part is prob. imit.]
CATES, k[=a]tz, _n.pl._ dainty food.
CATGUT. See CAT.
CATHARIST, kath'ar-ist, _n._ one professing a higher standard of purity in
life and doctrine, a puritan: esp. a member of a Manichean heretical sect
of the Middle Ages, which spread over the whole of southern and western
Europe--confounded with the kindred sect of Paulicians, reaching the
greatest numbers in southern France, where, as the Albigenses, they were
ruthlessly stamped out by the Inquisition.--_n._ CATH'ARISM. [Gr.
_katharistai_, _katharizein_, to purify.]
CATHARTIC, -AL, kath-ärt'ik, -al, _adj._ having the power of cleansing the
stomach and bowels: purgative.--_v.t._ CATH'ARISE, to render absolutely
clean.--_ns._ CATHAR'SIS, evacuation of the bowels; CATHART'IC, a purgative
medicine; CATHAR'TIN, the purgative principle of senna. [Gr. _kathartikos_,
fit for cleansing, _katharos_, clean.]
CATHEAD. See CAT.
CATHEDRAL, kath-[=e]d'ral, _n._ the principal church of a diocese, in which
is the seat or throne of a bishop.--_adj._ belonging to a cathedral.--_n._
CATHED'RA, a bishop's seat, the episcopal dignity--EX CATHEDRA, from the
chair, officially given forth.--_adjs._ CATHEDRAL'IC, CATHEDRALESQUE',
CATHED'RALED, vaulted like a cathedral.--_n._ CATHED'RALISM, the cathedral
system.--_adj._ CATHEDRAT'IC, promulgated _ex cathedra_, authoritative. [L.
_cathedra_--Gr. _kathedra_, a seat.]
CATHERINE-WHEEL, kath'e-rin-hw[=e]l, _n._ (_archit._) an ornamented window
or compartment of a window, of a circular form, with radiating divisions of
various colours: (_her._) a wheel set round with teeth: a kind of firework
which in burning rotates like a wheel.--CATHERINE PEAR, a small and early
variety of pear.--TURN CATHERINE-WHEELS, to make a series of somersaults
sideways. [From St _Catherine_ of Alexandria, whom legend makes to suffer
martyrdom in the 4th century by torture on a wheel.]
CATHETER, kath'e-t[.e]r, _n._ a tube to be introduced through the urethra
into the bladder to draw off the urine, or for injecting air or fluids into
the Eustachian tube.--_ns._ CATH'ETERISM; CATHETOM'ETER, an instrument for
measuring small differences of level of different liquids in tubes;
CATH'ETUS, a straight line falling perpendicularly on another straight line
or surface. [Gr. _kathetos_, perpendicular, _kathet[=e]r_, from
_kathienai_, to send down.]
CATHISMA, ka-thiz'ma, _n._ in Greek use, a portion of the psalter, there
being altogether twenty cathismata: a troparion or short hymn used as a
response. [Gr., _kathizein_, to sit down.]
CATHODE, kath-[=o]d', _n._ the negative pole or electrode of a galvanic
battery, as opposed to _anode_: the surface in contact with the negative
pole: the object to be coated in electroplating--_adj._ CATH'ODAL. [Gr.
_kathodos_, a going down, _kata_, down, _hodos_, a way.]
CAT-HOLE. See CAT.
CATHOLIC, kath'ol-ik, _adj._ universal: general, embracing the whole body
of Christians: orthodox, as opposed to _heterodox_ and _sectarian_--applied
esp. to the Christian Church before the great schism between the East and
the West: liberal, the opposite of exclusive: relating to the name claimed
by its adherents for the Church of Rome as the alleged sole visible
representative of the church founded by Christ and His apostles--the
characteristic marks of the Catholic Church being _universality_,
_antiquity_, _unity_: relating to the Roman Catholics.--_n._ an adherent of
the R.C. Church.--_v.t._ CATHOL'ICISE, to make Catholic.--_ns._
CATHOL'ICISM, CATHOLIC'ITY, universality: liberality or breadth of view:
the tenets of the R.C. Church; CATHOL'ICON, a universal remedy or panacea;
CATHOL'ICOS, the Patriarch of Armenia.--CATHOLIC CREDITOR (_law of Scot._),
one whose debt is secured over several or the whole subjects belonging to
the debtor--e.g. over two or more heritable estates; CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION,
the relief of the Roman Catholics from certain vexatious penal regulations
and restrictions, granted in 1829; CATHOLIC or GENERAL EPISTLES, the name
given to certain epistles in the canon addressed not to particular churches
or individuals, but either to the Church universal or to a large and
indefinite circle of readers--originally only 1 John and 1 Peter, but, as
early as the 3d century, also James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John; CATHOLIC
KING, a title given specially to the king of Spain.--OLD CATHOLICS, the
title assumed by a number of Catholics who at Munich protested against the
new dogma of the personal infallibility of the pope in all _ex cathedrâ_
deliverances proclaimed by the Vatican Council in 1870--now a considerable
communion or church in Germany and Switzerland. [Gr. _katholicos_,
universal--_kata_, throughout, _holos_, the whole.]
CATILINE, kat'il-[=i]n, _n._ the type of a daring and reckless conspirator,
from L. Sergius _Catilina_, whose plot to destroy Rome was foiled by
Cicero, 63 B.C.--_adj._ CAT'ILIN[=A]RIAN.
CATKIN. See CAT.
CAT-LOG, kat'-log, _n._ (_Shak._). CATALOGUE.
CATONIAN, ka-t[=o]'ni-an, _adj._ resembling _Cato_, the Roman Censor (died
149 B.C.), or Cato Uticensis (95-46 B.C.), both remarkable for gravity of
manners--hence grave, severe, unbending.
CATOPTRIC, kat-op'trik, _adj._ relating to catoptrics or vision by
reflection.--_n.pl._ CATOP'TRICS, the part of optics which treats of
reflected light. [Gr.; from _katoptron_, a mirror--_kata_, against,
_optesthai_, to see.]
CAT'S-TAIL. See CAT.
CATTLE, kat'l, _n.pl._ beasts of pasture, esp. oxen, bulls, and cows:
sometimes also horses, sheep, &c.--_ns._ CATT'LEMAN, one who tends cattle,
or who rears them on a ranch; CATT'LE-PLAGUE, plague or disease among
cattle, esp. that known as rinderpest or steppe murrain; CATT'LE-SHOW, an
exhibition or show of cattle or other domestic animals in competition for
prizes. [O. Fr. _catel_, _chatel_--Low L. _captale_, orig. capital,
property in general, then esp. animals--L. _capitalis_, chief--_caput_, the
head, beasts in early times forming the chief part of property.]
CATTY, kat'i, _n._ the Chinese kin or pound, usually a little over 1¼ lb.
avoirdupois.
CAUCASIAN, kaw-k[=a]'zhi-an, _adj._ pertaining to Mount _Caucasus_ or the
country around it.--_n._ the name adopted by Blumenbach for one of his main
ethnological divisions of mankind, by him made to include the two great
groups, the Aryan and the Semitic; used by later anthropologists for the
fair type of man as opposed to the Mongolic or yellow type.
CAUCUS, kaw'kus, _n._ a private meeting of political wire-pullers to agree
upon candidates to be proposed for an ensuing election, or to fix the
business to be laid before a general meeting of their party: applied
loosely to any influential committee in a constituency. [Ety. dub.; perh.
John Smith's Algonkin word _Caw-cawaassough_, an adviser; perh. a corr. of
'_caulkers'_ meetings.']
CAUDAL, kaw'dal, _adj._ pertaining to the tail: having a tail or something
like one.--_adj._ CAU'D[=A]TE, tailed. [L. _cauda_.]
CAUDEX, kaw'deks, _n._ (_bot._) the stem of a tree, esp. of a palm or
tree-fern:--_pl._ CAUD'ICES, CAUD'EXES.--_n._ CAUDICLE, the stalk of the
pollen-masses of certain orchids. [L.]
CAUDLE, kaw'dl, _n._ a warm drink, sweetened and spiced, given to the sick,
esp. women in childbed.--_v.t._ to give a caudle to, to mix. [O. Fr.
_chaudel_--L. _calidus_, hot.]
CAUDRON, kaw'dron, _n._ (_Spens._). Same as CAULDRON.
CAUGHT, kawt, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of CATCH.
CAUK, kawk, _n._ chalk: sulphate of baryta or heavy spar. [A form of
CHALK.]
CAUKER. See CAULK.
CAUL, kawl, _n._ a net or covering for the head: the membrane covering the
head of some infants at their birth. [O. Fr. _cale_, a little cap, prob.
Celt.; cf. Ir. _calla_, a veil, hood.]
CAULD, kawld, _n._ (_Scot._) a dam in a stream, a weir.
CAULDRIFE, kawld'-r[=i]f, _adj._ (_Scot._) cold, chilly, lifeless, without
vigour.
CAULDRON, CALDRON, kawl'dron, _n._ a large kettle for boiling or heating
liquids. [O. Fr. _caudron_--L. _caldarium_--_calidus_, hot--_cal[=e]re_, to
be hot.]
CAULESCENT, kaw-les'ent, _adj._ (_bot._) having a stem rising above the
ground--also CAULIF'EROUS.--_n._ CAU'LICLE, a rudimentary stem.--_adj._
CAULIC'OLOUS, growing on a stem.--_n.pl._ CAULICUL[=A]'TA, the black or
antipatharian corals.--_adj._ CAULIC'UL[=A]TE.--_n._ CAULIC'ULUS, one of
the slender stems springing from the _caules_ or main stalks supporting the
volutes in the Corinthian capital.--_adjs._ CAUL'IFORM, having the form of
a stem; CAULIG'ENOUS, borne upon the stem; CAUL'INARY, CAU'LINE, belonging
to a stem.--_n._ CAU'LIS, the stem of a plant: one of the main stems at the
angles of the Corinthian capital. [L. _caulis_, a stalk.]
CAULIFLOWER, kaw'li-flow'[.e]r, _n._ a variety of cabbage, the eatable part
of which is the deformed inflorescence or head. [Earlier _cole-florye_,
_colie-florie_--Low L. _cauli-flora_--L. _caulis_, cabbage. See COLE and
FLOWER.]
CAULK, CALK, kawk, _v.t._ to press oakum and untwisted rope into the seams
of a ship to render it watertight.--_ns._ CAULK'ER, one who caulks: a dram:
a big lie--also CAUK'ER; CAULK'ING; CAULK'ING-[=I]'RON, an instrument like
a chisel used for pressing oakum into the seams of ships. [O. Fr.
_cauquer_, to press--L. _cacl[=a]re_, to tread--_calx_, heel.]
CAUSE, kawz, _n._ that which produces an effect: that by or through which
anything happens: motive: inducement: a legal action between contending
parties: sake, advantage: that side of a question which is taken up by an
individual or party: (_Shak._) accusation: (_Shak._) matter, affair in
general.--_v.t._ to produce: to make to exist: to bring about: (_Spens._)
to give excuses.--_conj._ (_dial._) because.--_adj._ CAUS'AL, relating to a
cause or causes.--_n._ CAUSAL'ITY, the working of a cause: (_phren._) the
faculty of tracing effects to their causes.--_adv._ CAUS'ALLY, according to
the order of causes.--_ns._ CAUS[=A]'TION, the act of causing: the bringing
about of an effect; the relation of cause and effect; CAUS[=A]'TIONISM, the
theory of causation; CAUS[=A]'TIONIST, a believer in the foregoing.--_adj._
CAUS'ATIVE, expressing causation.--_n._ a form of verb or noun expressing
such.--_adv._ CAUS'ATIVELY.--_adj._ CAUSE'LESS, having no cause or
occasion.--_adv._ CAUSE'LESSLY.--_ns._ CAUSE'LESSNESS; CAUS'ER, one who
causes an effect to be produced.--CAUSE CÉLÈBRE, a convenient French term
for a specially interesting and important legal trial, criminal or
civil.--FINAL CAUSE, the end or object for which a thing is done, esp. the
design of the universe; FIRST CAUSE, the original cause or creator of
all.--HOUR OF CAUSE (_Scot._), hour or time of trial.--SECONDARY CAUSES,
such as are derived from a primary or first cause.--HAVE or SHOW CAUSE, to
have to give reasons for a certain line of action; MAKE COMMON CAUSE
(_with_), to unite for a common object; SHOW CAUSE (_Eng. law_), to argue
against the confirmation of a provisional order or judgment.--For
OCCASIONAL CAUSES, see OCCASIONALISM. [Fr.,--L. _causa_.]
CAUSERIE, k[=o]z'ri, _n._ a talk or gossip: a paragraph of chat about
literature or art; a short and informal essay on any subject in a newspaper
or magazine--as in Sainte-Beuve's famous _Causeries du Lundi_. [Fr.]
CAUSEWAY, kawz'w[=a], CAUSEY, kawz'e, _n._ a raised way through a marsh: a
pathway raised and paved with stone: a paved street.--_v.t._ to
pave.--_p.adjs._ CAUSE'WAYED, CAUS'EYED. [CAUSEWAY is formed from CAUSEY
and WAY. CAUSEY is in M. E. _causee_--O. Fr. _caucie_--Low L.
_calciata_--L. _calx_, heel.]
CAUSTIC, kaws'tik, _adj._ burning: (_fig._) bitter, severe, cutting:
(_math._) noting an envelope of rays of light proceeding from a fixed point
and reflected (_catacaustic_) or refracted (_diacaustic_) by a surface or a
curve.--_n._ a substance that exerts a corroding or disintegrating action
on the skin and flesh.--_adv._ CAUS'TICALLY.--_n._ CAUSTIC'ITY, quality of
being caustic.--CAUSTIC ALKALI (_chem._), a name given to the hydrates of
potassium and sodium, called caustic potash and caustic soda respectively;
CAUSTIC AMMONIA, ammonia as a gas, or in solution; CAUSTIC LIME,
quicklime.--COMMON CAUSTIC, potash; LUNAR CAUSTIC, nitrate of silver in
sticks for surgical use. [L.,--Gr. _kaustikos_--_kai-ein_, _kaus-ein_, to
burn.]
CAUTEL, kaw'tel, _n._ (_Shak._) craft: insidious purpose: caution:
wariness: a traditionary caution or written direction about the proper
manner of administering the sacraments.--_adj._ CAU'TELOUS (_Shak._),
cautious: insidious: artful. [Fr. _cautèle_--L. _cautela_--_cav[=e]re_,
_cautum_, to guard against.]
CAUTERISE, kaw't[.e]r-[=i]z, _v.t._ to burn with a caustic or a hot iron:
(_fig._) to sear.--_ns._ CAU'TER, CAU'TERY, a burning with caustics or a
hot iron: a burning iron or caustic used for burning tissue;
CAUTERIS[=A]'TION, CAU'TERISM. [Fr. _cautériser_--Low L.
_cauteriz[=a]re_--Gr. _kaut[=e]r_, a hot iron--_kai-ein_, to burn.]
CAUTION, kaw'shun, _n._ heedfulness: security: warning: a surety: (_Scot._)
bail.--_v.t._ to warn to take care.--_adj._ CAU'TIONARY, containing
caution: given as a pledge.--_ns._ CAU'TIONER, one who cautions or advises:
(_Scots law_) a surety; CAU'TIONRY, the act of giving security for
another.--_adj._ CAU'TIOUS, possessing or using caution: watchful:
prudent.--_adv._ CAU'TIOUSLY.--_n._ CAU'TIOUSNESS.--CAUTION MONEY, money
paid in advance as security for good behaviour. [Fr.,--L.
_caution-em_--_cav[=e]re_, to beware.]
CAVALCADE, kav-al-k[=a]d', _n._ a train or procession of persons on
horseback.--_v.i._ to go in a cavalcade. [Fr., through It. and Low L. forms
from L. _caballus_, a horse.]
CAVALIER, kav-al-[=e]r', _n._ a knight: a Royalist in the great Civil War:
a swaggering fellow: a gallant or gentleman in attendance upon a lady, as
her escort or partner in a dance or the like: in military fortification, a
raised work so situated as to command the neighbouring country.--_adj._
like a cavalier: gay: war-like: haughty, supercilious,
free-and-easy.--_v.i._ to act as cavalier.--_adj._ CAVALIER'ISH.--_n._
CAVALIER'ISM.--_adv._ CAVALIER'LY.--_n._ CAVALIER'O, a
cavalier.--CAVALIERE-SERVENTE (It.), one who waits upon a lady, esp. a
married lady, with fantastic devotion--a cicisbeo. [Fr.,--It. _cavallo_.
See CAVALCADE.]
CAVALRY, kav'al-ri, _n._ horse-soldiers: a troop of horse or horsemen. [Fr.
_cavallerie_--It. _cavalleria_--L. _caballarius_, horseman.]
CAVASS. See KAVASS.
CAVATINA, kav-at-[=e]'na, _n._ a short form of operatic air, of a smooth
and melodious character, differing from the ordinary aria in consisting
only of one part, and frequently appearing as part of a grand scena. [It.]
CAVE, k[=a]v, _n._ a hollow place in the earth: a den: any small faction of
seceders from a political party.--_v.t._ to hollow out.--_v.i._ to lodge in
a cave.--_n._ CAVE'-BEAR (_Ursus spelæus_), a fossil bear of the Quaternary
epoch.--_n.pl._ CAVE'-DWELL'ERS, prehistoric men who lived in caves.--_n._
CAV'ING, yielding.--TO CAVE IN, of land, to slip, to fall into a hollow: to
yield to outside pressure, to give way, collapse. [Fr.,--L. _cavus_,
hollow.]
CAVEAT, k[=a]'ve-at, _n._ a notice or warning: a formal warning, entered in
the books of a court or public office, that no step shall be taken in a
particular matter without notice to the person lodging the caveat, so that
he may appear and object. [L., 'let him take care'--_cav[=e]re_, to take
care.]
CAVENDISH, kav'en-dish, _n._ tobacco moistened and pressed into
quadrangular cakes. [Possibly from the name of the original manufacturer.]
CAVERN, kav'[.e]rn, _n._ a deep hollow place in the earth.--_v.t._ to put
in a cavern: to hollow out, in the form of a cavern.--_adjs._ CAV'ERNED,
full of caverns: dwelling in a cavern; CAV'ERNOUS, hollow: full of
caverns.--_adv._ CAV'ERNOUSLY.--_adj._ CAVER'N[=U]LOUS, full of little
cavities. [Fr.,--L. _caverna_--_cavus_, hollow.]
CAVESSON, kav'es-on, _n._ a nose-band for a horse. [Fr.,--It.--L.
_capitia_, _capitium_, a head-covering.]
CAVETTO, ka-vet'to, _n._ a hollowed moulding whose curvature is the quarter
of a circle, used chiefly in cornices. [It.; dim. of _cavo_--L. _cavus_,
hollow.]
CAVIARE, CAVIAR, kav-i-är', or kav-i-[=a]r' (originally four syllables),
_n._ an article of food made from the salted roes of the sturgeon, &c.:
(_fig._) something whose flavour is too fine for the vulgar taste. [Prob.
the 16th-cent. It. _caviale_; the Turk, _kh[=a]vy[=a]r_ is prob. borrowed.]
CAVICORN, kav'i-korn, _adj._ hollow-horned, as a ruminant.--_n._ one of the
CAVICOR'NIA, a family contrasted with the solid-horned ruminants, or deer
(_Cervidæ_). [L. _cavus_, hollow, _cornu_, a horn.]
CAVIE, k[=a]v'i, _n._ a hen-coop or cage. [Dut. _kevie_; Ger. _käfig_.]
CAVIL, kav'il, _v.t._ to make empty, trifling objections: to use false
arguments:--_pr.p._ cav'illing; _pa.p._ cav'illed.--_n._ a frivolous
objection.--_ns._ CAVILL[=A]'TION, CAV'ILLING; CAV'ILLER. [O. Fr.
_caviller_--L. _cavill[=a]ri_, to practise jesting--_cavilla_, jesting.]
CAVITY, kav'it-i, _n._ a hollow place: hollowness: an opening.--_adj._
CAV'ITIED. [L. _cavitas_, _-tatem_--_cavus_, hollow.]
CAVO-RILIEVO, kä'v[=o]-r[=e]-ly[=a]'v[=o], _n._ a kind of relief in which
the highest surface is level with the plane of the original stone, which is
left round the outlines of the design.--Also INTAGLIO-RILIEVO and
COELANAGLYPHIC SCULPTURE. [It. _cavo_, hollow, _rilievo_, relief. See CAVE
and RELIEF.]
CAVORT, kav-ort', _v.i._ (_U.S. slang_) to curvet, bound. [Explained as a
corr. of CURVET.]
CAVY, k[=a]v'i, _n._ a genus of Rodents, best known by the domesticated
species, the common guinea-pig. [_Cabiai_, the native name in French
Guiana.]
CAW, kaw, _v.i._ to cry as a crow.--_n._ the cry of a crow--also KAW.--_n._
CAW'ING. [From the sound.]
CAWK, kawk, _n._ a miner's familiar name for heavy spar. [Prov. Eng.
_cauk_, CHALK.]
CAWKER. Same as CALKER.
CAXON, kak'son, _n._ a kind of wig formerly worn. [Origin obscure.]
CAXTON, kaks'ton, _n._ a book printed by William _Caxton_ (1422-91), the
first English printer: a kind of printing-type in imitation of Caxton's.
CAY, k[=a], _n._ a low islet, the same as KEY. [Sp. _cayo_.]
CAYENNE, k[=a]-en', CAYENNE-PEPPER, k[=a]-en'-pep'[.e]r, _n._ a very
pungent red pepper, made from several species of capsicum.--_adj._
CAYENNED', seasoned with cayenne. [Usually referred to _Cayenne_ in French
Guiana; but there is little doubt the word is Brazilian.]
CAYMAN, k[=a]'man, _n._ a local name loosely applied to various species of
alligator--to that of the Mississippi, and more frequently to others found
in tropical or subtropical America. [Sp. _caiman_, most prob. Carib.]
CAZIQUE, a form of CACIQUE.
CEASE, s[=e]s, _v.i._ to give over: to stop: to be at an end (with
_from_).--_v.t._ to put an end to.--_n._ (_Shak._) extinction.--_adj._
CEASE'LESS, without ceasing: incessant.--_adv._ CEASE'LESSLY.--_n._
CEAS'ING.--WITHOUT CEASE, continually. [Fr. _cesser_--L. _cess[=a]re_, to
give over--_ced[)e]re_, to yield, give up.]
CEBADILLA. See CEVADILLA.
CEBUS, s[=e]'bus, _n._ a genus of South American monkeys--CEBIDÆ
(seb'i-d[=e]) is sometimes applied to all the broad-nosed New-World monkeys
(Platyrrhini) with prehensile tails, in contrast to the Pithecidæ. [Gr.
_k[=e]bos_.]
CECIDOMYIA, ses-i-dom-[=i]'ya, _n._ a genus of dipterous (two-winged)
insects in the Tipularia (gnat and mosquito) division. [Gr. _k[=e]kis_,
_-idos_, juice.]
CECILS, s[=e]'silz, _n.pl._ minced meat, bread crumbs, onions, &c., made up
into balls and fried.
CECITY, s[=e]'si-ti, _n._ blindness. [L. _cæcitas_--_cæcus_, blind.]
CEDAR, s[=e]'dar, _n._ a large evergreen tree remarkable for the durability
and fragrance of its wood; applied also to many more or less similar trees,
as the Barbadoes cedar, properly a juniper, and the Bastard Barbadoes
cedar, properly a _Cedrela_ (used for canoes, cigar-boxes, blacklead
pencils).--_adj._ made of cedar.--_adjs._ C[=E]'DARED, covered with cedars;
C[=E]'DARN (_Milton_), pertaining to or made of cedar; C[=E]'DRINE,
belonging to the cedar-tree; C[=E]'DRY, obsolete form of C[=E]'DARY, having
the colour or properties of cedar. [L.--Gr. _kedros_.]
CEDE, s[=e]d, _v.t._ to yield or give up to another.--_v.i._ to give way.
[L. _ced[)e]re_, _cessum_, to yield, give up.]
CEDILLA, se-dil'la, _n._ a mark placed under the letter _c_ (thus _ç_),
esp. in French, to show that it is to have its soft sound of _s_, where one
would expect the hard, as before _a_, _o_, _u_. [Sp. (Fr. _cédille_, It.
_zediglia_), all from _z[=e]ta_, the Greek name of _z_.]
CEDRATE, s[=e]'dr[=a]t, _n._ the citron. [Fr.,--L. _citrus_.]
CEDRELA, sed'r[=e]-la, _n._ a tropical genus of _Meliaceæ_, allied to
mahogany, whose wood is popularly called cedar.--_adj._ CEDREL[=A]'CEOUS.
[Gr. _kedrelat[=e]_--_kedros_, cedar, _elat[=e]_, the silver fir.]
CEDULA, sed'[=u]-lä, _n._ a South American promissory-note or mortgage-bond
on lands. [Sp. Cf. SCHEDULE.]
CEE-SPRING, C-SPRING, s[=e]'-spring, _n._ a spring supporting the frame of
a carriage, in the shape of a C.
CEIL, CIEL, s[=e]l, _v.t._ to overlay the inner roof of a room, generally
to plaster it: to wainscot.--_n._ CEIL'ING, the inner roof of a room.
[Prob. conn. with Fr. _ciel_, It. _cielo_, Low L. _cælum_, a canopy.]
CELADON, sel'a-don, _n._ a pale-green colour. [Fr.]
CELANDINE, sel'an-d[=i]n, _n._ swallow-wort, the popular name (and
corruption) of _Chelidonium majus_, a perennial papaveraceous (poppy) herb,
so named because it was supposed to flower when the swallows appeared, and
to perish when they departed. [O. Fr. _celidoine_--Gr.
_chelidonion_--_chelid[=o]n_, a swallow.]
CELEBRATE, sel'e-br[=a]t, _v.t._ to make famous: to distinguish by solemn
ceremonies, as a festival or an event: to perform with proper rites and
ceremonies, as mass, the eucharist, marriage, &c.: to publish the praises
of.--_n._ CEL'EBRANT, one who celebrates: the principal officiant at the
holy communion.--_adj._ CEL'EBRATED, distinguished: famous.--_ns._
CELEBR[=A]'TION, act of celebrating any solemn ceremony, as the eucharist
(_high_, if with music, &c.; _low_, if without): an extolling;
CELEBR[=A]T'OR, one who celebrates; CELEB'RITY, the condition of being
celebrated: fame: notoriety: a person of distinction or fame. [L.
_celebr[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_celeber_, frequented.]
CELERITY, sel-er'it-i, _n._ quickness: rapidity of motion. [Fr.,--L.
_celeritas_--_celer_, quick.]
CELERY, sel'er-i, _n._ a kitchen vegetable cultivated for its long blanched
succulent stalks. [Fr. _céleri_--L. and Gr. _sel[=i]non_, parsley.]
CELESTIAL, sel-est'yal, _adj._ heavenly: dwelling in heaven: in the visible
heavens.--_n._ an inhabitant of heaven.--_adv._ CELEST'IALLY.--THE
CELESTIAL EMPIRE, a name for China. [Through Fr. from L.
_coelestis_--_coelum_, heaven.]
CELESTINE, sel'es-t[=i]n, or sel-es'tin, _n._ one of an order of monks
following the rule of St Benedict, wearing a white garment with black hood
and scapulary, founded about 1254 by Peter da Murrone, who became Pope
_Celestine_ V. in 1294, and resigned after five years--'the great refusal'
of Dante.
CELESTINE, sel'es-tin, _n._ a mineral, native sulphate of strontia.--Also
CEL'ESTITE. [From its sky-blue colour.]
CELIAC, s[=e]'li-ak, _adj._ Same as COELIAC.
CELIBACY, sel'i-bas-i, or se-lib'as-i, _n._ a single life: an unmarried
state.--_adjs._ CELIBAT[=A]'RIAN, favouring celibacy; CEL'IBATE, living
single.--_n._ one unmarried, or not allowed to marry. [L. _coelebs_,
single.]
CELL, sel, _n._ a small room in a prison, monastery, &c.: a cave: a small
shut cavity: the grave: a unit-mass of living matter, whether rounded off
by itself, as in the simplest plants or animals, and in the youngest stage
of all organisms, or associated with other cells to form a higher
unity.--_adjs._ CELLED, having cells, cellular; CELLIF'EROUS, having or
producing cells; CELL'ULAR, CELL'ULATED, consisting of or containing
cells.--_n._ CELL'ULE, a little cell.--_adj._ CELLULIF'EROUS, having or
producing little cells.--_n._ CELL'ULOID, a hard elastic compound used for
ivory, obtained by hydraulic pressure from pyroxylin, mixed with camphor,
&c.--_adj._ CELL'ULOSE, containing cells.--_n._ the substance of which the
permanent cell-membranes of plants are composed. [O. Fr. _celle_--L.
_cella_, conn. with _cel[=a]re_, to cover.]
CELLA, sel'a, _n._ the body of the temple, as distinguished from the
portico, &c.
CELLAR, sel'ar, _n._ any underground room or vault: a cell underground,
where stores are kept, esp. wine, &c.--_v.t._ to store in a cellar.--_ns._
CELL'ARAGE, space for cellars: cellars: charge for storing in cellars;
CELL'ARER, CELL'ARIST, one who has charge of the cellar: an officer in a
monastery who has the charge of procuring and keeping the provisions;
CELL'ARET, an ornamental case for holding bottles; CELL'ARMAN, one who has
the care of a cellar.--_adj._ CELL'AROUS (_Dickens_), belonging to a
cellar: excavated: sunken. [O. Fr. _celier_--L. _cellarium_--_cella_.]
CELLO, chel'o, for VIOLONCELLO; sometimes written 'CELLO.--CELLIST,
'CELLIST, for VIOLONCELLIST.
CELLULARES, sel-[=u]-l[=a]'rez, _n.pl._ a name sometimes applied to the
_Cryptogamia_--properly only to the mosses and lower cryptogams.
CELT, selt, _n._ a cutting instrument of stone or bronze found in ancient
barrows. [Founded on _Celte_, perh. a misreading for _certe_ ('surely'), in
the Vulgate, Job, xix. 24, there being apparently no such Latin word as
_celtes_, a chisel.]
CELT, selt, _n._ one of the Celts, an Aryan race, now represented by the
Bretons, the Welsh, the Irish, and the Scottish Highlanders--also
Kelt.--_adj._ CELT'IC.--_ns._ CELT'ICISM, a Celtic idiom or custom;
CELTOM[=A]'NIA. [L. _Celtæ_; Gr. _Keltoi_ or _Keltai_.]
CEMENT, se-ment', _n._ anything that makes two bodies stick together:
mortar: a bond of union.--_v.t._ to unite with cement: to join
firmly.--_n._ CEMENT[=A]'TION, the act of cementing: the process by which
iron is turned into steel, glass into porcelain, &c.--done by surrounding
them with a cement or powder and exposing them to heat.--_adjs._
CEMENT'ATORY, CEMENTI'TIOUS, having the quality of cementing or uniting
firmly. [O. Fr. _ciment_--L. _cæmentum_, chip of stone used to fill up in
building a wall, _cædimentum_--_cæd[)e]re_, to cut.]
CEMETERY, sem'e-t[.e]r-i, _n._ a burying-ground. [Low L. _cæmeterium_--Gr.
_koim[=e]t[=e]rion_.]
CENACLE, sen'a-kl, _n._ a supper-room, esp. that in which the Last Supper
was eaten by Jesus and His disciples. [Fr. _cénacle_--L. _cenaculum_.]
CENOBITE. Same as COENOBITE.
CENOTAPH, sen'[=o]-taf, _n._ a sepulchral monument to one who is buried
elsewhere. [Fr.,--L.--Gr. _kenotaphion_--_kenos_, empty, and _taphos_, a
tomb.]
CENOZOIC, s[=e]-no-z[=o]'ik, _adj._ Same as CAINOZOIC.
CENSE, sens, _v.t._ to burn incense before: (_obs._) to think.--_n._
(_obs._) a public rate or tax: rank, condition. [See CENSUS.]
CENSER, sens'[.e]r, _n._ a pan in which incense is burned. [O. Fr.
_censier_, _encensier_ (mod. _encensoir_)--Low L. _incensorium_--L.
_incend[)e]re_, _incensum_, to burn.]
CENSOR, sen'sor, _n._ in ancient Rome, an officer who kept account of the
property of the citizens, imposed taxes, and watched over their morals: an
officer who examines books or newspapers before they are printed: one who
censures or blames.--_adjs._ CENS[=O]'RIAL, belonging to a censor, or to
the correction of public morals; CENS[=O]'RIOUS, expressing censure:
fault-finding--also CENS[=O]'RIAN.--_adv._ CENS[=O]'RIOUSLY.--_ns._
CENS[=O]'RIOUSNESS; CEN'SORSHIP, office of censor: time during which he
holds office.--CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS, a regulation of certain
governments, by which books and newspapers must be examined by officers,
whose approval is necessary to their publication. [L.,--_cens[=e]re_, to
weigh, to estimate.]
CENSURE, sen'sh[=u]r, _n._ an unfavourable judgment: blame: reproof:
(_obs._) criticism, judgment generally.--_v.t._ to blame: to condemn as
wrong.--_adj._ CEN'SURABLE, deserving of censure: blamable.--_n._
CEN'SURABLENESS.--_adv._ CEN'SURABLY. [L. _cens[=u]ra_, an opinion, a
severe judgment--_cens[=e]re_, to estimate or judge.]
CENSUS, sen'sus, _n._ an official enumeration of the inhabitants of a
country, and of statistics relating to them.--_adj._ CEN'SUAL, relating to
or containing a census. [L. _census_, a register.]
CENT, sent, _n._ a hundred: an American coin--the hundredth part of a
dollar.--_ns._ CENT'AGE, rate by the hundred; CENT'AL, a weight of 100 lb.
proposed for general adoption, legalised in 1878.--PER CENT., by the
hundred. [L. _centum_, a hundred.]
CENTAUR, sen'tawr, _n._ a fabulous monster, half-man, half-horse.--_adj._
CENTAU'RIAN. [L.,--Gr. _kentauros_; ety. dub.]
CENTAURY, sen'taw-ri, _n._ an annual with pink or rose-coloured flowers,
possessing the tonic and other medicinal virtues of gentian, esteemed in
medicine since the days of Galen.
CENTENARY, sen'tin-ar-i (also sometimes sen-t[=e]n'ar-i and even
sen-ten'ar-i), _n._ a hundred: a century or hundred years.--_adj._
pertaining to a hundred.--_ns._ CENTEN[=A]'RIAN, one a hundred years old;
CENTEN[=A]'RIANISM; CENTENIER (sen'ten-[=e]r), a centurion: a
police-officer in Jersey. [L.,--_centeni_, a hundred each--_centum_.]
CENTENNIAL, sen-ten'i-al, _adj._ happening once in a hundred years.--_n._ a
hundredth anniversary. [Coined from L. _centum_, and _annus_, a year.]
CENTER. See CENTRE.
CENTERING, sen't[.e]r-ing, _n._ (_archit._) the framework upon which an
arch or vault of stone, brick, or iron is supported during its
construction.
CENTESIMAL, sen-tes'i-mal, _adj._ hundredth.--_adv._ CENTES'IMALLY. [L.
_centesimus_--_centum_.]
CENTIFOLIOUS, sen-ti-f[=o]'li-us, _adj._ hundred-leaved.
CENTIGRADE, sen'ti-gr[=a]d, _adj._ having a hundred degrees: divided into a
hundred degrees, as the centigrade thermometer constructed by Celsius
(1701-44), in which freezing-point is zero and boiling-point is 100° (for
its relation to the Fahrenheit scale, see THERMOMETER). [L. _centum_, and
_gradus_, a step, a degree.]
CENTIGRAMME, sen'ti-gram, _n._ in the Metric System, the hundredth part of
a gramme, or .1543248 of a gr. troy. [Fr.,--L. _centum_, a hundred, and
GRAMME.]
CENTILITRE, sen'ti-l[=e]-tr, _n._ the hundredth part of a litre, a little
more than 6/10ths of a cubic inch. [Fr.,--L. _centum_, a hundred, and
LITRE.]
CENTIME, sen-t[=e]m', _n._ the hundredth part of anything, esp. a French
coin, the hundredth part of a franc. [Fr.,--L. _centum_, a hundred.]
CENTIMETRE, sen'ti-m[=e]-tr, _n._ a lineal measure, the hundredth part of a
metre--0.3937 inches. [Fr.,--L. _centum_, a hundred, _metrum_, Gr.
_metron_, a measure.]
CENTINEL. Same as SENTINEL.
CENTIPEDE, sen'ti-p[=e]d, _n._ a general name for the members of one of the
orders of the class _Myriapoda_, being segmented animals bearing jointed
appendages, having a well-defined head furnished with feelers and jaws, and
breathing by means of air-tubes or tracheæ. [L. _centum_, and _pes_,
_pedis_, a foot.]
CENTNER, sent'ner, _n._ a common name on the Continent for a hundredweight.
CENTO, sen'to, _n._ a name applied to literary trivialities in the form of
poems manufactured by putting together distinct verses or passages of one
author, or of several authors, so as to make a new meaning: a composition
formed by joining scraps from other authors: expressing contempt, a mere
string of commonplace phrases and quotations:--_pl._ usually
CEN'TOS.--_ns._ CEN'TOIST; CEN'TONISM, CEN'TOISM. [L. _cento_, Gr.
_kentr[=o]n_, patchwork.]
CENTRE, CENTER, sen't[.e]r, _n._ the middle point of anything, esp. a
circle or sphere: the middle: the point toward which all things move or are
drawn: the chief leader of an organisation--head-centre: the men of
moderate political opinions in the French Chamber, sitting right in front
of the president, with extreme men on the right and on the left--further
subdivisions are RIGHT-CENTRE and LEFT-CENTRE: the Ultramontane party in
Germany.--_v.t._ to place on or collect to a centre.--_v.i._ to be placed
in the middle:--_pr.p._ cen'tring, cen'tering; _pa.p._ cen'tred,
cen'tered.--_adj._ CEN'TRAL, belonging to the centre, principal, dominant:
belonging to a nerve-centre, of affections caused by injury to the brain or
spinal cord.--_ns._ CENTRALIS[=A]'TION, CEN'TRALISM, the tendency to
administer by the sovereign or central government matters which would be
otherwise under local management.--_v.t._ CEN'TRALISE, to draw to a
centre.--_n._ CENTRAL'ITY, central position.--_advs._ CEN'TRALLY,
CEN'TRICALLY.--_ns._ CEN'TRE-BIT, a joiner's tool, turning on a centre, for
boring circular holes--one of the chief tools of the burglar;
CEN'TRE-BOARD, a shifting keel, fitted to drop below and in line with the
keel proper in order to increase or diminish the draught of a boat--much
used in United States racing yachts; CEN'TRE-PIECE, an ornament for the
middle of a table, ceiling, &c.--_adjs._ CEN'TRIC, CEN'TRICAL, relating to,
placed in, or containing the centre.--_ns._ CEN'TRICALNESS, CENTRIC'ITY;
CEN'TRUM, the body of a vertebra.--CENTRAL FIRE, said of a cartridge in
which the fulminate is placed in the centre of the base, as opposed to _rim
fire_; CENTRAL FORCES, forces whose action is to cause a moving body to
tend towards a fixed point called the centre of force.--CENTRE OF
ATTRACTION, the point to which bodies tend by the force of gravity; CENTRE
OF BUOYANCY, or DISPLACEMENT, the point in an immersed body at which the
resultant vertical pressure may be supposed to act; CENTRE OF GRAVITY, a
certain point, invariably situated with regard to the body, through which
the resultant of the attracting forces between the earth and its several
molecules always passes; CENTRE OF INERTIA, or MASS, the centre of a set of
parallel forces acting on all the particles of a body, each force being
proportional to the mass of the particle on which it acts; CENTRE OF
OSCILLATION, the point in a body occupied by that particle which is
accelerated and retarded to an equal amount, and which therefore moves as
if it were a single pendulum unconnected with the rest of the body; CENTRE
OF PERCUSSION, the point in which the direction of a blow, given to a body,
intersects the plane in which the fixed axis and the centre of inertia lie,
making the body begin to rotate about a fixed axis, without causing any
pressure on the axis; CENTRE OF PRESSURE, the point at which the direction
of a single force, which is equivalent to the fluid pressure on the plane
surface, meets the surface. [Fr.,--L. _centrum_--Gr. _kentron_, a sharp
point.]
CENTRIFUGAL, sen-trif'[=u]-gal, _adj._ relating to the force directed
towards the centre of curvature constantly required to keep a body moving
in a curve instead of in its natural straight line: (_bot._) applied to an
inflorescence when the development proceeds from the apex towards the base
of the axis or leaf, as opposed to _centripetal_, when it is from the base
upwards towards the apex.--_n._ CEN'TRIFUGE, a centrifugal machine. [L.
_centrum_, and _fug-[)e]re_, to flee from.]
CENTRIPETAL, sen-trip'et-al, _adj._ of a force impelling a body towards
some point as a centre. [L. _centrum_, and _pet-[)e]re_, to seek.]
CENTROBARIC, sen-tro-bar'ik, _adj._ relating to the centre of gravity. [L.
_centrum_, and Gr. _baros_, weight.]
CENTRODE, sen'tr[=o]d, _n._ a locus traced out by the successive positions
of an instantaneous centre of pure rotation.
CENTUMVIR, sen-tum'vir, _n._ one of the Roman judges chosen annually for
civil suits, originally 105 in number (three from each of the thirty-five
tribes):--_pl._ CENTUM'VIR[=I].--_n._ CENTUM'VIRATE. [L. _centum_, a
hundred, and _vir_, a man.]
CENTUPLE, sen't[=u]-pl, _adj._ hundredfold.--_v.t._ CENT[=U]'PLICATE, to
multiply a hundred times.--_n._ CENTUPLIC[=A]'TION. [L.
_centuplex_--_centum_, and _plic[=a]re_, to fold.]
CENTURY, sen't[=u]-ri, _n._ a hundred, or something consisting of a hundred
in number, as sonnets, &c.: a hundred years.--_adj._ CENT[=U]'RIAL.--_ns._
CENT[=U]'RI[=A]TOR, the centuriators of Magdeburg were a group of Reformed
divines who in the 16th century compiled a church history in 13 vols., each