. Milton.

2. To collect to a point; to concentrate. Thy joys are centered all in me alome. Prior.

3. (Mech.)

Defn: To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.

CENTERBIT; CENTREBIT Cen"ter*bit`, Cen"tre*bit`, n.

Defn: An instrument turning on a center, for boring holes. See Bit, n., 3.

CENTERBOARD; CENTREBOARD Cen"ter*board`, Cen"tre*board,, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A movable or sliding keel formed of a broad board or slab of wood or metal which may be raised into a water-tight case amidships, when in shallow water, or may be lowered to increase the area of lateral resistance and prevent leeway when the vessel is beating to windward. It is used in vessels of all sizes along the coast of the United States

CENTERFIRE CARTRIDGE Cen"ter*fire` car"tridge.

Defn: See under Cartridge.

CENTERING Cen"ter*ing, n. (Arch.)

Defn: Same as Center, n., 6. [Written also centring.]

CENTERPIECE; CENTREPIECE Cen"ter*piece`, Cen"tre*piece`, n.

Defn: An ornament to be placed in the center, as of a table, ceiling, atc.; a central article or figure.

CENTESIMAL Cen*tes"i*mal, a. Etym: [L. centesimus the hundredth, fr. centum a hundred: cf. F. centésimal.]

Defn: Hundredth. -- n.

Defn: A hundredth part. The neglect of a few centesimals. Arbuthnot.

CENTESIMATION Cen*tes`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. centesimore to take out or select every hudredth, fr. centesimus hundredth.] (Mil.)

Defn: The infliction of the death penalty upon one person in every hundred, as in cases of mutiny.

CENTESIMO Cen*tes"i*mo, n.; pl. -mi. Etym: [It. & Sp.]

Defn: A copper coin of Italy and Spain equivalent to a centime.

CENTESM Cen"tesm, n. Etym: [L. centesima.]

Defn: Hundredth.

CENTIARE Cen"ti*are`, n. Etym: [F. See Centare.]

Defn: See centare.

CENTICIPITOUS Cen`ti*cip"i*tous, a. Etym: [L. centiceps, -cipitis; centum a hunder + caput head.]

Defn: Hundred-headed.

CENTIFIDOUS Cen*tif"i*dous, a. Etym: [L. centifidus; centum + findere to split.]

Defn: Divided into a hundred parts.

CENTIFOLIOUS Cen`ti*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. centifolius; centum + folium leaf.]

Defn: Having a hundred leaves.

CENTIGRADE Cen"ti*grade, a. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + gradus degree: cf. F. centigrade.]

Defn: Consisting of a hundred degrees; graduated into a hundred divisions or equal parts. Spesifically: of or pertaining the centigrade thermometer; as, 10° centigrade (or 10° C.). Centigrade thermometer, a thermometer having the zero or 0 at the point indicating the freezing state of water, and the distance between that and the point indicating the boiling state of water divided into one hundred degrees. It is called also the Celsius thermometer, from Anders Celsius, the originator of this scale.

CENTIGRAM; CENTIGRAMME Cen"ti*gram, Cen"ti*gramme, n. Etym: [F. centigramme; centi- (L. centum) + gramme. See Gram.]

Defn: The hundredth part of a gram; a weight equal to .15432 of a grain. See Gram.

CENTILITER; CENTILITRE Cen"ti*li`ter, Cen"ti*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. centilitre; centi (L. centum) + litre. See Liter.]

Defn: The hundredth part of a liter; a measure of volume or capacity equal to a little more than six tenths (0.6102) of a cubic inch, or one third (0.338) of a fluid ounce.

CENTILOQUY Cen*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. centum hundred + logui to speak.]

Defn: A work divided into a hundred parts. [R.] Burton.

CENTIME Cen`time", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. centesimus. See Centesimal.] (F. Coinage)

Defn: The hundredth part of a franc; a small French copper coin and money of account.

CENTIMETER; CENTIMETRE Cen"ti*me`ter, Cen"ti*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. centimètre; centi- (L. centum) + mètre. See Meter.]

Defn: The hundredth part of a meter; a measure of length equal to rather more than thirty-nine hundredths (0.3937) of an inch. See Meter.

CENTINEL Cen"ti*nel, n.

Defn: Sentinel. [Obs.] Sackville.

CENTINODY Cen*tin"o*dy, n. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + nodus knot: cf. F. centinode.] (Bot.)

Defn: A weed with a sterm of many joints (Illecebrum verticillatum); also, the Polygonum aviculare or knotgrass.

CENTIPED Cen"ti*ped, n. Etym: [L. centipeda; centum a hundred + pes, pedis, foot: cf. F. centipède.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of the Myriapoda; esp. the large, flattened, venomous kinds of the order Chilopoda, found in tropical climates. they are many-jointed, and have a great number of feet. [Written also centipede (

CENTISTERE Cen"ti*stere, n. Etym: [F. centistère; centi- (l. centum) + stère.]

Defn: The hundredth part of a stere, equal to .353 cubic feet.

CENTNER Cent"ner, n. Etym: [Cf. G. centner a hundred-weight, fr. L. centenarius of a hundred, fr. centum a hundred.]

1. (Metal. & Assaying)

Defn: A weight divisible first into a hundred parts, and then into smaller parts.

Note: The metallurgists use a weight divided into a hundred equal parts, each one pound; the whole they call a centner: the pound is divided into thirty-two parts, or half ounces; the half ounce into two quarters; and each of these into two drams. But the assayers use different weights. With them a centner is one dram, to which the other parts are proportioned.

2. The commercial hundredweight in several of the continental countries, varying in different places from 100 to about 112 pounds.

CENTO Cen"to, n.; pl. Centos. Etym: [L. cento a garment of several pieces sewed together, patchwork, a poem made up of various verses of another poem.]

Defn: A literary or a musical composition formed by selections from different authors disposed in a new order.

CENTONISM Cen"to*nism, n.

Defn: The composition of a cento; the act or practice of composing a cento or centos.

CENTRAL Cen"tral, a. Etym: [L. centralis, fr. centrum: cf. F. central. See Center.]

Defn: Relating to the center; situated in or near the center or middle; containing the center; of or pertaining to the parts near the center; equidistant or equally accessible from certain points. Central force (Math.), a force acting upon a body towards or away from a fixed or movable center. -- Center sun (Astron.), a name given to a hypothetical body about which Mädler supposed the solar system together with all the stars in the Milky Way, to be revolving. A point near Alcyone in the Pleiades was supposed to possess characteristics of the position of such a body.

CENTRAL; CENTRALE Cen"tral, Cen*tra"le, n. Etym: [NL. centrale, fr. L. centralis.] (Anat.)

Defn: The central, or one of the central, bones of the carpus or or tarsus. In the tarsus of man it is represented by the navicular.

CENTRALISM Cen"tral*ism, n.

1. The state or condition of being central; the combination of several parts into one whole; centralization.

2. The system by which power is centralized, as in a government.

CENTRALITY Cen*tral"i*ty, n.; pl. Centralities (.

Defn: The state of being central; tendency towards a center. Meantime there is a great centrality, a centripetence equal to the centrifugence. R. W. Emerson.

CENTRALIZATION Cen`tral*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. centralisation.]

Defn: The act or process of centralizing, or the state of being centralized; the act or process of combining or reducing several parts into a whole; as, the centralization of power in the general government; the centralization of commerce in a city.

CENTRALIZE Cen"tral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Centralized; p. pr. & vb. n. Centralizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. centraliser.]

Defn: To draw or bring to a center point; to gather into or about a center; to bring into one system, or under one control. [To] centralize the power of government. Bancroft.

CENTRALLY Cen"tral*ly, adv.

Defn: In a central manner or situation.

CENTRE Cen"tre, n. & v.

Defn: See Center.

CENTRIC; CENTRICAL Cen"tric, Cen"tric*al, a.

Defn: Placed in the center or middle; central. At York or some other centrical place. Sir W. Scott. -- Cen"tric*al*ly, adv. -- Cen"tric*al*ness, n.

CENTRICITY Cen*tric"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being centric; centricalness.

CENTRIFUGAL Cen*trif"u*gal, a. Etym: [L. centrum center + fugere to flee.]

1. Tending, or causing, to recede from the center.

2. (Bot.) (a) Expanding first at the summit, and later at the base, as a flower cluster. (b) Having the radicle turned toward the sides of the fruit, as some embryos. Centrifugal force (Mech.), a force whose direction is from a center.

Note: When a body moves in a circle with uniform velocity, a force must act on the body to keep it in the circle without change of velocity. The direction of this force is towards the center of the circle. If this force is applied by means of a string to the body, the string will be in a state of tension. To a person holding the other end of the string, this tension will appear to be directed toward the body as if the body had a tendency to move away from the center of the circle which it is describing. Hence this latter force is often called centrifugal force. The force which really acts on the body being directed towards the center of the circle is called centripetal force, and in some popular treatises the centripetal and centrifugal forces are described as opposing and balancing each other. But they are merely the different aspects of the same stress. Clerk Maxwell. Centrifugal impression (Physiol.), an impression (motor) sent from a nerve center outwards to a muscle or muscles by which motion is produced. -- Centrifugal machine, A machine for expelling water or other fluids from moist substances, or for separating liquids of different densities by centrifugal action; a whirling table. -- Centrifugal pump, a machine in which water or other fluid is lifted and discharged through a pipe by the energy imparted by a wheel or blades revolving in a fixed case. Some of the largest and most powerful pumps are of this kind.

CENTRIFUGAL Cen*trif"u*gal, n.

Defn: A centrifugal machine.

CENTRIFUGAL FILTER Cen*trif"u*gal fil"ter.

Defn: A filter, as for sugar, in which a cylinder with a porous or foraminous periphery is rapidly rotated so as to drive off liquid by centrifugal action.

CENTRIFUGENCE Cen*trif"u*gence, n.

Defn: The property or quality of being centrifugal. R. W. Emerson.

CENTRING Cen"tring, n.

Defn: See Centring.

CENTRIPETAL Cen*trip"e*tal, a. Etym: [L. centrum center + peter to more toward.]

1. Tending, or causing, to approach the center.

2. (Bot.) (a) Expanding first at the base of the inflorescence, and proceeding in order towards the summit. (b) Having the radicle turned toward the axis of the fruit, as some embryos.

3. Progressing by changes from the exterior of a thing toward its center; as, the centripetal calcification of a bone. R. Owen. Centripetal force (Mech.), a force whose direction is towards a center, as in case of a planet revolving round the sun, the center of the system, See Centrifugal force, under Centrifugal. -- Centripetal impression (Physiol.), an impression (sensory) transmitted by an afferent nerve from the exterior of the body inwards, to the central organ.

CENTRIPETENCE Cen*trip"e*tence, n.

Defn: Centripetency.

CENTRIPETENCY Cen*trip"e*ten*cy, n.

Defn: Tendency toward the center.

CENTRISCOID Cen*tris"coid, a. Etym: [NL. Centriscus (r. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Allied to, or resembling, the genus Centriscus, of which the bellows fish is an example.

CENTROBARIC Cen`tro*bar"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (

Defn: Relating to the center of gravity, or to the process of finding it. Centrobaric method (Math.), a process invented for the purpose of measuring the area or the volume generated by the rotation of a line or surface about a fixed axis, depending upon the principle that every figure formed by the revolution of a line or surface about such an axis has for measure the product of the line or surface by the length of the path of its center of gravity; -- sometimes called theorem of Pappus, also, incorrectly, Guldinus's properties. See Barycentric calculus, under Calculus.

CENTRODE Cen"trode, n. (Kinematics)

Defn: In two figures having relative motion, one of the two curves which are the loci of the instantaneous center.

CENTROID Cen"troid, n. Etym: [L. centrum + -oid.]

Defn: The center of mass, inertia, or gravity of a body or system of bodies.

CENTROLECITHAL Cen`tro*lec"i*thal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: Having the food yolk placed at the center of the ovum, segmentation being either regular or unequal. Balfour.

CENTROLINEAD Cen`tro*lin"e*ad, n.

Defn: An instrument for drawing lines through a point, or lines converging to a center.

CENTROLINEAL Cen`tro*lin"e*al, a. Etym: [L. centrum + linea line.]

Defn: Converging to a center; -- applied to lines drawn so as to meet in a point or center.

CENTROSOME Cen"tro*some`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A peculiar rounded body lying near the nucleus of a cell. It is regarded as the dynamic element by means of which the machinery of cell division is organized.

CENTROSPHERE Cen"tro*sphere, n. [Gr. centre + sphere.]

1. (Geol.)

Defn: The nucleus or central part of the earth, forming most of its mass; -- disting. from lithosphere, hydrosphere, etc.

2. (Biol.) The central mass of an aster from which the rays extend and within which the centrosome lies when present; the attraction sphere. The name has been used both as excluding and including the centrosome, and also to designate a modified mass of protoplasm about a centrosome whether aster rays are developed or not.

CENTROSTALTIC Cen`tro*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: A term applied to the action of nerve force in the spinal center. Marshall Hall.

CENTRUM Cen"trum, n.; pl. E. Centrums, L. Centra. Etym: [L., center.] (Anat.)

Defn: The body, or axis, of a vertebra. See Vertebra.

CENTRY Cen"try, n.

Defn: See Sentry. [Obs.] Gray.

CENTUMVIR Cen*tum"vir, n.; pl. Centumviri. Etym: [L., fr. centum hundred + Vir man.] (Rom. Hist.)

Defn: One of a court of about one hundred judges chosen to try civil suits. Under the empire the court was increased to 180, and met usually in four sections.

CENTUMVIRAL Cen*tum"vi*ral, a. Etym: [L. centumvitalis.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the centumviri, or to a centumvir.

CENTUMVIRATE Cen*tum"vi*rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. centumvirat.]

Defn: The office of a centumvir, or of the centumviri.

CENTUPLE Cen"tu*ple, a. Etym: [L. centuplex; centum + plicare to fold; cf. F. centuple.]

Defn: Hundredfold.

CENTUPLE Cen"tu*ple, v. t.

Defn: To increase a hundredfold.

CENTUPLICATE Cen*tu"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Centuplicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Centuplicating.] Etym: [L. centuplicare. See Centuple, a.]

Defn: To make a hundredfold; to repeat a hundred times. [R.] Howell.

CENTURIAL Cen*tu"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. See Century.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a century; as, a centurial sermon. [R.]

CENTURIATE Cen*tu"ri*ate, a. Etym: [L. centuriatus, p. p. of centuriare to divide (men) into centuries.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or divided into, centuries or hundreds. [R.] Holland.

CENTURIATE Cen*tu"ri*ate, v. t. Etym: [See century.]

Defn: To divide into hundreds. [Obs.]

CENTURIATOR; CENTURIST Cen*tu"ri*a`tor, Cen"tu*rist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. centuriateur.]

Defn: An historian who distinguishes time by centuries, esp. one of those who wrote the "Magdeburg Centuries." See under Century. [R.]

CENTURION Cen*tu"ri*on, n. Etym: [L. centurio, fr. centuria; cf. F. centurion. See Century.] (Rom. Hist.)

Defn: A military officer who commanded a minor division of the Roman army; a captain of a century. A centurion of the hand called the Italian band. Acts x. 1.

CENTURY Cen"tu*ry, n.; pl. Centuries. Etym: [L. centuria (in senses 1 & 3), fr. centum a hundred: cf. F. centurie. See Cent.]

1. A hundred; as, a century of sonnets; an aggregate of a hundred things. [Archaic.] And on it said a century of prayers. Shak.

2. A period of a hundred years; as, this event took place over two centuries ago.

Note: Century, in the reckoning of time, although often used in a general way of any series of hundred consecutive years (as, a century of temperance work), usually signifies a division of the Christian era, consisting of a period of one hundred years ending with the hundredth year from which it is named; as, the first century (a. d. 1-100 inclusive); the seventh century (a.d. 601-700); the eighteenth century (a.d. 1701-1800). With words or phrases connecting it with some other system of chronology it is used of similar division of those eras; as, the first century of Rome (A.U.C. 1-100).

3. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A division of the Roman people formed according to their property, for the purpose of voting for civil officers. (b) One of sixty companies into which a legion of the army was divided. It was Commanded by a centurion. Century plant (Bot.), the Agave Americana, formerly supposed to flower but once in a century; - - hence the name. See Agave. -- The Magdeburg Centuries, an ecclesiastical history of the first thirteen centuries, arranged in thirteen volumes, compiled in the 16th century by Protestant scholars at Magdeburg.

CEORL Ceorl (keôrl or cherl), n. [AS. See Churl, n.] (O. Eng. Hist.)

Defn: A freeman of the lowest class; one not a thane or of the servile classes; a churl.

CEPACEOUS Ce*pa"ceous, a. [L. cepa, caepa, onion.]

Defn: Of the nature of an onion, as in odor; alliaceous.

CEPEVOROUS Ce*pev"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. cepa an onion + varare to devour.]

Defn: Feeding upon onions. [R.] Sterling.

CEPHALAD Ceph"a*lad, adv. Etym: [Gr. ad toward.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Forwards; towards the head or anterior extremity of the body; opposed to caudad.

CEPHALALGIA; CEPHALALGY Ceph`a*lal"gi*a, Ceph"a*lal`gy, n. Etym: [L. cephalalgia, Gr. céphalalgie.] (Med.)

Defn: Pain in the head; headache.

CEPHALALGIC Ceph`a*lal"gic, a. Etym: [L. cephalalgicus, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Relating to, or affected with, headache. -- n.

Defn: A remedy for the headache.

CEPHALANTHIUM Ceph`a*lan"thi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Anthodium.

CEPHALASPIS Ceph`a*las"pis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A genus of fossil ganoid fishes found in the old red sandstone or Devonian formation. The head is large, and protected by a broad shield-shaped helmet prolonged behind into two lateral points.

CEPHALATA Ceph`a*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large division of Mollusca, including all except the bivalves; -- so called because the head is distinctly developed. See Illustration in Appendix.

CEPHALATE Ceph"a*late, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a head.

CEPHALIC Ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [L. cephalicus, Gr. céphalique.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the head. See the Note under Anterior. Cephalic index (Anat.), the ratio of the breadth of the cranium to the length, which is taken as the standard, and equal to 100; the breadth index. -- Cephalic vein, a large vein running from the back of the head alond the arm; -- so named because the ancients used to open it for disorders of the head. Dunglison.

CEPHALIC Ce*pha"lic, n.

Defn: A medicine for headache, or other disorder in the head.

CEPHALISM Ceph"a*lism, n. [Gr. head.] (Anthropol.)

Defn: Form or development of the skull; as, the races of man differ greatly in cephalism.

CEPHALITIS Ceph`a*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Same as Phrenitis.

CEPHALIZATION Ceph`a*li*za"tion, n.

Defn: Domination of the head in animal life as expressed in the physical structure; localization of important organs or parts in or near the head, in animal development. Dana.

CEPHALO; CEPHALO- Ceph"a*lo. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A combining form denoting the head, of the head, connected with the head; as, cephalosome, cephalopod.

CEPHALOCERCAL Ceph`a*lo*cer"cal, a. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Relating to the long axis of the body.

CEPHALOID Ceph"a*loid, a. Etym: [Cephalo- + -oid.]

Defn: Shaped like the head. Craing.

CEPHALOLOGY Ceph`a*lol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -logy.]

Defn: The science which treats of the head.

CEPHALOMERE Ceph"a*lo*mere, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -mere.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the somites (arthromeres) which make up the head of arthropods. Packard.

CEPHALOMETER Ceph`a*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -meter.] (Med.)

Defn: An instrument measuring the dimensions of the head of a fetus during delivery.

CEPHALOMETRY Ceph`a*lom"e*try, n. (Anthropometry)

Defn: The measurement of the heads of living persons. -- Ceph`a*lo*met"ric (#),a.

CEPHALON Ceph"a*lon, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The head.

CEPHALOPHORA Ceph`a*loph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cephalata.

CEPHALOPOD; CEPHALOPODE Ceph"a*lo*pod, Ceph"a*lo*pode, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Cephalopoda.

CEPHALOPODA Ceph"`a*lop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., gr. Gr. -poda: cf. F. céphalopode.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The highest class of Mollusca.

Note: They have, around the front of the head, a group of elongated muscular arms, which are usually furnished with prehensile suckers or hooks, The head is highly developed, with large, well organized eyes and ears, and usually with a cartilaginous brain case. The higher forms, as the cuttlefishes, squids, and octopi, swim rapidly by ejecting a jet of water from the tubular siphon beneath the head. They have a pair of powerful horny jaws shaped like a parrot's beak, and a bag of inklike fluid which they can eject from the siphon, thus clouding the water in order to escape from their enemies. They are divided into two orders, the Dibranchiata, having two gills and eight or ten sucker-bearing arms, and the Tetrabranchiata, with four gills and numerous arms without suckers. The latter are all extinct except the Nautilus. See Octopus, Squid, Nautilus.

CEPHALOPODIC; CEPHALOPODOUS Ceph`a*lo*pod"ic, Ceph`a*lop"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the cephalopods.

CEPHALOPTERA Ceph`a*lop"te*ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the generic names of the gigantic ray (Manta birostris), known as devilfish and sea devil. It is common on the coasts of South Carolina, Florida, and farther south. Some of them grow to enormous size, becoming twenty feet of more across the body, and weighing more than a ton.

CEPHALOSOME Ceph"a*lo*some, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -some body.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The anterior region or head of insects and other arthropods. Packard.

CEPHALOSTYLE Ceph"a*lo*style, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The anterior end of the notochord and its bony sheath in the base of cartilaginous crania.

CEPHALOTHORAX Ceph`a*lo*tho"rax, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + thorax.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The anterior portion of any one of the Arachnida and higher Crustacea, consisting of the united head and thorax.

CEPHALOTOME Ceph"a*lo*tome, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: An instrument for cutting into the fetal head, to facilitate delivery.

CEPHALOTOMY Ceph`a*lot"o*my, n.

1. Dissection or opening of the head.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Craniotomy; -- usually applied to bisection of the fetal head with a saw.

CEPHALOTRIBE Ceph"a*lo*tribe, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. to rub, grind.]

Defn: An obstetrical instrument for performing cephalotripsy.

CEPHALOTRIPSY Ceph"a*lo*trip`sy, n. Etym: [See Cephalotribe.] (Med.)

Defn: The act or operation of crushing the head of a fetus in the womb in order to effect delivery.

CEPHALOTROCHA Ceph`a*lot"ro*cha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of annelid larva with a circle of cilia around the head.

CEPHALOUS Ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a head; -- applied chiefly to the Cephalata, a division of mollusks.

CEPHEUS Ce"pheus, n.

Defn: (Astron.) A northern constellation near the pole. Its head, which is in the Milky Way, is marked by a triangle formed by three stars of the fourth magnitude. See Cassiopeia.

CERACEOUS Ce*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. cera wax.]

Defn: Having the texture and color of new wax; like wax; waxy.

CERAGO Ce*ra"go, n. Etym: [L. cera wax.]

Defn: Beebread.

CERAMIC Ce*ram"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Keramic.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to pottery; relating to the art of making earthenware; as, ceramic products; ceramic ornaments for ceilings.

CERAMICS Ce*ram"ics, n. Etym: [See Ceramic.]

1. The art of making things of baked clay; as pottery, tiles, etc.

2. pl.

Defn: Work formed of clay in whole or in part, and baked; as, vases, urns, etc. Knight.

CERARGYRITE Ce*rar"gy*rite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Native silver chloride, a mineral of a white to pale yellow or gray color, darkening on exposure to the light. It may be cut by a knife, like lead or horn (hence called horn silver).

CERASIN Cer"a*sin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white amorphous substance, the insoluble part of cherry gum; -- called also meta-arabinic acid.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: A gummy mucilaginous substance; -- called also bassorin, tragacanthin, etc.

CERASINOUS Ce*ras"i*nous, a.

1. Pertaining to, or containing, cerasin.

2. Of a cherry color.

CERASTES Ce*ras"tes, n. Etym: [L., a horned serpent, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of poisonous African serpents, with a horny scale over each eye; the horned viper.

CERATE Ce"rate, n. Etym: [L. ceratum, ceratm, fr. cera wax.] (Med.)

Defn: An unctuous preparation for external application, of a consistence intermediate between that of an ointment and a plaster, so that it can be spread upon cloth without the use of heat, but does not melt when applied to the skin.

Note: Cerate consists essentially of wax (for which resin or spermaceti is sometimes substituted) mixed with oil, lard, and various medicinal ingredients. The cerate (formerly called simple cerate) of the United States Pharmacopoeia is a mixture of three parts of white wax and seven parts of lard.

CERATED Ce"ra*ted, p. a. Etym: [L. ceratus, p. p. of cerare to wax, fr. cera wax.]

Defn: Covered with wax.

CERATINE Cer"a*tine, a. Etym: [Gr. (Lagic.)

Defn: Sophistical.

CERATOBRANCHIA Cer`a*to*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. n. pl., gills.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of nudibranchiate Mollusca having on the back papilliform or branched organs serving as gills.

CERATOBRANCHIAL Cer`a*to*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the bone, or cartilage, below the epibranchial in a branchial arch. -- n.

Defn: A ceratobranchial bone, or cartilage.

CERATODUS Ce*rat"o*dus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of ganoid fishes, of the order Dipnoi, first known as Mesozoic fossil fishes; but recently two living species have been discovered in Australian rivers. They have lungs so well developed that they can leave the water and breathe in air. In Australia they are called salmon and baramunda. See Dipnoi, and Archipterygium.

CERATOHYAL Cer`a*to*hy"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the bone, or carts, large, below the epihyal in the hyoid arch. -- n.

Defn: A ceratohyal bone, or cartilage, which, in man, forms one of the small horns of the hyoid.

CERATOSAURUS Cer`a*to*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A carnivorous American Jurassic dinosaur allied to the European Megalosaurus. The animal was nearly twenty feet in length, and the skull bears a bony horn core on the united nasal bones. See Illustration in Appendix.

CERATOSPONGIAE Cer`a*to*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of sponges in which the skeleton consists of horny fibers. It includes all the commercial sponges.

CERAUNICS Ce*rau"nics, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: That branch of physics which treats of heat and electricity. R. Park.

CERAUNOSCOPE Ce*rau"no*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]

Defn: An instrument or apparatus employed in the ancient mysteries to imitate thunder and lightning. T. Moore.

CERBEREAN Cer*be"re*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or resembling, Cerberus. [Written also Cerberian.] With wide Cerberean mouth. Milton.

CERBERUS Cer"be*rus, n. Etym: [L. Cerberus (in sense 1), gr.

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: A monster, in the shape, of a three-headed dog, guarding the entrance into the infernal regions, Hence: Any vigilant custodian or guardian, esp. if surly.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of East Indian serpents, allied to the pythons; the bokadam.

CERCAL Cer"cal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the tail.

CERCARIA Cer*ca"ri*a, n.; pl. Cercarle ( Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval form of a trematode worm having the shape of a tadpole, with its body terminated by a tail-like appendage.

CERCARIAN Cer*ca"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of, like, or pertaining to, the Cercariæ. -- n.

Defn: One of the Cercariæ.

CERCOPOD Cer"co*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the jointed antenniform appendage of the posterior somites of cartain insects. Packard.

CERCUS Cer"cus, n.; pl. Cerci (. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Cercopod.

CERE Cere, n. Etym: [L. cera wax: cf. F. cire.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The soft naked sheath at the base of the beak of birds of prey, parrots, and some other birds. See Beak.

CERE Cere, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cering.] Etym: [L. cerare, fr. cera wax: cf. F. cirer.]

Defn: To wax; to cover or close with wax. Wiseman.

CEREAL Ce"re*al, a. Etym: [L. Cerealis pert. to Ceres, and hence, to agriculture. See Ceres.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the grasses which are cultivated for their edible seeds (as wheat, maize, rice, etc.), or to their seeds or grain.

CEREAL Ce"re*al n.

Defn: Any grass cultivated for its edible grain, or the grain itself; -- usually in the plural.

CEREALIA Ce`re*a"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [L. See Cereal.]

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: Public festivals in honor of Ceres.

2. The cereals. Crabb.

CEREALIN Ce"re*a*lin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A nitrogenous substance closely resembling diastase, obtained from bran, and possessing the power of converting starch into dextrin, sugar, and lactic acid. Watts.

CEREBEL Cer"e*bel, n.

Defn: The cerebellum. Derham.

CEREBELLAR; CEREBELLOUS Cer`e*bel"lar, Cer`e*bel"lous, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the cerebellum.

CEREBELLUM Cer`e*bel"lum, n.; pl. E. Cerebellums (, L. Cerebella (. Etym: [L., dim. of cerebrum brain.] (Anat.)

Defn: The large lobe of the hind brain in front of and above the medulla; the little brain. It controls combined muscular action. See Brain.

CEREBRAL Cer"e*bral, a. Etym: [L. cerebrum brain; akin to Gr. cérébral. See Cheer.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the cerebrum. Cerebral apoplexy. See under Apoplexy.

CEREBRAL Cer"e*bral, n. Etym: [A false translation of the Skr. murdhanya, lit., head-sounds.]

Defn: One of a class of lingual consonants in the East Indian languages. See Lingual, n.

Note: Prof. W. D. Whitney calls these letters linguals, and this is their usual designation in the United States.

CEREBRALISM Cer"e*bral*ism, n. (Philos.)

Defn: The doctrine or theory that psychical phenomena are functions or products of the brain only.

CEREBRALIST Cer"e*bral*ist, n.

Defn: One who accepts cerebralism.

CEREBRATE Cer"e*brate, v. i. (Physiol.)

Defn: To exhibit mental activity; to have the brain in action.

CEREBRATION Cer`e*bra"tion, n.

Defn: Action of the brain, whether conscious or unconscious.

CEREBRIC Cer"e*bric, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the brain. Cerebric acid (Physiol. Chem.), a name formerly sometimes given to cerebrin.

CEREBRICITY Cer`e*bric"i*ty, n.

Defn: Brain power. [R.]

CEREBRIFORM Ce*reb"ri*form, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + -form.]

Defn: Like the brain in form or substance.

CEREBRIFUGAL Cer`e*brif"u*gal, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + L. fugere to flee.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the brain to the spinal cord, and so transfer cerebral impulses (centrifugal impressions) outwards.

CEREBRIN Cer"e*brin, n. Etym: [From Cerebrum.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A nonphosphorized, nitrogenous substance, obtained from brain and nerve tissue by extraction with boiling alcohol. It is uncertain whether it exists as such in nerve tissue, or is a product of the decomposition of some more complex substance.

CEREBRIPETAL Cer`e*brip"e*tal, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + L. petere to seek.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the spinal cord to the brain and so transfer sensations (centripetal impressions) from the exterior inwards.

CEREBRITIS Cer`e*bri"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. E. cerebrum + -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the cerebrum.

CEREBROID Cer"e*broid, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling, or analogous to, the cerebrum or brain.

CEREBROLOGY Cer`e*brol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cerebrum + -logy.]

Defn: The science which treats of the cerebrum or brain.

CEREBROPATHY Cer`e*brop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Cerebrum + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A hypochondriacal condition verging upon insanity, occurring in those whose brains have been unduly taxed; -- called also brain fag.

CEREBROSCOPY Cer`e*bros"co*py, n. Etym: [Cerebrum + -scopy.] (Med.)

Defn: Examination of the brain for the diagnosis of diseas; esp., the act or process of diagnosticating the condition of the brain by examination of the interior of the eye (as with an ophthalmoscope). Buck.

CEREBROSE Cer`e*brose", n. Etym: [From Cerebrum.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A sugarlike body obtained by the decomposition of the nitrogenous non-phosphorized principles of the brain.

CEREBRO-SPINAL Cer`e*bro-spi"nal, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + spinal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. Cerebro-spinal fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid secreted by the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. -- Cerebro-spinal meningitis, Cerebro-spinal fever (Med.), a dangerous epidemic, and endemic, febrile disease, characterized by inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, giving rise to severe headaches, tenderness of the back of the neck, paralysis of the ocular muscles, etc. It is sometimes marked by a cutaneous eruption, when it is often called spotted fever. It is not contagious.

CEREBRUM Cer"e*brum, n.; pl. E. Cerebrums, L. Cerebra. Etym: [L., the brain.] (Anat.)

Defn: The anterior, and in man the larger, division of the brain; the seat of the reasoning faculties and the will. See Brain.

CERECLOTH Cere"cloth`, n. Etym: [L. cera wax + E. cloth.]

Defn: A cloth smeared with melted wax, or with some gummy or glutinous matter. Linen, besmeared with gums, in manner of cerecloth. Bacon.

CEREMENT Cere"ment, n. Etym: [L. cera wax: cf. F. cirement.] (a) A cerecloth used for the special purpose of enveloping a dead body when embalmed. (b) Any shroud or wrapping for the dead.

CEREMONIAL Cer`e*mo"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. caerimonialis: cf. F. cérimonial. See Ceremony.]

1. Relating to ceremony, or external rite; ritual; according to the forms of established rites. Ceremonial observances and outward show. Hallam.

2. Observant of forms; ceremonious.

Note: [In this sense ceremonious is now preferred.] Donne. He moves in the dull ceremonial track. Druden.

CEREMONIAL Cer`e*mo"ni*al, n.

1. A system of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by law, or established by custom, in religious worship, social intercourse, or the courts of princes; outward form. The gorgeous ceremonial of the Burgundian court. Prescott.

2. The order for rites and forms in the Roman Catholic church, or the book containing the rules presribed to be observed on solemn occasions.

CEREMONIALISM Cer`e*mo"ni*al*ism, n.

Defn: Adherence to external rites; fondness for ceremony.

CEREMONIALLY Cer`e*mo"ni*al*ly, adv.

Defn: According to rites and ceremonies; as, a person ceremonially unclean.

CEREMONIALNESS Cer`e*mo"ni*al*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being ceremonial.

CEREMONIOUS Cer`e*mo"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cérémonieux, L. Caerimoniosus.]

1. Consisting of outward forms and rites; ceremonial.

Note: [In this sense ceremonial is now preferred.] The ceremonious part of His worship. South.

2. According to prescribed or customary rules and forms; devoted to forms and ceremonies; formally respectful; punctilious. "Ceremonious phrases." Addison. Too ceremonious and traditional. Shak.

Syn. -- Formal; precise; exact. See Formal.

CEREMONIOUSLY Cer`e*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a ceremonious way.

CEREMONIOUSNESS Cer`e*mo"ni*ous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality, or practice, of being ceremonious.

CEREMONY Cer"e*mo*ny, n.; pl. Ceremonies. Etym: [F. cérémonie, L. caerimonia; perh. akin to E. create and from a root signifying to do or make.]

1. Ar act or series of acts, often of a symbolical character, prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in consecrating a church; marriage and baptismal ceremonies. According to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof shall ye keep it [the Passover]. Numb. ix. 3 Bring her up the high altar, that she may The sacred ceremonies there partake. Spenser. [The heralds] with awful ceremony And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim A solemn council. Milton.

2. Behavior regulated by strict etiquette; a formal method of performing acts of civility; forms of civility prescribed by custom or authority. Ceremony was but devised at first To set a gloss on . . . hollow welcomes . . . But where there is true friendship there needs none. Shak. Al ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet a man of the world should know them. Chesterfield.

3. A ceremonial symbols; an emblem, as a crown, scepter, garland, etc. [Obs.] Disrobe the images, If you find them decked with ceremonies. . . . Let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. Shak.

4. A sign or prodigy; a portent. [Obs.] Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet, now they fright me. Shak. Master of ceremonies, an officer who determines the forms to be observed, or superintends their observance, on a public occasion. -- Not to stand on ceremony, not to be ceremonious; to be familiar, outspoken, or bold.

CEREOUS Ce"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. cereus, fr. cera was.]

Defn: Waxen; like wax. [Obs.] Gayton.

CERES Ce"res, n. Etym: [L., Ceres, also corn, grain, akin to E. create.]

1. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: The daughter of Saturn and Ops or Rhea, the goddess of corn and tillage.

2. (Actron.)

Defn: The first discovered asteroid.

CERESIN Cer"e*sin, n. Etym: [L. cera wax.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white wax, made by bleaching and purifying ozocerite, and used as a substitute for beeswax.

CEREUS Ce"re*us, n. Etym: [L., a wax candle, fr. cera wax. So named from the resemblance of one species to the columnar shape of a wax candle.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants of the Cactus family. They are natives of America, from California to Chili.

Note: Although several species flower in the night, the name Night- blooming cereus is specially applied to the Cereus grandiflorus, which is cultivated for its beautiful, shortlived flowers. The Cereus giganteus, whose columnar trunk is sometimes sixty feet in height, is a striking feature of the scenery of New Mexico, Texas, etc.

CEREVIS Cer"e*vis (ser"e*vis; G. tser`e*ves"), n. [G., fr. L. cerevisia, cervisia, beer.]

Defn: A small visorless cap, worn by members of German student corps. It is made in the corps colors, and usually bears the insignia of the corps.

CERIA Ce"ri*a (se"ri*a), n. (Chem.)

Defn: Cerium oxide, CeO2, a white infusible substance constituting about one per cent of the material of the common incandescent mantle.

CERIAL Cer"i*al, a.

Defn: Same as Cerial. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CERIFEROUS Ce*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ra wax + -ferous.]

Defn: Producing wax.

CERIN Ce"rin, n. Etym: [L. cera wax + -in: cf. L. cerinus wax-colored.]

1. (Chem.)

Defn: A waxy substance extracted by alcohol or ether from cork; sometimes applied also to the portion of beeswax which is soluble in alcohol. Watts.

2. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of the mineral allanite.

CERINTHIAN Ce*rin"thi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of an ancient religious sect, so called fron Cerinthus, a Jew, who attempted to unite the doctrines of Christ with the opinions of the Jews and Gnostics. Hook.

CERIPH Cer"iph, n. (Type Founding)

Defn: One of the fine lines of a letter, esp. one of the fine cross strokes at the top and bottom of letters. [Spelt also seriph.] Savage.

CERISE Ce*rise", a. Etym: [F., a cherry. See Cherry.]

Defn: Cherry-colored; a light bright red; --- applied to textile fabrics, especially silk.

CERITE Ce"rite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gastropod shell belonging to the family Cerithiïdæ; -- so called from its hornlike form.

CERITE Ce"rite, n. Etym: [From Cherium.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a brownish of cherry-red color, commonly massive. It is a hydrous silicate of cerium and allied metals.

CERIUM Ce"ri*um, n. Etym: [Named dy Berzelius in 1803 from the asteroid Ceres, then just discovered (1801).] (Chem.)

Defn: A rare metallic element, occurring in the minerals cerite, allanite, monazite, etc. Symbol Ce. Atomic weight 141.5. It resembles iron in color and luster, but is soft, and both malleable and ductile. It tarnishes readily in the air.

CERNUOUS Cer"nu*ous, a. Etym: [L. cernuus with the face turned toward the earth.] (Bot.)

Defn: Inclining or nodding downward; pendulous; drooping; -- said of a bud, flower, fruit, or the capsule of a moss.

CERO Ce"ro, n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. Sp. sierra saw, sawfish, cero.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large and valuable fish of the Mackerel family, of the genus Scomberomorus. Two species are found in the West Indies and less commonly on the Atlantic coast of the United States, -- the common cero (Scomberomorus caballa), called also kingfish, and spotted, or king, cero (S. regalis).

CEROGRAPH Ce"ro*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. khros wax + -graph.]

Defn: A writing on wax. Knight.

CEROGRAPHIC; CEROGRAPHICAL Ce`ro*graph"ic, Ce`ro*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cerography.

CEROGRAPHIST Ce*rog"ra*phist, n.

Defn: One who practices cerography.

CEROGRAPHY Ce*rog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

1. The art of making characters or designs in, or with, wax.

2. A method of making stereotype plates from inscribed sheets of wax.

CEROLITE Cer"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. * wax + -lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A hydrous silicate of magnesium, allied to serpentine, occurring in waxlike masses of a yellow or greenish color.

CEROMA Ce*ro"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

1. The unguent (a composition of oil and wax) with which wrestles were anointed among the ancient Romans.

2. (Anc. Arch.)

Defn: That part of the baths and gymnasia in which bathers and wrestlers anointed themselves.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cere of birds.

CEROMANCY Cer"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by dropping melted wax in water.

CEROON Ce*roon", n. Etym: [See Seroon.]

Defn: A bale or package. covered with hide, or with wood bound with hide; as, a ceroon of indigo, cochineal, etc.

CEROPLASTIC Ce`ro*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Fine arts) (a) Relating to the art of modeling in wax. (b) Modeled in wax; as, a ceroplastic figure.

CEROPLASTICS; CEROPLASTY Ce`ro*plas"tics, Ce`ro*plas"ty, n. Etym: [Gr. céroplastique.]

Defn: The art of modeling in wax.

CEROSIN Cer"o*sin, n. Etym: [L. cera wax.] (Chem.)

Defn: A waxy substance obtained from the bark of the sugar cane, and crystallizing in delicate white laminæ.

CEROTE Ce"rote, n. Etym: [Obs.]

Defn: See Cerate.

CEROTENE Cer"o*tene, n. Etym: [L. cerotum a pomade. See Cerate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white waxy solid obtained from Chinese wax, and by the distillation of cerotin.

CEROTIC Ce*rot"ic, a. Etym: [See Cerotene.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax or Chinese wax; as, cerotic acid or alcohol.

CEROTIN Cer"o*tin, n. Etym: [See Cerotene.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance, C27H55.OH, obtained from Chinese wax, and regarded as an alcohol of the marsh gas series; -- called also cerotic alcohol, ceryl alcohol.

CEROTYPE Ce"ro*type`, n. [Gr. wax + -type.]

Defn: A printing process of engraving on a surface of wax spread on a steel plate, for electrotyping.

CERRIAL Cer"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. cerreus, fr. cerrus a kind of oak.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the cerris. Chaplets green of cerrial oak. Dryden.

CERRIS Cer"ris, n. Etym: [L. cerrus.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of oak (Quercus cerris) native in the Orient and southern Europe; -- called also bitter oak and Turkey oak.

CERTAIN Cer"tain, a. Etym: [F. certain, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus, fr. L. certus determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere to perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. concern, critic, crime, riddle a sieve, rinse, v.]

1. Assured in mind; having no doubts; free from suspicions concerning. To make her certain of the sad event. Dryden. I myself am certain of you. Wyclif.

2. Determined; resolved; -- used with an infinitive. However, I with thee have fixed my lot, Certain to undergo like doom. Milton.

3. Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact. The dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Dan. ii. 45.

4. Actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable. Virtue that directs our ways Through certain dangers to uncertain praise. Dryden. Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. Shak.

5. Unfailing; infallible. I have often wished that I knew as certain a remedy for any other distemper. Mead.

6. Fixed or stated; regular; determinate. The people go out and gather a certain rate every day. Ex. xvi. 4.

7. Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; -- sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons. It came to pass when he was in a certain city. Luke. v. 12. About everything he wrote there was a certain natural grace und decorum. Macaulay. For certain, assuredly. -- Of a certain, certainly.

Syn. -- Bound; sure; true; undeniable; unquestionable; undoubted; plain; indubitable; indisputable; incontrovertible; unhesitating; undoubting; fixed; stated.

CERTAIN Cer"tain, n.

1. Certainty. [Obs.] Gower.

2. A certain number or quantity. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CERTAIN Cer"tain, adv.

Defn: Certainly. [Obs.] Milton.

CERTAINLY Cer"tain*ly, adv.

Defn: Without doubt or question; unquestionably.

CERTAINNESS Cer"tain*ness, n.

Defn: Certainty.

CERTAINTY Cer"tain*ty, n.; pl. Certainties. Etym: [OF. certaineté.]

1. The quality, state, or condition, of being certain. The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes. Fisher Ames.

2. A fact or truth unquestionable established. Certainties are uninteresting and sating. Landor.

3. (Law)

Defn: Clearness; freedom from ambiguity; lucidity. Of a certainty, certainly.

CERTES Cer"tes, adv. Etym: [F. certes, for à certes, fr. L. certus. See Certain.]

Defn: Certainly; in truth; verily. [Archaic] Certes it great pity was to see Him his nobility so foul deface. Spenser.

CERTIFICATE Cer*tif"i*cate, n. Etym: [F. certificat, fr. LL. certificatus made certain, p. p. of certificare. See tify.]

1. A written testimony to the truth of any fact; as, certificate of good behavior.

2. A written declaration legally authenticated. Trial by certificate, a trial which the testimony of the person certifying is the only proper criterion of the point in dispute; as, when the issue is whether a person was absent in the army, this is tried by the certificate of the proper officer in writing, under his seal. Blackstone.

CERTIFICATE Cer*tif"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Certificated; p. pr. & vb. n. Certificating.] Etym: [See Certify.]

1. To verify or vouch for by certificate.

2. To furnish with a certificate; as, to certificate the captain of a vessel; a certificated teacher.

CERTIFICATION Cer`ti*fi*ca"tion, n.Etym: [L. certificatio: cf. F. certification.]

Defn: The act of certifying.

CERTIFIER Cer"ti*fi`er, n.

Defn: One who certifies or assures.

CERTIFY Cer"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Certified; p. pr. & vb. n. Certifying.] Etym: [F. certifier, LL. certificare; L. certus certain + facere to make. See Certain, and cf. Certificate, v. t.]

1. To give cetain information to; to assure; to make certain. We certify the king, that . . . thou shalt have no portion on this side the river. Ezra iv. 16.

2. To give certain information of; to make certain, as a fact; to verify. Hammond. The industry of science at once certifies and greatly extends our knowledge of the vastness of the creation. I. Taylor.

3. To testify to in writing; to make a declaration concerning, in writing, under hand, or hand and seal. The judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor, and upon such certificate the decree is usually founded. Blackstone. Certified check, A bank check, the validity of which is certified by the bank on which it is drawn.

CERTIORARI Cer`ti*o*ra"ri, n. Etym: [So named from the emphatic word certiorari in the Latin form of the writ, which read certiorar volumus we wish to be certified.] (Law)

Defn: A writ issuing out of chancery, or a superior court, to call up the records of a inferior court, or remove a cause there depending, in order that the party may have more sure and speedy justice, or that errors and irreguarities may be corrected. It is obtained upon complaint of a party that he has not received justice, or can not have an impartial trial in the inferior court.

Note: A certiorari is the correct process to remove the proceedings of a court in which cases are tried in a manner different from the course of the common law, as of county commissioners. It is also used as an auxiliary process in order to obtain a full return to some other process. Bouvier.

CERTITUDE Cer"ti*tude, n. Etym: [LL. certitudo, fr. L. certus: cf. F. certitude. See Certain.]

Defn: Freedom from doubt; assurance; certainty. J. H. Newman.

CERULE Cer"ule, a. Etym: [L. caerulus, eguiv. to caeruleus.]

Defn: Blue; cerulean. [Obs.] Dyer.

CERULEAN Ce*ru"le*an, a. Etym: [L. caeruleus.]

Defn: Sky-colored; blue; azure. Cowper. Blue, blue, as if that sky let fall A flower from its cerulean wall. Bryant.

CERULEIN Ce*ru"le*in, n. [L. caeruleus sky-blue.] (Chem.)

Defn: A fast dyestuff, C20H8O6, made by heating gallein with strong sulphuric acid. It dyes mordanted fabrics green.

CERULEOUS Ce*ru"le*ous, a.

Defn: Cerulean. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

CERULESCENT Ce`ru*les"cent, a. [L. caeruleus sky-blue + -escent.]

Defn: Tending to cerulean; light bluish.

CERULEUM Ce*ru"le*um, n. [NL.]

Defn: A greenish blue pigment prepared in various ways, consisting essentially of cobalt stannate. Unlike other cobalt blues, it does not change color by gaslight.

CERULIFIC Cer`u*lif"ic, a. Etym: [L.arulus dark blue + facere to make.]

Defn: Producing a blue or sky color. [R.]

CERUMEN Ce*ru"men, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cera wax.] (Physiol.)

Defn: The yellow, waxlike secretion from the glands of the external ear; the earwax.

CERUMINOUS Ce*ru"mi*nous, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or secreting, cerumen; as, the ceruminous glands.

CERUSE Ce"ruse, n. Etym: [F. céruse, L. cerussa.]

1. White lead, used as a pigment. See White lead, under White.

2. A cosmetic containing white lead. To distinguish ceruse from natural bloom. Macaulay.

3. (Min.)

Defn: The native carbonate of lead.

CERUSED Ce"rused, a.

Defn: Washed with a preparation of white lead; as, cerused face. Beau. & Fl.

CERUSITE; CERUSSITE Ce"ru*site, Ce"rus*site, n. (Min.)

Defn: Native lead carbonate; a mineral occurring in colorless, white, or yellowish transparent crystals, with an adamantine, also massive and compact.

CERVANTITE Cer"van*tite, n. Etym: [Named from Cervantes a town in Spain.] (Min.)

Defn: See under Antimony.

CERVELAT Cer"ve*lat, n. Etym: [F.] (Mus.)

Defn: An ancient wind instrument, resembling the bassoon in tone.

CERVICAL Cer"vi*cal, a. Etym: [L. cervix, -icis, neck: cf. F. cervical.] (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the neck; as, the cervical vertebræ.

CERVICIDE Cer"vi*cide, n. Etym: [L. cervus deer + caedere to kill.]

Defn: The act of killing deer; deer-slaying. [R.]

CERVINE Cer"vine, a. Etym: [L. cervinus, fr. cervus deer: cf. F. cervin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the deer, or to the family Cervidæ.

CERVIX Cer"vix, n.; pl. E. Cervixes, L. Cervices. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)

Defn: The neck; also, the necklike portion of any part, as of the womb. See Illust. of Bird.

CERVUS Cer"vus, n. Etym: [L., a deer.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of ruminants, including the red deer and other allied species.

Note: Formerly all species of deer were included in the genus Cervus.

CERYL Ce"ryl, n. Etym: [L. cera wax + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: A radical, C27H55 supposed to exist in several compounds obtained from Chinese wax, beeswax, etc.

CESAREAN; CESARIAN Ce*sa"re*an, Ce*sa"ri*an, a.

Defn: Same as Cæsarean, Cæsarian.

CESARISM Ce"sar*ism, n.

Defn: See Cæsarism.

CESPITINE Ces"pi*tine, n. Etym: [L. caespes, caespitis, a turf.]

Defn: An oil obtained by distillation of peat, and containing various members of the pyridine series.

CESPITITIOUS Ces"pi*ti`tious, a. Etym: [L. caespiticius, fr. caespes turf.]

Defn: Same as Cespitious. [R.] Gough.

CESPITOSE Ces"pi*tose`, a. Etym: [L. caespes turf.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form a piece of turf, i. e., many stems from one rootstock or from many entangled rootstocks or roots. [Written also cæspitose.]

CESPITOUS Ces"pi*tous, a. Etym: [See Cespitose.]

Defn: Pertaining to, consisting, of resembling, turf; turfy. A cespitous or turfy plant has many stems from the same root, usually forming a close, thick carpet of matting. Martyn.

CESS Cess, n. Etym: [For sess, conts. from Assess.]

1. A rate or tax. [Obs. or Prof. Eng. & Scot.] Spenser.

2. Bound; measure. [Obs.] The poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess. Shak.

CESS Cess, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cessing.]

Defn: To rate; to tax; to assess. Spenser.

CESS Cess, v. i. Etym: [F. cesser. See Cease.]

Defn: To cease; to neglect. [Obs.] Spenser.

CESSANT Ces"sant a. Etym: [L. cessans, p. pr. of cessare. See Cease.]

Defn: Inactive; dormant [Obs.] W. Montagu.

CESSATION Ces*sa"tion, n. Etym: [F. cessation, L. cessatio, fr. cessare. See Cease.]

Defn: A ceasing of discontinuance, as of action, whether termporary or final; a stop; as, a cessation of the war. The temporary cessation of the papal iniquities. Motley. The day was yearly observed for a festival by cessation from labor. Sir J. Hayward. Cessation of arms (Mil.), an armistice, or truce, agreed to by the commanders of armies, to give time for a capitulation, or for other purposes.

Syn. -- Stop; rest; stay; pause; discontinuance; intermission; interval; respite; interruption; recess; remission.

CESSAVIT Ces*sa"vit, n. Etym: [L., he has ceased.] [O. Eng. Law]

Defn: A writ given by statute to recover lands when the tenant has for two years failed to perform the conditions of his tenure.

CESSER Ces"ser, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. i.] (Law)

Defn: a neglect of a tenant to perform services, or make payment, for two years.

CESSIBLE Ces"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cessible. See Cession.]

Defn: Giving way; yielding. [Obs.] -- Ces`si*bil"i*ty, n. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.

CESSION Ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. cessio, fr. cedere to give way: cf. F. Cession. See Cede.]

1. A yielding to physical force. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. Concession; compliance. [Obs.]

3. A yielding, or surrender, as of property or rights, to another person; the act of ceding. A cession of the island of New Orleans. Bancroft.

4. (Eccl. Law)

Defn: The giving up or vacating a benefice by accepting another without a proper dispensation.

5. (Civil Law)

Defn: The voluntary surrender of a person's effects to his creditors to avoid imprisonment.

CESSIONARY Ces"sion*a*ry, a. Etym: [LL. cessionarius, from cessionare to cede, fr. L. cessio: cf. F. cessionnaire. See Cession.]

Defn: Having surrendered the effects; as, a cessionary bankrupt. Martin.

CESSMENT Cess"ment, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. t.]

Defn: An assessment or tax. [Obs.] Johnson.

CESSOR Ces"sor, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. i. Cf. Cesser.] (Law)

Defn: One who neglects, for two years, to perform the service by which he holds lands, so that he incurs the danger of the writ of cessavit. See Cessavit. Cowell.

CESSOR Ces"sor, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. t.]

Defn: An assessor. [Obs.]

CESSPIPE Cess`pipe", n.

Defn: A pipe for carrying off waste water, etc., from a sink or cesspool. Knight.

CESSPOOL Cess"pool`, n. Etym: [See Sesspol.]

Defn: A cistern in the course, or the termination, of a drain, to collect sedimentary or superfluous matter; a privy vault; any receptace of filth. [Written also sesspool.]

CEST Cest, n. Etym: [L. cestus: cf. OF. ceste.]

Defn: A woman's girdle; a cestus. [R.] Collins.

CESTODE Ces"tode, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cestoidea. -- n.

Defn: One of the Cestoidea.

CESTOID Ces"toid, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cestoidea. -- n.

Defn: One of the Cestoidea.

CESTOIDEA Ces*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., gr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A class of parasitic worms (Platelminthes) of which the tapeworms are the most common examples. The body is flattened, and usually but not always long, and composed of numerous joints or segments, each of which may contain a complete set of male and female reproductive organs. They have neither mouth nor intestine. See Tapeworm. [Written also Cestoda.]

CESTOLDEAN Ces*told"e*an, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Cestoidea.

CESTRACIONT Ces*tra"ci*ont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A shark of the genus Cestracion, and of related genera. The posterior teeth form a pavement of bony plates for crushing shellfish. Most of the species are extinct. The Port Jackson shark and a similar one found in California are living examples.

CESTRACIONT Ces*tra"ci*ont, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the genus Cestracion.

CESTUS Ces"tus, n. Etym: [L. cestus girdle, Gr.

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: A girdle; particularly that of Aphrodite (or Venus) which gave the wearer the power of exciting love.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of Ctenophora. The typical species (Cestus Veneris) is remarkable for its brilliant iridescent colors, and its long, girdlelike form.

CESTUS Ces"tus, n. Etym: [L. caestus, and cestus.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A covering for the hands of boxers, made of leather bands, and often loaded with lead or iron.

CESTUY; CESTUI Ces"tuy or Ces"tui, pron. Etym: [Norm. F.] (Law)

Defn: He; the one. Cestuy que trust ( Etym: [norm. F.], a person who has the equitable and beneficial interest in property, the legal interest in which is vested in a trustee. Wharton. -- Cestuy que use ( Etym: [Norm. F.], a person for whose use land, etc., is granted to another.

CESURA Ce*su"ra, n.

Defn: See Cæsura.

CESURAL Ce*su"ral, a.

Defn: See Cæsural.

CETACEA Ce*ta"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. cetus whale, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of marine mammals, including the whales. Like ordinary mammals they breathe by means of lungs, and bring forth living young which they suckle for some time. The anterior limbs are changed to paddles; the tail flukes are horizontal. There are two living suborders: (a) The Mysticete or whalebone whales, having no true teeth after birth, but with a series of plates of whalebone [see Baleen.] hanging down from the upper jaw on each side, thus making a strainer, through which they receive the small animals upon which they feed. (b) The Denticete, including the dolphins and sperm whale, which have teeth. Another suborder (Zeuglodontia) is extinct. The Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea, but are now made a separate order.

CETACEAN Ce*ta"cean, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Cetacea.

CETACEOUS Ce*ta"ceous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cetacea.

CETE Ce"te, n. Etym: [L., pl.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Cetacea, or collectively, the Cetacea.

CETENE Ce"tene, n. Etym: [See Cete.] (Chem.)

Defn: An oily hydrocarbon, C16H32, of the ethylene series, obtained from spermaceti.

CETERACH Cet"e*rach, n. Etym: [F. cétérac, fr. Ar. shetrak.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of fern with fronds (Asplenium Ceterach).

CETEWALE Cet"e*wale, n. Etym: [OF. citoal, F. zedoaire. See Zedoary.]

Defn: Same as Zedoary. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CETIC Ce"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a whale.

CETIN Ce"tin, n. Etym: [L. cetus whale.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white, waxy substance, forming the essential part of spermaceti.

CETOLOGICAL Ce`to*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cetology.

CETOLOGIST Ce*tol"o*gist, a.

Defn: One versed in cetology.

CETOLOGY Ce*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. cétologie.]

Defn: The description or natural history of cetaceous animals.

CETRARIC Ce*trar"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the lichen, Iceland moss (Cetaria Islandica). Cetraric acid. See Cetrarin.

CETRARIN Cet"ra*rin, n. Etym: [From Cetraria Islandica, the scientific name of Iceland moss.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white substance extracted from the lichen, Iceland moss (Cetraria Islandica). It consists of several ingredients, among which is cetraric acid, a white, crystalline, bitter substance.

CETYL Ce"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: A radical, C16H33, not yet isolated, but supposed to exist in a series of compounds homologous with the ethyl compounds, and derived from spermaceti.

CETYLIC Ce*tyl"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, spermaceti. Cetylic alcohol (Chem.), a white, waxy, crystalline solid, obtained from spermaceti, and regarded as homologous with ordinary, or ethyl, alcohol; ethal; - - called also cetyl alcohol.

CEYLANITE Cey"lan*ite, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ceylan Ceylon.] (Min.)

Defn: A dingy blue, or grayish black, variety of spinel. It is also called pleonaste. [Written also ceylonite.]

CEYLONESE Cey`lon*ese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Ceylon. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or natives of Ceylon.

C.G.S. C.G.S.

Defn: An abbreviation for Centimeter, Gram, Second. -- applied to a system of units much empoyed in physical science, based upon the centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit of weight or mass, and the second as the unit of time.

C. G. S. C. G. S.

Defn: An abbreviation for Centimeter, Gram, Second. -- applied to a system of units much employed in physical science, based upon the centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit of weight or mass, and the second as the unit of time.

C. G. T. C. G. T.

Defn: An abbreviation for Confédération Générale du Travail (the French syndicalist labor union).

CHA Cha (chä), n. [Chin. ch"a.] [Also chaa, chais, tsia, etc.]

Defn: Tea; -- the Chinese (Mandarin) name, used generally in early works of travel, and now for a kind of rolled tea used in Central Asia.

A pot with hot water . . . made with the powder of a certain herb called chaa, which is much esteemed. Tr. J. Van Linschoten's Voyages (1598).

CHAB Chab, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The red-bellied wood pecker (Melanerpes Carolinus).

CHABASITE; CABAZITE Chab"a*site, Cab"a*zite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral occuring in glassy rhombohedral crystals, varying, in color from white to yellow or red. It is essentially a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. Called also chabasie.

CHABLIS Cha*blis", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A white wine made near Chablis, a town in France.

CHABOUK; CHABUK Cha*bouk", Cha*buk", n. Etym: [Hind. chabuk horsewhip.]

Defn: A long whip, such as is used in the East in the infliction of punishment. Balfour.

CHACE Chace, n.

Defn: See 3d Chase, n., 3.

CHACE Chace, v. t.

Defn: To pursue. See Chase v. t.

CHACHALACA Cha`cha*la"ca, n. Etym: [Native name, prob. given in imitation of its cry.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The texan guan (Ortalis vetula). [written also chiacalaca.]

CHACMA Chac"ma, n. Etym: [Native name.]

Defn: A large species of African baboon (Cynocephalus porcarius); -- called also ursine baboon.

Note: [See Illust. of Baboon.]

CHACONNE Cha*conne", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. chacona.] (Mus.)

Defn: An old Spanish dance in moderate three-four measure, like the Passacaglia, which is slower. Both are used by classical composers as themes for variations.

CHAD Chad, n.

Defn: See Shad. [Obs.]

CHAETETES Chæ*te"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of fossil corals, common in the lower Silurian limestones.

CHAETIFEROUS Chæ*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. -ferous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Bearing setæ.

CHAETODONT Chæ"to*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine fish of the family Chætodontidæ. The chætodonts have broad, compressed bodies, and usually bright colors.

CHAETODONT Chæto*dont, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chætodonts or the family Chætodontidæ.

CHAETOGNATH Chæ"tog*nath, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chætognatha.

CHAETOGNATHA Chæ*tog"na*tha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl)

Defn: An order of free-swimming marine worms, of which the genus Sagitta is the type. They have groups of curved spines on each side of the head.

CHAETOPOD Chæ"to*pod, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Chætopoda. -- n.

Defn: One of the Chætopoda.

CHAETOPODA Chæ*top"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A very extensive order of Annelida, characterized by the presence of lateral setæ, or spines, on most or all of the segments. They are divided into two principal groups: Oligochæta, including the earthworms and allied forms, and Polychæta, including most of the marine species.

CHAETOTAXY Chæ"to*tax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The arrangement of bristles on an insect.

CHAFE Chafe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chafed; p pr. & vb. n. Chafing.] Etym: [OE. chaufen to warm, OF. chaufer, F. chauffer, fr. L. calefacere, calfacere, to make warm; calere to be warm + facere to make. See Caldron.]

1. To ecxite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm. To rub her temples, and to chafe her skin. Spenser.

2. To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate. Her intercession chafed him. Shak.

3. To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable. Two slips of parchment which she sewed round it to prevent its being chafed. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To rub; fret; gall; vex; excite; inflame.

CHAFE Chafe, v. i.

Defn: To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction. Made its great boughs chafe together. Longfellow. The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores. Shak.

2. To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes.

3. To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated. Spenser. He will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter. Shak.

CHAFE Chafe, n.

1. Heat excited by friction.

2. Injury or wear caused by friction.

3. Vexation; irritation of mind; rage. The cardinal in a chafe sent for him to Whitehall. Camden.

CHAFER Chaf"er, n.

1. One who chafes.

2. A vessel for heating water; -- hence, a dish or pan. A chafer of water to cool the ends of the irons. Baker.

CHAFER Chaf"er, n. Etym: [AS. ceafor; akin to D. kever, G këfer.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of beetle; the cockchafer. The name is also applied to other species; as, the rose chafer.

CHAFERY Chaf"er*y, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.] (Iron Works)

Defn: An open furnace or forge, in which blooms are heated before being wrought into bars.

CHAFEWAX; CHAFFWAX Chafe"wax`, or Chaff"wax`, n. (Eng. Law)

Defn: Formerly a chancery officer who fitted wax for sealing writs and other documents.

CHAFEWEED Chafe"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The cudweed (Gnaphalium), used to prevent or cure chafing.

CHAFF Chaff, n. Etym: [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]

1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc. So take the corn and leave the chaff behind. Dryden. Old birds are not caught with caff. Old Proverb.

2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character; the refuse part of anything. The chaff and ruin of the times. Shak.

3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle. By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it. In this way chaff is very useful. Ywatt.

4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.

5. (Bot.)

Defn: The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which subtend each flower in the heads of many Compositæ, as the sunflower. Gray. Chaff cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into "chaff" for the use of cattle.

CHAFF Chaff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffing.]

Defn: To use light, idle lagnguage by way of fun or ridicule; to banter.

CHAFF Chaff, v. t.

Defn: To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz. Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him. Thackeray. A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other about their sweethearts. C. Kingsley.

CHAFFER Chaff"er, n.

Defn: One who chaffs.

CHAFFER Chaf"fer, n. Etym: [OE. chaffare, cheapfare; AS. ceáp a bargain, price + faru a journey; hence, originally, a going to barain, to market. See Cheap, and Fare.]

Defn: Bargaining; merchandise. [Obs.] Holished.

CHAFFER Chaf"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffering.] Etym: [OE. chaffaren, fr. chaffare, chapfare, cheapfare, a bargaining. See Chaffer, n.]

1. To treat or dispute about a purchase; to bargain; to haggle or higgle; to negotiate. To chaffer for preferments with his gold. Dryden.

2. To talk much and idly; to chatter. Trench.

CHAFFER Chaf"fer, v. t.

1. To buy or sell; to trade in. He chaffered chairs in which churchmen were set. Spenser.

2. To exchange; to bandy, as words. Spenser.

CHAFFERER Chaf"fer*er, n.

Defn: One who chaffers; a bargainer.

CHAFFERN Chaf"fern, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.]

Defn: A vessel for heating water. [Obs.] Johnson.

CHAFFERY Chaf"fer*y, n.

Defn: Traffic; bargaining. [Obs.] Spenser.

CHAFFINCH Chaf"finch, n. Etym: [Cf. Chiff-chaff.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bird of Europe (Fringilla coelebs), having a variety of very sweet songs, and highly valued as a cage bird; -- called also copper finch.

CHAFFING Chaff"ing, n.

Defn: The use of light, frivolous language by way of fun or ridicule; raillery; banter.

CHAFFLESS Chaff"less, a.

Defn: Without chaff.

CHAFFY Chaff"y, a.

1. Abounding in, or resembling, chaff. Chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail. Coleridge.

2. Light or worthless as chaff. Slight and chaffy opinion. Glanvill.

3. (Bot.) (a) Resembling chaff; composed of light dry scales. (b) Bearing or covered with dry scales, as the under surface of certain ferns, or the disk of some composite flowers.

CHAFING Chaf"ing, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.]

Defn: The act of rubbing, or wearing by friction; making by rubbing. Chafing dish, a dish or vessel for cooking on the table, or for keeping food warm, either by coals, by a lamp, or by hot water; a portable grate for coals. -- Chafing gear (Naut.), any material used to protect sails, rigging, or the like, at points where they are exposed to friction.

CHAGREEN Cha*green", n.

Defn: See Shagreen.

CHAGRES FEVER Cha"gres fe"ver. (Med.)

Defn: A form of malarial fever occurring along the Chagres River, Panama.

CHAGRIN Cha*grin", n. Etym: [F., fr. chagrin shagreen, a particular kind of rough and grained leather; also a rough fishskin used for graters and files; hence (Fig.), a gnawing, corroding grief. See Shagreen.]

Defn: Vexation; mortification. I must own that I felt rather vexation and chagrin than hope and satisfaction. Richard Porson. Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin. Pope.

Syn. -- Vexation; mortification; peevishness; fretfulness; disgust; disquiet. Chagrin, Vexation, Mortification. These words agree in the general sense of pain produced by untoward circumstances. Vexation is a feeling of disquietude or irritating uneasiness from numerous causes, such as losses, disappointments, etc. Mortification is a stronger word, and denotes that keen sense of pain which results fron wounded pride or humiliating occurrences. Chagrin is literally the cutting pain produced by the friction of Shagreen leather; in its figurative sense, it varies in meaning, denoting in its lower degrees simply a state of vexation, and its higher degrees the keenest sense of mortification. "Vexation arises chiefly fron our wishes and views being crossed: mortification, from our self-importance being hurt; chagrin, from a mixture of the two." Crabb.

CHAGRIN Cha*grin", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chagrined; p. pr. & vb. n. Chargrining.] Etym: [Cf. F. chagriner See Chagrin, n.]

Defn: To excite ill-humor in; to vex; to mortify; as, he was not a little chagrined.

CHAGRIN Cha*grin", v. i.

Defn: To be vexed or annoyed. Fielding.

CHAGRIN Cha*grin", a.

Defn: Chagrined. Dryden.

CHAIN Chain, n. Etym: [F. chaîne, fr. L. catena. Cf. Catenate.]

1. A series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and transmission of mechanical power, etc. [They] put a chain of gold about his neck. Dan. v. 29.

2. That which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as, the chains of habit. Driven down To chains of darkness and the undying worm. Milton.

3. A series of things linked together; or a series of things connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of mountains; a chain of events or ideas.

4. (Surv.)

Defn: An instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring land.

Note: One commonly in use is Gunter's chain, which consists of one hundred links, each link being seven inches and ninety-two one hundredths in length; making up the total length of rods, or sixty- six, feet; hence, a measure of that length; hence, also, a unit for land measure equal to four rods square, or one tenth of an acre.

5. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.

6. (Weaving)

Defn: The warp threads of a web. Knight. Chain belt (Mach.), a belt made of a chain; -- used for transmitting power. -- Chain boat, a boat fitted up for recovering lost cables, anchors, etc. -- Chain bolt (a) (Naut.) The bolt at the lower end of the chain plate, which fastens it to the vessel's side. (b) A bolt with a chain attached for drawing it out of position. -- Chain bond. See Chain timber. -- Chain bridge, a bridge supported by chain cables; a suspension bridge. -- Chain cable, a cable made of iron links. -- Chain coral (Zoöl.), a fossil coral of the genus Halysites, common in the middle and upper Silurian rocks. The tubular corallites are united side by side in groups, looking in an end view like links of a chain. When perfect, the calicles show twelve septa. -- Chain coupling. (a) A shackle for uniting lengths of chain, or connecting a chain with an object. (b) (Railroad) Supplementary coupling together of cars with a chain. -- Chain gang, a gang of convicts chained together. -- Chain hook (Naut.), a hook, used for dragging cables about the deck. -- Chain mail, flexible, defensive armor of hammered metal links wrought into the form of a garment. -- Chain molding (Arch.), a form of molding in imitation of a chain, used in the Normal style. -- Chain pier, a pier suspended by chain. -- Chain pipe (Naut.), an opening in the deck, lined with iron, through which the cable is passed into the lockers or tiers. -- Chain plate (Shipbuilding), one of the iron plates or bands, on a vessel's side, to which the standing rigging is fastened. -- Chain pulley, a pulley with depressions in the periphery of its wheel, or projections from it, made to fit the links of a chain. -- Chain pumps. See in the Vocabulary. -- Chain rule (Arith.), a theorem for solving numerical problems by composition of ratios, or compound proportion, by which, when several ratios of equality are given, the consequent of each being the same as the antecedent of the next, the relation between the first antecedent and the last consequent is discovered. -- Chain shot (Mil.), two cannon balls united by a shot chain, formerly used in naval warfare on account of their destructive effect on a ship's rigging. -- Chain stitch. See in the Vocabulary. -- Chain timber. (Arch.) See Bond timber, under Bond. -- Chain wales. (Naut.) Same as Channels. -- Chain wheel. See in the Vocabulary. -- Closed chain, Open chain (Chem.), terms applied to the chemical structure of compounds whose rational formulæ are written respectively in the form of a closed ring (see Benzene nucleus, under Benzene), or in an open extended form. -- Endless chain, a chain whose ends have been united by a link.

CHAIN Chain, v. t. [imp. p. p. Chained (chand); p. pr. & vb. n. Chaining.]

1. To fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog. Chained behind the hostile car. Prior.

2. To keep in slavery; to enslave. And which more blest who chained his country, say Or he whose virtue sighed to lose a day Pope.

3. To unite closely and strongly. And in this vow do chain my soul to thine. Shak.

4. (Surveying)

Defn: To measure with the chain.

5. To protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor.

CHAINLESS Chain"less, a.

Defn: Having no chain; not restrained or fettered. "The chainless mind." Byron.

CHAINLET Chain"let, n.

Defn: A small chain. Sir W. Scott.

CHAIN PUMP Chain" pump`.

Defn: A pump consisting of an endless chain, running over a drum or wheel by which it is moved, and dipping below the water to be raised. The chain has at intervals disks or lifts which fit the tube through which the ascending part passes and carry the water to the point of discharge.

CHAIN STITCH Chain" stitch`.

1. An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain; -- used in crocheting, sewing, and embroidery.

2. (Machine Sewing)

Defn: A stitch in which the looping of the thread or threads forms a chain on the under side of the work; the loop stitch, as distinguished from the lock stitch. See Stitch.

CHAIN TIE Chain tie. (Arch.)

Defn: A tie consisting of a series of connected iron bars or rods.

CHAIN WHEEL Chain" wheel`.

1. A chain pulley, or sprocket wheel.

2. An inversion of the chain pump, by which it becomes a motor driven by water.

CHAINWORK Chain"work`, n.

Defn: Work looped or linked after the manner of a chain; chain stitch work.

CHAIR Chair, n. Etym: [OE. chaiere, chaere, OF. chaiere, chaere, F. chaire pulpit, fr. L. cathedra chair, armchair, a teacher's or professor's chair, Gr. sit. See Sit, and cf. Cathedral, chaise.]

1. A movable single seat with a back.

2. An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself. The chair of a philosophical school. Whewell. A chair of philology. M. Arnold.

3. The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address the chair.

4. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two- wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig. Shak. Think what an equipage thou hast in air, And view with scorn two pages and a chair. Pope.

5. An iron blok used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers. Chair days, days of repose and age. -- To put into the chair, to elect as president, or as chairman of a meeting. Macaulay. -- To take the chair, to assume the position of president, or of chairman of a meeting.

CHAIR Chair, v. t. [imp. & p. pr. Chaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Chairing.]

1. To place in a chair.

2. To carry publicly in a chair in triumph. [Eng.]

CHAIRMAN Chair"man, n.; pl. Chairmen (.

1. The presiding officer of a committee, or of a public or private meeting, or of any organized body.

2. One whose business it is to cary a chair or sedan. Breaks watchmen's heads and chairmen's glasses. Prior.

CHAIRMANSHIP Chair"man*ship, n.

Defn: The office of a chairman of a meeting or organized body.

CHAISE Chaise, n. Etym: [F. chaise seat, or chair, chaise or carriage, for chaire, from a peculiar Parisian pronunciation. See Chair.]

1. A two-wheeled carriage for two persons, with a calash top, and the body hung on leather straps, or thoroughbraces. It is usually drawn by one horse.

2. Loosely,

Defn: a carriage in general. Cowper.

CHAJA Cha"ja, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The crested screamer of Brazil (Palamedea, or Chauna, chavaria), so called in imitation of its notes; -- called also chauna, and faithful kamichi. It is often domesticated and is useful in guarding other poultry. See Kamichi.

CHAK Chak, v. i.

Defn: To toss up the head frequently, as a horse to avoid the restraint of the bridle.

CHALAZA Cha*la"za, n.; pl. E. Chalazas, L. Chalazæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The place on an ovule, or seed, where its outer coats cohere with each other and the nucleus.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: A spiral band of thickened albuminous substance which exists in the white of the bird's egg, and serves to maintain the yolk in its position; the treadle.

CHALAZAL Cha*la"zal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the chalaza.

CHALAZE Cha*laze", n.

Defn: Same as Chalaza.

CHALAZIFEROUS Chal`a*zif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Chalaza + -ferous.]

Defn: Having or bearing chalazas.

CHALAZION Cha*la"zi*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A small circumscribed tumor of the eyelid caused by retention of secretion, and by inflammation of the Melbomian glands.

CHALAZOGAMY Chal`a*zog"a*my, n. [Chalaza + -gamy, as in polygamy.] (Bot.)

Defn: A process of fecundation in which the pollen tube penetrates to the embryosac through the tissue of the chalaza, instead of entering through the micropyle. It was originally discovered by Treub in Casuarina, and has since been found to occur regularly in the families Betulaceæ and Juglandaceæ. Partial chalazogamy is found in Ulmus, the tube here penetrating the nucleus midway between the chalaza and micropyle. --Chal`a*zo*gam"ic (#), a.

CHALCANTHITE Chal*can"thite, n. Etym: [L. chalcanthum a solution of blue vitriol, Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Native blue vitriol. See Blue vitriol, under Blue.

CHALCEDONIC Chal"ce*don"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to chalcedony.

CHALCEDONY Chal*ced"o*ny, n.; pl. Chalcedonies. Etym: [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr. calcédoine, OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.] (Min.)

Defn: A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax. [Written also calcedony.]

Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or figures, or arranged in differently colored layers, it is called agate; and if by reason of the thickness, color, and arrangement of the layers it is suitable for being carved into cameos, it is called onyx. Chrysoprase is green chalcedony; carnelian, a flesh red, and sard, a brownish red variety.

CHALCHIHUITL Chal`chi*huitl, n. (Min.)

Defn: The Mexican name for turquoise. See Turquoise.

CHALCID FLY Chal"cid fly`. Etym: [From Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a numerous family of hymenopterous insects (Chalcididæ. Many are gallflies, others are parasitic on insects.

CHALCIDIAN Chal*cid"i*an, n. Etym: [L. chalcis a lizard, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a tropical family of snakelike lizards (Chalcidæ), having four small or rudimentary legs.

CHALCOCITE Chal"co*cite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)

Defn: Native copper sulphide, called also copper glance, and vitreous copper; a mineral of a black color and metallic luster. [Formerly written chalcosine.]

CHALCOGRAPHER; CHALCOGRAPHIST Chal*cog"ra*pher, Chal*cog"ra*phist, n.

Defn: An engraver on copper or brass; hence, an engraver of copper plates for printing upon paper.

CHALCOGRAPHY Chal*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: The act or art of engraving on copper or brass, especially of engraving for printing.

CHALCOPYRITE Chal`co*pyr"ite, n. Etym: [Gr. pyrite. So named from its color.] (Min.)

Defn: Copper pyrites, or yellow copper ore; a common ore of opper, containing copper, iron, and sulphur. It occurs massive and in tetragonal crystals of a bright brass yellow color.

CHALDAIC Chal*da"ic, a. Etym: [L. Chaldaicus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldes. -- n.

Defn: The language or dialect of the Chaldeans; Chaldee.

CHALDAISM Chal"da*ism, n.

Defn: An idiom or peculiarity in the Chaldee dialect.

CHALDEAN Chal*de"an, a. Etym: [L. Chaldaeus.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldea. -- n. (a) A native or inhabitant of Chaldea. (b) A learned man, esp. an astrologer; -- so called among the Eastern nations, because astrology and the kindred arts were much cultivated by the Chaldeans. (c) Nestorian.

CHALDEE Chal"dee, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldea. -- n.

Defn: The language or dialect of the Chaldeans; eastern Aramaic, or the Aramaic used in Chaldea. Chaldee Paraphrase, A targum written in Aramaic.

CHALDRICH; CHALDER Chal"drich, Chal"der, n. Etym: [Icel. tjaldr.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of bird; the oyster catcher.

CHALDRON Chal"dron, n. Etym: [OF. chaldron, F. chaudron kettle. The same word as caldron.]

Defn: An English dry measure, being, at London, 36 bushels heaped up, or its equivalent weight, and more than twice as much at Newcastle. Now used exlusively for coal and coke.

Note: In the United States the chaldron is ordinarily 2,940 lbs, but at New York it is 2,500 lbs. De Colange.

CHALET Cha*let", n. Etym: [F.]

1. A herdsman's hut in the mountains of Switzerland. Chalets are summer huts for the Swiss herdsmen. Wordsworth.

2. A summer cottage or country house in the Swiss mountains; any country house built in the style of the Swiss cottages.

CHALICE Chal"ice, n. Etym: [OR. chalis, calice, OF. chalice, calice, F. calice, fr. L. calix, akin to Gr. helmet. Cf. Calice, Calyx.]

Defn: A cup or bowl; especially, the cup used in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

CHALICED Chal"iced, a.

Defn: Having a calyx or cup; cupshaped. "Chaliced flowers." Shak.

CHALK Chalk, n. Etym: [AS. cealc lime, from L. calx limestone. See Calz, and Cawk.]

1. (Min.)

Defn: A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone.

2. (Fine Arts)

Defn: Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used in the same manner. See Crayon. Black chalk, a mineral of a bluish color, of a slaty texture, and soiling the fingers when handled; a variety of argillaceous slate. -- By a long chalk, by a long way; by many degrees. [Slang] Lowell. -- Chalk drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with crayons. See Crayon. -- Chalk formation. See Cretaceous formation, under Cretaceous. -- Chalk line, a cord rubbed with chalk, used for making straight lines on boards or other material, as a guide in cutting or in arranging work. -- Chalk mixture, a preparation of chalk, cinnamon, and sugar in gum water, much used in diarrheal affection, esp. of infants. -- Chalk period. (Geol.) See Cretaceous period, under Cretaceous. -- Chalk pit, a pit in which chalk is dug. -- Drawing chalk. See Crayon, n., 1. -- French chalk, steatite or soapstone, a soft magnesian mineral. -- Red chalk, an indurated clayey ocher containing iron, and used by painters and artificers; reddle.

CHALK Chalk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chalked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chalking.]

1. To rub or mark with chalk.

2. To manure with chalk, as land. Morimer.

3. To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach. Tennyson. Let a bleak paleness chalk the door. Herbert. To chalk out, to sketch with, or as with, chalk; to outline; to indicate; to plan. [Colloq.] "I shall pursue the plan I have chalked out." Burke.

CHALKCUTTER Chalk"cut`ter, n.

Defn: A man who digs chalk.

CHALKINESS Chalk"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being chalky.

CHALKSTONE Chalk"stone`, n.

1. A mass of chalk. As chalkstones . . . beaten in sunder. Isa. xxvii. 9.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A chalklike concretion, consisting mainly of urate of sodium, found in and about the small joints, in the external ear, and in other situations, in those affected with gout; a tophus.

CHALKY Chalk"y, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, chalk; containing chalk; as, a chalky cliff; a chalky taste.

CHALLENGE Chal"lenge, n. Etym: [OE. chalenge claim, accusation, challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation, contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See Calumny.]

1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons. A challenge to controversy. Goldsmith.

2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign.

3. A claim or demand. [Obs.] There must be no challenge of superiority. Collier.

4. (Hunting)

Defn: The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game.

5. (Law)

Defn: An exception to a juror or to a member of a court martial, coupled with a demand that he should be held incompetent to act; the claim of a party that a certain person or persons shall not sit in trial upon him or his cause. Blackstone

6. An exception to a person as not legally qualifed to vote. The challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U. S.] Challenge to the array (Law), an exception to the whole panel. -- Challenge to the favor, the alleging a special cause, the sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and office it is to decide upon it. -- Challenge to the polls, an exception taken to any one or more of the individual jurors returned. -- Peremptory challenge, a privilege sometimes allowed to defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors (fixed by statute in different States) without assigning any cause. -- Principal challenge, that which the law allows to be sufficient if found to be true.

CHALLENGE Chal"lenge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Challenged; p. pr. & vb. n. Challenging.] Etym: [OE. chalengen to accuse, claim, OF. chalengier, chalongier, to claim, accuse, dispute, fr. L. calumniar to attack with false accusations. See Challenge, n., and cf. Calumniate.]

1. To call to a contest of any kind; to call to answer; to defy. I challenge any man to make any pretense to power by right of fatherhood. Locke.

2. To call, invite, or summon to answer for an offense by personal combat. By this I challenge him to single fight. Shak.

3. To claim as due; to demand as a right. Challenge better terms. Addison.

4. To censure; to blame. [Obs.] He complained of the emperors . . . and challenged them for that he had no greater revenues . . . from them. Holland.

5. (Mil.)

Defn: To question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to pass the lines); as, the sentinel challenged us, with "Who comes there"

6. To take exception to; question; as, to challenge the accuracy of a statement or of a quotation.

7. (Law)

Defn: To object to or take exception to, as to a juror, or member of a court.

8. To object to the reception of the vote of, as on the ground that the person in not qualifed as a voter. [U. S.] To challenge to the array, favor, polls. See under Challenge, n.

CHALLENGE Chal"lenge, v. i.

Defn: To assert a right; to claim a place. Where nature doth with merit challenge. Shak.

CHALLENGEABLE Chal"lenge*a*ble, a.

Defn: That may be challenged.

CHALLENGER Chal"len*ger, n.

Defn: One who challenges.

CHALLIS Chal"lis, n. Etym: [F. chaly, challis, a stuff made of goat's hair.]

Defn: A soft and delicate woolen, or woolen and silk, fabric, for ladies' dresses. [Written also chally.]

CHALON Cha"lon, n.

Defn: A bed blanket. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHALYBEAN Cha*lyb"e*an, a. Etym: [L. chalybeïus, fr. chalybs steel, Gr.

1. Of or pertaining to the Chalybes, an ancient people of Pontus in Asia Minor, celebrated for working in iron and steel.

2. Of superior quality and temper; -- applied to steel. [Obs.] Milton.

CHALYBEATE Cha*lyb"e*ate, a. Etym: [NL. chalybeatus, fr. chalubeïus. See Chalubean.]

Defn: Impregnated with salts of iron; having a taste like iron; as, chalybeate springs.

CHALYBEATE Cha*lyb"e*ate, n.

Defn: Any water, liquid, or medicine, into which iron enters as an ingredient.

CHALYBEOUS Cha*lyb"e*ous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Steel blue; of the color of tempered steel.

CHALYBITE Chal"y*bite, n. (Min.)

Defn: Native iron carbonate; -- usually called siderite.

CHAM Cham, v. t. Etym: [See Chap.]

Defn: To chew. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Sir T. More.

CHAM Cham, n. Etym: [See Khan.]

Defn: The sovereign prince of Tartary; -- now usually written khan. Shak.

CHAMADE Cha*made, n. Etym: [F. chamade, fr. Pg. chamada, fr. chamar to call, fr. L. clamare.] (Mil.)

Defn: A signal made for a parley by beat of a drum. They beat the chamade, and sent us carte blanche. Addison.

CHAMAL Cha"mal, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Angora goat. See Angora goat, under Angora.

CHAMBER Cham"ber, n. Etym: [F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in LL. chamber, fr. Gr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera, Comrade.]

1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom; as, the house had four chambers.

2. pl.

Defn: Apartments in a lodging house. "A bachelor's life in chambers." Thackeray.

3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber.

4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce.

5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the eye.

6. pl. (Law.)

Defn: A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done out of court.

7. A chamber pot. [Colloq.]

8. (Mil.) (a) That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; -- formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp. in breech-loading guns. (b) A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the powder. (c) A short piece of ornance or cannon, which stood on its breech, without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and theatrical cannonades. Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the Vocabulary. -- Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and traders of a city. -- Chamber council, a secret council. Shak. -- Chamber counsel or counselor, a counselor who gives his opinion in private, or at his chambers, but does not advocate causes in court. -- Chamber fellow, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum. -- Chamber hangings, tapestry or hangings for a chamber. -- Chamber lye, urine. Shak. -- Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or chuch. -- Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in court. -- To sit at chambers, to do business in chambers, as a judge.

CHAMBER Cham"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chambered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chambering.]

1. To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.

2. To be lascivious. [Obs.]

CHAMBER Cham"ber, v. t.

1. To shut up, as inn a chamber. Shak.

2. To furnish with a chamber; as, to chamber a gun.

CHAMBERED Cham"bered, a.

Defn: Having a chamber or chambers; as, a chambered shell; a chambered gun.

CHAMBERER Cham"ber*er, n.

1. One who attends in a chamber; a chambermaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.

2. A civilian; a carpetmonger. [Obs.]

CHAMBERING Cham"ber*ing, n.

Defn: Lewdness. [Obs.] Rom. xiii. 13.

CHAMBERLAIN Cham"ber*lain, n. Etym: [OF. chamberlain, chambrelencF. chambellon, OHG. chamerling, chamarlinc, G. kämmerling, kammer chamber (fr. L. camera) + -ling. See Chamber, and -ling.] [Formerly written chamberlin.]

1. An officer or servant who has charge of a chamber or chambers.

2. An upper servant of an inn. [Obs.]

3. An officer having the direction and management of the private chambers of a nobleman or monarch; hence, in Europe, one of the high officers of a court.

4. A treasurer or receiver of public money; as, the chamberlain of London, of North Wales, etc. The lord chamberlain of England, an officer of the crown, who waits upon the sovereign on the day of coronation, and provides requisites for the palace of Westminster, and for the House of Lords during the session of Parliament. Under him are the gentleman of the black rod and other officers. His office is distinct from that of the lord chamberlain of the Household, whose functions relate to the royal housekeeping.

CHAMBERLAINSHIP Cham"ber*lain*ship, n.

Defn: Office if a chamberlain.

CHAMBERMAID Cham"ber*maid`, n.

1. A maidservant who has the care of chambers, making the beds, sweeping, cleaning the rooms, etc.

2. A lady's maid. [Obs.] Johnson.

CHAMBERTIN Cham`ber*tin", n.

Defn: A red wine from Chambertin near Dijon, in Burgundy.

CHAMBRANLE Cham`bran"le, n. [F.] (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental bordering or framelike decoration around the sides and top of a door, window, or fireplace. The top piece is called the traverse and the side pieces the ascendants.

CHAMBRAY Cham"bray, n. [From Cambrai, France. Cf. Cambric.]

Defn: A gingham woven in plain colors with linen finish.

CHAMBREL Cham"brel, n.

Defn: Same as Gambrel.

CHAMECK Cha*meck", n. Etym: [Native Brazilian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A kind of spider monkey (Ateles chameck), having the thumbs rudimentary and without a nail.

CHAMELEON Cha*me"le*on, n. Etym: [L. Chamaeleon, Gr. Humble, and Lion.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lizardlike reptile of the genus Chamæleo, of several species, found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is covered with fine granmulations; the tail is prehensile, and the body is much compressed laterally, giving it a high back.

Note: Its color changes more or less with the color of the objects about it, or with its temper when disturbed. In a cool, dark place it is nearly white, or grayish; on admitting the light, it changes to brown, bottle-green, or blood red, of various shades, and more or less mottled in arrangment. The American chameleons belong to Anolis and allied genera of the family Iguanidæ. They are more slender in form than the true chameleons, but have the same power of changing their colors. Chameleon mineral (Chem.), the compound called potassium permanganate, a dark violet, crystalline substance, KMnO4, which in formation passes through a peculiar succession of color from green to blue, purple, red, etc. See Potassium permanganate, under Potassium.

CHAMELEONIZE Cha*me"le*on*ize, v. t.

Defn: To change into various colors. [R.]

CHAMFER Cham"fer, n. Etym: [See Chamfron.]

Defn: The surface formed by cutting away the arris, or angle, formed by two faces of a piece of timber, stone, etc.

CHAMFER Cham"fer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chamfered ; p. pr. & vb. n. Chamfering.(

1. (Carp.)

Defn: To cut a furrow in, as in a column; to groove; to channel; to flute.

2. To make a chamfer on.

CHAMFRET Cham"fret, n. Etym: [See Chamfron.]

1. (Carp.)

Defn: A small gutter; a furrow; a groove.

2. A chamfer.

CHAMFRON Cham"fron, n. Etym: [F. chanfrein.] (Anc. Armor)

Defn: The frontlet, or head armor, of a horse. [Written also champfrain and chamfrain.]

CHAMISAL Cha`mi*sal", n. [Amer. Sp., fr. Sp. chamiza a kind of wild cane.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A California rosaceous shrub (Adenostoma fasciculatum) which often forms an impenetrable chaparral.

2. A chaparral formed by dense growths of this shrub.

CHAMLET Cham"let, n.

Defn: See Camlet. [Obs.]

CHAMOIS Cham"ois, n. Etym: [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small species of antelope (Rupicapra tragus), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It possesses remarkable agility, and is a favorite object of chase.

2. A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from sheepskin, etc.; -- called also chamois leather, and chammy or shammy leather. See Shammy.

CHAMOMILE Cham"o*mile, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Camomile.

CHAMP Champ, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Champed; p. pr. & vb. n. Champing.] Etym: [Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kämsa to chew with difficulty, champ; but cf. also OF. champier, champeyer, champoyer, to graze in fields, fr. F. champ field, fr. L. campus. Cf. Camp.]

1. To bite with repeated action of the teeth so as to be heard. Foamed and champed the golden bit. Dryden.

2. To bite into small pieces; to crunch. Steele.

CHAMP Champ, v. i.

Defn: To bite or chew impatiently. They began . . . irefully to champ upon the bit. Hooker.

CHAMP; CHAMPE Champ, Champe, n. Etym: [F. champ, L. campus field.] (Arch.)

Defn: The field or ground on which carving appears in relief.

CHAMPAGNE Cham*pagne", n. Etym: [F. See Champaign.]

Defn: A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province of Champagne, in France.

Note: Champagne properly includes several kinds not only of sparkling but off still wines; but in America the term is usually restricted to wines which effervesce.

CHAMPAIGN Cham*paign", n. Etym: [OF. champaigne; same word as campagne.]

Defn: A flat, open country. Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined. Milton. Through Apline vale or champaign wide. Wordsworth.

CHAMPAIGN Cham*paign", a.

Defn: Flat; open; level. A wide, champaign country, filled with herds. Addison.

CHAMPER Champ"er, n.

Defn: One who champs, or bites.

CHAMPERTOR Cham"per*tor, n. Etym: [F. champarteur a divider of fields or field rent. See Champerty.] (Law)

Defn: One guilty of champerty; one who purchases a suit, or the right of suing, and carries it on at his own expense, in order to obtain a share of the gain.

CHAMPERTY Cham"per*ty, n. Etym: [F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ (L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share.]

1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [Obs.] Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness, Ne may with Venus holde champartye. Chaucer.

2. (Law)

Defn: The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See Maintenance.

Note: By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been forbidden and punishable.

CHAMPIGNON Cham*pi"gnon, n. Etym: [F., a mushroom, ultimately fr. L. campus field. See Camp.] (Bot.)

Defn: An edible species of mushroom (Agaricus campestris). Fairy ring champignon, the Marasmius oreades, which has a strong flavor but is edible.

CHAMPION Cham"pi*on, n. Etym: [F. champion, fr. LL.campio, of German origin; cf. OHG. chempho, chemphio, fighter, champf, G. kampf, contest; perh. influenced by L. campus field, taken in the sense of "field of battle."]

1. One who engages in any contest; esp. one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of another's honor or rights; or one who acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender; an advocate; a hero. A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak. Champions of law and liberty. Fisher Ames.

2. One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an acknowledged supremacy in any branch of athetics or game of skill, and is ready to contend with any rival; as, the champion of England.

Note: Champion is used attributively in the sense of surpassing all competitors; overmastering; as, champion pugilist; champion chess player.

Syn. -- Leader; chieftain; combatant; hero; warrior; defender; protector.

CHAMPION Cham"pi*on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Championed; p. pr. & vb. n. Championing.] [Obs.] Shak.

2. To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to support or maintain; to protect. Championed or unchampioned, thou diest. Sir W. Scott.

CHAMPIONNESS Cham"pi*on*ness, n.

Defn: A female champion. Fairfax.

CHAMPIONSHIP Cham"pi*on*ship, n.

Defn: State of being champion; leadership; supremancy.

CHAMPLAIN PERIOD Cham*plain" pe"ri*od. (Geol.)

Defn: A subdivision of the Quaternary age immediately following the Glacial period; -- so named from beds near Lake Champlain.

Note: The earlier deposits of this period are diluvial in character, as if formed in connection with floods attending the melting of the glaciers, while the later deposits are of finer material in more quiet waters, as the alluvium.

CHAMPLEVE Champ`le*vé", a. [F., p. p. of champlever to engrave. See 3d Champ, Camp, Lever a bar.] (Art)

Defn: Having the ground engraved or cut out in the parts to be enameled; inlaid in depressions made in the ground; -- said of a kind of enamel work in which depressions made in the surface are filled with enamel pastes, which are afterward fired; also, designating the process of making such enamel work. --n.

Defn: A piece of champlevé enamel; also, the process or art of making such enamel work; champlevé work.

CHAMSIN Cham*sin", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Kamsin.

CHANCE Chance, n. Etym: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. çad to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]

1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often personifed. It is strictly and philosophically true in nature and reason that there is no such thing as chance or accident; it being evident that these words do not signify anything really existing, anything that is truly an agent or the cause of any event; but they signify merely men's ignorance of the real and immediate cause. Samuel Clark. Any society into which chance might throw him. Macaulay. That power Which erring men call Chance. Milton.

2. The operation or activity of such agent. By chance a priest came down that way. Luke x. 31.

3. The supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty. It was a chance that happened to us. 1 Sam. vi. 9. The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (O shameful chance!) the Queen of Hearts. Pope. I spake of most disastrous chance. Shak.

4. A possibity; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a doubtful result; as, a chance result; as, a chance to escape; a chance for life; the chances are all against him. So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune. That I would get my life on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on't Shak.

5. (Math.)

Defn: Probability.

Note: The mathematical expression, of a chance is the ratio of frequency with which an event happens in the long run. If an event may happen in a ways and may fail in b ways, and each of these a + b ways is equally likely, the chance, or probability, that the event will happen is measured by the fraction a/(a + b), and the chance, or probability, that it will fail is measured by b/(a + b). Chance comer, one who, comes unexpectedly. -- The last chance, the sole remaining ground of hope. -- The main chance, the chief opportunity; that upon which reliance is had, esp. self-interest. -- Theory of chances, Doctrine of chances (Math.), that branch of mathematics which treats of the probability of the occurrence of particular events, as the fall of dice in given positions. -- To mind one's chances, to take advantage of every circumstance; to seize every opportunity.

CHANCE Chance, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Chancing.]

Defn: To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation. "Things that chance daily." Robynson (More's Utopia). If a bird's nest chance to be before thee. Deut. xxii. 6. I chanced on this letter. Shak.

Note: Often used impersonally; as, how chances it How chance, thou art returned so soon Shak.

CHANCE Chance, v. t.

1. To take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as object. Come what will, I will chance it. W. D. Howells.

2. To befall; to happen to. [Obs.] W. Lambarde.

CHANCE Chance, a.

Defn: Happening by chance; casual.

CHANCE Chance, adv.

Defn: By chance; perchance. Gray.

CHANCEABLE Chance"a*ble, a.

Defn: Fortuitous; casual. [Obs.]

CHANCEABLY Chance"a*bly, adv.

Defn: By chance. [Obs.]

CHANCEFUL Chance"ful, a.

Defn: Hazardous. [Obs.] Spenser.

CHANCEL Chan"cel, n. Etym: [OF. chancel, F. chanceau, cancel, fr. L. cancelli lattices, crossbars. (The chancel was formerly inclosed with lattices or crossbars) See Cancel, v. t.] (Arch.) (a) That part of a church, reserved for the use of the clergy, where the altar, or communion table, is placed. Hence, in modern use; (b) All that part of a cruciform church which is beyond the line of the transept farthest from the main front. Chancel aisle (Arch.), the aisle which passes on either side of or around the chancel. -- Chancel arch (Arch.), the arch which spans the main opening, leading to the chancel -- Chancel casement, the principal window in a chancel. Tennyson. -- Chancel table, the communion table.

CHANCELLERY Chan"cel*ler*y, n. Etym: [Cf. Chancery.]

Defn: Chancellorship. [Obs.] Gower.

CHANCELLOR Chan"cel*lor, n. Etym: [OE. canceler, chaunceler, F. chancelier, LL. cancellarius chancellor, a director of chancery, fr. L. cancelli lattices, crossbars, which surrounded the seat of judgment. See Chancel.]

Defn: A judicial court of chancery, which in England and in the United States is distinctively a court with equity jurisdiction.

Note: The chancellor was originally a chief scribe or secretary under the Roman emperors, but afterward was invested with judicial powers, and had superintendence over the other officers of the empire. From the Roman empire this office passed to the church, and every bishop has his chancellor, the principal judge of his consistory. In later times, in most countries of Europe, the chancellor was a high officer of state, keeper of the great seal of the kingdom, and having the supervision of all charters, and like public instruments of the crown, which were authenticated in the most solemn manner. In France a secretary is in some cases called a chancellor. In Scotland, the appellation is given to the foreman of a jury, or assize. In the present German empire, the chancellor is the president of the federal council and the head of the imperial administration. In the United States, the title is given to certain judges of courts of chancery or equity, established by the statutes of separate States. Blackstone. Wharton. Chancellor of a bishop, or of a diocese (R. C. Ch. & ch. of Eng.), a law officer appointed to hold the bishop's court in his diocese, and to assist him in matter of ecclesiastical law. -- Chancellor of a cathedral, one of the four chief dignitaries of the cathedrals of the old foundation, and an officer whose duties are chiefly educational, with special reference to the cultivation of theology. -- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, an officer before whom, or his deputy, the court of the duchy chamber of Lancaster is held. This is a special jurisdiction. -- Chancellor of a university, the chief officer of a collegiate body. In Oxford, he is elected for life; in Cambridge, for a term of years; and his office is honorary, the chief duties of it devolving on the vice chancellor. -- Chancellor of the exchequer, a member of the British cabinet upon whom devolves the charge of the public income and expenditure as the highest finance minister of the government. -- Chancellor of the order of the Garter (or other military orders), an officer who seals the commissions and mandates of the chapter and assembly of the knights, keeps the register of their proceedings, and delivers their acts under the seal of their order. -- Lord high chancellor of England, the presiding judge in the court of chancery, the highest judicial officer of the crown, and the first lay person of the state after the blood royal. He is created chancellor by the delivery into his custody of the great seal, of which he becomes keeper. He is privy counselor by his office, and prolocutor of the House of Lords by prescription.

CHANCELLORSHIP Chan"cel*lor*ship, n.

Defn: The office of a chancellor; the time during which one is chancellor.

CHANCE-MEDLEY Chance"-med`ley, n. Etym: [Chance + medley.]

1. (Law)

Defn: The kiling of another in self-defense upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. See Chaud-Medley.

Note: The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to such killing as happens in defending one's self against assault. Bouvier.

2. Luck; chance; accident. Milton. Cowper.

CHANCERY Chan"cer*y, n. Etym: [F. chancellerie, LL. cancellaria, from L. cancellarius. See Chancellor, and cf. Chancellery.]

1. In England, formerly, the highest court of judicature next to the Parliament, exercising jurisdiction at law, but chiefly in equity; but under the jurisdiction act of 1873 it became the chancery division of the High Court of Justice, and now exercises jurisdiction only in equity.

2. In the Unites States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in equity.

Note: A court of chancery, so far as it is a court of equity, in the English and American sense, may be generally, if not precisely, described as one having jurisdiction in cases of rights, recognized and protected by the municipal jurisprudence, where a plain, adequate, and complete remedy can not be had in the courts of common law. In some of the American States, jurisdiction at law and in equity centers in the same tribunal. The courts of the United States also have jurisdiction both at law and in equity, and in all such cases they exercise their jurisdiction, as courts of law, or as courts of equity, as the subject of adjudication may require. In others of the American States, the courts that administer equity are distinct tribunals, having their appropriate judicial officers, and it is to the latter that the appellation courts of chancery is usually applied; but, in American law, the terms equity and court of equity are more frequently employed than the corresponding terms chancery and court of chancery. Burrill. Inns of chancery. See under Inn. -- To get (or to hold) In chancery (Boxing), to get the head of an antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other fist at will; hence, to have wholly in One's power. The allusion is to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court, where he was helpless, while the lawyers lived upon his estate.

CHANCRE Chan"cre, n. Etym: [F. chancere. See Cancer.] (Med.)

Defn: A venereal sore or ulcer; specifically, the initial lesion of true syphilis, whether forming a distinct ulcer or not; -- called also hard chancre, indurated chancre, and Hunterian chancre. Soft chancre. A chancroid. See Chancroid.

CHANCROID Chan"croid, n. Etym: [Chancre + -oil.] (Med.)

Defn: A venereal sore, resembling a chancre in its seat and some external characters, but differing from it in being the starting point of a purely local process and never of a systemic disease; -- called also soft chancre.

CHANCROUS Chan"crous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chancreux.] (Med.)

Defn: Of the nature of a chancre; having chancre.

CHANDELIER Chan`de*lier", n. Etym: [F. See Chandler.]

1. A candlestick, lamp, stand, gas fixture, or the like, having several branches; esp., one hanging from the ceiling.

2. (Fort.)

Defn: A movable parapet, serving to support fascines to cover pioneers. [Obs.]

CHANDLER Chan"dler, n. Etym: [F. chandelier a candlestick, a maker or seller of candles, LL. candelarius chandler, fr. L. candela candle. See Candle, and cf. Chandelier.]

1. A maker or seller of candles. The chandler's basket, on his shoulder borne, With tallow spots thy coat. Gay.

2. A dealer in other commodities, which are indicated by a word prefixed; as, ship chandler, corn chandler.

CHANDLERLY Chan"dler*ly, a.

Defn: Like a chandler; in a petty way. [Obs.] Milton.

CHANDLERY Chan"dler*y, n.

Defn: Commodities sold by a chandler.

CHANDOO Chan*doo", n.

Defn: An extract or preparation of opium, used in China and India for smoking. Balfour.

CHANDRY Chan"dry, n.

Defn: Chandlery. [Obs.] "Torches from the chandry." B. Jonson.

CHANFRIN Chan"frin, n. Etym: [F. chanfrein. Cf. Chamfron.]

Defn: The fore part of a horse's head.

CHANGE Change, v. t. [Imp. & p. p. Changed; p. pr. & vb. n. Changing.] Etym: [F. changer, fr. LL. cambiare, to exchange, barter, L. cambire. Cf. Cambial.]

1. To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a thing; to change the countenance. Therefore will I change their glory into shame. Hosea. iv. 7.

2. To alter by substituting something else for, or by giving up for something else; as, to change the clothes; to change one's occupation; to change one's intention. They that do change old love for new, Pray gods, they change for worse! Peele.

3. To give and take reciprocally; to exchange; -- followed by with; as, to change place, or hats, or money, with another. Look upon those thousands with whom thou wouldst not, for any interest, change thy fortune and condition. Jer. Taylor.

4. Specifically: To give, or receive, smaller denominations of money (technically called change) for; as, to change a gold coin or a bank bill. He pulled out a thirty-pound note and bid me change it. Goldsmith. To change a horse, or To change hand (Man.), to turn or bear the horse's head from one hand to the other, from the left to right, or from the right to the left. -- To change hands, to change owners. -- To change one's tune, to become less confident or boastful. [Colloq.] -- To change step, to take a break in the regular succession of steps, in marching or walking, as by bringing the hollow of one foot against the heel of the other, and then stepping off with the foot which is in advance.

Syn. -- To alter; vary; deviate; substitute; innovate; diversify; shift; veer; turn. See Alter.

CHANGE Change, v. i.

1. To be altered; to undergo variation; as, men sometimes change for the better. For I am Lord, I change not. Mal. iii. 6.

2. To pass from one phase to another; as, the moon changes to-morrow night.

CHANGE Change, n. Etym: [F. change, fr. changer. See Change. v. t.]

1. Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or principles. Apprehensions of a change of dynasty. Hallam. All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job xiv. 14.

2. A succesion or substitution of one thing in the place of another; a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons. Our fathers did for change to France repair. Dryden. The ringing grooves of change. Tennyson.

3. A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon.

4. Alteration in the order of a series; permutation.

5. That which makes a variety, or may be substituted for another. Thirty change (R.V. changes) of garments. Judg. xiv. 12.

6. Small money; the money by means of which the larger coins and bank bills are made available in small dealings; hence, the balance returned when payment is tendered by a coin or note exceeding the sum due.

7. Etym: [See Exchange.]

Defn: A place where merchants and others meet to transact business; a building appropriated for mercantile transactions. [Colloq. for Exchange.]

8. A public house; an alehouse. [Scot.] They call an alehouse a change. Burt.

9. (Mus.)

Defn: Any order in which a number of bells are struck, other than that of the diatonic scale. Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing. Holder. Change of life, the period in the life of a woman when menstruation and the capacity for conception cease, usually occurring between forty-five and fifty years of age. -- Change ringing, the continual production, without repetition, of changes on bells, See def. 9. above. -- Change wheel (Mech.), one of a set of wheels of different sizes and number of teeth, that may be changed or substituted one for another in machinery, to produce a different but definite rate of angular velocity in an axis, as in cutting screws, gear, etc. -- To ring the changes on, to present the same facts or arguments in variety of ways.

Syn. -- Variety; variation; alteration; mutation; transition; vicissitude; innovation; novelty; transmutation; revolution; reverse.

CHANGEABILITY Change`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Changeableness.

CHANGEABLE Change"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. changeable.]

1. Capable of change; subject to alteration; mutable; variable; fickle; inconstant; as, a changeable humor.

2. Appearing different, as in color, in different lights, or under different circumstances; as, changeable silk.

Syn. -- Mutable; alterable; variable; inconstant; fitful; vacillating; capricious; fickle; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; erratic; giddy; volatile.

CHANGEABLENESS Change"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being changeable; fickleness; inconstancy; mutability.

CHANGEABLY Change"a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a changeable manner.

CHANGEFUL Change"ful, a.

Defn: Full of change; mutable; inconstant; fickle; uncertain. Pope. His course had been changeful. Motley. -- Change"ful*ly, adv. -- Change"ful*ness, n.

CHANGE GEAR Change gear. (Mach.)

Defn: A gear by means of which the speed of machinery or of a vehicle may be changed while that of the propelling engine or motor remains constant; -- called also change-speed gear.

CHANGE KEY Change key.

Defn: A key adapted to open only one of a set of locks; -- distinguished from a master key.

CHANGELESS Change"less, a.

Defn: That can not be changed; constant; as, a changeless purpose. -- Change"less*ness, n.

CHANGELING Change"ling, n. Etym: [Change + -ling.]

1. One who, or that which, is left or taken in the place of another, as a child exchanged by fairies. Such, men do changelings call, so changed by fairies' theft. Spenser. The changeling [a substituted writing] never known. Shak.

2. A simpleton; an idiot. Macaulay. Changelings and fools of heaven, and thence shut out. Wildly we roam in discontent about. Dryden.

3. One apt to change; a waverer. "Fickle changelings." Shak.

CHANGELING Change"ling, a.

1. Taken or left in place of another; changed. "A little changeling boy." Shak.

2. Given to change; inconstant. [Obs.] Some are so studiously changeling. Boyle.

CHANGER Chan"ger, n.

1. One who changes or alters the form of anything.

2. One who deals in or changes money. John ii. 14.

3. One apt to change; an inconstant person.

CHANK Chank", n. Etym: [Skr. çankha. See Conch.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The East Indian name for the large spiral shell of several species of sea conch much used in making bangles, esp. Turbinella pyrum. Called also chank chell.

CHANNEL Chan"nel, n. Etym: [OE. chanel, canel, OF. chanel, F. chenel, fr. L. canalis. See Canal.]

1. The hollow bed where a stream of water runs or may run.

2. The deeper part of a river, harbor, strait, etc., where the main current flows, or which affords the best and safest passage for vessels.

3. (Geog.)

Defn: A strait, or narrow sea, between two portions of lands; as, the British Channel.

4. That through which anything passes; means of passing, conveying, or transmitting; as, the news was conveyed to us by different channels. The veins are converging channels. Dalton. At best, he is but a channel to convey to the National assembly such matter as may import that body to know. Burke.

5. A gutter; a groove, as in a fluted column.

6. pl. Etym: [Cf. Chain wales.] (Naut.)

Defn: Flat ledges of heavy plank bolted edgewise to the outside of a vessel, to increase the spread of the shrouds and carry them clear of the bulwarks. Channel bar, Channel iron (Arch.), an iron bar or beam having a section resembling a flat gutter or channel. -- Channel bill (Zoöl.), a very large Australian cucko (Scythrops Novæhollandiæ. -- Channel goose. (Zoöl.) See Gannet.

CHANNEL Chan"nel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Channeled, or Channelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Channeling, or Channelling.]

1. To form a channel in; to cut or wear a channel or channels in; to groove. No more shall trenching war channel her fields. Shak.

2. To course through or over, as in a channel. Cowper.

CHANNELING Chan"nel*ing, n.

1. The act or process of forming a channel or channels.

2. A channel or a system of channels; a groove.

CHANSON Chan"son, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cantion song. See Cantion, Canzone.]

Defn: A song. Shak.

CHANSON DE GESTE Chan`son" de geste". [F., prop., song of history.]

Defn: Any Old French epic poem having for its subject events or exploits of early French history, real or legendary, and written originally in assonant verse of ten or twelve syllables. The most famous one is the Chanson de Roland.

Langtoft had written in the ordinary measure of the later chansons de geste. Saintsbury.

CHANSONNETTE Chan`son*nette", n.; pl. Chansonnettes. Etym: [F., dim. of chanson.]

Defn: A little song. These pretty little chansonnettes that he sung. Black.

CHANT Chant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chanting.] Etym: [F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant affected speaking, and see Hen.]

1. To utter with a melodious voice; to sing. The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music. Spenser.

2. To celebrate in song. The poets chant in the theaters. Bramhall.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant.

CHANT Chant, v. i.

1. To make melody with the voice; to sing. "Chant to the sound of the viol." Amos vi. 5.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: To sing, as in reciting a chant. To chant (or chaunt) horses, to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See Chaunter. Thackeray.

CHANT Chant, n.Etym: [F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, v. t.]

1. Song; melody.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is the most ancient form of choral music.

3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting.

4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [R.] His strange face, his strange chant. Macaulay. Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian. Chant royal Etym: [F.], in old French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each, and a concluding stanza. -- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain. -- Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.

CHANTANT Chan`tant", a. Etym: [F. singing.] (Mus.)

Defn: Composed in a melodious and singing style.

CHANTER Chant"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chanteur.]

1. One who chants; a singer or songster. Pope.

2. The chief singer of the chantry. J. Gregory.

3. The flute or finger pipe in a bagpipe. See Bagpipe.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The hedge sparrow.

CHANTERELLE Chan`te*relle", n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)

Defn: A name for several species of mushroom, of which one (Cantharellus cibrius) is edible, the others reputed poisonous.

CHANTEY Chant"ey, n. [Cf. F. chanter to sing, and Chant. n.]

Defn: A sailor's song.

May we lift a deep-sea chantey such as seamen use at sea Kipling.

CHANTICLEER Chan"ti*cleer, n. Etym: [F. Chanteclair, name of the cock in the Roman du Renart (Reynard the Fox); chanter to chant + clair clear. See Chant, and Clear.]

Defn: A cock, so called from the clearness or loundness of his voice in crowing.

CHANTING Chant"ing, n.

Defn: Singing, esp. as a chant is sung. Chanting falcon (Zoöl.), an African falcon (Melierax canorus or musicus). The male has the habit, remarkable in a bird of prey, of singing to his mate, while she is incubating.

CHANTOR Chant"or, n.

Defn: A chanter.

CHANTRESS Chant"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chanteresse.]

Defn: A female chanter or singer. Milton.

CHANTRY Chant"ry, n.; pl. Chantries. Etym: [OF. chanterie, fr. chanter to sing.]

1. An endowment or foundation for the chanting of masses and offering of prayers, commonly for the founder.

2. A chapel or altar so endowed. Cowell.

CHAOMANCY Cha"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by means of apperances in the air.

CHAOS Cha"os, n. Etym: [L. chaos chaos (in senses 1 & 2), Gr. Chasm.]

1. An empty, immeasurable space; a yawning chasm. [Archaic] Between us and there is fixed a great chaos. Luke xvi. 26 (Rhemish Trans. ).

2. The confused, unorganized condition or mass of matter before the creation of distinct and order forms.

3. Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a confused mixture; confusion; disorder.

CHAOTIC Cha*ot"ic, a.

Defn: Resembling chaos; confused.

CHAOTICALLY Cha*ot"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a chaotic manner.

CHAP Chap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chapping.] Etym: [See Chop to cut.]

1. To cause to open in slits or chinks; to split; to cause the skin of to crack or become rough. Then would unbalanced heat licentious reign, Crack the dry hill, and chap the russet plain. Blackmore. Nor winter's blast chap her fair face. Lyly.

2. To strike; to beat. [Scot.]

CHAP Chap, v. i.

1. To crack or open in slits; as, the earth chaps; the hands chap.

2. To strike; to knock; to rap. [Scot.]

CHAP Chap, n. Etym: [From Chap, v. t. & i.]

1. A cleft, crack, or chink, as in the surface of the earth, or in the skin.

2. A division; a breach, as in a party. [Obs.] Many clefts and chaps in our council board. T. Fuller.

3. A blow; a rap. [Scot.]

CHAP Chap, n. Etym: [OE. chaft; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel kjaptr jaw, Sw. Käft, D. kiæft; akin to G. kiefer, and E. jowl. Cf. Chops.]

1. One of the jaws or the fleshy covering of a jaw; -- commonly in the plural, and used of animals, and colloquially of human beings. His chaps were all besmeared with crimson blood. Cowley. He unseamed him [Macdonald] from the nave to the chaps. Shak.

2. One of the jaws or cheeks of a vise, etc.

CHAP Chap, n. Etym: [Perh. abbreviated fr. chapman, but used in a more general sense; or cf. Dan. kiæft jaw, person, E. chap jaw.]

1. A buyer; a chapman. [Obs.] If you want to sell, here is your chap. Steele.

2. A man or boy; a youth; a fellow. [Colloq.]

CHAP Chap, v. i. Etym: [See Cheapen.]

Defn: To bargain; to buy. [Obs.]

CHAPARAJOS Cha`pa*ra"jos, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]

Defn: Overalls of sheepskin or leather, usually open at the back, worn, esp. by cowboys, to protect the legs from thorny bushes, as in the chaparral; -- called also chapareras or colloq. chaps. [Sp. Amer.]

CHAPARERAS Cha`pa*re"ras, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]

Defn: Same as Chaparajos. [Sp. Amer.]

CHAPARRAL Cha`par*ral", n. Etym: [Sp., fr. chaparro an evergeen oak.]

1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks.

2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny shrubs and brambles. Chaparral cock; fem. Chaparral hen (Zoöl.), a bird of the cuckoo family (Geococcyx Californianus), noted for running with great speed. It ranges from California to Mexico and eastward to Texas; -- called also road runner, ground cuckoo, churea, and snake killerit is the state bird of New Mexico.

CHAPBOOK Chap"book`, n. Etym: [See Chap to cheapen.]

Defn: Any small book carried about for sale by chapmen or hawkers. Hence, any small book; a toy book.

CHAPE Chape, n. Etym: [F., a churchman's cope, a cover, a chape, fr. L. cappa. See Cap.]

1. The piece by which an object is attached to something, as the frog of a scabbard or the metal loop at the back of a buckle by which it is fastened to a strap.

2. The transverse guard of a sword or dagger.

3. The metal plate or tip which protects the end of a scabbard, belt, etc. Knight.

CHAPEAU Cha`peau", n.; pl. Chapeux. Etym: [F., fr. OF. chapel hat. See Chaplet.]

1. hat or covering for the head.

2. (Her.)

Defn: A cap of maintenance. See Maintenance. Chapeau bras ( Etym: [F. chapeau hat + bras arm], a hat so made that it can be compressed and carried under the arm without injury. Such hats were particularly worn on dress occasions by gentlemen in the 18th century. A chapeau bras is now worn in the United States army by general and staff officers.

CHAPED Chaped, p. p. or a.

Defn: Furnished with a chape or chapes. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHAPEL Chap"el, n. Etym: [OF. chapele, F. chapelle, fr. LL. capella, orig., a short cloak, hood, or cowl; later, a reliquary, sacred vessel, chapel; dim. of cappa, capa, cloak, cape, cope; also, a covering for the head. The chapel where St. Martin's cloak was preserved as a precious relic, itself came to be called capella, whence the name was applied to similar paces of worship, and the guardian of this cloak was called capellanus, or chaplain. See Cap, and cf. Chaplain., Chaplet.]

1. A subordinate place of worship; as, (a) a small church, often a private foundation, as for a memorial; (b) a small building attached to a church; (c) a room or recess in a church, containing an altar.

Note: In Catholic churches, and also in cathedrals and abbey churches, chapels are usually annexed in the recesses on the sides of the aisles. Gwilt.

2. A place of worship not connected with a church; as, the chapel of a palace, hospital, or prison.

3. In England, a place of worship used by dissenters from the Established Church; a meetinghouse.

4. A choir of singers, or an orchastra, attached to the court of a prince or nobleman.

5. (Print.) (a) A printing office, said to be so called because printing was first carried on in England in a chapel near Westminster Abbey. (b) An association of workmen in a printing office. Chapel of ease. (a) A chapel or dependent church built for the ease or a accommodation of an increasing parish, or for parishioners who live at a distance from the principal church. (b) A privy. (Law) -- Chapel master, a director of music in a chapel; the director of a court or orchestra. -- To build a chapel (Naut.), to chapel a ship. See Chapel, v. t., 2. -- To hold a chapel, to have a meeting of the men employed in a printing office, for the purpose of considering questions affecting their interests.

CHAPEL Chap"el, v. t.

1. To deposit or inter in a chapel; to enshrine. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: To cause (a ship taken aback in a light breeze) so to turn or make a circuit as to recover, without bracing the yards, the same tack on which she had been sailing.

CHAPELESS Chape"less, a.

Defn: Without a chape.

CHAPELET Chap"e*let, n. Etym: [F. See Chaplet.]

1. A pair of Straps, with stirrups, joined at the top and fastened to the pommel or the frame of the saddle, after they have been adjusted to the convenience of the rider. [Written also chaplet.]

2. A kind of chain pump, or dredging machine.

CHAPELLANY Chap"el*la*ny, n.; pl. Chapellanies. Etym: [Cf. E. chapellenie, LL. capellania. See Chaplain.]

Defn: A chapel within the jurisdiction of a church; a subordinate ecclesiastical foundation.

CHAPELRY Chap"el*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chapelerie.]

Defn: The territorial disrict legally assigned to a chapel.

CHAPERON Chap"er*on, n. Etym: [F. chaperon. See Chape, Cape, Cap.]

1. A hood; especially, an ornamental or an official hood. His head and face covered with a chaperon, out of which there are but two holes to look through. Howell.

2. A divice placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse in pompous funerals.

3. A matron who accompanies a young lady in public, for propriety, or as a guide and protector.

CHAPERON Chap"er*on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chaperoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaperoning.] Etym: [Cf. F. chaperonner, fr. chaperon.]

Defn: To attend in public places as a guide and protector; to matronize. Fortunately Lady Bell Finley, whom I had promised to chaperon, sent to excuse herself. Hannah More.

CHAPERONAGE Chap"er*on`age, n.

Defn: Attendance of a chaperon on a lady in public; protection afforded by a chaperon.

CHAPFALLEN Chap"fall`en, a.

Defn: Having the lower chap or jaw drooping, -- an indication of humiliation and dejection; crestfallen; discouraged. See Chopfallen.

CHAPITER Chap"i*ter, n. Etym: [OF. chapitel, F. chapiteau, from L. capitellum, dim. of caput head. Cf. Capital, Chapter.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A capital [Obs.] See Chapital. Ex. xxxvi. 38.

2. (Old Eng. Law)

Defn: A summary in writing of such matters as are to be inquired of or presented before justices in eyre, or justices of assize, or of the peace, in their sessions; -- also called articles. Jacob.

CHAPLAIN Chap"lain, n. Etym: [F. chapelain, fr. LL. capellanus, fr. capella. See Chapel.]

1. An ecclesiastic who has a chapel, or who performs religious service in a chapel.

2. A clergyman who is officially atteched to the army or navy, to some public institution, or to a family or court, for the purpose of performing divine service.

3. Any person (clergyman or layman) chosen to conduct religious exercises for a society, etc.; as, a chaplain of a Masonic or a temperance lodge.

CHAPLAINCY Chap"lain*cy, n.; pl. Chaplaincies (.

Defn: The office, position, or station of a chaplain. Swift.

CHAPLAINSHIP Chap"lain*ship, n.

1. The office or business of a chaplain. The Bethesda of some knight's chaplainship. Milton.

2. The possession or revenue of a chapel. Johnson.

CHAPLESS Chap"less, a.

Defn: Having no lower jaw; hence, fleshless. [R.] "Yellow, chapless skulls." Shak.

CHAPLET Chap"let, n. Etym: [F. chapelet, dim. of OF. chapel hat, garland, dim. fr. LL. cappa. See Cap, and cf. Chapelet, Chapeau.]

1. A garland or wreath to be worn on the head.

2. A string of beads, or part of a string, used by Roman Catholic in praying; a third of a rosary, or fifty beads. Her chaplet of beads and her missal. Longfellow.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: A small molding, carved into beads, pearls, olives, etc.

4. (Man.)

Defn: A chapelet. See Chapelet, 1.

5. (Founding)

Defn: A bent piece of sheet iron, or a pin with thin plates on its ends, for holding a core in place in the mold.

6. A tuft of feathers on a peacock's head. Johnson.

CHAPLET Chap"let, n.

Defn: A small chapel or shrine.

CHAPLET Chap"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chapleted.]

Defn: To adorn with a chaplet or with flowers. R. Browning.

CHAPMAN Chap"man, n.; pl. Chapmen. Etym: [AS. ceápman; ceáp trade + man man; akin to D. koopman, Sw. köpman, Dan. kiöpmand, G. kaufmann.f. Chap to cheapen, and see Cheap.]

1. One who buys and sells; a merchant; a buyer or a seller. [Obs.] The word of life is a quick commodity, and ought not, as a drug to be obtruded on those chapmen who are unwilling to buy it. T. Fuller.

2. A peddler; a hawker.

CHAPPY Chap"py,

Defn: Full of chaps; cleft; gaping; open.

CHAPS Chaps, n. pl.

Defn: The jaws, or the fleshy parts about them. See Chap. "Open your chaps again." Shak.

CHAPTER Chap"ter, n. Etym: [OF. chapitre, F. chapitre, fr. L. capitulum, dim. of caput head, the chief person or thing, the principal division of a writing, chapter. See Chief, and cf, Chapiter.]

1. A division of a book or treatise; as, Genesis has fifty chapters.

2. (Eccl.) (a) An assembly of monks, or of the prebends and other clergymen connected with a cathedral, conventual, or collegiate church, or of a diocese, usually presided over by the dean. (b) A community of canons or canonesses. (c) A bishop's council. (d) A business meeting of any religious community.

3. An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the Freemasons. Robertson.

4. A meeting of certain organized societies or orders.

5. A chapter house. [R.] Burrill.

6. A decretal epistle. Ayliffe.

7. A location or compartment. In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom Shak. Chapter head, or Chapter heading, that which stands at the head of a chapter, as a title. -- Chapter house, a house or room where a chapter meets, esp. a cathedral chapter. -- The chapter of accidents, chance. Marryat.

CHAPTER Chap"ter, v. t.

1. To divide into chapters, as a book. Fuller.

2. To correct; to bring to book, i. e., to demand chapter and verse. [Obs.] Dryden.

CHAPTREL Chap"trel, n. Etym: [See Chapiter.] (Arch.)

Defn: An impost. [Obs.]

CHAR; CHARR Char, Charr, n. Etym: [Ir. cear, Gael. ceara, lit., red, blood- colored, fr. cear blood. So named from its red belly.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the several species of fishes of the genus Salvelinus, allied to the spotted trout and salmon, inhabiting deep lakes in mountainous regions in Europe. In the United States, the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) is sometimes called a char.

CHAR Char, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A car; a chariot. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHAR Char, n. Etym: [OE. cherr, char a turning, time, work, AS. cerr, cyrr, turn, occasion, business, fr. cerran, cyrran, to turn; akin to OS. kërian, OHG. chëran, G. kehren. Cf. Chore, Ajar.]

Defn: Work done by the day; a single job, or task; a chore. [Written also chare.] [Eng.] When thou hast done this chare, I give thee leave To play till doomsday. Shak.

CHAR; CHARE Char, Chare, v. t. Etym: [See 3d Char.]

1. To perform; to do; to finish. [Obs.] Nores. Thet char is chared, as the good wife said when she had hanged her husband. Old Proverb.

2. To work or hew, as stone. Oxf. Gloss.

CHAR; CHARE Char, Chare, v. i.

Defn: To work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant; to do small jobs.

CHAR Char, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charred; p. pr. & vb. n. Charring.] Etym: [Prob. the same word as char to perform (see Char, n.), the modern use coming from charcoal, prop. coal-turned, turned to coal.]

1. To reduce to coal or carbon by exposure to heat; to reduce to charcoal; to burn to a cinder.

2. To burn slightly or partially; as, to char wood.

CHARA Cha"ra, n. Etym: [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and whorled branches. They flourish in wet places.

CHAR-A-BANC Char`-a-banc", n.; pl. Chars-a-banc. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running lengthwise.

CHARACT Char"act, n.

Defn: A distinctive mark; a character; a letter or sign. [Obs.] See Character. In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms. Shak.

CHARACTER Char"ac*ter, n. Etym: [L., an instrument for marking, character, Gr. caractère.]

1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol. It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye. Holder.

2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in the Runic character. You know the character to be your brother's Shak.

3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition. The character or that dominion. Milton. Know well each Ancient's proper character; His fable, subject, scope in every page; Religion, Country, genius of his Age. Pope. A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character. Motley.

4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he has a great deal of character.

5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life; as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion.

6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a daughter.

7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing; reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one a bad character. This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a character of it. Addison.

8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a servant. [Colloq.]

9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases of character; as, Randolph was a character; Cæsar is a great historical character.

10. One of the persons of a drama or novel.

Note: "It would be well if character and reputation were used distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is; reputation is what he is supposed to be. Character is in himself, reputation is in the minds of others. Character is injured by temptations, and by wrongdoing; reputation by slanders, and libels. Character endures throughout defamation in every form, but perishes when there is a voluntary transgression; reputation may last through numerous transgressions, but be destroyed by a single, and even an unfounded, accusation or aspersion." Abbott.

CHARACTER Char"ac*ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charactered.]

1. To engrave; to inscribe. [R.] These trees shall be my books. And in their barks my thoughts I 'll character. Shak.

2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to characterize. [R.] Mitford.

CHARACTERISM Char"ac*ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A distinction of character; a characteristic. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

CHARACTERISTIC Char`ac*ter*is"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. charactéristique.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or thing; peculiar; distinctive. Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay.

CHARACTERISTIC Char`ac*ter*is"tic, n.

1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of character; that which characterized. Pope. The characteristics of a true critic. Johnson.

2. (Math.)

Defn: The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a logarithm.

CHARACTERISTICAL Char`ac*ter*is"tic*al, a.

Defn: Characteristic.

CHARACTERISTICALLY Char`ac*ter*is"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a characteristic manner; in a way that characterizes.

CHARACTERIZATION Char`ac*ter*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of characterizing.

CHARACTERIZE Char"ac*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Characterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Characterizing.] Etym: [LL. characterizare, Gr. charactériser.]

1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to make with distinctive features. European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are Characterized. Arbuthot.

2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

3. To indicate the character of; to describe. Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William. Johnson.

4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of. The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries. W. Irving.

Syn. -- To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style; particularize; entitle.

CHARACTERLESS Char"ac*ter*less, a.

Defn: Destitute of any distinguishing quality; without character or force.

CHARACTERY Char"ac*ter*y, n.

1. The art or means of characterizing; a system of signs or characters; symbolism; distinctive mark. Fairies use flowers for their charactery. Shak.

2. That which is charactered; the meaning. [Obs.] I will construe to thee All the charactery of my sad brows. Shak.

CHARADE Cha*rade", n. Etym: [F. charade, cf. Pr. charrada long chat, It ciarlare to chat, whence E. charlatan.]

Defn: A verbal or acted enigma based upon a word which has two or more significant syllables or parts, each of which, as well as the word itself, is to be guessed from the descriptions or representations.

CHARBOCLE Char"bo*cle, n.

Defn: Carbuncle. [Written also Charboncle.] [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHARBON Char"bon, n. Etym: [F., coal, charbon.]

1. (Far.)

Defn: A small black spot or mark remaining in the cavity of the corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or mark has become obliterated.

2. A very contagious and fatal disease of sheep, horses, and cattle. See Maligmant pustule.

CHARCOAL Char"coal`, n. Etym: [See Char, v. t., to burn or to reduce to coal, and Coal.]

1. Impure carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances; esp., coal made by charring wood in a kiln, retort, etc., from which air is excluded. It is used for fuel and in various mechanical, artistic, and chemical processes.

2. (Fine Arts)

Defn: Finely prepared charcoal in small sticks, used as a drawing implement. Animal charcoal, a fine charcoal prepared by calcining bones in a closed vessel; -- used as a filtering agent in sugar refining, and as an absorbent and disinfectant. -- Charcoal blacks, the black pigment, consisting of burnt ivory, bone, cock, peach stones, and other substances. -- Charcoal drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with charcoal. See Charcoal, 2. Until within a few years this material has been used almost exclusively for preliminary outline, etc., but at present many finished drawings are made with it. -- Charcoal point, a carbon pencil prepared for use un an electric light apparatus. -- Mineral charcoal, a term applied to silky fibrous layers of charcoal, interlaminated in beds of ordinary bituminous coal; -- known to miners as mother of coal.

CHARD Chard, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carde esclent thistle.]

1. The tender leaves or leafstalks of the artichoke, white beet, etc., blanched for table use.

2. A variety of the white beet, which produces large, succulent leaves and leafstalks.

CHARE Chare, n.

Defn: A narrow street. [Prov. Eng.]

CHARE Chare, n. & v.

Defn: A chore; to chore; to do. See Char.

CHARGE Charge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charged; p. pr. & vb. n. Charging.] Etym: [OF. chargier, F. charger, fr. LL. carricare, fr. L. carrus wagon. Cf. Cargo, Caricature, Cark, and see Car.]

1. To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill. A carte that charged was with hay. Chaucer. The charging of children's memories with rules. Locke.

2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command, instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as, to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an agent. Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God. Josh. xxii. 5. Cromwell, I charge thee, fing away ambition. Shak.

3. To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for. When land shal be charged by any lien. Kent.

4. To fix or demand as a prince; as, he charges two dollars a barrelk for apples.

5. To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as to charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an account; as, to charge a sum to one.

6. To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge. No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crime On native loth and negligence of time. Dryden.

7. To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a) person or thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the door of. If the did that wrong you charge with. Tennyson.

8. To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine, etc. Their battering cannon charged to the mouths. Shak.

9. To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural member with a molding.

10. (Her.)

Defn: To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or.

11. To call to account; to challenge. [Obs.] To charge me to an answer. Shak.

12. To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack. Charged our main battle's front. Shak.

Syn. -- To intrust; command; exhort; instruct; accuse; impeach; arraign. See Accuse.

CHARGE Charge, v. i.

1. To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets. Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. Glanvill. "Charge for the guns!" he said. Tennyson.

2. To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods.

3. To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases.

4. To squat on its belly and be still; -- a command given by a sportsman to a dog.

CHARGE Charge, n. Etym: [F. charge, fr. charger to load. See Charge, v. t., and cf. Cargo, Caricature.]

1. A load or burder laid upon a person or thing.

2. A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or management of another; a trust.

Note: The people of a parish or church are called the charge of the clergyman who is set over them.

3. Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office; responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty. 'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand. Shak.

4. Heed; care; anxiety; trouble. [Obs.] Chaucer.

5. Harm. [Obs.] Chaucer.

6. An order; a mandate or command; an injunction. The king gave cherge concerning Absalom. 2. Sam. xviii. 5.

7. An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the charge of a bishop to his clergy.

8. An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment; specification of something alleged. The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena. Whewell.

9. Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines, etc.; costs; expense incurred; -- usually in the plural.

10. The price demanded for a thing or service.

11. An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a charge in an account book.

12. That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc., which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at one time

13. The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as, to sound the charge. Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon the enemies. Holland. The charge of the light brigade. Tennyson.

14. A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon to the charge.

15. (Far.)

Defn: A soft of plaster or ointment.

16. (Her.)

Defn: A bearing. See Bearing, n., 8.

17. Etym: [Cf. Charre.]

Defn: Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; -- called also charre.

18. Weight; import; value. Many suchlike "as's" of great charge. Shak. Back charge. See under Back, a. -- Bursting charge. (a (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc. (b (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of a charge of coarse powder in blasting. -- Charge and discharge (Equity Practice), the old mode or form of taking an account before a master in chancery. -- Charge sheet, the paper on which are entered at a police station all arrests and accusations. -- To sound the charge, to give the signal for an attack.

Syn. -- Care; custody; trust; management; office; expense; cost; price; assault; attack; onset; injunction; command; order; mandate; instruction; accusation; indictment.

CHARGEABLE Charge"a*ble, a.

1. That may be charged, laid, imposed, or imputes; as, a duty chargeable on iron; a fault chargeable on a man.

2. Subject to be charge or accused; liable or responsible; as, revenues chargeable with a claim; a man chargeable with murder.

3. Serving to create expense; costly; burdensome. That we might not be chargeable to any of you. 2. Thess. iii. 8. For the sculptures, which are elegant, were very chargeable. Evelyn.

CHARGEABLENESS Charge"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being chargeable or expensive. [Obs.] Whitelocke.

CHARGEABLY Charge"a*bly, adv.

Defn: At great cost; expensively. [Obs.]

CHARGEANT Char"geant, a. Etym: [F. chargeant, fr. charger to load.]

Defn: Burdensome; troublesome. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHARGE D'AFFAIRES Char`gé" d'af`faires", n.; pl. Chargés d'affaires. Etym: [F., "charged with affairs."]

Defn: A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade, accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary.

CHARGEFUL Charge"ful, a.

Defn: Costly; expensive. [Obs.] The fineness of the gold and chargeful fashion. Shak.

CHARGEHOUSE Charge"house`, n.

Defn: A schoolhouse. [Obs.]

CHARGELESS Charge"less, a.

Defn: Free from, or with little, charge.

CHARGEOUS Char"geous, a.

Defn: Burdensome. [Obs.] I was chargeous to no man. Wyclif, (2 Cor. xi. 9).

CHARGER Char"ger, n.

1. One who, or that which charges.

2. An instrument for measuring or inserting a charge.

3. A large dish. [Obs.] Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8.

4. A horse for battle or parade. Macaulay. And furious every charger neighed. Campbell.

CHARGESHIP Char*ge"ship, n.

Defn: The office of a chargé d'affaires.

CHARILY Char"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a chary manner; carefully; cautiously; frugally.

CHARINESS Char"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being chary.

CHARIOT Char"i*ot, n. Etym: [F. Chariot, from char car. See Car.]

1. (Antiq.)

Defn: A two-wheeled car or vehicle for war, racing, state processions, etc. First moved the chariots, after whom the foot. Cowper.

2. A four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage, having one seat. Shak.

CHARIOT Char"i*ot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charioted; p. pr. & vb. n. Charioting.]

Defn: To convey in a chariot. Milton.

CHARIOTEE Char`i*ot*ee", n.

Defn: A light, covered, four-wheeled pleasure carriage with two seats.

CHARIOTEER Char`i*ot*eer", n.

1. One who drives a chariot.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A constellation. See Auriga, and Wagones.

CHARISM Cha"rism, n. Etym: [Gr. .] (Eccl.)

Defn: A miraculously given power, as of healing, speaking foreign languages without instruction, etc., attributed to some of the early Christians.

CHARISMATIC Char`is*mat"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a charism.

CHARITABLE Char"i*ta*ble, a.Etym: [F. See Charity.]

1. Full of love and good will; benevolent; kind. Be thy intents wicked or charitable, . . . . . . I will speak to thee. Shak.

2. Liberal in judging of others; disposed to look on the best side, and to avoid harsh judgment.

3. Liberal in benefactions to the poor; giving freely; generous; beneficent. What charitable men afford to beggars. Shak.

4. Of or pertaining to charity; springing from, or intended for, charity; relating to almsgiving; elemosynary; as, a charitable institution.

5. Dictated by kindness; favorable; lenient. By a charitable construction it may be a sermon. L. Andrews.

Syn. -- Kind; beneficent; benevolent; generous; lenient; forgiving; helpful; liberal; favorable; indulgent.

CHARITABLENESS Char"i*ta*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being charitable; the exercise of charity.

CHARITABLY Char"i*ta*bly, adv.

Defn: In a charitable manner.

CHARITY Char"i*ty, n.; pl. Charities. Etym: [F. charité fr. L. caritas dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly, loved; asin to Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf. Caress.]

1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.

Defn: Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1. Cor. xiii. 13. They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. Ruskin. With malice towards none, with charity for all. Lincoln.

2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to put the best construction on the words and actions of others. The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable. Buckminster.

3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity. The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. Dryden.

4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness. She did ill then to refuse her a charity. L'Estrange.

5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.

6. pl. (Law)

Defn: Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor or friendless, education, religious culture, and public institutions. The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers. Wordsworth. Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick; -- a popular designation. There are various orders of the Sisters of Charity.

Syn. -- Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness; beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.

CHARIVARI Cha*ri`va*ri", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A mock serenade of discordant noises, made with kettles, tin horns, etc., designed to annoy and insult.

Note: It was at first performed before the house of any person of advanced age who married a second time.

CHARK Chark, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. charcoal.]

Defn: Charcoal; a cinder. [Obs.] DeFoe.

CHARK Chark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charked.]

Defn: To burn to a coal; to char. [Obs.]

CHARLATAN Char"la*tan, n. Etym: [F. charlatan, fr. It. ciarlatano, fr. ciarlare to chartter, prate; of imitative origin; cf. It. zirlare to whistle like a thrush.]

Defn: One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable pretensions; a quack; an impostor; an empiric; a mountebank.

CHARLATANIC; CHARLATANICAL Char`la*tan"ic, Char`la*tan"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or like a charlatan; making undue pretension; empirical; pretentious; quackish. -- Char`la*tan"ic*al*ly, adv.

CHARLATANISM Char"la*tan*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. charlatanisme.]

Defn: Charlatanry.

CHARLATANRY Char"la*tan*ry, n. Etym: [F. charlatanrie, from It. ciarlataneria. See Charlatan.]

Defn: Undue pretensions to skill; quackery; wheedling; empiricism.

CHARLES'S WAIN Charles's Wain. Etym: [Charles + wain; cf. AS. Carles w (for wægn), Sw. karlvagnen, Dan. karlsvogn. See Churl, and Wain.] (Astron.)

Defn: The group of seven stars, commonly called the Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, or Great Bear. See Ursa major, under Ursa.

Note: The name is sometimes also applied to the Constellation.

CHARLIE Char"lie, n.

1. A familiar nickname or substitute for Charles.

2. A night watchman; -- an old name.

3. A short, pointed beard, like that worn by Charles I.

4. As a proper name, a fox; -- so called in fables and familiar literature.

CHARLOCK Char"lock, n. Etym: [AS. cerlic; the latter part perh. fr. AS. leác leek. Cf. Hemlock.] (Bot.)

Defn: A cruciferous plant (Brassica sinapistrum) with yellow flowers; wild mustard. It is troublesome in grain fields. Called also chardock, chardlock, chedlock, and kedlock. Jointed charlock, White charlock, a troublesome weed (Raphanus Raphanistrum) with straw- colored, whitish, or purplish flowers, and jointed pods: wild radish.

CHARLOTTE Char"lotte, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A kind of pie or pudding made by lining a dish with slices of bread, and filling it with bread soaked in milk, and baked. Charlotte Russe (, or Charlotte à la russe Etym: [F., lit., Russian charlotte] (Cookery), a dish composed of custard or whipped cream, inclosed in sponge cake.

CHARM Charm, n. Etym: [F. charme, fr. L. carmen song, verse, incantation, for casmen, akin to Skr. çasman, çasa, a laudatory song, from a root signifying to praise, to sing.]

1. A melody; a song. [Obs.] With charm of earliest birds. Milton. Free liberty to chant our charms at will. Spenser.

2. A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of magic; a magical combination of words, characters, etc.; an incantation. My high charms work. Shak.

3. That which exerts an irresistible power to please and attract; that which fascinates; any alluring quality. Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Pope. The charm of beauty's powerful glance. Milton.

4. Anything worn for its supposed efficacy to the wearer in averting ill or securing good fortune.

5. Any small decorative object worn on the person, as a seal, a key, a silver whistle, or the like. Bunches of charms are often worn at the watch chain.

Syn. - Spell; incantation; conjuration; enchantment; fascination; attraction.

CHARM Charm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Charming.] Etym: [Cf. F. charmer. See Charm, n.]

1. To make music upon; to tune. [Obs. & R.] Here we our slender pipes may safely charm. Spenser.

2. To subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence; to affect by magic. No witchcraft charm thee! Shak.

3. To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe. Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope.

4. To attract irresistibly; to delight exceedingly; to enchant; to fascinate. They, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear. Milton.

5. To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or supernatural influences; as, a charmed life. I, in my own woe charmed, Could not find death. Shak.

Syn. - To fascinate; enchant; enrapture; captivate; bewitch; allure; subdue; delight; entice; transport.

CHARM Charm, v. i.

1. To use magic arts or occult power; to make use of charms. The voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. Ps. lviii. 5.

2. To act as, or produce the effect of, a charm; to please greatly; to be fascinating.

3. To make a musical sound. [Obs.] Milton.

CHARMEL Char"mel, n. Etym: [Heb.]

Defn: A fruitful field. Libanus shall be turned into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed as a forest. Isa. xxix. 17 (Douay version).

CHARMER Charm"er, n.

1. One who charms, or has power to charm; one who uses the power of enchantment; a magician. Deut. xviii. 11.

2. One who delights and attracts the affections.

CHARMERESS Charm"er*ess, n.

Defn: An enchantress. Chaucer.

CHARMFUL Charm"ful, a.

Defn: Abounding with charms. "His charmful lyre." Cowley.

CHARMING Charm"ing, a.

Defn: Pleasing the mind or senses in a high degree; delighting; fascinating; attractive. How charming is divine philosophy. Milton.

Syn. - Enchanting; bewitching; captivating; enrapturing; alluring; fascinating; delightful; pleasurable; graceful; lovely; amiable; pleasing; winning. -- Charm"ing*ly, adv. -- Charm"ing*ness, n.

CHARMLESS Charm"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of charms. Swift.

CHARNECO; CHARNICO Char"ne*co, Char"ni*co, n.

Defn: A sort of sweet wine. [Obs.] Shak.

CHARNEL Char"nel, a. Etym: [F. charnel carnal, fleshly, fr. L. carnalis. See Carnal.]

Defn: Containing the bodies of the dead. "Charnel vaults." Milton. Charnel house, a tomb, vault, cemetery, or other place where the bones of the dead are deposited; originally, a place for the bones thrown up when digging new graves in old burial grounds.

CHARNEL Char"nel, n.

Defn: A charnel house; a grave; a cemetery. In their proud charnel of Thermopylæ. Byron.

CHARON Cha"ron, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Cless. Myth.)

Defn: The son of Erebus and Nox, whose office it was to ferry the souls of the dead over the Styx, a river of the infernal regions. Shak.

CHARPIE Char"pie, n. Etym: [F., properly fem. p. p. of OF. charpir, carpir, to pluck, fr. L. carpere. Cf. Carpet.] (Med.)

Defn: Straight threads obtained by unraveling old linen cloth; -- used for surgical dressings.

CHARQUI Char"qui, n. Etym: [Sp. A term used in South America, Central America, and the Western United States.]

Defn: Jerked beef; beef cut into long strips and dried in the wind and sun. Darwin.

CHARR Charr, n.

Defn: See 1st Char.

CHARRAS Char"ras, n.

Defn: The gum resin of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Same as Churrus. Balfour.

CHARRE Charre, n. Etym: [LL. charrus a certain weight.]

Defn: See Charge, n., 17.

CHARRY Char"ry, a. Etym: [See 6th Char.]

Defn: Pertaining to charcoal, or partaking of its qualities.

CHART Chart, n. Etym: [A doublet of card: cf. F. charte charter, carte card. See Card, and cf. Charter.]

1. A sheet of paper, pasteboard, or the like, on which information is exhibited, esp. when the information is arranged in tabular form; as, an historical chart.

2. A map; esp., a hydrographic or marine map; a map on which is projected a portion of water and the land which it surrounds, or by which it is surrounded, intended especially for the use of seamen; as, the United States Coast Survey charts; the English Admiralty charts.

3. A written deed; a charter. Globular chart, a chart constructed on a globular projection. See under Globular. -- Heliographic chart, a map of the sun with its spots. -- Mercator's chart, a chart constructed on the principle of Mercator's projection. See Projection. -- Plane chart, a representation of some part of the superficies of the globe, in which its spherical form is disregarded, the meridians being drawn parallel to each other, and the parallels of latitude at equal distances. -- Selenographic chart, a map representing the surface of the moon. -- Topographic chart, a minute delineation of a limited place or region.

CHART Chart, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charted.]

Defn: To lay down in a chart; to map; to delineate; as, to chart a coast.

CHARTA Char"ta, n. Etym: [L., leaf of paper. See Chart.] (Law) (a) Material on which instruments, books, etc., are written; parchment or paper. (b) A charter or deed; a writing by which a grant is made. See Magna Charta.

CHARTACEOUS Char*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. chartaceus. See Charta.]

Defn: Resembling paper or parchment; of paper-like texture; papery.

CHARTE Charte, n. Etym: [F. See Chart.]

Defn: The constitution, or fundamental law, of the French monarchy, as established on the restoration of Louis XVIII., in 1814.

CHARTER Char"ter, n. Etym: [OF. chartre, F. chartre, charte, fr. L. chartula a little paper, dim. of charta. See Chart, Card.]

1. A written evidence in due form of things done or granted, contracts made, etc., between man and man; a deed, or conveyance. [Archaic]

2. An instrument in writing, from the sovereign power of a state or country, executed in due form, bestowing rights, franchises, or privileges. The king [John, a.d. 1215], with a facility somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. This famous deed, commonly called the "Great Charter," either granted or secured very important liberties and privileges to every order of men in the kingdom. Hume.

3. An act of a legislative body creating a municipal or other corporation and defining its powers and privileges. Also, an instrument in writing from the constituted authorities of an order or society (as the Freemasons), creating a lodge and defining its powers.

4. A special privilege, immunity, or exemption. My mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise me, grieves me. Shak.

5. (Com.)

Defn: The letting or hiring a vessel by special contract, or the contract or instrument whereby a vessel is hired or let; as, a ship is offered for sale or charter. See Charter party, below. Charter land (O. Eng. Law), land held by charter, or in socage; bookland. -- Charter member, one of the original members of a society or corporation, esp. one named in a charter, or taking part in the first proceedings under it. -- Charter party Etym: [F. chartre partie, or charte partie, a divided charter; from the practice of cutting the instrument of contract in two, and giving one part to each of the contractors] (Com.), a mercantile lease of a vessel; a specific contract by which the owners of a vessel let the entire vessel, or some principal part of the vessel, to another person, to be used by the latter in transportation for his own account, either under their charge or his. -- People's Charter (Eng. Hist.), the document which embodied the demands made by the Chartists, so called, upon the English government in 1838.

CHARTER Char"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chartered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chartering.]

1. To establish by charter.

2. To hire or let by charter, as a ship. See Charter party, under Charter, n.

CHARTERED Char"tered, a.

1. Granted or established by charter; having, or existing under, a charter; having a privilege by charter. The sufficiency of chartered rights. Palfrey. The air, a chartered libertine. Shak.

2. Hired or let by charter, as a ship.

CHARTERER Char"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who charters; esp. one who hires a ship for a voyage.

CHARTERHOUSE Char"ter*house`, n.

Defn: A well known public school and charitable foundation in the building once used as a Carthusian monastery (Chartreuse) in London.

CHARTERIST Char"ter*ist, n.

Defn: Same as Chartist.

CHARTISM Chart"ism, n. Etym: [F. charte charter. Cf. Charte, Chart.]

Defn: The principles of a political party in England (1838-48), which contended for universal suffrage, the vote by ballot, annual parliaments, equal electoral districts, and other radical reforms, as set forth in a document called the People's Charter.

CHARTIST Chart"ist, n.

Defn: A supporter or partisan of chartism. [Eng.]

CHARTLESS Chart"less, a.

1. Without a chart; having no guide.

2. Not mapped; uncharted; vague. Barlow.

CHARTOGRAPHER; CHARTOGRAPHIC; CHARTOGRAPHY Char*tog"ra*pher, n., Char`to*graph"ic (, a., Char*tog"ra*phy (, n., etc.

Defn: Same as Cartographer, Cartographic, Cartography, etc.

CHARTOMANCY Char"to*man`cy, n. Etym: [L. charta paper + -mancy. Cf. Cartomancy.]

Defn: Divination by written paper or by cards.

CHARTOMETER Char*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Chart + -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for measuring charts or maps.

CHARTREUSE Char`treuse", n. Etym: [F.]

1. A Carthusian monastery; esp. La Grande Chartreuse, mother house of the order, in the mountains near Grenoble, France.

2. An alcoholic cordial, distilled from aromatic herbs; -- made at La Grande Chartreuse.

CHARTREUX Char`treux", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A Carthusian.

CHARTULARY Char"tu*la*ry, n.

Defn: See Cartulary.

CHARWOMAN Char"wom`an, n.; pl. Charwomen. Etym: [See Char a chore.]

Defn: A woman hired for odd work or for single days.

CHARY Char"y, a. Etym: [AS. cearig careful, fr. cearu care. See Care.]

Defn: Careful; wary; cautious; not rash, reckless, or spendthrift; saving; frugal. His rising reputation made him more chary of his fame. Jeffrey.

CHARYBDIS Cha*ryb"dis, n. Etym: [L., Gr.

Defn: A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast. It is personified as a female monster. See Scylla.

CHASABLE Chas"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being chased; fit for hunting. Gower.

CHASE Chase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chased; p. pr. & vb. n. Chasing.] Etym: [OF. chacier, F. chasser, fr. (assumed) LL. captiare, fr. L. captare to strive to seize. See Catch.]

1. To pursue for the purpose of killing or taking, as an enemy, or game; to hunt. We are those which chased you from the field. Shak. Philologists, who chase A panting syllable through time and place. Cowper.

2. To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to drive by following; to cause to fly; -- often with away or off; as, to chase the hens away. Chased by their brother's endless malice from prince to prince and from place to place. Knolles.

3. To pursue eagerly, as hunters pursue game. Chasing each other merrily. Tennyson.

CHASE Chase, v. i.

Defn: To give chase; to hunt; as, to chase around after a doctor. [Colloq.]

CHASE Chase, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See Chase, v.]

1. Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing, as of an enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any object greatly desired; the act or habit of hunting; a hunt. "This mad chase of fame." Dryden. You see this chase is hotly followed. Shak.

2. That which is pursued or hunted. Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. Shak.

3. An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is private properly, thus differing from a forest, which is not private property, and from a park, which is inclosed. Sometimes written chace. [Eng.]

4. (Court Tennis)

Defn: A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must drive his ball in order to gain a point. Chase gun (Naut.), a cannon placed at the bow or stern of an armed vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in defending the vessel when pursued. -- Chase port (Naut.), a porthole from which a chase gun is fired. -- Stern chase (Naut.), a chase in which the pursuing vessel follows directly in the wake of the vessel pursued.

CHASE Chase, n. Etym: [F. cháse, fr. L. capsa box, case. See Case a box.] (Print.)

1. A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are imposed.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: The part of a cannon from the reënforce or the trunnions to the swell of the muzzle. See Cannon.

3. A groove, or channel, as in the face of a wall; a trench, as for the reception of drain tile.

4. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: A kind of joint by which an overlap joint is changed to a flush joint, by means of a gradually deepening rabbet, as at the ends of clinker-built boats.

CHASE Chase, v. t. Etym: [A contraction of enchase.]

1. To ornament (a surface of metal) by embossing, cutting away parts, and the like.

2. To cut, so as to make a screw thread.

CHASER Chas"er, n.

1. One who or that which chases; a pursuer; a driver; a hunter.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: Same as Chase gun, esp. in terms bow chaser and stern chaser. See under Bow, Stern.

CHASER Chas"er, n.

1. One who chases or engraves. See 5th Chase, and Enchase.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A tool with several points, used for cutting or finishing screw threads, either external or internal, on work revolving in a lathe.

CHASIBLE Chas"i*ble, n.

Defn: See Chasuble.

CHASING Chas"ing, n.

Defn: The art of ornamenting metal by means of chasing tools; also, a piece of ornamental work produced in this way.

CHASM Chasm, n. Etym: [L. chasma, Gr. Chaos.]

1. A deep opening made by disruption, as a breach in the earth or a rock; a yawning abyss; a cleft; a fissure. That deep, romantic chasm which slanted down the green hill. Coleridge.

2. A void space; a gap or break, as in ranks of men. Memory . . . fills up the chasms of thought. Addison.

CHASMED Chasmed, a.

Defn: Having gaps or a chasm. [R.]

CHASMY Chas"my, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a chasm; abounding in chasms. Carlyle. They cross the chasmy torrent's foam-lit bed. Wordsworth.

CHASSE Chas`se", n. Etym: [F., fr. chassé, p. p. of chasser to chase.]

Defn: A movement in dancing, as across or to the right or left.

CHASSE Chas`se", v. i. (Dancing)

Defn: To make the movement called chassé; as, all chassé; chassé to the right or left.

CHASSE-CAFE Chasse`-ca`fé", n. [F., fr. chasser to chase + café coffee.]

Defn: See Chasse, n., above.

CHASSELAS Chas"se*las, n. Etym: [F., from the village of Chasselas.]

Defn: A white grape, esteemed for the table.

CHASSE-MAREE Chasse`-ma`rée", n. [F., fr. chasser to chase + marée tide.] (Naut.)

Defn: A French coasting lugger.

CHASSEPOT Chasse`pot", n. Etym: [From the French inventor, A. A. Chassepot.] (Mil.)

Defn: A kind of breechloading, center-fire rifle, or improved needle gun.

CHASSEUR Chas`seur", n. Etym: [F., a huntsman. See Chase to pursue.]

1. (Mil.)

Defn: One of a body of light troops, cavalry or infantry, trained for rapid movements.

2. An attendant upon persons of rank or wealth, wearing a plume and sword. The great chasseur who had announced her arrival. W. Irving.

CHASSIS Chas"sis, n. Etym: [F. ch.] (Mil.)

Defn: A traversing base frame, or movable railway, along which the carriage of a barbette or casemate gum moves backward and forward. [See Gun carriage.]

CHAST Chast, v. t.

Defn: to chasten. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHASTE Chaste, a. Etym: [F. chaste, from L. castus pure, chaste; cf. Gr. to purify.]

1. Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent. "As chaste as Diana." Shak. Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced. Milton.

2. Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind; chaste eyes.

3. Pure in design and expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined; simple; as, a chaste style in composition or art. That great model of chaste, lofty, and eloquence, the Book of Common Prayer. Macaulay.

4. Unmarried. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless. Chaste tree. Same as Agnus castus.

CHASTELY Chaste"ly, adv.

Defn: In a chaste manner; with purity.

CHASTEN Chas"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chastened; p. pr. & vb. n. Chastening.] Etym: [OE. chastien, OF. Chastier, F. Ch, fr. L. castigare to punish, chastise; castus pure + agere to lead, drive. See Chaste, Act, and cf. Castigate, Chastise.]

1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon the purpose of reclaiming; to discipline; as, to chasten a son with a rod. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6.

2. To purify from errors or faults; to refine. They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind, and excite to noble actions. Layard.

Syn. -- To chastise; punish; correct; discipline; castigate; afflict; subdue; purify. To Chasten, Punish, Chastise. To chasten is to subject to affliction or trouble, in order to produce a general change for the better in life or character. To punish is to inflict penalty for violation of law, disobedience to authority, or intentional wrongdoing. To chastise is to punish a particular offense, as with stripes, especially with the hope that suffering or disgrace may prevent a repetition of faults.

CHASTENED Chas"tened, a.

Defn: Corrected; disciplined; refined; purified; toned down. Sir. W. Scott. Of such a finished chastened purity. Tennyson.

CHASTENER Chas"ten*er, n.

Defn: One who chastens.

CHASTENESS Chaste"ness, n.

1. Chastity; purity.

2. (Literature & Art)

Defn: Freedom from all that is meretricious, gaundy, or affected; as, chasteness of design.

CHASTISABLE Chas*tis"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable or deserving of chastisement; punishable. Sherwood.

CHASTISE Chas*tise", v. t. [imp & p. p. Chastised; p. pr. & vb. n. Chastising.] Etym: [OE. chastisen; chastien + ending -isen + modern - ise, ize, L. izare, G. Chasten.]

1. To inflict pain upon, by means of stripes, or in any other manner, for the purpose of punishment or reformation; to punish, as with stripes. How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. Shak. I am glad to see the vanity or envy of the canting chemists thus discovered and chastised. Boyle.

2. To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free from faults or excesses. The gay, social sense, by decency chastised. Thomson.

Syn. -- See Chasten.

CHASTISEMENT Chas"tise*ment, n. Etym: [From Chastise.]

Defn: The act of chastising; pain inflicted for punishment and correction; discipline; punishment. Shall I so much dishonor my fair stars, On equal terms to give him chastesement! Shak. I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more. Job xxxiv. 31.

CHASTISER Chas*tis"er, n.

Defn: One who chastises; a punisher; a corrector. Jer. Taylor. The chastiser of the rich. Burke.

CHASTITY Chas"ti*ty, n. Etym: [F. chasteté, fr. L. castitas, fr. castus. See Chaste.]

1. The state of being chaste; purity of body; freedom from unlawful sexual intercourse. She . . . hath preserved her spotless chastity. T. Carew.

2. Moral purity. So dear to heaven is saintly chastity, That, when a soul is found sicerely so A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.

3. The unmarried life; celibacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

4. (Literature & Art)

Defn: Chasteness.

CHASUBLE Chas"u*ble, n. Etym: [F. chasuble, LL. casubula, cassibula, casula, a hooded garment, covering the person like a little house; cf. It. casupola, casipola, cottage, dim of L. casa cottage.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The outer vestment worn by the priest in saying Mass, consisting, in the Roman Catholic Church, of a broad, flat, back piece, and a narrower front piece, the two connected over the shoulders only. The back has usually a large cross, the front an upright bar or pillar, designed to be emblematical of Christ's sufferings. In the Greek Church the chasuble is a large round mantle. [Written also chasible, and chesible.]

CHAT Chat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chatting.] Etym: [From Chatter. *22.]

Defn: To talk in a light and familiar manner; to converse without form or ceremony; to gossip. Shak. To chat a while on their adventures. Dryden.

Syn. -- To talk; chatter; gossip; converse.

CHAT Chat, v. t.

Defn: To talk of. [Obs.]

CHAT Chat, n.

1. Light, familiar talk; conversation; gossip. Snuff, or fan, supply each pause of chat, With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. Pope.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bird of the genus Icteria, allied to the warblers, in America. The best known species are the yelow-breasted chat (I. viridis), and the long chat (I. longicauda). In Europe the name is given to several birds of the family Saxicolidæ, as the stonechat, and whinchat. Bush chat. (Zoöl.) See under Bush.

CHAT Chat, n.

1. A twig, cone, or little branch. See Chit.

2. pl. (Mining)

Defn: Small stones with ore. Chat potatoes, small potatoes, such as are given to swine. [Local.]

CHATEAU Cha`teau", n.; pl. Chateux. Etym: [F. château a castle. See Castle.]

1. A castle or a fortress in France.

2. A manor house or residence of the lord of the manor; a gentleman's country seat; also, particularly, a royal residence; as, the chateau of the Louvre; the chateau of the Luxembourg.

Note: The distinctive, French term for a fortified caste of the middle ages is château-fort. Chateau en Espagne ( Etym: [F.], a castle in Spain, that is, a castle in the air, Spain being the region of romance.

CHATELAINE Chat"e*laine, n. Etym: [F. châtelaine the wife of a castellan, the mistress of a chateau, a chatelaine chain.]

Defn: An ornamental hook, or brooch worn by a lady at her waist, and having a short chain or chains attached for a watch, keys, trinkets, etc. Also used adjectively; as, a chatelaine chain.

CHATELET Chat"e*let, n. Etym: [F. châtelet, dim. of château. See Castle.]

Defn: A little castle.

CHATELLANY Chat"el*la*ny, n. Etym: [F. châtellenie.]

Defn: Same as Castellany.

CHATI Cha`ti", n. Etym: [Cf. F. chat cat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small South American species of tiger cat (Felis mitis).

CHATOYANT Cha*toy"ant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of chatoyer to be chatoyant, fr. chat cat.] (Min.)

Defn: Having a changeable, varying luster, or color, like that of a changeable silk, or oa a cat's eye in the dark.

CHATOYANT Cha*toy"ant, n. (Min.)

Defn: A hard stone, as the cat's-eye, which presents on a polished surface, and in the interior, an undulating or wary light.

CHATOYMENT Cha*toy"ment, n. Etym: [F. chatoiement. See Chatoyant.]

Defn: Changeableness of color, as in a mineral; play of colors. Cleaceland.

CHATTEL Chat"tel, n. Etym: [OF. chatel; another form of catel. See Cattle.] (Law)

Defn: Any item of movable or immovable property except the freehold, or the things which are parcel of it. It is a more extensive term than goods or effects.

Note: Chattels are personal or real: personal are such as are movable, as goods, plate, money; real are such rights in land as are less than a freehold, as leases, mortgages, growing corn, etc. Chattel mortgage (Law), a mortgage on personal property, as distinguished from one on real property.

CHATTELISM Chat"tel*ism, n.

Defn: The act or condition of holding chattels; the state of being a chattel.

CHATTER Chat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chattering.] Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Chat, v. i. Chitter.]

1. To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are inarticulate and indistinct. The jaw makes answer, as the magpie chatters. Wordsworth.

2. To talk idly, carelessly, or with undue rapidity; to jabber; to prate. To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue. Shak.

3. To make a noise by rapid collisions. With chattering teeth, and bristling hair upright. Dryden.

CHATTER Chat"ter, v. t.

Defn: To utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly. Begin his witless note apace to chatter. Spenser.

CHATTER Chat"ter, n.

1. Sounds like those of a magpie or monkey; idle talk; rapid, thoughtless talk; jabber; prattle. Your words are but idle and empty chatter. Longfellow.

2. Noise made by collision of the teeth, as in shivering.

CHATTERATION Chat*ter*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act or habit of chattering. [Colloq.]

CHATTERER Chat"ter*er, n.

1. A prater; an idle talker.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A bird of the family Ampelidæ -- so called from its monotonous note. The Bohemion chatterer (Ampelis garrulus) inhabits the arctic regions of both continents. In America the cedar bird is a more common species. See Bohemian chatterer, and Cedar bird.

CHATTERING Chat"ter*ing, n.

Defn: The act or habit of talking idly or rapidly, or of making inarticulate sounds; the sounds so made; noise made by the collision of the teeth; chatter.

CHATTER MARK Chat"ter mark`. (a) (Mach.) One of the fine undulations or ripples which are formed on the surface of work by a cutting tool which chatters. (b) (Geol.) A short crack on a rock surface planed smooth by a glacier.

CHATTINESS Chat"ti*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being chatty, or of talking easily and pleasantly.

CHATTY Chat"ty, a.

Defn: Given to light, familiar talk; talkative. Lady M. W. Montagu.

CHATTY Chat"ty, n. Etym: [Tamil shati.]

Defn: A porous earthen pot used in India for cooling water, etc.

CHATWOOD Chat"wood`, n. Etym: [Chat a little stick + wood.]

Defn: Little sticks; twigs for burning; fuel. Johnson.

CHAUD-MEDLEY Chaud"-med`ley, n. Etym: [F. chaude mêlée; chaud hot + mêler (Formerly sometimes spelt medler) to mingle.] (Law)

Defn: The killing of a person in an affray, in the heat of blood, and while under the influence of passion, thus distinguished from chance- medley or killing in self-defense, or in a casual affray. Burrill.

CHAUDRON Chau"dron, n.

Defn: See Chawdron. [Obs.]

CHAUFFER Chauf"fer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chauffoir a kind of stone, fr. chauffer to heat. See Chafe.] (Chem.)

Defn: A table stove or small furnace, usually a cylindrical box of sheet iron, with a grate at the bottem, and an open top.

CHAUFFEUR Chauf`feur", n. [F., lit., stoker.]

1. [pl.] (F. Hist.)

Defn: Brigands in bands, who, about 1793, pillaged, burned, and killed in parts of France; -- so called because they used to burn the feet of their victims to extort money.

2. One who manages the running of an automobile; esp., the paid operator of a motor vehicle.

CHAUFFEUSE Chauf`feuse", n. [F., fem. of chauffeur.]

Defn: A woman chauffeur.

CHAULDRON Chaul"dron, n.

Defn: See Chawdron. [Obs.]

CHAUN Chaun, n.

Defn: A gap. [Obs.] Colgrave.

CHAUN Chaun, v. t. & i.

Defn: To open; to yawn. [Obs.] O, chaun thy breast. Marston.

CHAUNT Chaunt, n. & v.

Defn: See Chant.

CHAUNTER Chaunt"er, n.

1. A street seller of ballads and other broadsides. [Slang, Eng.]

2. A deceitful, tricky dealer or horse jockey. [Colloq.] He was a horse chaunter; he's a leg now. Dickens.

3. The flute of a bagpipe. See Chanter, n., 3.

CHAUNTERIE Chaunt"er*ie, n.

Defn: See Chantry. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHAUS Cha"us, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: a lynxlike animal of Asia and Africa (Lynx Lybicus).

CHAUSSES Chausses, n. pl. Etym: [F.]

Defn: The garment for the legs and feet and for the body below the waist, worn in Europe throughout the Middle Ages; applied also to the armor for the same parts, when fixible, as of chain mail.

CHAUSSURE Chaus`sure", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A foot covering of any kind.

CHAUTAUQUA SYSTEM OF EDUCATION Chau*tau"qua sys"tem of education.

Defn: The system of home study established in connection with the summer schools assembled at Chautauqua, N. Y., by the Methodist Episcopal bishop, J. H. Vincent.

CHAUVINISM Chau"vin*ism, n. Etym: [F. chauvinisme, from Chauvin, a character represented as making grotesque and threatening displays of his attachment to his fallen chief, Napoleon I., in 1815.]

Defn: Blind and absurd devotion to a fallen leader or an obsolete cause; hence, absurdly vainglorious or exaggerated patriotism. -- Chau"vin*ist, n. -- Chau`vin*is"tic (, a.

Note: To have a generous belief in the greatness of one's country is not chauvinism. It is the character of the latter quality to be wildly extravagant, to be fretful and childish and silly, to resent a doubt as an insult, and to offend by its very frankness. Prof. H. Tuttle.

CHAVENDER Chav"en*der, n. Etym: [Cf. Cheven.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The chub. Walton.

CHAW Chaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chawing.] Etym: [See Chew.]

1. To grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food in eating; to chew, as the cud; to champ, as the bit. The trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped, Chawing the foamy bit, there fiercely stood. Surrey.

2. To ruminate in thought; to consider; to keep the mind working upon; to brood over. Dryden.

Note: A word formerly in good use, but now regarded as vulgar.

CHAW Chaw, n. Etym: [See Chaw, v. t.]

1. As much as is put in the mouth at once; a chew; a quid. [Law]

2. Etym: [Cf. Jaw.]

Defn: The jaw. [Obs.] Spenser. Chaw bacon, a rustic; a bumpkin; a lout. (Law) -- Chaw tooth, a grinder. (Law)

CHAWDRON Chaw"dron, n. Etym: [OF. chaudun, caudun, caldun; cf. G. kaldaunen guts, bowels, LL. calduna intestine, W. coluddyn gut, dim. of coludd bowels.]

Defn: Entrails. [Obs.] [Written also chaudron, chauldron.] Shak.

CHAY ROOT Chay" root`. Etym: [Tamil shaya.]

Defn: The root of the Oldenlandia umbellata, native in India, which yieds a durable red dyestuff. [Written also choy root.]

CHAZY EPOCH Cha*zy" ep"och. (Geol.)

Defn: An epoch at the close of the Canadian period of the American Lower Silurian system; -- so named from a township in Clinton Co., New York. See the Diagram under Geology.

CHEAP Cheap, n. Etym: [AS. ceáp bargain, sale, price; akin to D. Koop purchase, G. Kauf, ICel. kaup bargain. Cf. Cheapen, Chapman, Chaffer, Cope, v. i.]

Defn: A bargain; a purchase; cheapness. [Obs.] The sack that thou hast drunk me would have bought me lights as good cheap at the dearest chandler's in Europe. Shak.

CHEAP Cheap, a. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. "good cheap": a good purchase or bargain; cf. F. bon marché, à bon marché. See Cheap, n., Cheapen.]

1. Having a low price in market; of small cost or price, as compared with the usual price or the real value. Where there are a great sellers to a few buyers, there the thing to be sold will be cheap. Locke.

2. Of comparatively small value; common; mean. You grow cheap in every subject's eye. Dryden. Dog cheap, very cheap, -- a phrase formed probably by the catachrestical transposition of good cheap. [Colloq.]

CHEAP Cheap, adv.

Defn: Cheaply. Milton.

CHEAP Cheap, v. i.

Defn: To buy; to bargain. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHEAPEN Cheap"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheapened; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheapening.] Etym: [OE. cheapien, chepen, to trade, buy, sell, AS. ceápian; akin to D. koopen to buy, G. kaufen, Icel. kaupa, Goth. kaupon to trade. Cf. Chap to bargain.]

1. To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for. [Obsoles.] Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy. Swift.

2. Etym: [Cf. Cheap, a.]

Defn: To beat down the price of; to lessen the value of; to depreciate. Pope. My proffered love has cheapened me. Dryden.

CHEAPENER Cheap"en*er, n.

Defn: One who cheapens.

CHEAP-JACK; CHEAP-JOHN Cheap"-jack`, Cheap"-john`, n.

Defn: A seller of low-priced or second goods; a hawker.

CHEAPLY Cheap"ly, adv.

Defn: At a small price; at a low value; in a common or inferior manner.

CHEAPNESS Cheap"ness, n.

Defn: Lowness in price, considering the usual price, or real value.

CHEAR Chear, n. & v. [Obs.]

Defn: See Cheer.

CHEAT Cheat, n. Etym: [rob. an abbrevation of escheat, lands or tenements that fall to a lord or to the state by forfeiture, or by the death of the tenant without heirs; the meaning being explained by the frauds, real or supposed, that were resorted to in procuring escheats. See Escheat.]

1. An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Dryden.

2. One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater. Airy wonders, which cheats interpret. Johnson

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; -- called also chess. See Chess.

4. (Law)

Defn: The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth.

Note: When cheats are effected by deceitful or illegal symbols or tokens which may affect the public at large and against which common prudence could not have guarded, they are indictable at common law. Wharton.

Syn. -- Deception; imposture; fraud; delusion; artifice; trick; swindle; deceit; guile; finesse; stratagem.

CHEAT Cheat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheating.] Etym: [See CHeat, n., Escheat.]

1. To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle. I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island. Shak.

2. To beguile. Sir W. Scott. To cheat winter of its dreariness. W. Irving.

Syn. -- To trick; cozen; gull; chouse; fool; outwit; circumvent; beguile; mislead; dupe; swindle; defraud; overreach; delude; hoodwink; deceive; bamboozle.

CHEAT Cheat, v. i.

Defn: To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards.

CHEAT Cheat, n. Etym: [Perh. from OF. cheté goods, chattels.]

Defn: Wheat, or bread made from wheat. [Obs.] Drayton. Their purest cheat, Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste. Chapman.

CHEATABLE Cheat"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being cheated.

CHEATABLENESS Cheat"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Capability of being cheated.

CHEATER Cheat"er, n.

1. One who cheats.

2. An escheator. [R.] Shak.

CHEBACCO Che*bac"co, n. Etym: [From Chebacco, the former name of Essex, a town in Massachusetts where such vessels were built.] (Naut.)

Defn: A narrow-sterned boat formerly much used in the Newfoundland fisheries; -- called also pinkstern and chebec. Bartlett.

CHEBEC Che"bec, n. (Naut.)

Defn: See Chebacco.

CHEBEC Che*bec", n. Etym: [Named from its note.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small American bird (Empidonax minimus); the least flycatcher.

CHECK Check, n. Etym: [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. échec, a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. échecs chess, through AR., fr. Pers. shah king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.]

1. (Chess)

Defn: A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.

2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check. Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity. Addison. No check, no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth.

3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff. Useful check upon the administration of government. Washington. A man whom no check could abash. Macaulay.

4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad.

5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below.

6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.

7. (Falconry)

Defn: The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.

8. Small chick or crack. Bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer. -- Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. -- Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a checkrein is looped. -- Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified, or on which they may be checked. -- Check nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon the primary nut to secure it. Knight. -- Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler to prevent the return of the feed water. -- To take check, to take offense. [Obs.] Dryden.

Syn. -- Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.

CHECK Check, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checked; p. pr. & vb. n. checking.]

1. (Chess)

Defn: To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check.

2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb. So many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression. Burke.

3. To verify, to guard, to make secure, by means of a mark, token, or other check; to distinguish by a check; to put a mark against (an item) after comparing with an original or a counterpart in order to secure accuracy; as, to check an account; to check baggage.

4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove. The good king, his master, will check him for it. Shak.

5. (Naut.)

Defn: To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.

6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber.

Syn. -- To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff.

CHECK Check, v. i.

Defn: To make a stop; to pause; -- with at. The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.

2. To clash or interfere. [R.] Bacon.

3. To act as a curb or restraint. It [his presence] checks too strong upon me. Dryden.

4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.

5. (Falconry)

Defn: To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds. And like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his eye. Shak.

CHECK Check, a.

Defn: Checkered; designed in checks.

CHECKAGE Check"age, n.

1. The act of checking; as, the checkage of a name or of an item in a list.

2. The items, or the amount, to which attention is called by a check or checks.

CHECKER Check"er, n. Etym: [From Check, v. t.]

Defn: One who checks.

CHECKER Check"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checkered; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkering.] Etym: [From OF. eschequier a chessboard, F. échiquier. See Check, n., and cf. 3d Checker.]

1. To mark with small squares like a checkerboard, as by crossing stripes of different colors.

2. To variegate or diversify with different qualities, color, scenes, or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosterity and adversity. Our minds are, as it were, checkered with truth and falsehood. Addison.

CHECKER Check"er, n. Etym: [OF. eschequier. See Checker, v. t.]

1. A piece in the game of draughts or checkers.

2. A pattern in checks; a single check.

3. Checkerwork.

Note: This word is also written chequer.

CHECKERBERRY Check"er*ber`ry, n.; pl. Checkerberries. (Bot.)

Defn: A spicy plant and its bright red berry; the wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Also incorrectly applied to the partridge berry (Mitchella repens).

CHECKERBOARD Check"er*board, n.

Defn: A board with sixty-four squares of alternate color, used for playing checkers or draughts.

CHECKERED Check"ered, a.

1. Marked with alternate squares or checks of different color or material. Dancing in the checkered shade. Milton.

2. Diversified or variegated in a marked manner, as in appearance, character, circumstances, etc. This checkered narrative. Macaulay.

CHECKERS Check"ers, n. pl. Etym: [See Checher, v.]

Defn: A game, called also daughts, played on a checkerboard by two persons, each having twelve men (counters or checkers) which are moved diagonally. The game is ended when either of the players has lost all his men, or can not move them.

CHECKERWORK Check"er*work`, n.

1. Work consisting of or showing checkers varied alternately as to colors or materials.

2. Any aggregate of varied vicissitudes. How strange a checkerwork of Providence is the life of man. De Foe.

CHECKLATON Check"la*ton, n.

1. Ciclatoun. [Obs.]

2. Gilded leather. [Obs.] Spenser.

CHECKLESS Check"less, a.

Defn: That can not be checked or restrained.

CHECKMATE Check"mate, n. Etym: [F. échec et mat, fr. Per. shah mat ceckmate, lit., the king is dead, fr. Ar. mata he died, is dead. The king, when made prisoner, or checkmated, is assumed to be dead, and the game is finished. See Chess.]

1. The position in the game of chess when a king is in check and cannot be released, -- which ends the game.

2. A complete check; utter defeat or overthrow.

CHECKMATE Check"mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checkmated; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkmating.]

1. (Chess)

Defn: To check (an adversary's king) in such a manner that escape in impossible; to defeat (an adversary) by putting his king in check from which there is no escape.

2. To defeat completely; to terminate; to thwart. To checkmate and control my just demands. Ford.

CHECKREIN Check"rein`, n.

1. A short rein looped over the check hook to prevent a horse from lowering his head; -- called also a bearing rein.

2. A branch rein connecting the driving rein of one horse of a span or pair with the bit of the other horse.

CHECKROLL Check"roll`, n.

Defn: A list of servants in a household; -- called also chequer roll.

CHECKSTRING Check"string`, n.

Defn: A cord by which a person in a carriage or horse car may signal to the driver.

CHECKWORK Check"work, n.

Defn: Anything made so as to form alternate squares lke those of a checkerboard.

CHECKY Check"y, a. (Her.)

Defn: Divided into small alternating squares of two tinctures; -- said of the field or of an armorial bearing. [Written also checquy, cheguy.]

CHEDDAR Ched"dar, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or made at, Cheddar, in England; as, Cheddar cheese.

CHEEK Cheek, n. Etym: [OE. cheke, cheoke, AS. céace, céoce; cf. Goth. kukjan to kiss, D. kaak cheek; perh. akin to E. chew, jaw.]

1. The side of the face below the eye.

2. The cheek bone. [Obs.] Caucer.

3. pl. (Mech.)

Defn: Those pieces of a machine, or of any timber, or stone work, which form corresponding sides, or which are similar and in pair; as, the cheeks (jaws) of a vise; the cheeks of a gun carriage, etc.

4. pl.

Defn: The branches of a bridle bit. Knight.

5. (Founding)

Defn: A section of a flask, so made that it can be moved laterally, to permit the removal of the pattern from the mold; the middle part of a flask.

6. Cool confidence; assurance; impudence. [Slang] Cheek of beef. See Illust. of Beef. -- Cheek bone (Anat.) the bone of the side of the fase; esp., the malar bone. -- Cheek by jowl, side by side; very intimate. -- Cheek pouch (Zoöl.), a sacklike dilation of the cheeks of certain monkeys and rodents, used for holding food. -- Cheeks of a block, the two sides of the shell of a tackle block. -- Cheeks of a mast, the projection on each side of a mast, upon which the trestletrees rest. -- Cheek tooth (Anat.), a hinder or molar tooth. -- Butment cheek. See under Butment.

CHEEK Cheek, v. t.

Defn: To be impudent or saucy to. [Slang.]

CHEEKED Cheeked, a.

Defn: Having a cheek; -- used in composition. "Rose-cheeked Adonis." Shak.

CHEEKY Cheek"y,

Defn: a Brazen-faced; impudent; bold. [Slang.]

CHEEP Cheep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cheeped.] Etym: [Cf. Chirp].

Defn: To chirp, as a young bird.

CHEEP Cheep, v. t.

Defn: To give expression to in a chirping tone. Cheep and twitter twenty million loves. Tennyson.

CHEEP Cheep, n.

Defn: A chirp, peep, or squeak, as of a young bird or mousse.

CHEER Cheer, n. Etym: [OE. chere face, welcome, cheer, OF. chiere, F. chère, fr. LL. cara face, Gr. , L. cerebrum brain, G. hirn, and E. cranium.]

1. The face; the countenance or its expression. [Obs.] "Sweat of thy cheer." Wyclif.

2. Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart. Be of good cheer. Matt. ix. 2. The parents . . . fled away with heavy cheer. Holland.

3. Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation. I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. Shak.

1. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good cheer.

5. A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy enthusiasm, applause, favor, etc. Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street. Tennyson. Whzt cheer Now do you fare What is there that is cheering

CHEER Cheer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheered; p. pr. & vb. n. cheering.]

1. To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; -- often with up. Cowpe.

2. To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort. The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden.

3. To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers; as, to cheer hounds in a chase. To cheer ship, to salute a passing ship by cheers of sailors stationed in the rigging.

Syn. -- To gladden; encourage; inspirit; comfort; console; enliven; refresh; exhilarate; animate; applaud.

CHEER Cheer, v. i.

1. To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually with up. At sight of thee my gloomy soul cheers up. A. Philips.

2. To be in any state or temper of mind. [Obs.] How cheer'st thou, Jessica Shak.

3. To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc. And even the ranks of Tusculum Could scare forbear to cheer. Macaulay.

CHEERER Cheer"er, n.

Defn: One who cheers; one who, or that which, gladdens. "Thou cheerer of our days." Wotton. "Prime cheerer, light." Thomson.

CHEERFUL Cheer"ful, a.

Defn: Having or showing good spirits or joy; cheering; cheery; contented; happy; joyful; lively; animated; willing. To entertain a cheerful disposition. Shak. The cheerful birds of sundry kind Do chant sweet music. Spenser. A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay. This general applause and cheerful shout. Shak.

Syn. -- Lively; animated; gay; joyful; lightsome; gleeful; blithe; airy; sprightly; jocund; jolly; joyous; vivacious; buoyant; sunny; happy; hopeful.

CHEERFULLY Cheer"ful*ly, adv.

Defn: In a cheerful manner, gladly.

CHEERFULNESS Cheer"ful*ness, n.

Defn: Good spirits; a state of moderate joy or gayety; alacrity.

CHEERILY Cheer"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a cheery manner.

CHEERINESS Cheer"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being cheery.

CHEERINGLY Cheer"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a manner to cheer or encourage.

CHEERISNESS Cheer"is*ness, n.

Defn: Cheerfulness. [Obs.] There is no Christian duty that is not to be seasoned and set off with cheerishness. Milton.

CHEERLESS Cheer"less, a.

Defn: Without joy, gladness, or comfort. -- Cheer"less*ly, adv. -- Cheer"less*ness, n. My cheerful day is turned to cheerles night. Spenser.

Syn. -- Gloomy; sad; comfortless; dispiriting; dicsconsolate; dejected; melancholy; forlorn.

CHEERLY Cheer"ly, a.

Defn: Gay; cheerful. [Obs.] Shak.

CHEERLY Cheer"ly, adv.

Defn: Cheerily. [Archaic] Tennyson.

CHEERRY Cheer"ry, a.

Defn: Cheerful; lively; gay; bright; pleasant; as, a cheery person. His cheery little study, where the sunshine glimmered so pleasantly. Hawthorne.

CHEESE Cheese, n. Etym: [OE. chese, AS. cese, fr. L. caseus, LL. casius. Cf. Casein.]

1. The curd of milk, coagulated usually with rennet, separated from the whey, and pressed into a solid mass in a hoop or mold.

2. A mass of pomace, or ground apples, pressed togehter in the form of a cheese.

3. The flat, circuliar, mucilaginous fruit of the dwarf mallow (Malva rotundifolia). [Colloq.]

4. A low courtesy; -- so called on account of the cheese form assumed by a woman's dress when she stoops after extending the skirts by a rapid gyration. De Quincey. Thackeray. Cheese cake, a cake made of or filled with, a composition of soft curds, sugar, and butter. Prior. -- Cheese fly (Zoöl.), a black dipterous insect (Piophila casei) of which the larvæ or maggots, called ckippers or hoppers, live in cheese. -- Cheese mite (Zoöl.), a minute mite (Tryoglyhus siro) in cheese and other articles of food. -- Cheese press, a press used in making cheese, to separate the whey from the curd, and to press the curd into a mold. -- Cheese rennet (Bot.), a plant of the Madder family (Golium verum, or yellow bedstraw), sometimes used to coagulate milk. The roots are used as a substitute for madder. -- Cheese vat, a vat or tub in which the curd is formed and cut or broken, in cheese making.

CHEESE CLOTH Cheese" cloth`.

Defn: A thin, loosewoven cotton cloth, such as is used in pressing cheese curds.

CHEESELEP Cheese"lep, n. Etym: [Cf. Keslop.]

Defn: A bag in which rennet is kept.

CHEESEMONGER Cheese"mon`ger, n.

Defn: One who deals incheese. B. Jonson.

CHEESEPARING Cheese"par`ing, n.

Defn: A thin portion of the rind of a cheese. -- a.

Defn: Scrimping; mean; as, cheeseparing economy.

CHEESINESS Chees"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being cheesy.

CHEESY Chees"y, a.

Defn: Having the nature, qualities, taste, form, consistency, or appearance of cheese.

CHEETAH Chee"tah, n. Etym: [Hind. chita.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of leopard (Cynælurus jubatus) tamed and used for hunting in India. The woolly cheetah of South Africa is C. laneus. [Written also chetah.]

CHEF Chef, n. Etym: [F.]

1. A chief of head person.

2. The head cook of large establishment, as a club, a family, etc.

3. (Her.)

Defn: Same as Chief.

CHEF-D'OEUVRE Chef`-d'oeuvre", n.; pl. Chefs-d'oeuvre. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A masterpiece; a capital work in art, literature, etc.

CHEGOE; CHEGRE Cheg"oe, Cheg"re, n.

Defn: See Chigoe.

CHEILOPLASTY Chei"lo*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. -plasty.] (Surg.)

Defn: The process of forming an artificial tip or part of a lip, by using for the purpose a piece of healthy tissue taken from some neighboring part.

CHEILOPODA Chei*lop"o*da, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Ch.

CHEIROPTER Chei*rop"ter, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Cheiroptera.

CHEIROPTERA Chei*rop"te*ra, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of mammalia, including the bats, having four toes of each of the anterior limbs elongated and connected by a web, so that they can be used like wings in flying. See Bat.

CHEIROPTEROUS Chei*rop"ter*ous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the Cheiroptera, or Bat family.

CHEIROPTERYGIUM Chei*rop`te*ryg"i*um, n.; pl. Cheiropterygia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The typical pentadactyloid limb of the higher vertebrates.

CHEIROSOPHY Chei*ros"o*phy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The art of reading character as it is delineated in the hand. -- Chei*ros"o*phist (, n.

CHEIROTHERIUM Chei`ro*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Poleon.)

Defn: A genus of extinct animals, so named from fossil footprints rudely resembling impressions of the human hand, and believed to have been made by labyrinthodont reptiles. See Illustration in Appendix.

CHEKELATOUN Chek`e*la*toun", n.

Defn: See Ciclatoun. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHEKMAK Chek"mak, n.

Defn: A turkish fabric of silk and cotton, with gold thread interwoven.

CHELA Che"la, n.; pl. Chelæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pincherlike claw of Crustacea and Arachnida.

CHELATE Che"late, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Cheliferous.

CHELERYTHRINE Chel`e*ryth"rine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Am alkaloidal principle obtained from the celandine, and named from the red color of its salts, It is a coloriess crystalline substance, and acts as an acrid narcotic poison. It is identical with sanguinarine.

CHELICERA Che*lic"e*ra, n.; pl. Cheliceræ Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the anterior pair of mouth organs, terminated by a pincherlike claw, in scorpions and allied Arachnida. They are homologous with the falcers of spiders, and probably with the mandibles of insects.

CHELIDON Chel"i*don, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The hollow at the flexure of the arm.

CHELIDONIC Chel`i*don"ic, a. Etym: [See Celandine.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the celandine. Cheidonic acid, a weak acid extracted fron the celandine (Chelidonium majus), as a white crystalline substance.

CHELIDONIUS Chel`i*do"ni*us, n. Etym: [L. (sc. lapillus.)]

Defn: A small stone taken from the gizzard of a young swallow. -- anciently worn as a medicinal charm.

CHELIFER Chel"i*fer, n. Etym: [Gr. -fer.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Book scorpion, under Book.

CHELIFEROUS Che*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. -ferous.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having cheliform claws, like a crab.

CHELIFORM Chel"i*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a movable joint or finger closing againts a preceding joint or a projecting part of it, so that the whole may be ised for grasping, as the claw of a crab; pincherlike.

CHELONE Che*lo"ne, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of hardy perennial flowering plants, of the order Scrophulariaceaæ., natives of North America; -- called also snakehead, turtlehead, shellflower, etc.

CHELONIA Che*lo"ni*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of reptiles, including the tortoises and turtles, perculiar in having a part of the vertebræ, ribs, and sternum united with the dermal plates so as to form a firm shell. The jaws are covered by a horny beak. See Reptilia; also, Illust. in Appendix.

CHELONIAN Che*lo"ni*an, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to animals of the tortoise kind. -- n.

Defn: One of the Chelonia.

CHELURA Che*lu"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine amphipod crustacea, which bore into and sometimes destroy timber.

CHELY Che"ly, n.

Defn: A claw. See Chela. [Obs.]

CHEMIC Chem"ic, n. Etym: [See Chenistry.]

1. A chemist; an alchemist. [Obs.]

2. (Bleaching)

Defn: A solution of chloride of line.

CHEMIC Chem"ic, a.

Defn: Chemical. Blackw. Mag.

CHEMICAL Chem"ic*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to chemistry; characterized or produced by the forces and operations of chemistry; employed in the processes of chemistry; as, chemical changes; chemical comnbinations. Chemical attraction or affinity. See under Attraction.

CHEMICAL Chem"ic*al, n.

Defn: A substance used for producing a chemical effect; a reagent.

CHEMICALLY Chem"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: According to chemical principles; by chemical process or operation.

CHEMIGLYPHIC Chem`i*glyph"ic, a. Etym: [Chemical +

Defn: Engraved by a voltaic battary.

CHEMIGRAPHY Che*mig"ra*phy, n. [Chemical + -graphy.]

Defn: Any mechanical engraving process depending upon chemical action; specif., a process of zinc etching not employing photography. -- Chem`i*graph"ic (#), a.

CHEMILOON Chem`i*loon", n.

Defn: A garment for women, consisting of chemise and drawers united in one. [U. S.]

CHEMISE Che*mise", n. Etym: [F., shirt, fr. LL. camisa, camisia, shirt, thin dress; cf. G. hemd, or Olr. coimumse sort of garment. Cf. Camis.]

1. A shift, or undergarment, worn by women.

2. A wall that lines the face of a bank or earthwork.

CHEMISETTE Chem`i*sette", n.Etym: [F., dim. of chemise.]

Defn: An under-garment, worn by women, usually covering the neck, shoulders, and breast.

CHEMISM Chem"ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chimisme. See Chemistry.]

Defn: The force exerted between the atoms of elementary substance whereby they unite to form chemical compounds; chemical attaction; affinity; -- sometimes used as a general expression for chemical activity or relationship.

CHEMIST Chem"ist, n. Etym: [Shortened from alchemist; cf. F. chimiste.]

Defn: A person versed in chemistry or given to chemical investigation; an analyst; a maker or seller of chemicals or drugs.

CHEMISTRY Chem"is*try, n. Etym: [From Chemist. See Alchemy.]

1. That branch of science which treats of the composition of substances, and of the changes which they undergo in consequence of alterations in the constitution of the molecules, which depend upon variations of the number, kind, or mode of arrangement, of the constituent atoms. These atoms are not assumed to be indivisible, but merely the finest grade of subdivision hitherto attained. Chemistry deals with the changes in the composition and constitution of molecules. See Atom, Molecule.

Note: Historically, chemistry is an outgrowth of alchemy (or alchemistry), with which it was anciently identified.

2. An application of chemical theory and method to the consideration of some particular subject; as, the chemistry of iron; the chemistry of indigo.

3. A treatise on chemistry.

Note: This word and its derivatives were formerly written with y, and sometimes with i, instead of e, in the first syllable, chymistry, chymist, chymical, etc., or chimistry, chimist, chimical, etc.; and the pronunciation was conformed to the orthography. Inorganic chemistry, that which treats of inorganic or mineral substances. -- Organic chemistry, that which treats of the substances which from the structure of organized beings and their products, whether animal or vegetable; -- called also chemistry of the carbon compounds. There is no fundamental difference between organic and inorganic chemistry. -- Physiological chemistry, the chemistry of the organs and tissues of the body, and of the various physiological processes incident to life. -- Practical chemistry, or Applied chemistry, that which treats of the modes of manufacturing the products of chemistry that are useful in the arts, of their applications to economical purposes, and of the conditions essential to their best use. -- Pure chemistry, the consideration of the facts and theories of chemistry in their purely scientific relations, without necessary reference to their practical applications or mere utility.

CHEMITYPE Chem"i*type, n. Etym: [Chemical + -type.] (Engraving)

Defn: One of a number of processes by which an impression from an engraved plate is obtained in relief, to be used for printing on an ordinary printing press.

CHEMOLYSIS Che*mol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Chemical + Gr.

Defn: A term sometimes applied to the decomposition of organic substance into more simple bodies, by the use of chemical agents alone. Thudichum.

CHEMOSIS Che*mo"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. a swelling of the cornea resembling a cockleshell, fr. a gaping, hence a cockleshell.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammatory swelling of the conjunctival tissue surrounding the cornea. --Che*mot"ic (#), a.

CHEMOSMOSIS Chem`os*mo"sis, n. Etym: [Chemical + osmosis.]

Defn: Chemical action taking place through an intervening membrane.

CHEMOSMOTIC Chem`os*mot"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or produced by, chemosmosis. [R.]

CHEMOSYNTHESIS Chem`o*syn"the*sis, n. [Chemical + synthesis.] (Plant Physiol.)

Defn: Synthesis of organic compounds by energy derived from chemical changes or reactions. Chemosynthesis of carbohydrates occurs in the nitrite bacteria through the oxidation of ammonia to nitrous acid, and in the nitrate bacteria through the conversion of nitrous into nitric acid. -- Chem`o*syn*thet"ic (#), a.

CHEMOTAXIS; CHEMIOTAXIS Chem`o*tax"is, n. Formerly also Chem`i*o*tax"is. [Chemical + Gr. arrangement, fr. to arrange.] (Biol.)

Defn: The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms, as bacteria, zoöspores of algæ, etc., to chemical substances held in solution. They may be attracted (positive chemotaxis) or repelled (negative chemotaxis). -- Chem`o*tac"tic (#), a. -- Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly, adv.

CHEMUNG PERIOD Che*mung" pe"ri*od, (Geol.)

Defn: A subdivision in the upper part of the Devonian system in America, so named from the Chemung River, along which the rocks are well developed. It includes the Portage and Chemung groups or epochs. See the Diagram under Geology.

CHENG Cheng, n. Etym: [Chinese.]

Defn: A chinese reed instrument, with tubes, blown by the mouth.

CHENILLE Che*nille", n. Etym: [F., prop., a caterpillar.]

Defn: Tufted cord, of silk or worsted, for the trimimg of ladies' dresses, for embroidery and fringes, and for the weft of chenille rugs.

CHENOMORPHAE Che`no*mor"phæ, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of birds, including the swans, ducks, geese, flamingoes and screamers.

CHEPSTER Chep"ster, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European starling. [Local, Eng.]

CHEQUE Cheque, n.

Defn: See Check.

CHEQUER Cheq"uer, n. & v.

Defn: Same as Checker.

CHEQUING Che*quing", n.

Defn: A coin. See Sequin. Shak.

CHEQUY Cheq"uy, n. (Her.)

Defn: Same as Checky.

CHERIF Cher"if, n.

Defn: See Cherif.

CHERIMOYER Cher`i*moy"er, n. Etym: [F. chérimolier.] (Bot.)

1. A small downy-leaved tree (Anona Cherimolia), with fragrant flowers. It is a native of Peru.

2. Its delicious fruit, which is succulent, dark purple, and similar to the custard apple of the West Indies.

CHERISH Cher"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cherished; p. pr. & vb. n. Cherising.] Etym: [F. chérir, fr. cher dear, fr. L. carus. See Caress, Finish.]

1. To treat with tenderness and affection; to nurture with care; to protect and aid. We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 1 Thess. ii. 7.

2. To hold dear; to embrace with interest; to indulge; to encourage; to foster; to promote; as, to cherish religious principle. To cherish virtue and humanity. Burke.

Syn. -- To nourish; foster; nurse; nurture; entertain; encourage; comfort; protect; support; See Nurture.

CHERISHER Cher"ish*er, n.

Defn: One who cherishes. The cherisher of my flesh and blood. Shak.

CHERISHMENT Cher"ish*ment, n.

Defn: Encouragement; comfort. [Obs.] Rich bounty and dear cherishment. Spenser.

CHERMES Cher"mes, n.

Defn: See Kermes.

CHEROGRIL Cher"o*gril, n. Etym: [L. choerogryllus, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Cony.

CHEROKEES Cher`o*kees", n. pl.; sing. Cherokee. (Ethnol.)

Defn: An Appalachian tribe of Indians, formerly inhabiting the region about the head waters of the Tennessee River. They are now mostly settled in the Indian Territory, and have become one of the most civilized of the Indian Tribes.

CHEROOT Che*root", n. Etym: [Tamil shuruttu, prop., a roll.]

Defn: A kind of cigar, originally brought from Mania, in the Philippine Islands; now often made of inferior or adulterated tabacco.

CHERRY Cher"ry, n. Etym: [OE. chery, for cherys, fr. F. cerise (cf. AS. cyrs cherry), fr. LL. ceresia, fr. L. cerasus Cherry tree, Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A tree or shrub of the genus Prunus (Which also includes the plum) bearing a fleshy drupe with a bony stone; (a) The common garden cherry (Prunus Cerasus), of which several hundred varieties are cultivated for the fruit, some of which are, the begarreau, blackheart, black Tartarian, oxheart, morelle or morello, May-duke (corrupted from Médoc in France). (b) The wild cherry; as, prunus serotina (wild black cherry), valued for its timber; P. Virginiana (choke cherry), an American shrub which bears astringent fruit; P. avium and P. Padus, European trees (bird cherry).

2. The fruit of the cherry tree, a drupe of various colors and flavors.

3. The timber of the cherry tree, esp. of the black cherry, used in cabinetmaking, etc.

4. A peculiar shade of red, like that of a cherry. Barbadoes cherry. See under Barbadoes. -- Cherry bird (Zoöl.), an American bird; the cedar bird; -- so called from its fondness for cherries. -- Cherry bounce, cherry brandy and sugar. -- Cherry brandy, brandy in which cherries have been steeped. -- Cherry laurel (Bot.), an evergren shrub (Prunus Lauro-cerasus) common in shrubberies, the poisonous leaves of which have a flavor like that of bitter almonds. -- Cherry pepper (Bot.), a species of Capsicum (C. cerasiforme), with small, scarlet, intensely piquant cherry-shaped fruit. -- Cherry pit. (a) A child's play, in which cherries are thrown into a hole. Shak. (b) A cherry stone. -- Cherry rum, rum in which cherries have been steeped. -- Cherry sucker (Zoöl.), the European spotted flycatcher (Musicapa grisola); -- called also cherry chopper cherry snipe. Cherry tree, a tree that bears cherries. -- Ground cherry, Winter cherry, See Alkekengi.

CHERRY Cher"ry, a.

Defn: Like a red cherry in color; ruddy; blooming; as, a cherry lip; cherry cheeks.

CHERSONESE Cher"so*nese, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A peninsula; a tract of land nearly surrounded by water, but united to a larger tract by a neck of land or isthmus; as, the Cimbric Chersonese, or Jutland; the Tauric Chersonese, or Crimea.

CHERT Chert, n. Etym: [Ir. ceart stone, perh. akin to E. crag.] (Min.)

Defn: An impure, massive, flintlike quartz or hornstone, of a dull color.

CHERTY Chert"y, a.

Defn: Like chert; containing chert; flinty.

CHERUB Cher"ub, n.; pl. Cherubs; but the Hebrew plural Cherubim is also used. Etym: [Heb. kerub.]

1. A mysterious composite being, the winged footstool and chariot of the Almighty, described in Ezekiel i. and x. I knew that they were the cherubim. Ezek. x. 20. He rode upon a cherub and did fly. Ps. xviii. 10.

2. A symbolical winged figure of unknown form used in connection with the mercy seat of the Jewish Ark and Temple. Ez. xxv. 18.

3. One of a order of angels, variously represented in art. In European painting the cherubim have been shown as blue, to denote knowledge, as distinguished from the seraphim (see Seraph), and in later art the children's heads with wings are generally called cherubs.

4. A beautiful child; -- so called because artists have represented cherubs as beautiful children.

CHERUBIC; CHERUBICAL Che*ru"bic, Che*ru"bic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cherubs; angelic. "The cherubic host." Milton.

CHERUBIM Cher"u*bim, n.

Defn: The Hebrew plural of Cherub.. Cf. Seraphim.

Note: Cherubims, in the King James version of the bible, is an incorrect form, made by adding the English plural termination to the Hebrew plural cherubim instead of to the singular cherub.

CHERUBIN Cher"u*bin, a.

Defn: Cherubic; angelic. [Obs.] Shak.

CHERUBIN Cher"u*bin, n.

Defn: A cherub. [Obs.] Dryden.

CHERUP Cher"up, v. i. Etym: [Prob. fr. chirp.]

Defn: To make a short, shrill, cheerful sound; to chirp. See Chirrup. "Cheruping birds." Drayton.

CHERUP Cher"up, v. t.

Defn: To excite or urge on by making a short, shrill, cheerful sound; to cherup to. See Chirrup. He cherups brisk ear-erecting steed. Cowper.

CHERUP Cher"up, n.

Defn: A short, sharp, cheerful noise; a chirp; a chirrup; as, the cherup of a cricket.

CHERVIL Cher"vil, n. Etym: [AS. cerfille, fr. L. caerefolium, chaerephyllum, Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Anthriscus cerefolium) with pinnately divided aromatic leaves, of which several curled varieties are used in soups and salads.

CHES Ches,

Defn: pret. of Chese. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHESE Chese, v. t.

Defn: To choose [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHESIBLE Ches"i*ble, n.

Defn: See Chasuble.

CHESLIP Ches"lip, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The wood louse. [Prov. Eng.]

CHESS Chess, n. Etym: [OE. ches, F. échecs, prop. pl. of échec check. See 1st Check.]

Defn: A game played on a chessboard, by two persons, with two differently colored sets of men, sixteen in each set. Each player has a king, a queen, two bishops, two knights, two castles or rooks, and eight pawns.

CHESS Chess, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A species of brome grass (Bromus secalinus) which is a troublesome weed in wheat flelds, and is often erroneously regarded as degenerate or changed wheat; it bears a very slight resemblance to oats, and if reaped and ground up with wheat, so as to be used for food, is said to produce narcotic effects; -- called also cheat and Willard's bromus. [U. S.]

Note: Other species of brome grass are called upright chess, soft chess, etc.

CHESS-APPLE Chess"-ap`ple, n.

Defn: The wild service of Europe (Purus torminalis).

CHESSBOARD Chess"board`, n.

Defn: The board used in the game of chess, having eight rows of alternate light and dark squares, eight in each row. See Checkerboard.

Note: The chessboard and the checkerboard are alike.

CHESSEL Ches"sel, n.

Defn: The wooden mold in which cheese is pressed. Simmonds.

CHESSES Chess"es, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. chassis a framework of carpenty.] (Mil.)

Defn: The platforms, consisting of two or more planks doweled together, for the flooring of a temporary military bridge. Wilhelm. A singular, chess, is sometimes used. "Each chess consists of three planks." Farrow.

CHESSIL Ches"sil, n. Etym: [OE. chesil, AS. ceosel gravel, sand.]

Defn: Gravel or pebbles. Halliwell.

CHESSMAN Chess"man, n.; pl. Chessmen.

Defn: A piece used in the game of chess.

CHESSOM Ches"som, n. Etym: [Cf. Chisley.]

Defn: Mellow earth; mold. [Obs.] Bacon.

CHESSTREE Chess"tree`, n. Etym: [Cf. F chassis a framework of carpentry.] (Naut.)

Defn: A piece of oak bolted perpendicularly on the side of a vessel, to aid in drawing down and securing the clew of the mainsail.

CHESSY COPPER Ches`sy" cop"per. (Min.)

Defn: The mineral azurite, found in fine crystallization at Chessy, near Lyons; called also chessylite.

CHEST Chest, n. Etym: [OE. chest, chist, AS. cest, cist, cyst, L. cista, fr. Gr. Cist, Cistern.]

1. A large box of wood, or other material, having, like a trunk, a lid, but no covering of skin, leather, or cloth. Heaps of money crowded in the chest. Dryden.

2. A coffin. [Obs.] He is now dead and mailed in his cheste. Chaucer.

3. The part of the body inclosed by the ribs and breastbone; the thorax.

4. (Com.)

Defn: A case in which certain goods, as tea, opium, etc., are transported; hence, the quantity which such a case contains.

5. (Mech.)

Defn: A tight receptacle or box, usually for holding gas, steam, liguids, etc.; as, the steam chest of an engine; the wind chest of an organ. Bomb chest, See under Bomb. -- Chest of drawers, a case or movable frame containing drawers.

CHEST Chest, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chested.]

1. To deposit in a chest; to hoard.

2. To place in a coffin. [Obs.] He dieth and is chested. Gen. 1. 26 (heading).

CHEST Chest, n. Etym: [AS. ceást.]

Defn: Strife; contention; controversy. [Obs.] P. Plowman.

CHESTED Chest"ed, a.

Defn: Having (such) a chest; -- in composition; as, broad-chested; narrow-chested.

CHESTERLITE Ches"ter*lite, n. Etym: [See -lite.]

Defn: A variety of feldspar found in crystals in the county of Chester, Pennsylvania.

CHESTEYN Ches"teyn, n.

Defn: The chestnut tree. [Obs.] Wilwe, elm, plane, assch, box, chesteyn. Chaucer.

CHEST FOUNDER Chest" foun`der. (Far.)

Defn: A rheumatic affection of the muscles of the breast and fore legs of a horse, affecting motion and respiration.

CHESTNUT Chest"nut, n. Etym: [For chesten-nut; OE. chestein, chesten, chastein, chestnut, fr. AS. cisten in cistenbeám chestnut tree, influenced by OF. chastaigne, F. châtaigne, both the AS. and the F. words coming from L. castanea a chestnut, Gr. Castanets.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The edible nut of a forest tree (Castanea vesce) of Europe and America. Commonly two or more of the nuts grow in a prickly bur.

2. The tree itself, or its light, coarse-grained timber, used for ornamental work, furniture, etc.

3. A bright brown color, like that of the nut.

4. The horse chestnut (often so used in England).

5. One of the round, or oval, horny plates on the inner sides of the legs of the horse, and allied animals.

6. An old joke or story. [Slang] Chestnut tree, a tree that bears chestnuts.

CHESTNUT Chest"nut, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining of a chestnut; of a reddish brown color; as, chestnut curls.

CHETAH Che"tah, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Cheetah.

CHETVERT Chet"vert, n. Etym: [Russ. chetverte.]

Defn: A measure of grain equal to 0.7218 of an imperial quarter, or 5.95 Winchester bushels. [Russia]

CHEVACHIE Chev"a*chie`, n.

Defn: See Chivachie. [Obs.]

CHEVAGE Che"vage, n.

Defn: See Chiefage. [Obs.]

CHEVAL Che*val", n.; pl. Chevaux. Etym: [F. See Cavalcade.]

Defn: A horse; hence, a support or frame. Cheval glass, a mirror swinging in a frame, and large enough to reflect the full leght figure.

CHEVAL-DE-FRISE Che*val"-de-frise", n.; commonly used in the pl. Chevaux-de-frise. Etym: [F.; cheval horse + Frise Friesland, where it was first used.] (Mil.)

Defn: A piece of timber or an iron barrel traversed with iron-pointed spikes or spears, five or six feet long, used to defend a passage, stop a breach, or impede the advance of cavalry, etc. Obstructions of chain, boom, and cheval-de-frise. W. Irving.

CHEVALIER Che`va*lier", n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. caballarius. See Cavaller.]

1. A horseman; a knight; a gallant young man. "Mount, chevaliers; to arms." Shak.

2. A member of certain orders of knighthood. Chevalier d'industrie ( Etym: [F.], one who lives by persevering fraud; a pickpocket; a sharper. -- The Chevalier St. George (Eng. Hist.), James Francis Edward Stuart (son of James II.), called "The Pretender." -- The Young Chevalier, Charles Edward Stuart, son of the Chevalier St. George.

CHEVAUX Che*vaux", n. pl.

Defn: See Cheval.

CHEVE Cheve, v. i. Etym: [OF. chevir. See Chievance.]

Defn: To come to an issue; to turn out; to succed; as, to cheve well in a enterprise. [Prov. or Obs.] Holland.

CHEVELURE Cheve*lure", n. Etym: [F., head of hair.]

Defn: A hairlike envelope. The nucleus and chevelure of nebulous star. Sir. W. Hershel.

CHEVEN Chev"en, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chevanne. Cf. Chavender.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A river fish; the chub. Sir T. Browne.

CHEVENTEIN Chev"en*tein, n.

Defn: A variant of Chieftain. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHEVERIL Chev"er*il, n. Etym: [OF. chevrel, F. chevreau, kid, dim. of chevre goat, fr. L. capra. See Caper, v. i.]

Defn: Soft leather made of kid skin. Fig.: Used as a symbol of flexibility. [Obs.] Here's wit of cheveril, that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell broad. Shak.

CHEVERIL Chev"er*il, a.

Defn: Made of cheveril; pliant. [Obs.] A cheveril conscience and a searching wit. Drayton.

CHEVERLIIZE Chev"er*li*ize, v. i.

Defn: To make as pliable as kid leather. [Obs.] Br. Montagu.

CHEVET Che*vet", n. Etym: [F., head of the bed, dim. fr. chef head. See Chief.] (Arch.)

Defn: The extreme end of the chancel or choir; properly the round or polygonal part.

CHEVIOT Chev"i*ot, n.

1. A valuable breed of mountain sheep in Scotland, which takes its name from the Cheviot hills.

2. A woolen fabric, for men's clothing.

CHEVISANCE Chev"i*sance, n. Etym: [Of. chevisance, chevissance, fr. chevircome to an end, perform, fr. chef head, end, from L. caput head. See Chieve, Chief.]

1. Achievement; deed; performance. [Obs.] Fortune, the foe of famous chevisance. Spenser.

2. A bargain; profit; gain. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

3. (O. Eng. Law) (a) A making of contracts. (b) A bargain or contract; an agreement about a matter in dispute, such as a debt; a business compact. (c) An unlawful agreement or contract.

CHEVRETTE Chev*rette", n. Etym: [F., fr. chévre goat, fr. L. capra. Cf. Chevron.] (Mil.)

Defn: A machine for raising guns or mortar into their carriages.

CHEVRON Chev"ron, n. Etym: [F., rafter, chevron, from chévre goat, OF. chevre, fr. L. capra she-goat. See Cheveril.]

1. (Her.)

Defn: One of the nine honorable ordinaries, consisting of two broad bands of the width of the bar, issuing, respectively from the dexter and sinister bases of the field and conjoined at its center.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: A distinguishing mark, above the elow, on the sleeve of a noncommisioned officer's coat.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: A zigzag molding, or group of moldings, common in Norman architecture. Chevron bones (Anat.), The V-shaped subvertebral arches which inclose the caudal blood vessels in some animals.

CHEVRONED Chev"roned, p. a.

Defn: Having a chevron; decorated with an ornamental figure of a zigzag from. [A garment] whose nether parts, with their bases, were of watchet cloth of silver, chevroned all over with lace. B. Jonson.

CHEVRONEL Chev"ron*el, n. (Her.)

Defn: A bearing like a chevron, but of only half its width.

CHEVRONWISE Chev"ron*wise`, adv. (Her.)

Defn: In the manner of a chevron; as, the field may be divided chevronwise.

CHEVROTAIN Chev`ro*tain", n. Etym: [F. chevrotin, OF. chevrot little goat, roe, dim. of chevre goat. See Chevron.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small ruminant of the family Tragulidæ a allied to the musk deer. It inhabits Africa and the East Indies. See Kanchil.

CHEVY Chev"y, v. t.

Defn: See Chivy, v. t. [Slang, Eng.] One poor fellow was chevied about among the casks in the storm for ten minutes. London Times.

CHEW Chew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chewing.] Etym: [As ceówan, akin to D. kauwen, G. kauen. Cf. Chaw, Jaw.]

1. To bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate.

2. To ruminate mentally; to meditate on. He chews revenge, abjuring his offense. Prior. To chew the cud, to chew the food ocer again, as a cow; to ruminate; hence, to meditate. Every beast the parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. Deut. xxiv. 6.

CHEW Chew, v. i.

Defn: To perform the action of biting and grinding with the teeth; to ruminate; to meditate. old politicians chew wisdom past. Pope.

CHEW Chew, n.

Defn: That which is chewed; that which is held in the mouth at once; a cud. [Law]

CHEWER Chew"er, n.

Defn: One who chews.

CHEWET Chew"et, n.

Defn: A kind of meat pie. [Obs.]

CHEWINK Che"wink, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An american bird (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) of the Finch family, so called from its note; -- called also towhee bunting and ground robin.

CHEYENNES Chey*ennes", n. pl.; sing. cheyenne. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A warlike tribe of indians, related to the blackfeet, formerly inhabiting the region of Wyoming, but now mostly on reservations in the Indian Territory. They are noted for their horsemanship.

CHIAN Chi"an a. Etym: [L. chius, fr. Chios the island Chios, Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Chios, an island in the Ægean Sea. Chian earth, a dense, compact kind of earth, from Chios, used anciently as an astringent and a cosmetic. -- Chian turpentine, a fragrant, almost transparent turpentine, obtained from the Pistacia Terebinthus.

CHIAROSCURIST Chi*a`ros*cu"rist, n.

Defn: A painter who cares for and studies light and shade rather than color.

CHIAROSCURO; CHIARO-OSCURO Chia`ro*scu"ro, Chi*a"ro-os*cu"ro, n. Etym: [It., clear dark.] (a) The arrangement of light and dark parts in a work of art, such as a drawing or painting, whether in monochrome or in color. (b) The art or practice of so arranging the light and dark parts as to produce a harmonious effect. Cf. Clair-obscur.

CHIASM; CHIASMA Chi"asm, Chi*as"ma, n. Etym: [NL. chiasma, fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: A commissure; especially, the optic commissure, or crucial union of the optic nerves. -- Chi*as"mal (, a..

CHIASMUS Chi*as"mus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Chiasm.] (Rhet.)

Defn: An inversion of the order of words or phrases, when repeated or subsequently referred to in a sentence; thus, If e'er to bless thy sons My voice or hands deny, These hands let useful skill forsake, This voice in silence die. Dwight.

CHIASTOLITE Chi*as"to*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite. See Chiasm. So called from the resemblance of the cross cuts of is crystals to the Greek letter x.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of andalusite; -- called also macle. The tesselated apperance of a cross section is due to the symmetrical arrangement of impurities in the crystal.

CHIBBAL Chib"bal, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cibol.

CHIBOUQUE; CHIBOUK Chi*bouque", Chi*bouk", n. Etym: [F. chibouque, fr. Turk.]

Defn: A Turkish pipe, usually with a mouthpiece of amber, a stem, four or five feet long and not pliant, of some valuable wood, and a bowl of baked clay.

CHIC Chic, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Good form; style. [Slang]

CHICA Chi"ca, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: A red coloring matter. extracted from the Bignonia Chica, used by some tribes of South American Indians to stain the skin.

2. A fermented liquor or beer made in South American from a decoction of maize.

3. A popular Moorish, Spanish, and South American dance, said to be the original of the fandango, etc.

CHICALOTE Chi`ca*lo"te, n. [Sp., prob. of Mex. origin.] (Bot.)

Defn: A Mexican prickly poppy (Argemone platyceras), which has migrated into California.

CHICANE Chi*cane", n. Etym: [F., prob. earlier meaning a dispute, orig. in the game of mall (F. mail), fr. LGr. chaugan club or bat; or possibly ultimated fr. L. ciccus a trible.]

Defn: The use of artful subterfuge, designed to draw away attention from the merits of a case or question; -- specifically applied to legal proceedings; trickery; chicanery; caviling; sophistry. Prior. To shuffle from them by chicane. Burke. To cut short this, I propound it fairly to your own canscience. Berkeley.

CHICANE Chi*cane", v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. chicaner. See Chicane, n.]

Defn: To use shifts, cavils, or artifices. Burke.

CHICANER Chi*can"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chicaneur.]

Defn: One who uses chicanery. Locke.

CHICANERY Chi*can"er*y, n. Etym: [F. chicanerie.]

Defn: Mean or unfair artifice to perplex a cause and obscure the truth; stratagem; sharp practice; sophistry. Irritated by perpetual chicanery. Hallam.

Syn. -- Trickery; sophistry; stratagem.

CHICCORY Chic"co*ry, n.

Defn: See Chicory.

CHICH Chich, n.; pl. Chiches (. Etym: [F. chiche, pois chiche, a dwarf pea, from L. cicer the chick-pea.] (Bot.)

Defn: The chick-pea.

CHICHA Chi"cha, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: See Chica.

CHICHEVACHE Chiche"vache`, n. Etym: [F. chiche lean + vache cow.]

Defn: A fabulous cow of enormous size, whose food was patient wives, and which was therefore in very lean condition.

CHICHLING; CHICHLING VETCH Chich"ling, Chich"ling vetch`, n. Etym: [Chich + -ling.] (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous plant (Lathyrus sativus), with broad flattened seeds which are sometimes used for food.

CHICK Chick, v. i. Etym: [OE. chykkyn, chyke, chicken.]

Defn: To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. Chalmers.

CHICK Chick, n.

1. A chicken.

2. A child or young person; -- a term of endearment. Shak.

CHICKABIDDY Chick"a*bid`dy, n.

Defn: A chicken; a fowl; also, a trivial term of endearment for a child.

CHICKADEE Chick"a*dee`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small bird, the blackcap titmouse (Parus atricapillus), of North America; -- named from its note.

CHICKAREE Chick"a*ree`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The American red squirrel (Sciurus Hudsonius); -- so called from its cry.

CHICKASAWS Chick"a*saws, n. pl.; sing. Chickasaw. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A trible of North American Indians (Southern Appalachian) allied to the Choctaws. They formerly occupied the northern part of Alabama and Mississippi, but now live in the Indian Territory.

CHICKEN Chick"en, n. Etym: [AS. cicen, cyceun, dim. of coc cock; akin to LG. kiken, küken, D. Kieken, kuiken, G. küchkein. See Cock the animal.]

1. A young bird or fowl, esp. a young barnyard fowl.

2. A young person; a child; esp. a young woman; a maiden. "Stella is no chicken." Swift. Chicken cholera, a contagious disease of fowls; - - so called because first studied during the prevalence of a cholera epidemic in France. It has no resemblance to true cholera.

CHICKEN-BREASTED Chick"en-breast`ed, a.

Defn: Having a narrow, projecting chest, caused by forward curvature of the vertebral column.

CHICKEN-HEARTED Chick"en-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Timid; fearful; cowardly. Bunyan.

CHICKEN POX Chick"en pox". (Med.)

Defn: A mild, eruptive disease, generally attacking children only; varicella.

CHICKLING Chick"ling, n. Etym: [Chick+-ling.]

Defn: A small chick or chicken.

CHICK-PEA Chick"-pea`, n. Etym: [See Chich.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A Small leguminous plant (Cicer arietinum) of Asia, Africa, and the sounth of Europe; the chick; the dwarf pea; the gram.

2. Its nutritious seed, used in cookery, and especially, when roasted (parched pulse), as food for travelers in the Eastern deserts.

CHICKWEED Chick"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The name of several caryophyllaseous weeds, especially Stellaria media, the seeds and flower buds of which are a favorite food of small birds.

CHICKY Chick"y, n.

Defn: A chicken; -- used as a diminutive or pet name, especially in calling fowls.

CHICLE; CHICLE GUM Chic"le, n., Chicle gum. [Amer. Sp. chicle.]

Defn: A gumlike substance obtained from the bully tree (Mimusops globosa) and sometimes also from the naseberry or sapodilla (Sapota zapotilla). It is more plastic than caoutchouc and more elastic than gutta-percha, as an adulterant of which it is used in England. It is used largely in the United States in making chewing gum.

CHICO Chi"co, n.

1. Var. of Chica.

2. The common greasewood of the western United States (Sarcobatus vermiculatus).

3. In the Philippines, the sapodilla or its fruit; also, the marmalade tree or its fruit.

CHICORY Chic"o*ry, n. Etym: [F. chicorée, earlier also cichorée, L. cichorium, fr. Gr. , , Cf. Succory.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: A branching perennial plant (Cichorium Intybus) with bright blue flowers, growing wild in Europe, Asia, and America; also cultivated for its roots and as a salad plant; succory; wild endive. See Endive.

2. The root, which is roasted for mixing with coffe.

CHICORY Chi"co*ry, n.

Defn: See Chiccory.

CHIDE Chide, v. t. Etym: [imp. Chid, or Chode (Obs.); p. p. Chidden, Chid; p. pr. & vb. n. Chiding.] Etym: [AS. cidan; of unknown origin.]

1. To rebuke; to reprove; to scold; to find fault with. Upbraided, chid, and rated at. Shak.

2. Fig.: To be noise about; to chafe against. The sea that chides the banks of England. Shak. To chide hither, chide from, or chide away, to cause to come, or to drive away, by scolding or reproof.

Syn. -- To blame; rebuke; reprove; scold; censure; reproach; reprehend; reprimand.

CHIDE Chide, v. i.

1. To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses. Ex. xvii. 2.

2. To make a clamorous noise; to chafe. As doth a rock againts the chiding flood. Shak.

CHIDE Chide, n. Etym: [AS. cid]

Defn: A continuous noise or murmur. The chide of streams. Thomson.

CHIDER Chid"er, n.

Defn: One who chides or quarrels. Shak.

CHIDERESS Chid"er*ess, n.

Defn: She who chides. [Obs.]

CHIDESTER Chide"ster, n. Etym: [Chide + -ster.]

Defn: A female scold. [Obs.]

CHIDINGLY Chid"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a chiding or reproving manner.

CHIEF Chief, n. Etym: [OE. chief, chef, OF. chief, F. chef, fr. L. caput head, possibly akin to E. head. Cf. Captain, Chapter]

1. The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army; a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who directs the work of others; the pricipal actio or agent.

2. The principal part; the most valuable portion. The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed.1. Sam. xv. 21

3. (Her.)

Defn: The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs. In chief. (a) At the head; as, a commander in chief. (b) (Eng. Law) From the king, or sovereign; as, tenure in chief, tenure directly from the king.

Syn. -- Chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal; sachem; sagamore; sheik. -- Chief, chieftain, Commander, Leader. These words fluctuate somewhat in their meaning according to circumstances, but agree in the general idea of rule and authority. The term chief is now more usually applied to one who is a head man, leader, or commander in civil or military affairs, or holds a hereditary or acquired rank in a tribe or clan; as, the chief of police; the chief of an Indian tribe. A chieftain is the chief of a clan or tribe , or a military leader. A commander directs the movements of or has control over a body of men, as a military or naval force. A leader is one whom men follow, as in a political party, a legislative body, a military or scientific expedition, etc., one who takes the command and gives direction in particular enterprises.

CHIEF Chief, a.

1. Highest in office or rank; principal; head. "Chief rulers." John. xii. 42.

2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man.

3. Very intimate, near, or close. [Obs.] A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28.

Syn. -- Principal; head; leading; main; paramount; supreme; prime; vital; especial; great; grand; eminent; master.

CHIEFAGE Chief"age, n. Etym: [OF. chevage, fr. chief head. See Chief.]

Defn: A tribute by the head; a capitation tax. [Written also chevage and chivage.] [Obs.]

CHIEF BARON Chief" bar"on. (Eng. Law)

Defn: The presiding judge of the court of exchequer.

CHIEFEST Chief"est, a. Etym: [Superl. of Chief.]

Defn: First or foremost; chief; principal. [Archaic] "Our chiefest courtier." Shak. The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10.

CHIEF HARE Chief" hare`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small rodent (Lagamys princeps) inhabiting the summits of the Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare, calling hare, cony, American pika, and little chief hare.

Note: It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious family Lagomyidæ.

CHIEF JUSTICE Chief" jus"tice.

Defn: The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court. Lord Chief Justice of England, The presiding judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. The highest judicial officer of the realm is the Lord High Chancellor. -- Chief Justice of the United States, the presiding judge of the Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the republic.

CHIEF-JUSTICESHIP Chief"-jus"tice*ship, n.

Defn: The office of chief justice. Jay selected the chief-justiceship as most in accordance with his tastes. The Century.

CHIEFLESS Chief"less, a.

Defn: Without a chief or leader.

CHIEFLY Chief"ly, adv.

1. In the first place; principally; preëminently; above; especially. Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook; But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton.

2. For the most part; mostly. Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters chiefly lay. Swift.

CHIEFRIE Chief"rie, n.

Defn: A small rent paid to the lord paramount. [Obs.] Swift.

CHIEFTAIN Chief"tain, n. Etym: [OE. cheftayn, chevetayn, OF. chevetain, F. capitaine, LL. capitanus, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Captain, and see chief.]

Defn: A captain, leader, or commander; a chief; the head of a troop, army, or clan.

Syn. -- Chief; commander; leader; head. See Chief.

CHIEFTAINCY; CHIEFTAINSHIP Chief"tain*cy, Chief"tain*ship, n.

Defn: The rank, dignity, or office of a chieftain.

CHIERTE Chier"te, n. Etym: [OF. cherté. See Charity.]

Defn: Love; tender regard. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CHIEVANCE Chiev"ance, n. Etym: [OF. chevance property, equiv. To chevisance, fr. chevir to accomplish. See Chevisance.]

Defn: An unlawful bargain; traffic in which money is exported as discount. [Obs.] Bacon.

CHIEVE Chieve, v. i.

Defn: See Cheve, v. i. [Obs.]

CHIFF-CHAFF Chiff"-chaff (, n. Etym: [So called from its note.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of European warbler (Sylvia hippolais); -- called also chip-chap, and pettychaps.

CHIFFON Chif`fon", n. [F., lit., rag. See Chiffonier.]

1.

Defn: Any merely ornamental adjunct of a woman's dress, as a bunch of ribbon, lace, etc.

2. A kind of soft gauzy material used for ruches, trimmings, etc.

CHIFFONIER; CHIFFONIERE Chif`fo*nier", fem. Chif`fo-nière", n. Etym: [F. chiffonnier, fem. chiffonnière, fr. chiffon rag, fr. chiffe a rag, fimsy cloth.]

1. One who gathers rags and odds and ends; a ragpicker.

2. A receptacle for rags or shreds.

3. A movable and ornamental closet or piece of furniture with shelves or drawers. G. Eliot.

CHIGNON Chi"gnon (, n. Etym: [F., prop. equiv. to chaînon link, fr. chaîne chain, fr. L. catena Cf. Chain.]

Defn: A knot, boss, or mass of hair, natural or artificial, worn by a woman at the back of the head. A curl that had strayed from her chignon. H. James.

CHIGOE; CHIGRE Chig"oe, Chig"re, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chigue, perh. fr. Catalan chic small, Sp. chico; or of Peruvian origin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of flea (Pulex penetrans), common in the West Indies and South America, which often attacks the feet or any exposed part of the human body, and burrowing beneath the skin produces great irritation. When the female is allowed to remain and breed, troublesome sores result, which are sometimes dangerous. See Jigger. [Written also chegre, chegoe, chique, chigger, jigger.]

Note: The name is sometimes erroneously given to certain mites or ticks having similar habits.

CHIH FU Chih" fu`. [Chin. chih fu, lit., (He who) knows (the) prefecture.]

Defn: An official administering a prefecture of China; a prefect, supervising the civil business of the hsiens or districts comprised in his fu (which see).

CHIH HSIEN Chih" hsien`. [Chin. chih hsien, lit., (He who) knows (the) district.]

Defn: An official having charge of a hsien, or administrative district, in China; a district magistrate, responsible for good order in his hsien (which see), and having jurisdiction in its civil and criminal cases.

CHIH TAI Chih" tai`. [Chin. chih to govern + t"ai an honorary title.]

Defn: A Chinese governor general; a tsung tu (which see).

CHIKARA Chi*ka"ra (, n. Etym: [Hind.] (Zoöl.) (a) The Ingoat antelope (Tragops Bennettii) Of India. (b) The Indian four-horned antelope (Tetraceros quadricornis).

CHILBLAIN Chil"blain`, n. Etym: [Chill + Blain.]

Defn: A blain, sore, or inflammatory swelling, produced by exposure of the feet or hands to cold, and attended by itching, pain, and sometimes ulceration.

CHILBLAIN Chil"blain`, v. t.

Defn: To produce chilblains upon.

CHILD Child, n.; pl. Children. Etym: [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth. kilÞei womb, in-kilÞ\'d3 with child.]

1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate offspring. Used also of animals and plants.

2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom.

3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to, or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place, occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the people.

4. A noble youth. See Childe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc. When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1. Cor. xii. 11.

6. A female infant. [Obs.] A boy or a child, I wonder Shak. To be with child, to be pregnant. -- Child's play, light work; a trifling contest.

CHILD Child, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Childed; p. pr. & vb. n. Childing.]

Defn: To give birth; to produce young. This queen Genissa childing died. Warner. It chanced within two days they childed both. Latimer.

CHILDBEARING Child"bear`ing, n.

Defn: The act of producing or bringing forth children; parturition. Milton. Addison.

CHILDBED Child"bed, n.

Defn: The state of a woman bringing forth a child, or being in labor; parturition.

CHILDBIRTH Child"birth, n.

Defn: The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labor. Jer. Taylor.

CHILDCROWING Child"crow`ing, n. (Med.)

Defn: The crowing noise made by children affected with spasm of the laryngeal muscles; false croup.

CHILDE Childe, n.

Defn: A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son, until he succeeded to his ancestral titles, or was knighted; as, Childe Roland.

CHILDED Child"ed, a.

Defn: Furnished with a child. [Obs.]

CHILDERMAS DAY Chil"dermas day`. Etym: [AS. cildamæsse-dæg; cild child +dæg day.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A day (December 28) observed by mass or festival in commemoration of the children slain by Herod at Bethlehem; -- called also Holy Innocent's Day.

CHILDHOOD Child"hood, n. Etym: [AS. cildhad; cild child + -had. See Child, and hood.]

1. The state of being a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty. I have walked before you from my childhood. 1. Sam. xii. 2.

2. Children, taken collectively. [R.] The well-governed childhood of this realm. Sir. W. Scott.

3. The commencement; the first period. The childhood of our joy. Shak. Second childhood, the state of being feeble and incapable from old age.

CHILDING Child"ing, a. Etym: [See Child, v. i.]

Defn: Bearing Children; (Fig.) productive; fruitful. [R.] Shak.

CHILDISH Child"ish, a.

1. Of, pertaining to, befitting, or resembling, a child. "Childish innocence." Macaulay.

2. Peurile; trifling; weak. Methinks that simplicity in her countenance is rather childish than innocent. Addison.

Note: Childish, as applied tc persons who are grown up, is in a disparaging sense; as, a childish temper.

CHILDISHLY Child"ish*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a child; in a trifling way; in a weak or foolish manner.

CHILDISHNESS Child"ish*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being childish; simplicity; harmlessness; weakness of intellect.

CHILDLESSNESS Child"less*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being childless.

CHILDLIKE Child"like, a.

Defn: Resembling a child, or that which belongs to children; becoming a child; meek; submissive; dutiful. "Childlike obedience." Hooker.

Note: Childlike, as applied to persons grown up, is commonly in a good sense; as, childlike grace or simplicity; childlike modesty.

CHILDLY Child"ly, a.

Defn: Having tthe character of a child; belonging, or appropriate, to a child. Gower.

CHILDLY Child"ly, adv.

Defn: Like a child. Mrs. Browning.

CHILDNESS Child"ness, n.

Defn: The manner characteristic of a child. [Obs.] "Varying childness." Shak.

CHILDREN Chil"dren, n.;

Defn: pl. of Child.

CHILDSHIP Child"ship, n.

Defn: The state or relation of being a child.

CHILD STUDY Child study.

Defn: A scientific study of children, undertaken for the purpose of discovering the laws of development of the body and the mind from birth to manhood.

CHILEAN Chil"e*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Chile.

CHILEAN Chil"e*an, n.

Defn: A native or resident of Chile; Chilian.

CHILEAN PINE Chilean pine. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Monkey-puzzle.

CHILI Chil"i, n. Etym: [Sp. chili, chile.]

Defn: A kind of red pepper. See Capsicum [Written also chilli and chile.]

CHILIAD Chil"i*ad, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A thousand; the aggregate of a thousand things; especially, a period of a thousand years. The world, then in the seventh chiliad, will be assumed up unto God. Sir. T. More.

CHILIAGON Chil"i*a*gon, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A plane figure of a thousand angles and sides. Barlow.

CHILIAHEDRON Chil"i*a*hedron, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A figure bounded by a thousand plane surfaces [Spelt also chiliaëdron.]

CHILIAN Chil"i*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Chili. -- n.

Defn: A native or citizen of Chili.

CHILIAN; CHILIARCH Chil"i*an, Chil"i*arch`, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The commander or chief of a thousand men.

CHILIARCHY Chil"i*arch`y, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A body consisting of a thousand men. Mitford.

CHILIASM Chil"i*asm, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. The millennium.

2. The doctrine of the personal reign of Christ on earth during the millennium.

CHILIAST Chil"i*ast, n. Etym: [Gr. Chiliasm.]

Defn: One who believes in the second coming of Christ to reign on earth a thousand years; a milllenarian.

CHILIASTIC Chili*astic, a.

Defn: Millenarian. "The obstruction offered by the chiliastic errors." J. A. Alexander.

CHILL Chill, n. Etym: [AS. cele, cyle, from the same root as celan, calan, to be cold; akin to D. kil cold, coldness, Sw. kyla to chill, and E. cool. See Cold, and cf. Cool.]

1. A moderate but disagreeable degree of cold; a disagreeable sensation of coolness, accompanied with shivering. "[A] wintry chill." W. Irving.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A sensation of cold with convulsive shaking of the body, pinched face, pale skin, and blue lips, caused by undue cooling of the body or by nervous excitement, or forming the precursor of some constitutional disturbance, as of a fever.

3. A check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling; discouragement; as, a chill comes over an assemblly.

4. An iron mold or portion of a mold, serving to cool rapidly, and so to harden, the surface of molten iron brought in contact with it. Raymond.

5. The hardened part of a casting, as the tread of a car wheel. Knight. Chill and fever, fever and ague.

CHILL Chill, a.

1. Moderately cold; tending to cause shivering; chilly; raw. Noisome winds, and blasting vapors chill. Milton.

2. Affected by cold. "My veins are chill." Shak.

3. Characterized by coolness of manner, feeling, etc.; lacking enthusiasm or warmth; formal; distant; as, a chill reception.

4. Discouraging; depressing; dispiriting.

CHILL Chill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chilled (chìld); p. pr. & vb. n. Chilling.]

1. To strike with a chill; to make chilly; to cause to shiver; to affect with cold. When winter chilled the day. Goldsmith.

2. To check enthusiasm or warmth of feeling of; to depress; to discourage. Every thought on God chills the gayety of his spirits. Rogers.

3. (Metal.)

Defn: To produce, by sudden cooling, a change of crystallization at or near the surface of, so as to increase the hardness; said of cast iron.

CHILL Chill, v. i. (Metal.)

Defn: To become surface-hardened by sudden cooling while solidifying; as, some kinds of cast iron chill to a greater depth than others.

CHILLED Chilled, a.

1. Hardened on the surface or edge by chilling; as, chilled iron; a chilled wheel.

2. (Paint.)

Defn: Having that cloudiness or dimness of surface that is called "blooming."

CHILLI Chil"li, n.

Defn: See Chili.

CHILLINESS Chill"i*ness, n.

1. A state or sensation of being chilly; a disagreeable sensation of coldness.

2. A moderate degree of coldness; disagreeable coldness or rawness; as, the chilliness of the air.

3. Formality; lack of warmth.

CHILLING Chill"ing, a.

Defn: Making chilly or cold; depressing; discouraging; cold; distant; as, a chilling breeze; a chilling manner. -- Chill"ing"ly, adv.

CHILLNESS Chill"ness, n.

Defn: Coolness; coldness; a chill. Death is the chillness that precedes the dawn. Longfellow.

CHILLY Chill"y, a.

Defn: Moderately cold; cold and raw or damp so as to cause shivering; causing or feeling a disagreeable sensation of cold, or a shivering.

CHILOGNATH Chi"log*nath, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A myriapod of the order Chilognatha.

CHILOGNATHA Chi*log"na*tha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the two principal orders of myriapods. They have numerous segments, each bearing two pairs of small, slender legs, which are attached ventrallly, near together.

CHILOMA Chi*lo"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oma.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The tumid upper lip of certain mammals, as of a camel.

CHILOPOD Chi"lo*pod, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A myriapod of the order Chilopoda.

CHILOPODA Chi*lop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the orders of myriapods, including the centipeds. They have a single pair of elongated legs attached laterally to each segment; well developed jaws; and a pair of thoracic legs converted into poison fangs. They are insectivorous, very active, and some species grow to the length of a foot.

CHILOSTOMA; CHILOSTOMATA Chi*los"to*ma, Chi*lo*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)