| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| caaba | noun | The small and nearly cubical stone building, toward which all Mohammedans must pray. |
| cabal | noun | Tradition; occult doctrine. See Cabala, A secret., A number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in church or state by intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a junto., The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue., To unite in a small party to promote private views and interests by intrigue; to intrigue; to plot. |
| cabas | noun | A flat basket or frail for figs, etc.; hence, a lady’s flat workbasket, reticule, or hand bag; — often written caba. |
| caber | noun | A pole or beam used in Scottish games for tossing as a trial of strength. |
| cabin | noun | A cottage or small house; a hut., A small room; an inclosed place., A room in ship for officers or passengers., To live in, or as in, a cabin; to lodge., To confine in, or as in, a cabin. |
| cable | noun | A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links., A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some protecting or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension bridge; a telegraphic cable., A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; — called also cable molding., To fasten with a cable., To ornament with cabling. See Cabling., To telegraph by a submarine cable |
| cabob | noun | A small piece of mutton or other meat roasted on a skewer; — so called in Turkey and Persia., A leg of mutton roasted, stuffed with white herrings and sweet herbs., To roast, as a cabob. |
| cacao | noun | A small evergreen tree (Theobroma Cacao) of South America and the West Indies. Its fruit contains an edible pulp, inclosing seeds about the size of an almond, from which cocoa, chocolate, and broma are prepared. |
| cache | noun | A hole in the ground, or hiding place, for concealing and preserving provisions which it is inconvenient to carry. |
| cacti | plural | of Cactus |
| caddy | noun | A small box, can, or chest to keep tea in. |
| cader | noun | See Cadre. |
| cadet | noun | The younger of two brothers; a younger brother or son; the youngest son., A gentleman who carries arms in a regiment, as a volunteer, with a view of acquiring military skill and obtaining a commission., A young man in training for military or naval service; esp. a pupil in a military or naval school, as at West Point, Annapolis, or Woolwich. |
| cadew | noun | Alt. of Cadeworm |
| cadge | verb t. & i. | To carry, as a burden., To hawk or peddle, as fish, poultry, etc., To intrude or live on another meanly; to beg., A circular frame on which cadgers carry hawks for sale. |
| cadgy | adjective | Cheerful or mirthful, as after good eating or drinking; also, wanton. |
| cadie | noun | Alt. of Caddie |
| cadis | noun | A kind of coarse serge. |
| cadre | noun | The framework or skeleton upon which a regiment is to be formed; the officers of a regiment forming the staff. |
| caeca | noun pl. | See Caecum., of Caecum |
| caged | imp. & past participle | of Cage, Confined in, or as in, a cage; like a cage or prison. |
| cagit | noun | A kind of parrot, of a beautiful green color, found in the Philippine Islands. |
| cagot | noun | One of a race inhabiting the valleys of the Pyrenees, who until 1793 were political and social outcasts (Christian Pariahs). They are supposed to be a remnant of the Visigoths. |
| caird | noun | A traveling tinker; also a tramp or sturdy beggar. |
| cairn | noun | A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument., A pile of stones heaped up as a landmark, or to arrest attention, as in surveying, or in leaving traces of an exploring party, etc. |
| caked | imp. & past participle | of Cake |
| calid | adjective | Hot; burning; ardent. |
| calif | noun | Alt. of Califate |
| calin | noun | An alloy of lead and tin, of which the Chinese make tea canisters. |
| calix | noun | A cup. See Calyx. |
| calla | noun | A genus of plants, of the order Araceae. |
| calle | noun | A kind of head covering; a caul. |
| calmy | noun | Tranquil; peaceful; calm. |
| calve | verb i. | To bring forth a calf., To bring forth young; to produce offspring. |
| calyx | noun | The covering of a flower. See Flower., A cuplike division of the pelvis of the kidney, which surrounds one or more of the renal papillae. |
| camel | noun | A large ruminant used in Asia and Africa for carrying burdens and for riding. The camel is remarkable for its ability to go a long time without drinking. Its hoofs are small, and situated at the extremities of the toes, and the weight of the animal rests on the callous. The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) has one bunch on the back, while the Bactrian camel (C. Bactrianus) has two. The llama, alpaca, and vicua, of South America, belong to a related genus (Auchenia)., A water-tight structure (as a large box or boxes) used to assist a vessel in passing over a shoal or bar or in navigating shallow water. By admitting water, the camel or camels may be sunk and attached beneath or at the sides of a vessel, and when the water is pumped out the vessel is lifted. |
| cameo | noun | A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel for personal adornment, or like. |
| camis | noun | A light, loose dress or robe. |
| camus | noun | See Camis. |
| could | imp. | of Can, Was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present. |
| canal | noun | An artificial channel filled with water and designed for navigation, or for irrigating land, etc., A tube or duct; as, the alimentary canal; the semicircular canals of the ear. |
| candy | verb t. | To conserve or boil in sugar; as, to candy fruits; to candy ginger., To make sugar crystals of or in; to form into a mass resembling candy; as, to candy sirup., To incrust with sugar or with candy, or with that which resembles sugar or candy., To have sugar crystals form in or on; as, fruits preserved in sugar candy after a time., To be formed into candy; to solidify in a candylike form or mass., A more or less solid article of confectionery made by boiling sugar or molasses to the desired consistency, and than crystallizing, molding, or working in the required shape. It is often flavored or colored, and sometimes contains fruit, nuts, etc., A weight, at Madras 500 pounds, at Bombay 560 pounds. |
| caned | imp. & past participle | of Cane, Filled with white flakes; mothery; — said vinegar when containing mother. |
| canes | plural | of Canis |
| canis | noun | A genus of carnivorous mammals, of the family Canidae, including the dogs and wolves. |
| canna | noun | A measure of length in Italy, varying from six to seven feet. See Cane, 4., A genus of tropical plants, with large leaves and often with showy flowers. The Indian shot (C. Indica) is found in gardens of the northern United States. |
| canny | adjective | Alt. of Cannei |
| canoe | noun | A boat used by rude nations, formed of trunk of a tree, excavated, by cutting of burning, into a suitable shape. It is propelled by a paddle or paddles, or sometimes by sail, and has no rudder., A boat made of bark or skins, used by savages., A light pleasure boat, especially designed for use by one who goes alone upon long excursions, including portage. It it propelled by a paddle, or by a small sail attached to a temporary mast., To manage a canoe, or voyage in a canoe. |
| canon | noun | A law or rule., A law, or rule of doctrine or discipline, enacted by a council and confirmed by the pope or the sovereign; a decision, regulation, code, or constitution made by ecclesiastical authority., The collection of books received as genuine Holy Scriptures, called the sacred canon, or general rule of moral and religious duty, given by inspiration; the Bible; also, any one of the canonical Scriptures. See Canonical books, under Canonical, a., In monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order., A catalogue of saints acknowledged and canonized in the Roman Catholic Church., A member of a cathedral chapter; a person who possesses a prebend in a cathedral or collegiate church., A musical composition in which the voices begin one after another, at regular intervals, successively taking up the same subject. It either winds up with a coda (tailpiece), or, as each voice finishes, commences anew, thus forming a perpetual fugue or round. It is the strictest form of imitation. See Imitation., The largest size of type having a specific name; — so called from having been used for printing the canons of the church., The part of a bell by which it is suspended; — called also ear and shank., See Carom. |
| caon | noun | A deep gorge, ravine, or gulch, between high and steep banks, worn by water courses. |
| can’t | A colloquial contraction for can not. | |
| canto | noun | One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book., The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano. |
| canty | adjective | Cheerful; sprightly; lively; merry. |
| capel | noun | Alt. of Caple, A composite stone (quartz, schorl, and hornblende) in the walls of tin and copper lodes. |
| caple | noun | A horse; a nag., See Capel. |
| caper | verb i. | To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to skip; to spring; to prance; to dance., A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or dancing; a prank., A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer., The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental caper (Capparis spinosa), much used for pickles., A plant of the genus Capparis; — called also caper bush, caper tree. |
| capoc | noun | A sort of cotton so short and fine that it can not be spun, used in the East Indies to line palanquins, to make mattresses, etc. |
| capon | noun | A castrated cock, esp. when fattened; a male chicken gelded to improve his flesh for the table., To castrate; to make a capon of. |
| capot | noun | A winning of all the tricks at the game of piquet. It counts for forty points., To win all the tricks from, in playing at piquet. |
| capra | noun | A genus of ruminants, including the common goat. |
| caput | noun | The head; also, a knoblike protuberance or capitulum., The top or superior part of a thing., The council or ruling body of the University of Cambridge prior to the constitution of 1856. |
| carac | noun | See Carack. |
| carat | noun | The weight by which precious stones and pearls are weighed., A twenty-fourth part; — a term used in estimating the proportionate fineness of gold. |
| cardo | noun | The basal joint of the maxilla in insects., The hinge of a bivalve shell. |
| cared | imp. & past participle | of Care |
| caret | noun | A mark [^] used by writers and proof readers to indicate that something is interlined above, or inserted in the margin, which belongs in the place marked by the caret., The hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill. |
| carex | noun | A numerous and widely distributed genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the order Cypreaceae; the sedges. |
| cargo | noun | The lading or freight of a ship or other vessel; the goods, merchandise, or whatever is conveyed in a vessel or boat; load; freight. |
| carib | noun | A native of the Caribbee islands or the coasts of the Caribbean sea; esp., one of a tribe of Indians inhabiting a region of South America, north of the Amazon, and formerly most of the West India islands. |
| carob | noun | An evergreen leguminous tree (Ceratania Siliqua) found in the countries bordering the Mediterranean; the St. John’s bread; — called also carob tree., One of the long, sweet, succulent, pods of the carob tree, which are used as food for animals and sometimes eaten by man; — called also St. John’s bread, carob bean, and algaroba bean. |
| carol | noun | A round dance., A song of joy, exultation, or mirth; a lay., A song of praise of devotion; as, a Christmas or Easter carol., Joyful music, as of a song., To praise or celebrate in song., To sing, especially with joyful notes., To sing; esp. to sing joyfully; to warble., Alt. of Carrol |
| carom | noun | A shot in which the ball struck with the cue comes in contact with two or more balls on the table; a hitting of two or more balls with the player’s ball. In England it is called cannon., To make a carom. |
| carps | plural | of Carp |
| carpi | plural | of Carpus |
| carry | verb t. | To convey or transport in any manner from one place to another; to bear; — often with away or off., To have or hold as a burden, while moving from place to place; to have upon or about one’s person; to bear; as, to carry a wound; to carry an unborn child., To move; to convey by force; to impel; to conduct; to lead or guide., To transfer from one place (as a country, book, or column) to another; as, to carry the war from Greece into Asia; to carry an account to the ledger; to carry a number in adding figures., To convey by extension or continuance; to extend; as, to carry the chimney through the roof; to carry a road ten miles farther., To bear or uphold successfully through conflict, as a leader or principle; hence, to succeed in, as in a contest; to bring to a successful issue; to win; as, to carry an election., To get possession of by force; to capture., To contain; to comprise; to bear the aspect of ; to show or exhibit; to imply., To bear (one’s self); to behave, to conduct or demean; — with the reflexive pronouns., To bear the charges or burden of holding or having, as stocks, merchandise, etc., from one time to another; as, a merchant is carrying a large stock; a farm carries a mortgage; a broker carries stock for a customer; to carry a life insurance., To act as a bearer; to convey anything; as, to fetch and carry., To have propulsive power; to propel; as, a gun or mortar carries well., To hold the head; — said of a horse; as, to carry well i. e., to hold the head high, with arching neck., To have earth or frost stick to the feet when running, as a hare., A tract of land, over which boats or goods are carried between two bodies of navigable water; a carrying place; a portage. |
| carse | noun | Low, fertile land; a river valley. |
| carte | noun | Bill of fare., Short for Carte de visite., Alt. of Quarte |
| carus | noun | Coma with complete insensibility; deep lethargy. |
| carve | verb t. | To cut., To cut, as wood, stone, or other material, in an artistic or decorative manner; to sculpture; to engrave., To make or shape by cutting, sculpturing, or engraving; to form; as, to carve a name on a tree., To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat at table; to divide for distribution or apportionment; to apportion., To cut: to hew; to mark as if by cutting., To take or make, as by cutting; to provide., To lay out; to contrive; to design; to plan., To exercise the trade of a sculptor or carver; to engrave or cut figures., To cut up meat; as, to carve for all the guests., A carucate. |
| casal | adjective | Of or pertaining to case; as, a casal ending. |
| cased | imp. & past participle | of Case |
| caste | noun | One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindoos are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism., A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves. |
| casus | noun | An event; an occurrence; an occasion; a combination of circumstances; a case; an act of God. See the Note under Accident. |
| catch | verb t. | 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., To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief., To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish., Hence: To insnare; to entangle., To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody., To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building., To engage and attach; to please; to charm., To get possession of; to attain., 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., To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing., To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train., To attain possession., 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., To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch., To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate., Act of seizing; a grasp., That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate., 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., That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish., Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony., Passing opportunities seized; snatches., A slight remembrance; a trace., A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other’s words. |
| catel | noun | Property; — often used by Chaucer in contrast with rent, or income. |
| cater | noun | A provider; a purveyor; a caterer., To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions., By extension: To supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical or musical entertainments; — followed by for or to., The four of cards or dice., To cut diagonally. |
| cates | noun | Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. |
| catso | noun | A base fellow; a rogue; a cheat. |
| catty | noun | An East Indian Weight of 1 1/3 pounds. |
| caulk | verb t. & noun | See Calk. |
| cauma | noun | Great heat, as of the body in fever. |
| cause | verb | That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist., That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing., Sake; interest; advantage., 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., Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general., 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., 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., To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse., Abbreviation of Because. |
| caved | imp. & past participle | of Cave |
| cavil | verb i. | To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason., To cavil at., A captious or frivolous objection. |
| cavin | noun | A hollow way, adapted to cover troops, and facilitate their aproach to a place. |
| cawed | imp. & past participle | of Caw |
| cawky | adjective | Of or pertaining to cawk; like cawk. |
| caxon | noun | A kind of wig. |
| cazic | noun | A chief or petty king among some tribes of Indians in America. |
| cease | verb i. | To come to an end; to stop; to leave off or give over; to desist; as, the noise ceased., To be wanting; to fail; to pass away., To put a stop to; to bring to an end., Extinction. |
| cedar | noun | The name of several evergreen trees. The wood is remarkable for its durability and fragrant odor., Of or pertaining to cedar. |
| ceded | imp. & past participle | of Cede |
| cedry | adjective | Of the nature of cedar. |
| ceint | noun | A girdle. |
| cella | noun | The part inclosed within the walls of an ancient temple, as distinguished from the open porticoes. |
| celli | plural | of Cello |
| cello | noun | A contraction for Violoncello. |
| cense | noun | A census; — also, a public rate or tax., Condition; rank., To perfume with odors from burning gums and spices., To burn or scatter incense. |
| cento | noun | A literary or a musical composition formed by selections from different authors disposed in a new order. |
| cerci | plural | of Cercus |
| cered | imp. & past participle | of Cere |
| ceres | noun | The daughter of Saturn and Ops or Rhea, the goddess of corn and tillage., The first discovered asteroid. |
| cerin | noun | A waxy substance extracted by alcohol or ether from cork; sometimes applied also to the portion of beeswax which is soluble in alcohol., A variety of the mineral allanite. |
| ceryl | noun | A radical, C27H55 supposed to exist in several compounds obtained from Chinese wax, beeswax, etc. |
| cetic | adjective | Of or pertaining to a whale. |
| cetin | noun | A white, waxy substance, forming the essential part of spermaceti. |
| cetyl | noun | A radical, C16H33, not yet isolated, but supposed to exist in a series of compounds homologous with the ethyl compounds, and derived from spermaceti. |
| chace | noun | See 3d Chase, n., 3., To pursue. See Chase v. t. |
| chafe | verb t. | To excite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and make warm., To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate., To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable., To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by friction., To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes., To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated., Heat excited by friction., Injury or wear caused by friction., Vexation; irritation of mind; rage. |
| chaff | noun | The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed by threshing and winnowing, etc., Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character; the refuse part of anything., Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle., Light jesting talk; banter; raillery., The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which subtend each flower in the heads of many Compositae, as the sunflower., To use light, idle language by way of fun or ridicule; to banter., To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical or bantering language; to quiz. |
| chain | noun | 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., That which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as, the chains of habit., 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., An instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring land., Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes connected with the shrouds; also, the channels., The warp threads of a web., To fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog., To keep in slavery; to enslave., To unite closely and strongly., To measure with the chain., To protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor. |
| chair | noun | A movable single seat with a back., An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp. that of a professor; hence, the office itself., The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address the chair., A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two-wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig., An iron block used on railways to support the rails and secure them to the sleepers., To place in a chair., To carry publicly in a chair in triumph. |
| chaja | noun | The crested screamer of Brazil (Palamedea, / 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. |
| chalk | noun | A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same composition as common limestone., 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., To rub or mark with chalk., To manure with chalk, as land., To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach. |
| champ | verb t. | To bite with repeated action of the teeth so as to be heard., To bite into small pieces; to crunch., To bite or chew impatiently., Alt. of Champe |
| chank | noun | 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. |
| chant | verb t. | To utter with a melodious voice; to sing., To celebrate in song., To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune called a chant., To make melody with the voice; to sing., To sing, as in reciting a chant., Song; melody., 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., A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting., Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. |
| chaos | noun | An empty, immeasurable space; a yawning chasm., The confused, unorganized condition or mass of matter before the creation of distinct and orderly forms., Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a confused mixture; confusion; disorder. |
| chape | noun | 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., The transverse guard of a sword or dagger., The metal plate or tip which protects the end of a scabbard, belt, etc. |
| chaps | noun pl. | The jaws, or the fleshy parts about them. See Chap. |
| charr | noun | 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., See 1st Char. |
| chare | verb t. | To perform; to do; to finish., To work or hew, as stone., To work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant; to do small jobs., A narrow street., A chore; to chore; to do. See Char. |
| chara | noun | A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and whorled branches. They flourish in wet places. |
| chard | noun | The tender leaves or leafstalks of the artichoke, white beet, etc., blanched for table use., A variety of the white beet, which produces large, succulent leaves and leafstalks. |
| chark | noun | Charcoal; a cinder., To burn to a coal; to char. |
| charm | noun | A melody; a song., A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of magic; a magical combination of words, characters, etc.; an incantation., That which exerts an irresistible power to please and attract; that which fascinates; any alluring quality., Anything worn for its supposed efficacy to the wearer in averting ill or securing good fortune., 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., To make music upon; to tune., To subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence; to affect by magic., To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe., To attract irresistibly; to delight exceedingly; to enchant; to fascinate., To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or supernatural influences; as, a charmed life., To use magic arts or occult power; to make use of charms., To act as, or produce the effect of, a charm; to please greatly; to be fascinating., To make a musical sound. |
| chart | noun | 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., 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., A written deed; a charter., To lay down in a chart; to map; to delineate; as, to chart a coast. |
| chary | adjective | Careful; wary; cautious; not rash, reckless, or spendthrift; saving; frugal. |
| chase | verb t. | To pursue for the purpose of killing or taking, as an enemy, or game; to hunt., 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., To pursue eagerly, as hunters pursue game., To give chase; to hunt; as, to chase around after a doctor., 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., That which is pursued or hunted., 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., 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., A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are imposed., The part of a cannon from the reenforce or the trunnions to the swell of the muzzle. See Cannon., A groove, or channel, as in the face of a wall; a trench, as for the reception of drain tile., 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., To ornament (a surface of metal) by embossing, cutting away parts, and the like., To cut, so as to make a screw thread. |
| chasm | noun | A deep opening made by disruption, as a breach in the earth or a rock; a yawning abyss; a cleft; a fissure., A void space; a gap or break, as in ranks of men. |
| chast | verb t. | to chasten. |
| chati | noun | A small South American species of tiger cat (Felis mitis). |
| chaun | noun | A gap., To open; to yawn. |
| chaus | noun | a lynxlike animal of Asia and Africa (Lynx Lybicus). |
| cheap | noun | A bargain; a purchase; cheapness., Having a low price in market; of small cost or price, as compared with the usual price or the real value., Of comparatively small value; common; mean., Cheaply., To buy; to bargain. |
| chear | noun & verb | See Cheer. |
| cheat | noun | An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture., One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater., A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; — called also chess. See Chess., The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth., To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle., To beguile., To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards., Wheat, or bread made from wheat. |
| check | noun | 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., A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check., Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff., 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., A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below., 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., The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds., Small chick or crack., To make a move which puts an adversary’s piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check., To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb., 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., To chide, rebuke, or reprove., To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended., To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber., To make a stop; to pause; — with at., To clash or interfere., To act as a curb or restraint., To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc., To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds., Checkered; designed in checks. |
| cheek | noun | The side of the face below the eye., The cheek bone., 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., The branches of a bridle bit., 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., Cool confidence; assurance; impudence., To be impudent or saucy to. |
| cheep | verb i. | To chirp, as a young bird., To give expression to in a chirping tone., A chirp, peep, or squeak, as of a young bird or mouse. |
| cheer | noun | The face; the countenance or its expression., Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart., Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation., That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good cheer., A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy enthusiasm, applause, favor, etc., To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; — often with up., To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort., To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers; as, to cheer hounds in a chase., To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; — usually with up., To be in any state or temper of mind., To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc. |
| chela | noun | The pincherlike claw of Crustacea and Arachnida. |
| chely | noun | A claw. See Chela. |
| cheng | noun | A chinese reed instrument, with tubes, blown by the mouth. |
| chert | noun | An impure, massive, flintlike quartz or hornstone, of a dull color. |
| chese | verb t. | To choose |
| chess | noun | 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., A species of brome grass (Bromus secalinus) which is a troublesome weed in wheat fields, 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. |
| chest | noun | A large box of wood, or other material, having, like a trunk, a lid, but no covering of skin, leather, or cloth., A coffin., The part of the body inclosed by the ribs and breastbone; the thorax., A case in which certain goods, as tea, opium, etc., are transported; hence, the quantity which such a case contains., A tight receptacle or box, usually for holding gas, steam, liquids, etc.; as, the steam chest of an engine; the wind chest of an organ., To deposit in a chest; to hoard., To place in a coffin., Strife; contention; controversy. |
| cheve | verb i. | To come to an issue; to turn out; to succeed; as, to cheve well in a enterprise. |
| chevy | verb t. | See Chivy, v. t. |
| chian | adjective | Of or pertaining to Chios, an island in the Aegean Sea. |
| chica | noun | A red coloring matter. extracted from the Bignonia Chica, used by some tribes of South American Indians to stain the skin., A fermented liquor or beer made in South American from a decoction of maize., A popular Moorish, Spanish, and South American dance, said to be the original of the fandango, etc. |
| chich | noun | The chick-pea. |
| chick | verb i. | To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate., A chicken., A child or young person; — a term of endearment. |
| chide | present participle & vb. noun | To rebuke; to reprove; to scold; to find fault with., Fig.: To be noisy about; to chafe against., To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault; to contend angrily., To make a clamorous noise; to chafe., A continuous noise or murmur. |
| chief | noun | 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 principal actor or agent., The principal part; the most valuable portion., The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs., Highest in office or rank; principal; head., 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., Very intimate, near, or close. |
| child | noun | 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., A descendant, however remote; — used esp. in the plural; as, the children of Israel; the children of Edom., 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., A noble youth. See Childe., 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., A female infant., To give birth; to produce young. |
| chili | noun | A kind of red pepper. See Capsicum |
| chill | noun | A moderate but disagreeable degree of cold; a disagreeable sensation of coolness, accompanied with shivering., 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., A check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling; discouragement; as, a chill comes over an assembly., 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., The hardened part of a casting, as the tread of a car wheel., Moderately cold; tending to cause shivering; chilly; raw., Affected by cold., Characterized by coolness of manner, feeling, etc.; lacking enthusiasm or warmth; formal; distant; as, a chill reception., Discouraging; depressing; dispiriting., To strike with a chill; to make chilly; to cause to shiver; to affect with cold., To check enthusiasm or warmth of feeling of; to depress; to discourage., 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., To become surface-hardened by sudden cooling while solidifying; as, some kinds of cast iron chill to a greater depth than others. |
| chimb | noun | The edge of a cask, etc; a chine. See Chine, n., 3., Chime. |
| chime | noun | See Chine, n., 3., The harmonious sound of bells, or of musical instruments., A set of bells musically tuned to each other; specif., in the pl., the music performed on such a set of bells by hand, or produced by mechanism to accompany the striking of the hours or their divisions., Pleasing correspondence of proportion, relation, or sound., To sound in harmonious accord, as bells., To be in harmony; to agree; to suit; to harmonize; to correspond; to fall in with., To join in a conversation; to express assent; — followed by in or in with., To make a rude correspondence of sounds; to jingle, as in rhyming., To cause to sound in harmony; to play a tune, as upon a set of bells; to move or strike in harmony., To utter harmoniously; to recite rhythmically. |
| china | noun | A country in Eastern Asia., China ware, which is the modern popular term for porcelain. See Porcelain. |
| chine | noun | A chink or cleft; a narrow and deep ravine; as, Shanklin Chine in the Isle of Wight, a quarter of a mile long and 230 feet deep., The backbone or spine of an animal; the back., A piece of the backbone of an animal, with the adjoining parts, cut for cooking. [See Illust. of Beef.], The edge or rim of a cask, etc., formed by the projecting ends of the staves; the chamfered end of a stave., To cut through the backbone of; to cut into chine pieces., Too chamfer the ends of a stave and form the chine.. |
| chink | noun | A small cleft, rent, or fissure, of greater length than breadth; a gap or crack; as, the chinks of wall., To crack; to open., To cause to open in cracks or fissures., To fill up the chinks of; as, to chink a wall., A short, sharp sound, as of metal struck with a slight degree of violence., Money; cash., To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other., To make a slight, sharp, metallic sound, as by the collision of little pieces of money, or other small sonorous bodies. |
| chips | noun | A ship’s carpenter. |
| chirk | verb i. | To shriek; to gnash; to utter harsh or shrill cries., To chirp like a bird., To cheer; to enliven; as, to chirk one up., Lively; cheerful; in good spirits. |
| chirm | verb i. | To chirp or to make a mournful cry, as a bird., Clamor, or confused noise; buzzing. |
| chirp | verb i. | To make a shop, sharp, cheerful, as of small birds or crickets., A short, sharp note, as of a bird or insect. |
| chive | noun | A filament of a stamen., A perennial plant (Allium Schoenoprasum), allied to the onion. The young leaves are used in omelets, etc. |
| chivy | verb t. | To goad, drive, hunt, throw, or pitch. |
| choak | verb t. & i. | See Choke. |
| chock | verb t. | To stop or fasten, as with a wedge, or block; to scotch; as, to chock a wheel or cask., To fill up, as a cavity., A wedge, or block made to fit in any space which it is desired to fill, esp. something to steady a cask or other body, or prevent it from moving, by fitting into the space around or beneath it., A heavy casting of metal, usually fixed near the gunwale. It has two short horn-shaped arms curving inward, between which ropes or hawsers may pass for towing, mooring, etc., Entirely; quite; as, chock home; chock aft., To encounter., An encounter. |
| chode | the old imp. of chide. See Chide. | |
| choir | noun | A band or organized company of singers, especially in church service., That part of a church appropriated to the singers., The chancel. |
| choke | verb t. | To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle., To obstruct by filling up or clogging any passage; to block up., To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to stifle., To affect with a sense of strangulation by passion or strong feeling., To make a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel of a shotgun., To have the windpipe stopped; to have a spasm of the throat, caused by stoppage or irritation of the windpipe; to be strangled., To be checked, as if by choking; to stick., A stoppage or irritation of the windpipe, producing the feeling of strangulation., The tied end of a cartridge., A constriction in the bore of a shotgun, case of a rocket, etc. |
| chomp | verb i. | To chew loudly and greedily; to champ. |
| chose | imp. | of Choose, of Choose, A thing; personal property., imp. & p. p. of Choose. |
| chops | noun pl. | The jaws; also, the fleshy parts about the mouth., The sides or capes at the mouth of a river, channel, harbor, or bay; as, the chops of the English Channel. |
| chord | noun | The string of a musical instrument., A combination of tones simultaneously performed, producing more or less perfect harmony, as, the common chord., A right line uniting the extremities of the arc of a circle or curve., A cord. See Cord, n., 4., The upper or lower part of a truss, usually horizontal, resisting compression or tension., To provide with musical chords or strings; to string; to tune., To accord; to harmonize together; as, this note chords with that. |
| chore | noun | A small job; in the pl., the regular or daily light work of a household or farm, either within or without doors., To do chores., A choir or chorus. |
| chout | noun | An assessment equal to a fourth part of the revenue. |
| chuck | verb i. | To make a noise resembling that of a hen when she calls her chickens; to cluck., To chuckle; to laugh., To call, as a hen her chickens., The chuck or call of a hen., A sudden, small noise., A word of endearment; — corrupted from chick., To strike gently; to give a gentle blow to., To toss or throw smartly out of the hand; to pitch., To place in a chuck, or hold by means of a chuck, as in turning; to bore or turn (a hole) in a revolving piece held in a chuck., A slight blow or pat under the chin., A short throw; a toss., A contrivance or machine fixed to the mandrel of a lathe, for holding a tool or the material to be operated upon., A small pebble; — called also chuckstone and chuckiestone., A game played with chucks, in which one or more are tossed up and caught; jackstones., A piece of the backbone of an animal, from between the neck and the collar bone, with the adjoining parts, cut for cooking; as, a chuck steak; a chuck roast. |
| chuet | noun | Minced meat. |
| chufa | noun | A sedgelike plant (Cyperus esculentus) producing edible tubers, native about the Mediterranean, now cultivated in many regions; the earth almond. |
| chuff | noun | A coarse or stupid fellow., Stupid; churlish. |
| chump | noun | A short, thick, heavy piece of wood. |
| chunk | noun | A short, thick piece of anything. |
| churl | noun | A rustic; a countryman or laborer., A rough, surly, ill-bred man; a boor., A selfish miser; an illiberal person; a niggard., Churlish; rough; selfish. |
| churn | verb t. | A vessel in which milk or cream is stirred, beaten, or otherwise agitated (as by a plunging or revolving dasher) in order to separate the oily globules from the other parts, and obtain butter., To stir, beat, or agitate, as milk or cream in a churn, in order to make butter., To shake or agitate with violence., To perform the operation of churning. |
| chuse | verb t. | See Choose. |
| chute | noun | A framework, trough, or tube, upon or through which objects are made to slide from a higher to a lower level, or through which water passes to a wheel., See Shoot. |
| chyle | noun | A milky fluid containing the fatty matter of the food in a state of emulsion, or fine mechanical division; formed from chyme by the action of the intestinal juices. It is absorbed by the lacteals, and conveyed into the blood by the thoracic duct. |
| chyme | noun | The pulpy mass of semi-digested food in the small intestines just after its passage from the stomach. It is separated in the intestines into chyle and excrement. See Chyle. |
| cibol | noun | A perennial alliaceous plant (Allium fistulosum), sometimes called Welsh onion. Its fistular leaves areused in cookery. |
| cider | noun | The expressed juice of apples. It is used as a beverage, for making vinegar, and for other purposes. |
| cigar | noun | A small roll of tobacco, used for smoking. |
| cilia | noun pl. | The eyelashes., Small, generally microscopic, vibrating appendages lining certain organs, as the air passages of the higher animals, and in the lower animals often covering also the whole or a part of the exterior. They are also found on some vegetable organisms. In the Infusoria, and many larval forms, they are locomotive organs., Hairlike processes, commonly marginal and forming a fringe like the eyelash., Small, vibratory, swimming organs, somewhat resembling true cilia, as those of Ctenophora. |
| cimar | noun | See Simar. |
| cimex | noun | A genus of hemipterous insects of which the bedbug is the best known example. See Bedbug. |
| cimia | noun | See Cimbia. |
| cinch | noun | A strong saddle girth, as of canvas., A tight grip. |
| cippi | plural | of Cippus |
| cirri | noun pl. | See Cirrus., of Cirrus |
| cisco | noun | The Lake herring (Coregonus Artedi), valuable food fish of the Great Lakes of North America. The name is also applied to C. Hoyi, a related species of Lake Michigan. |
| cital | noun | Summons to appear, as before a judge., Citation; quotation |
| cited | imp. & past participle | of Cite |
| citer | noun | One who cites. |
| civet | noun | A substance, of the consistence of butter or honey, taken from glands in the anal pouch of the civet (Viverra civetta). It is of clear yellowish or brownish color, of a strong, musky odor, offensive when undiluted, but agreeable when a small portion is mixed with another substance. It is used as a perfume., The animal that produces civet (Viverra civetta); — called also civet cat. It is carnivorous, from two to three feet long, and of a brownish gray color, with transverse black bands and spots on the body and tail. It is a native of northern Africa and of Asia. The name is also applied to other species., To scent or perfume with civet. |
| civic | adjective | Relating to, or derived from, a city or citizen; relating to man as a member of society, or to civil affairs. |
| civil | adjective | Pertaining to a city or state, or to a citizen in his relations to his fellow citizens or to the state; within the city or state., Subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not barbarous; — said of the community., Performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to government; — said of an individual., Having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed to those of savages or rustics; polite; courteous; complaisant; affable., Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from military, ecclesiastical, or official state., Relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings. |
| cizar | verb i. | To clip with scissors. |
| clack | noun | To make a sudden, sharp noise, or a succesion of such noises, as by striking an object, or by collision of parts; to rattle; to click., To utter words rapidly and continually, or with abruptness; to let the tongue run., To cause to make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click., To utter rapidly and inconsiderately., A sharp, abrupt noise, or succession of noises, made by striking an object., Anything that causes a clacking noise, as the clapper of a mill, or a clack valve., Continual or importunate talk; prattle; prating. |
| claik | noun | See Clake., The bernicle goose; — called also clack goose. |
| claim | verb/. | To ask for, or seek to obtain, by virtue of authority, right, or supposed right; to challenge as a right; to demand as due., To proclaim., To call or name., To assert; to maintain., To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim., A demand of a right or supposed right; a calling on another for something due or supposed to be due; an assertion of a right or fact., A right to claim or demand something; a title to any debt, privilege, or other thing in possession of another; also, a title to anything which another should give or concede to, or confer on, the claimant., The thing claimed or demanded; that (as land) to which any one intends to establish a right; as a settler’s claim; a miner’s claim., A loud call. |
| clake | noun | Alt. of Claik |
| clamp | noun | Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together., An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its place or two parts are temporarily held together., A piece of wood placed across another, or inserted into another, to bind or strengthen., One of a pair of movable pieces of lead, or other soft material, to cover the jaws of a vise and enable it to grasp without bruising., A thick plank on the inner part of a ship’s side, used to sustain the ends of beams., A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal for coking., A mollusk. See Clam., To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in a clamp., To cover, as vegetables, with earth., A heavy footstep; a tramp., To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump. |
| clang | verb t. | To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound., To give out a clang; to resound., A loud, ringing sound, like that made by metallic substances when clanged or struck together., Quality of tone. |
| clank | noun | A sharp, brief, ringing sound, made by a collision of metallic or other sonorous bodies; — usually expressing a duller or less resounding sound than clang, and a deeper and stronger sound than clink., To cause to sound with a clank; as, the prisoners clank their chains., To sound with a clank. |
| clape | noun | A bird; the flicker. |
| claps | verb t. | Variant of Clasp |
| clare | noun | A nun of the order of St. Clare. |
| clart | verb t. | To daub, smear, or spread, as with mud, etc. |
| clary | verb i. | To make a loud or shrill noise., A plant (Salvia sclarea) of the Sage family, used in flavoring soups. |
| clash | verb i. | To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily together., To meet in opposition; to act in a contrary direction; to come onto collision; to interfere., To strike noisily against or together., A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of bodies; a collision., Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes, etc. |
| clasp | verb t. | To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp)., To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to embrace., To surround and cling to; to entwine about., An adjustable catch, bent plate, or hook, for holding together two objects or the parts of anything, as the ends of a belt, the covers of a book, etc., A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as with the hand. |
| class | noun | A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower classes., A number of students in a school or college, of the same standing, or pursuing the same studies., A comprehensive division of animate or inanimate objects, grouped together on account of their common characteristics, in any classification in natural science, and subdivided into orders, families, tribes, genera, etc., A set; a kind or description, species or variety., One of the sections into which a church or congregation is divided, and which is under the supervision of a class leader., To arrange in classes; to classify or refer to some class; as, to class words or passages., To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a class or classes., To grouped or classed. |
| clave | imp. of Cleave., of Cleave, of Cleave | |
| clavy | noun | A mantelpiece. |
| clean | superl. | Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes., Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber., Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, aclean trick; a clean leap over a fence., Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style., Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire., Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure., Free from ceremonial defilement., Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy., Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs., Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely., Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously., To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse. |
| clear | superl. | Free from opaqueness; transparent; bright; light; luminous; unclouded., Free from ambiguity or indistinctness; lucid; perspicuous; plain; evident; manifest; indubitable., Able to perceive clearly; keen; acute; penetrating; discriminating; as, a clear intellect; a clear head., Not clouded with passion; serene; cheerful., Easily or distinctly heard; audible; canorous., Without mixture; entirely pure; as, clear sand., Without defect or blemish, such as freckles or knots; as, a clear complexion; clear lumber., Free from guilt or stain; unblemished., Without diminution; in full; net; as, clear profit., Free from impediment or obstruction; unobstructed; as, a clear view; to keep clear of debt., Free from embarrassment; detention, etc., Full extent; distance between extreme limits; especially; the distance between the nearest surfaces of two bodies, or the space between walls; as, a room ten feet square in the clear., In a clear manner; plainly., Without limitation; wholly; quite; entirely; as, to cut a piece clear off., To render bright, transparent, or undimmed; to free from clouds., To free from impurities; to clarify; to cleanse., To free from obscurity or ambiguity; to relive of perplexity; to make perspicuous., To render more quick or acute, as the understanding; to make perspicacious., To free from impediment or incumbrance, from defilement, or from anything injurious, useless, or offensive; as, to clear land of trees or brushwood, or from stones; to clear the sight or the voice; to clear one’s self from debt; — often used with of, off, away, or out., To free from the imputation of guilt; to justify, vindicate, or acquit; — often used with from before the thing imputed., To leap or pass by, or over, without touching or failure; as, to clear a hedge; to clear a reef., To gain without deduction; to net., To become free from clouds or fog; to become fair; — often followed by up, off, or away., To disengage one’s self from incumbrances, distress, or entanglements; to become free., To make exchanges of checks and bills, and settle balances, as is done in a clearing house., To obtain a clearance; as, the steamer cleared for Liverpool to-day. |
| cleat | noun | A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc., A device made of wood or metal, having two arms, around which turns may be taken with a line or rope so as to hold securely and yet be readily released. It is bolted by the middle to a deck or mast, etc., or it may be lashed to a rope., To strengthen with a cleat. |
| cleft | imp. | of Cleave, of Cleave, imp. & p. p. from Cleave., Divided; split; partly divided or split., Incised nearly to the midrib; as, a cleft leaf., A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the cleft of a rock., A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood., A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern. |
| clove | of Cleave, Cleft., A cleft; a gap; a ravine; — rarely used except as part of a proper name; as, Kaaterskill Clove; Stone Clove., A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the clove tree (Eugenia, / Caryophullus, aromatica), a native of the Molucca Isles., One of the small bulbs developed in the axils of the scales of a large bulb, as in the case of garlic., A weight. A clove of cheese is about eight pounds, of wool, about seven pounds. | |
| clepe | verb t. | To call, or name., To make appeal; to cry out. |
| clerk | noun | A clergyman or ecclesiastic., A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of letters., A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in it., One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant; as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk., An assistant in a shop or store. |
| click | verb i. | To make a slight, sharp noise (or a succession of such noises), as by gentle striking; to tick., To move with the sound of a click., To cause to make a clicking noise, as by striking together, or against something., A slight sharp noise, such as is made by the cocking of a pistol., A kind of articulation used by the natives of Southern Africa, consisting in a sudden withdrawal of the end or some other portion of the tongue from a part of the mouth with which it is in contact, whereby a sharp, clicking sound is produced. The sounds are four in number, and are called cerebral, palatal, dental, and lateral clicks or clucks, the latter being the noise ordinarily used in urging a horse forward., To snatch., A detent, pawl, or ratchet, as that which catches the cogs of a ratchet wheel to prevent backward motion. See Illust. of Ratched wheel., The latch of a door. |
| cliff | noun | A high, steep rock; a precipice., See Clef. |
| clift | noun | A cliff., A cleft of crack; a narrow opening., The fork of the legs; the crotch. |
| clomb | of Climb, Alt. of Clomben | |
| climb | verb i. | To ascend or mount laboriously, esp. by use of the hands and feet., To ascend as if with effort; to rise to a higher point., To ascend or creep upward by twining about a support, or by attaching itself by tendrils, rootlets, etc., to a support or upright surface., To ascend, as by means of the hands and feet, or laboriously or slowly; to mount., The act of one who climbs; ascent by climbing. |
| clime | noun | A climate; a tract or region of the earth. See Climate. |
| clung | imp. & past participle | of Cling, imp. & p. p. of Cling., Wasted away; shrunken. |
| clong | of Cling, imp. of Cling. | |
| cling | verb i. | To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by twining round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its support; — usually followed by to or together., To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embracing., To make to dry up or wither., Adherence; attachment; devotion. |
| clink | verb i. | To cause to give out a slight, sharp, tinkling, sound, as by striking metallic or other sonorous bodies together., To give out a slight, sharp, tinkling sound., To rhyme. [Humorous]., A slight, sharp, tinkling sound, made by the collision of sonorous bodies. |
| cloak | noun | A loose outer garment, extending from the neck downwards, and commonly without sleeves. It is longer than a cape, and is worn both by men and by women., That which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a fair pretense; a mask; a cover., To cover with, or as with, a cloak; hence, to hide or conceal. |
| clock | noun | A machine for measuring time, indicating the hour and other divisions by means of hands moving on a dial plate. Its works are moved by a weight or a spring, and it is often so constructed as to tell the hour by the stroke of a hammer on a bell. It is not adapted, like the watch, to be carried on the person., A watch, esp. one that strikes., The striking of a clock., A figure or figured work on the ankle or side of a stocking., To ornament with figured work, as the side of a stocking., To call, as a hen. See Cluck., A large beetle, esp. the European dung beetle (Scarabaeus stercorarius). |
| cloff | noun | Formerly an allowance of two pounds in every three hundred weight after the tare and tret are subtracted; now used only in a general sense, of small deductions from the original weight. |
| cloke | noun & verb | See Cloak. |
| clomp | noun | See Clamp. |
| cloom | verb t. | To close with glutinous matter. |
| cloop | noun | The sound made when a cork is forcibly drawn from a bottle. |
| close | noun | To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, to close the eyes; to close a door., To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, to close the ranks of an army; — often used with up., To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish; to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of instruction., To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine., To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound, or parts separated., To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at six o’clock., To grapple; to engage in hand-to-hand fight., The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction., Conclusion; cessation; ending; end., A grapple in wrestling., The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence., A double bar marking the end., An inclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; — specifically, the precinct of a cathedral or abbey., A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses within., The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even though it is not inclosed., Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box., Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters., Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of lassitude; — said of the air, weather, etc., Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close prisoner., Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden., Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent., Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to liquids., Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning., Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; — often followed by to., Short; as, to cut grass or hair close., Intimate; familiar; confidential., Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote., Difficult to obtain; as, money is close., Parsimonious; stingy., Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, a close translation., Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict; not wandering; as, a close observer., Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; — opposed to open., In a close manner., Secretly; darkly. |
| closh | noun | A disease in the feet of cattle; laminitis., The game of ninepins. |
| clote | noun | The common burdock; the clotbur. |
| cloth | noun | A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in wire cloth); commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen, adapted to be made into garments; specifically, woolen fabrics, as distinguished from all others., The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See Clothes., The distinctive dress of any profession, especially of the clergy; hence, the clerical profession. |
| cloud | noun | A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles, suspended in the upper atmosphere., A mass or volume of smoke, or flying dust, resembling vapor., A dark vein or spot on a lighter material, as in marble; hence, a blemish or defect; as, a cloud upon one’s reputation; a cloud on a title., That which has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect; that which temporarily overshadows, obscures, or depresses; as, a cloud of sorrow; a cloud of war; a cloud upon the intellect., A great crowd or multitude; a vast collection., A large, loosely-knitted scarf, worn by women about the head., To overspread or hide with a cloud or clouds; as, the sky is clouded., To darken or obscure, as if by hiding or enveloping with a cloud; hence, to render gloomy or sullen., To blacken; to sully; to stain; to tarnish; to damage; — esp. used of reputation or character., To mark with, or darken in, veins or sports; to variegate with colors; as, to cloud yarn., To grow cloudy; to become obscure with clouds; — often used with up. |
| clout | noun | A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag., A swadding cloth., A piece; a fragment., The center of the butt at which archers shoot; — probably once a piece of white cloth or a nail head., An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from wearing; a washer., A blow with the hand., To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage; patch, or mend, with a clout., To join or patch clumsily., To quard with an iron plate, as an axletree., To give a blow to; to strike., To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole. |
| clown | noun | A man of coarse nature and manners; an awkward fellow; an ill-bred person; a boor., One who works upon the soil; a rustic; a churl., The fool or buffoon in a play, circus, etc., To act as a clown; — with it. |
| cluck | verb i. | To make the noise, or utter the call, of a brooding hen., To call together, or call to follow, as a hen does her chickens., The call of a hen to her chickens., A click. See 3d Click, 2. |
| clump | noun | An unshaped piece or mass of wood or other substance., A cluster; a group; a thicket., The compressed clay of coal strata., To arrange in a clump or clumps; to cluster; to group., To tread clumsily; to clamp. |
| cnida | noun | One of the peculiar stinging, cells found in Coelenterata; a nematocyst; a lasso cell. |
| coach | noun | A large, closed, four-wheeled carriage, having doors in the sides, and generally a front and back seat inside, each for two persons, and an elevated outside seat in front for the driver., A special tutor who assists in preparing a student for examination; a trainer; esp. one who trains a boat’s crew for a race., A cabin on the after part of the quarter-deck, usually occupied by the captain., A first-class passenger car, as distinguished from a drawing-room car, sleeping car, etc. It is sometimes loosely applied to any passenger car., To convey in a coach., To prepare for public examination by private instruction; to train by special instruction., To drive or to ride in a coach; — sometimes used with |
| coact | verb t. | To force; to compel; to drive., To act together; to work in concert; to unite. |
| coaly | noun | Pertaining to, or resembling, coal; containing coal; of the nature of coal. |
| coast | verb t. | The side of a thing., The exterior line, limit, or border of a country; frontier border., The seashore, or land near it., To draw or keep near; to approach., To sail by or near the shore., To sail from port to port in the same country., To slide down hill; to slide on a sled, upon snow or ice., To draw near to; to approach; to keep near, or by the side of., To sail by or near; to follow the coast line of., To conduct along a coast or river bank. |
| coati | noun | A mammal of tropical America of the genus Nasua, allied to the raccoon, but with a longer body, tail, and nose. |
| cobby | noun | Headstrong; obstinate., Stout; hearty; lively. |
| cobia | noun | An oceanic fish of large size (Elacate canada); the crabeater; — called also bonito, cubbyyew, coalfish, and sergeant fish. |
| coble | noun | A flat-floored fishing boat with a lug sail, and a drop rudder extending from two to four feet below the keel. It was originally used on the stormy coast of Yorkshire, England. |
| cobra | noun | See Copra., The cobra de capello. |
| cocci | plural | of Coccus |
| cocky | adjective | Pert. |
| cocoa | Alt. of Cocoa palm, A preparation made from the seeds of the chocolate tree, and used in making, a beverage; also the beverage made from cocoa or cocoa shells. | |
| codex | noun | A book; a manuscript., A collection or digest of laws; a code., An ancient manuscript of the Sacred Scriptures, or any part of them, particularly the New Testament., A collection of canons. |
| codle | verb t. | See Coddle. |
| cogue | noun | A small wooden vessel; a pail. |
| cokes | noun | A simpleton; a gull; a dupe. |
| colet | Alt. of Collet | |
| colic | noun | A severe paroxysmal pain in the abdomen, due to spasm, obstruction, or distention of some one of the hollow viscera., Of or pertaining to colic; affecting the bowels., Of or pertaining to the colon; as, the colic arteries. |
| colin | noun | The American quail or bobwhite. The name is also applied to other related species. See Bobwhite. |
| colla | plural | of Collum |
| colly | noun | The black grime or soot of coal., To render black or dark, as of with coal smut; to begrime., A kind of dog. See Collie. |
| colon | noun | That part of the large intestines which extends from the caecum to the rectum. [See Illust of Digestion.], A point or character, formed thus [:], used to separate parts of a sentence that are complete in themselves and nearly independent, often taking the place of a conjunction. |
| color | noun | A property depending on the relations of light to the eye, by which individual and specific differences in the hues and tints of objects are apprehended in vision; as, gay colors; sad colors, etc., Any hue distinguished from white or black., The hue or color characteristic of good health and spirits; ruddy complexion., That which is used to give color; a paint; a pigment; as, oil colors or water colors., That which covers or hides the real character of anything; semblance; excuse; disguise; appearance., Shade or variety of character; kind; species., A distinguishing badge, as a flag or similar symbol (usually in the plural); as, the colors or color of a ship or regiment; the colors of a race horse (that is, of the cap and jacket worn by the jockey)., An apparent right; as where the defendant in trespass gave to the plaintiff an appearance of title, by stating his title specially, thus removing the cause from the jury to the court., To change or alter the hue or tint of, by dyeing, staining, painting, etc.; to dye; to tinge; to paint; to stain., To change or alter, as if by dyeing or painting; to give a false appearance to; usually, to give a specious appearance to; to cause to appear attractive; to make plausible; to palliate or excuse; as, the facts were colored by his prejudices., To hide., To acquire color; to turn red, especially in the face; to blush. |
| colza | noun | A variety of cabbage (Brassica oleracea), cultivated for its seeds, which yield an oil valued for illuminating and lubricating purposes; summer rape. |
| combe | noun | That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it., See Comb. |
| comer | noun | One who comes, or who has come; one who has arrived, and is present. |
| comes | noun | The answer to the theme (dux) in a fugue. |
| comet | noun | A member of the solar system which usually moves in an elongated orbit, approaching very near to the sun in its perihelion, and receding to a very great distance from it at its aphelion. A comet commonly consists of three parts: the nucleus, the envelope, or coma, and the tail; but one or more of these parts is frequently wanting. See Illustration in Appendix. |
| comic | adjective | Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy., Causing mirth; ludicrous., A comedian. |
| comma | noun | A character or point [,] marking the smallest divisions of a sentence, written or printed., A small interval (the difference between a major and minor half step), seldom used except by tuners. |
| compt | noun | Account; reckoning; computation., To compute; to count., Neat; spruce. |
| conch | noun | A name applied to various marine univalve shells; esp. to those of the genus Strombus, which are of large size. S. gigas is the large pink West Indian conch. The large king, queen, and cameo conchs are of the genus Cassis. See Cameo., In works of art, the shell used by Tritons as a trumpet., One of the white natives of the Bahama Islands or one of their descendants in the Florida Keys; — so called from the commonness of the conch there, or because they use it for food., See Concha, n., The external ear. See Concha, n., 2. |
| coney | noun | A rabbit. See Cony., A fish. See Cony. |
| conge | noun | The act of taking leave; parting ceremony; farewell; also, dismissal., The customary act of civility on any occasion; a bow or a courtesy., An apophyge., To take leave with the customary civilities; to bow or courtesy. |
| congo | noun | Black tea, of higher grade (finer leaf and less dusty) than the present bohea. See Tea. |
| conia | noun | Same as Conine. |
| conic | adjective | Alt. of Conical, A conic section. |
| conny | adjective | Brave; fine; canny. |
| conus | noun | A cone., A Linnean genus of mollusks having a conical shell. See Cone, n., 4. |
| cooed | imp. & past participle | of Coo |
| cooey | noun | Alt. of Cooee |
| cooee | noun | A peculiar whistling sound made by the Australian aborigenes as a call or signal. |
| cooky | noun | A small, flat, sweetened cake of various kinds. |
| cooly | noun | Alt. of Coolie |
| coomb | noun | A dry measure of four bushels, or half a quarter., Alt. of Coombe |
| coopt | verb t. | To choose or elect in concert with another. |
| copal | A resinous substance flowing spontaneously from trees of Zanzibar, Madagascar, and South America (Trachylobium Hornemannianum, T. verrucosum, and Hymenaea Courbaril), and dug from earth where forests have stood in Africa; — used chiefly in making varnishes. | |
| coped | imp. & past participle | of Cope, Clad in a cope. |
| copps | noun | See Copse. |
| copra | noun | The dried meat of the cocoanut, from which cocoanut oil is expressed. |
| copse | noun | A wood of small growth; a thicket of brushwood. See Coppice., To trim or cut; — said of small trees, brushwood, tufts of grass, etc., To plant and preserve, as a copse. |
| copsy | adjective | Characterized by copses. |
| copts | noun pl. | An Egyptian race thought to be descendants of the ancient Egyptians., The principal sect of Christians in Egypt and the valley of the Nile. |
| coral | noun | The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa., The ovaries of a cooked lobster; — so called from their color., A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other appurtenances, used by children as a plaything. |
| corbe | adjective | Crooked. |
| corby | noun | The raven., A raven, crow, or chough, used as a charge. |
| corer | noun | That which cores; an instrument for coring fruit; as, an apple corer. |
| corky | adjective | Consisting of, or like, cork; dry shriveled up., Tasting of cork. |
| cornu | noun | A horn, or anything shaped like or resembling a horn. |
| corny | adjective | Strong, stiff, or hard, like a horn; resembling horn., Producing corn or grain; furnished with grains of corn., Containing corn; tasting well of malt., Tipsy. |
| corol | noun | A corolla. |
| corps | noun sing. & pl. | The human body, whether living or dead., A body of men; esp., an organized division of the military establishment; as, the marine corps; the corps of topographical engineers; specifically, an army corps., A body or code of laws., The land with which a prebend or other ecclesiastical office is endowed. |
| corse | noun | A living body or its bulk., A corpse; the dead body of a human being. |
| corve | noun | See Corf. |
| cosen | verb t. | See Cozen. |
| cosey | adjective | See Cozy. |
| costa | noun | A rib of an animal or a human being., A rib or vein of a leaf, especially the midrib., The anterior rib in the wing of an insect., One of the riblike longitudinal ridges on the exterior of many corals. |
| couch | verb t. | To lay upon a bed or other resting place., To arrange or dispose as in a bed; — sometimes followed by the reflexive pronoun., To lay or deposit in a bed or layer; to bed., To transfer (as sheets of partly dried pulp) from the wire cloth mold to a felt blanket, for further drying., To conceal; to include or involve darkly., To arrange; to place; to inlay., To put into some form of language; to express; to phrase; — used with in and under., To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a needle; as, to couch a cataract., To lie down or recline, as on a bed or other place of rest; to repose; to lie., To lie down for concealment; to hide; to be concealed; to be included or involved darkly., To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to crouch., A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United States, a lounge., Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc., A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in malting; or the floor occupied by the barley; as, couch of malt., A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc. |
| cough | verb i. | To expel air, or obstructing or irritating matter, from the lungs or air passages, in a noisy and violent manner., To expel from the lungs or air passages by coughing; — followed by up; as, to cough up phlegm., To bring to a specified state by coughing; as, he coughed himself hoarse., A sudden, noisy, and violent expulsion of air from the chest, caused by irritation in the air passages, or by the reflex action of nervous or gastric disorder, etc., The more or less frequent repetition of coughing, constituting a symptom of disease. |
| count | verb t. | To tell or name one by one, or by groups, for the purpose of ascertaining the whole number of units in a collection; to number; to enumerate; to compute; to reckon., To place to an account; to ascribe or impute; to consider or esteem as belonging., To esteem; to account; to reckon; to think, judge, or consider., To number or be counted; to possess value or carry weight; hence, to increase or add to the strength or influence of some party or interest; as, every vote counts; accidents count for nothing., To reckon; to rely; to depend; — with on or upon., To take account or note; — with, To plead orally; to argue a matter in court; to recite a count., The act of numbering; reckoning; also, the number ascertained by counting., An object of interest or account; value; estimation., A formal statement of the plaintiff’s case in court; in a more technical and correct sense, a particular allegation or charge in a declaration or indictment, separately setting forth the cause of action or prosecution., A nobleman on the continent of Europe, equal in rank to an English earl. |
| coupe | noun | The front compartment of a French diligence; also, the front compartment (usually for three persons) of a car or carriage on British railways., A four-wheeled close carriage for two persons inside, with an outside seat for the driver; — so called because giving the appearance of a larger carriage cut off. |
| courb | adjective | Curved; rounded., To bend; to stop; to bow. |
| court | noun | An inclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different building; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley., The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or ether dignitary; a palace., The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state., Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign; as, to hold a court., Attention directed to a person in power; conduct or address designed to gain favor; courtliness of manners; civility; compliment; flattery., The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered., The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of causes., A tribunal established for the administration of justice., The judge or judges; as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both., The session of a judicial assembly., Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical., A place arranged for playing the game of tennis; also, one of the divisions of a tennis court., To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try to ingratiate one’s self with., To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to woo., To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek., To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract., To play the lover; to woo; as, to go courting. |
| couth | imp. & past participle | Could; was able; knew or known; understood. |
| coved | imp. & past participle | of Cove |
| cover | verb t. | To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth., To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak., To invest (one’s self with something); to bring upon (one’s self); as, he covered himself with glory., To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the enemy were covered from our sight by the woods., To brood or sit on; to incubate., To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat., To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit., To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses., To put the usual covering or headdress on., To copulate with (a female); to serve; as, a horse covers a mare; — said of the male., Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over, another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book., Anything which veils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloak., Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the batteries; the woods afforded a good cover., The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game; covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover., The lap of a slide valve., A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid for fifty guests., To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. |
| covet | verb t. | To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of; — used in a good sense., To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something forbidden)., To have or indulge inordinate desire. |
| covey | noun | A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young; hence, a small flock or number of birds together; — said of game; as, a covey of partridges., A company; a bevy; as, a covey of girls., To brood; to incubate., A pantry. |
| covin | noun | A collusive agreement between two or more persons to prejudice a third., Deceit; fraud; artifice. |
| cowed | imp. & past participle | of Cow |
| cowan | noun | One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. |
| cower | verb i. | To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to quail; to sink through fear., To cherish with care. |
| cowry | noun | A marine shell of the genus Cypraea. |
| coyed | imp. & past participle | of Coy |
| coyly | adverb | In a coy manner; with reserve. |
| coypu | noun | A South American rodent (Myopotamus coypus), allied to the beaver. It produces a valuable fur called nutria. |
| cozen | verb t. | To cheat; to defraud; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small arts, or in a pitiful way., To deceive; to cheat; to act deceitfully. |
| crack | verb t. | To break or burst, with or without entire separation of the parts; as, to crack glass; to crack nuts., To rend with grief or pain; to affect deeply with sorrow; hence, to disorder; to distract; to craze., To cause to sound suddenly and sharply; to snap; as, to crack a whip., To utter smartly and sententiously; as, to crack a joke., To cry up; to extol; — followed by up., To burst or open in chinks; to break, with or without quite separating into parts., To be ruined or impaired; to fail., To utter a loud or sharp, sudden sound., To utter vain, pompous words; to brag; to boast; — with of., A partial separation of parts, with or without a perceptible opening; a chink or fissure; a narrow breach; a crevice; as, a crack in timber, or in a wall, or in glass., Rupture; flaw; breach, in a moral sense., A sharp, sudden sound or report; the sound of anything suddenly burst or broken; as, the crack of a falling house; the crack of thunder; the crack of a whip., The tone of voice when changed at puberty., Mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity; as, he has a crack., A crazy or crack-brained person., A boast; boasting., Breach of chastity., A boy, generally a pert, lively boy., A brief time; an instant; as, to be with one in a crack., Free conversation; friendly chat., Of superior excellence; having qualities to be boasted of. |
| craft | noun | Strength; might; secret power., Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence, the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade., Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the craft of ironmongers., Cunning, art, or skill, in a bad sense, or applied to bad purposes; artifice; guile; skill or dexterity employed to effect purposes by deceit or shrewd devices., A vessel; vessels of any kind; — generally used in a collective sense., To play tricks; to practice artifice. |
| craie | noun | See Crare. |
| crail | noun | A creel or osier basket. |
| crake | verb t. & i. | To cry out harshly and loudly, like the bird called crake., To boast; to speak loudly and boastfully., A boast. See Crack, n., Any species or rail of the genera Crex and Porzana; — so called from its singular cry. See Corncrake. |
| cramp | noun | That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shackle; a hindrance., A device, usually of iron bent at the ends, used to hold together blocks of stone, timbers, etc.; a cramp iron., A rectangular frame, with a tightening screw, used for compressing the joints of framework, etc., A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched to give it the requisite shape., A spasmodic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscles, as of the leg., To compress; to restrain from free action; to confine and contract; to hinder., To fasten or hold with, or as with, a cramp., to bind together; to unite., To form on a cramp; as, to cramp boot legs., To afflict with cramp., Knotty; difficult. |
| crane | noun | A measure for fresh herrings, — as many as will fill a barrel., A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck., A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle, windlass, etc.; — so called from a fancied similarity between its arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. of Derrick., An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire., A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask., A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., — generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2., To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; — with up., To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck disdainfully., to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better; as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap. |
| crang | noun | See Krang. |
| crank | noun | A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank., Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage., A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the form or meaning of a word., A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit of temper or passion., A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to a particular matter., A sick person; an invalid., Sick; infirm., Liable to careen or be overset, as a ship when she is too narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to carry full sail., Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident; opinionated., To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and turn. |
| crape | noun | A thin, crimped stuff, made of raw silk gummed and twisted on the mill. Black crape is much used for mourning garments, also for the dress of some clergymen., To form into ringlets; to curl; to crimp; to friz; as, to crape the hair; to crape silk. |
| craps | noun | A gambling game with dice. |
| crapy | adjective | Resembling crape. |
| crare | noun | A slow unwieldy trading vessel. |
| crase | verb t. | To break in pieces; to crack. |
| crash | verb t. | To break in pieces violently; to dash together with noise and violence., To make a loud, clattering sound, as of many things falling and breaking at once; to break in pieces with a harsh noise., To break with violence and noise; as, the chimney in falling crashed through the roof., A loud, sudden, confused sound, as of many things falling and breaking at once., Ruin; failure; sudden breaking down, as of a business house or a commercial enterprise., Coarse, heavy, narrow linen cloth, used esp. for towels. |
| crass | adjective | Gross; thick; dense; coarse; not elaborated or refined. |
| crate | noun | A large basket or hamper of wickerwork, used for the transportation of china, crockery, and similar wares., A box or case whose sides are of wooden slats with interspaces, — used especially for transporting fruit., To pack in a crate or case for transportation; as, to crate a sewing machine; to crate peaches. |
| crave | verb t. | To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore., To call for, as a gratification; to long for; hence, to require or demand; as, the stomach craves food., To desire strongly; to feel an insatiable longing; as, a craving appetite. |
| crawl | verb i. | To move slowly by drawing the body along the ground, as a worm; to move slowly on hands and knees; to creep., to move or advance in a feeble, slow, or timorous manner., To advance slowly and furtively; to insinuate one’s self; to advance or gain influence by servile or obsequious conduct., To have a sensation as of insect creeping over the body; as, the flesh crawls. See Creep, v. i., 7., The act or motion of crawling; slow motion, as of a creeping animal., A pen or inclosure of stakes and hurdles on the seacoast, for holding fish. |
| craze | verb t. | To break into pieces; to crush; to grind to powder. See Crase., To weaken; to impair; to render decrepit., To derange the intellect of; to render insane., To be crazed, or to act or appear as one that is crazed; to rave; to become insane., To crack, as the glazing of porcelain or pottery., Craziness; insanity., A strong habitual desire or fancy; a crotchet., A temporary passion or infatuation, as for same new amusement, pursuit, or fashion; as, the bric-a-brac craze; the aesthetic craze. |
| crazy | adjective | Characterized by weakness or feebleness; decrepit; broken; falling to decay; shaky; unsafe., Broken, weakened, or dissordered in intellect; shattered; demented; deranged., Inordinately desirous; foolishly eager. |
| creak | verb i. | To make a prolonged sharp grating or squeaking sound, as by the friction of hard substances; as, shoes creak., To produce a creaking sound with., The sound produced by anything that creaks; a creaking. |
| cream | noun | The rich, oily, and yellowish part of milk, which, when the milk stands unagitated, rises, and collects on the surface. It is the part of milk from which butter is obtained., The part of any liquor that rises, and collects on the surface., A delicacy of several kinds prepared for the table from cream, etc., or so as to resemble cream., A cosmetic; a creamlike medicinal preparation., The best or choicest part of a thing; the quintessence; as, the cream of a jest or story; the cream of a collection of books or pictures., To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream., To take off the best or choicest part of., To furnish with, or as with, cream., To form or become covered with cream; to become thick like cream; to assume the appearance of cream; hence, to grow stiff or formal; to mantle. |
| creat | noun | An usher to a riding master. |
| credo | noun | The creed, as sung or read in the Roman Catholic church. |
| creed | verb t. | A definite summary of what is believed; esp., a summary of the articles of Christian faith; a confession of faith for public use; esp., one which is brief and comprehensive., Any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to., To believe; to credit. |
| creek | noun | A small inlet or bay, narrower and extending further into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river., A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than a brook., Any turn or winding. |
| creel | noun | An osier basket, such as anglers use., A bar or set of bars with skewers for holding paying-off bobbins, as in the roving machine, throstle, and mule. |
| crept | imp. | of Creep, of Creep, imp. & p. p. of Creep. |
| crope | of Creep | |
| creep | verb t. | To move along the ground, or on any other surface, on the belly, as a worm or reptile; to move as a child on the hands and knees; to crawl., To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness, fear, or weakness., To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or one’s self; as, age creeps upon us., To slip, or to become slightly displaced; as, the collodion on a negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying; the quicksilver on a mirror may creep., To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn; as, a creeping sycophant., To grow, as a vine, clinging to the ground or to some other support by means of roots or rootlets, or by tendrils, along its length., To have a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin of the body; to crawl; as, the sight made my flesh creep. See Crawl, v. i., 4., To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable., The act or process of creeping., A distressing sensation, or sound, like that occasioned by the creeping of insects., A slow rising of the floor of a gallery, occasioned by the pressure of incumbent strata upon the pillars or sides; a gradual movement of mining ground. |
| crees | noun pl. | An Algonquin tribe of Indians, inhabiting a large part of British America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of Hudson’s Bay. |
| crems | noun | See Krems. |
| crepe | noun | Same as Crape. |
| cress | noun | A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic. |
| crest | noun | A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on an animal’s head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc., The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the wearer; hence, also, the helmet., A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a relic of the ancient cognizance. See Cognizance, 4., The upper curve of a horse’s neck., The ridge or top of a wave., The summit of a hill or mountain ridge., The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage., The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc., The top line of a slope or embankment., To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for., To mark with lines or streaks, like, or regarded as like, waving plumes., To form a crest. |
| crete | noun | A Cretan |
| creux | noun | Used in English only in the expression en creux. Thus, engraving en creux is engraving in intaglio, or by sinking or hollowing out the design. |
| crick | noun | The creaking of a door, or a noise resembling it., A painful, spasmodic affection of the muscles of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, rendering it difficult to move the part., A small jackscrew. |
| cried | imp. & p. p. of Cry., of Cry | |
| crier | noun | One who cries; one who makes proclamation., an officer who proclaims the orders or directions of a court, or who gives public notice by loud proclamation; as, a town-crier. |
| crime | noun | Any violation of law, either divine or human; an omission of a duty commanded, or the commission of an act forbidden by law., Gross violation of human law, in distinction from a misdemeanor or trespass, or other slight offense. Hence, also, any aggravated offense against morality or the public welfare; any outrage or great wrong., Any great wickedness or sin; iniquity., That which occasion crime. |
| crimp | verb t. | To fold or plait in regular undulation in such a way that the material will retain the shape intended; to give a wavy appearance to; as, to crimp the border of a cap; to crimp a ruffle. Cf. Crisp., To pinch and hold; to seize., to entrap into the military or naval service; as, to crimp seamen., To cause to contract, or to render more crisp, as the flesh of a fish, by gashing it, when living, with a knife; as, to crimp skate, etc., Easily crumbled; friable; brittle., Weak; inconsistent; contradictory., A coal broker., One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval service., A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are entrapped and fleeced., Hair which has been crimped; — usually in pl., A game at cards. |
| crisp | adjective | Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair., Curled with the ripple of the water., Brittle; friable; in a condition to break with a short, sharp fracture; as, crisp snow., Possessing a certain degree of firmness and freshness; in a fresh, unwilted condition., Lively; sparking; effervescing., Brisk; crackling; cheerful; lively., To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to interweave, as the branches of trees., To cause to undulate irregularly, as crape or water; to wrinkle; to cause to ripple. Cf. Crimp., To make crisp or brittle, as in cooking., To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t., That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted pork; crackling. |
| crith | noun | The unit for estimating the weight of a/riform substances; — the weight of a liter of hydrogen at 0/ centigrade, and with a tension of 76 centimeters of mercury. It is 0.0896 of a gram, or 1.38274 grains. |
| croak | verb i. | To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat, as a frog, a raven, or a crow; hence, to make any hoarse, dismal sound., To complain; especially, to grumble; to forebode evil; to utter complaints or forebodings habitually., To utter in a low, hoarse voice; to announce by croaking; to forebode; as, to croak disaster., The coarse, harsh sound uttered by a frog or a raven, or a like sound. |
| croat | noun | A native of Croatia, in Austria; esp., one of the native Slavic race., An irregular soldier, generally from Croatia. |
| crock | noun | The loose black particles collected from combustion, as on pots and kettles, or in a chimney; soot; smut; also, coloring matter which rubs off from cloth., To soil by contact, as with soot, or with the coloring matter of badly dyed cloth., To give off crock or smut., A low stool., Any piece of crockery, especially of coarse earthenware; an earthen pot or pitcher., To lay up in a crock; as, to crock butter. |
| croft | noun | A small, inclosed field, adjoining a house; a small farm. |
| crois | noun | See Cross, n. |
| croma | noun | A quaver. |
| crone | noun | An old ewe., An old woman; — usually in contempt., An old man; especially, a man who talks and acts like an old woman. |
| crony | noun | A crone., An intimate companion; a familiar frend |
| crook | noun | A bend, turn, or curve; curvature; flexure., Any implement having a bent or crooked end., The staff used by a shepherd, the hook of which serves to hold a runaway sheep., A bishop’s staff of office. Cf. Pastoral staff., A pothook., An artifice; trick; tricky device; subterfuge., A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet, horn, etc., to change its pitch or key., A person given to fraudulent practices; an accomplice of thieves, forgers, etc., To turn from a straight line; to bend; to curve., To turn from the path of rectitude; to pervert; to misapply; to twist., To bend; to curve; to wind; to have a curvature. |
| croon | verb i. | To make a continuous hollow moan, as cattle do when in pain., To hum or sing in a low tone; to murmur softly., To sing in a low tone, as if to one’s self; to hum., To soothe by singing softly., A low, continued moan; a murmur., A low singing; a plain, artless melody. |
| crore | noun | Ten millions; as, a crore of rupees (which is nearly $5,000,000). |
| cross | noun | A gibbet, consisting of two pieces of timber placed transversely upon one another, in various forms, as a T, or +, with the horizontal piece below the upper end of the upright, or as an X. It was anciently used in the execution of criminals., The sign or mark of the cross, made with the finger, or in ink, etc., or actually represented in some material; the symbol of Christ’s death; the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity, of a Christian people, and of Christendom., Affiction regarded as a test of patience or virtue; trial; disappointment; opposition; misfortune., A piece of money stamped with the figure of a cross, also, that side of such a piece on which the cross is stamped; hence, money in general., An appendage or ornament or anything in the form of a cross; a badge or ornamental device of the general shape of a cross; hence, such an ornament, even when varying considerably from that form; thus, the Cross of the British Order of St. George and St. Michael consists of a central medallion with seven arms radiating from it., A monument in the form of a cross, or surmounted by a cross, set up in a public place; as, a market cross; a boundary cross; Charing Cross in London., A common heraldic bearing, of which there are many varieties. See the Illustration, above., The crosslike mark or symbol used instead of a signature by those unable to write., Church lands., A line drawn across or through another line., A mixing of breeds or stock, especially in cattle breeding; or the product of such intermixture; a hybrid of any kind., An instrument for laying of offsets perpendicular to the main course., A pipe-fitting with four branches the axes of which usually form’s right angle., Not parallel; lying or falling athwart; transverse; oblique; intersecting., Not accordant with what is wished or expected; interrupting; adverse; contrary; thwarting; perverse., Characterized by, or in a state of, peevishness, fretfulness, or ill humor; as, a cross man or woman., Made in an opposite direction, or an inverse relation; mutually inverse; interchanged; as, cross interrogatories; cross marriages, as when a brother and sister marry persons standing in the same relation to each other., Athwart; across., To put across or athwart; to cause to intersect; as, to cross the arms., To lay or draw something, as a line, across; as, to cross the letter t., To pass from one side to the other of; to pass or move over; to traverse; as, to cross a stream., To pass, as objects going in an opposite direction at the same time., To run counter to; to thwart; to obstruct; to hinder; to clash or interfere with., To interfere and cut off; to debar., To make the sign of the cross upon; — followed by the reflexive pronoun; as, he crossed himself., To cancel by marking crosses on or over, or drawing a line across; to erase; — usually with out, off, or over; as, to cross out a name., To cause to interbreed; — said of different stocks or races; to mix the breed of., To lie or be athwart., To move or pass from one side to the other, or from place to place; to make a transit; as, to cross from New York to Liverpool., To be inconsistent., To interbreed, as races; to mix distinct breeds. |
| croud | noun | See Crowd, a violin. |
| croup | noun | The hinder part or buttocks of certain quadrupeds, especially of a horse; hence, the place behind the saddle., An inflammatory affection of the larynx or trachea, accompanied by a hoarse, ringing cough and stridulous, difficult breathing; esp., such an affection when associated with the development of a false membrane in the air passages (also called membranous croup). See False croup, under False, and Diphtheria. |
| crout | noun | See Sourkrout. |
| crown | of Crow, p. p. of Crow., A wreath or garland, or any ornamental fillet encircling the head, especially as a reward of victory or mark of honorable distinction; hence, anything given on account of, or obtained by, faithful or successful effort; a reward., A royal headdress or cap of sovereignty, worn by emperors, kings, princes, etc., The person entitled to wear a regal or imperial crown; the sovereign; — with the definite article., Imperial or regal power or dominion; sovereignty., Anything which imparts beauty, splendor, honor, dignity, or finish., Highest state; acme; consummation; perfection., The topmost part of anything; the summit., The topmost part of the head (see Illust. of Bird.); that part of the head from which the hair descends toward the sides and back; also, the head or brain., The part of a hat above the brim., The part of a tooth which projects above the gum; also, the top or grinding surface of a tooth., The vertex or top of an arch; — applied generally to about one third of the curve, but in a pointed arch to the apex only., Same as Corona., That part of an anchor where the arms are joined to the shank., The rounding, or rounded part, of the deck from a level line., The bights formed by the several turns of a cable., The upper range of facets in a rose diamond., The dome of a furnace., The area inclosed between two concentric perimeters., A round spot shaved clean on the top of the head, as a mark of the clerical state; the tonsure., A size of writing paper. See under Paper., A coin stamped with the image of a crown; hence,a denomination of money; as, the English crown, a silver coin of the value of five shillings sterling, or a little more than $1.20; the Danish or Norwegian crown, a money of account, etc., worth nearly twenty-seven cents., An ornaments or decoration representing a crown; as, the paper is stamped with a crown., To cover, decorate, or invest with a crown; hence, to invest with royal dignity and power., To bestow something upon as a mark of honor, dignity, or recompense; to adorn; to dignify., To form the topmost or finishing part of; to complete; to consummate; to perfect., To cause to round upward; to make anything higher at the middle than at the edges, as the face of a machine pulley., To effect a lodgment upon, as upon the crest of the glacis, or the summit of the breach. | |
| crowd | verb t. | To push, to press, to shove., To press or drive together; to mass together., To fill by pressing or thronging together; hence, to encumber by excess of numbers or quantity., To press by solicitation; to urge; to dun; hence, to treat discourteously or unreasonably., To press together or collect in numbers; to swarm; to throng., To urge or press forward; to force one’s self; as, a man crowds into a room., A number of things collected or closely pressed together; also, a number of things adjacent to each other., A number of persons congregated or collected into a close body without order; a throng., The lower orders of people; the populace; the vulgar; the rabble; the mob., An ancient instrument of music with six strings; a kind of violin, being the oldest known stringed instrument played with a bow., To play on a crowd; to fiddle. |
| crows | noun pl. | A tribe of Indians of the Dakota stock, living in Montana; — also called Upsarokas. |
| croys | noun | See Cross, n. |
| croze | noun | A cooper’s tool for making the grooves for the heads of casks, etc.; also, the groove itself. |
| crude | superl. | In its natural state; not cooked or prepared by fire or heat; undressed; not altered, refined, or prepared for use by any artificial process; raw; as, crude flesh., Unripe; not mature or perfect; immature., Not reduced to order or form; unfinished; not arranged or prepared; ill-considered; immature., Undigested; unconcocted; not brought into a form to give nourishment., Having, or displaying, superficial and undigested knowledge; without culture or profundity; as, a crude reasoner., Harsh and offensive, as a color; tawdry or in bad taste, as a combination of colors, or any design or work of art. |
| crudy | adjective | Coagulated., Characterized by crudeness; raw. |
| cruel | noun | See Crewel., Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless., Causing, or fitted to cause, pain, grief, or misery., Attended with cruetly; painful; harsh. |
| cruet | noun | A bottle or vessel; esp., a vial or small glass bottle for holding vinegar, oil, pepper, or the like, for the table; a caster., A vessel used to hold wine, oil, or water for the service of the altar. |
| crull | adjective | Curly; curled. |
| crumb | noun | A small fragment or piece; especially, a small piece of bread or other food, broken or cut off., Fig.: A little; a bit; as, a crumb of comfort., The soft part of bread., To break into crumbs or small pieces with the fingers; as, to crumb bread. |
| crump | adjective | Crooked; bent., Hard or crusty; dry baked; as, a crump loaf. |
| crunk | verb i. | Alt. of Crunkle |
| cruor | noun | The coloring matter of the blood; the clotted portion of coagulated blood, containing the coloring matter; gore. |
| crura | noun pl. | See Crus., of Crus |
| cruse | noun | A cup or dish., A bottle for holding water, oil, honey, etc. |
| crush | verb t. | To press or bruise between two hard bodies; to squeeze, so as to destroy the natural shape or integrity of the parts, or to force together into a mass; as, to crush grapes., To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush quartz., To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to beat or force down, as by an incumbent weight., To oppress or burden grievously., To overcome completely; to subdue totally., To be or become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller compass, by external weight or force; as, an eggshell crushes easily., A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin., Violent pressure, as of a crowd; a crowd which produced uncomfortable pressure; as, a crush at a peception. |
| crust | noun | The hard external coat or covering of anything; the hard exterior surface or outer shell; an incrustation; as, a crust of snow., The hard exterior or surface of bread, in distinction from the soft part or crumb; or a piece of bread grown dry or hard., The cover or case of a pie, in distinction from the soft contents., The dough, or mass of doughy paste, cooked with a potpie; — also called dumpling., The exterior portion of the earth, formerly universally supposed to inclose a molten interior., The shell of crabs, lobsters, etc., A hard mass, made up of dried secretions blood, or pus, occurring upon the surface of the body., An incrustation on the interior of wine bottles, the result of the ripening of the wine; a deposit of tartar, etc. See Beeswing., To cover with a crust; to cover or line with an incrustation; to incrust., To gather or contract into a hard crust; to become incrusted. |
| cruth | noun | See 4th Crowd. |
| crwth | noun | See 4th Crowd. |
| cries | plural | of Cry |
| cryal | noun | The heron |
| cryer | noun | The female of the hawk; a falcon-gentil. |
| crypt | noun | A vault wholly or partly under ground; especially, a vault under a church, whether used for burial purposes or for a subterranean chapel or oratory., A simple gland, glandular cavity, or tube; a follicle; as, the crypts of Lieberk/hn, the simple tubular glands of the small intestines. |
| cuban | adjective | Of or pertaining to Cuba or its inhabitants., A native or an inhabitant of Cuba. |
| cubby | noun | Alt. of Cubbyhole |
| cubed | imp. & past participle | of Cube |
| cubeb | noun | The small, spicy berry of a species of pepper (Piper Cubeba; in med., Cubeba officinalis), native in Java and Borneo, but now cultivated in various tropical countries. The dried unripe fruit is much used in medicine as a stimulant and purgative. |
| cubic | adjective | Alt. of Cubical, A curve of the third degree. |
| cubit | noun | The forearm; the ulna, a bone of the arm extending from elbow to wrist., A measure of length, being the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger. |
| cuddy | noun | An ass; esp., one driven by a huckster or greengrocer., A blockhead; a lout., A lever mounted on a tripod for lifting stones, leveling up railroad ties, etc., A small cabin: also, the galley or kitchen of a vessel., The coalfish (Pollachius carbonarius). |
| cuffy | noun | A name for a negro. |
| cufic | adjective | Of or pertaining to the older characters of the Arabic language. |
| cuish | noun | Defensive armor for the thighs. |
| culex | noun | A genus of dipterous insects, including the gnat and mosquito. |
| culls | verb t. | Refuse timber, from which the best part has been culled out., Any refuse stuff, as rolls not properly baked. |
| cully | noun | A person easily deceived, tricked, or imposed on; a mean dupe; a gull., To trick, cheat, or impose on; to deceive. |
| culpa | noun | Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit, fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of intellect, dolus to defect of heart. |
| culpe | noun | Blameworthiness. |
| cumic | adjective | See Cuming. |
| cumin | noun | A dwarf umbelliferous plant, somewhat resembling fennel (Cuminum Cyminum), cultivated for its seeds, which have a bitterish, warm taste, with an aromatic flavor, and are used like those of anise and caraway. |
| cupel | noun | A shallow porous cup, used in refining precious metals, commonly made of bone ashes (phosphate of lime)., To refine by means of a cupel. |
| cupid | n . | The god of love, son of Venus; usually represented as a naked, winged boy with bow and arrow. |
| curat | noun | A cuirass or breastplate. |
| curch | noun | See Courche. |
| curdy | adjective | Like curd; full of curd; coagulated. |
| cured | imp. & past participle | of Cure |
| curer | noun | One who cures; a healer; a physician., One who prepares beef, fish, etc., for preservation by drying, salting, smoking, etc. |
| curle | plural | of Curia |
| curia | noun | One of the thirty parts into which the Roman people were divided by Romulus., The place of assembly of one of these divisions., The place where the meetings of the senate were held; the senate house., The court of a sovereign or of a feudal lord; also; his residence or his household., Any court of justice., The Roman See in its temporal aspects, including all the machinery of administration; — called also curia Romana. |
| curio | noun | Any curiosity or article of virtu. |
| curly | adjective | Curling or tending to curl; having curls; full of ripples; crinkled. |
| curry | verb t. | To dress or prepare for use by a process of scraping, cleansing, beating, smoothing, and coloring; — said of leather., To dress the hair or coat of (a horse, ox, or the like) with a currycomb and brush; to comb, as a horse, in order to make clean., To beat or bruise; to drub; — said of persons., A kind of sauce much used in India, containing garlic, pepper, ginger, and other strong spices., A stew of fowl, fish, or game, cooked with curry., To flavor or cook with curry. |
| curst | of Curse, imp. & p. p. of Curse., Froward; malignant; mischievous; malicious; snarling. | |
| curse | verb t. | To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate., To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment., To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with imprecations; to swear., An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction., Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion; subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation., The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment. |
| curve | adjective | Bent without angles; crooked; curved; as, a curve line; a curve surface., A bending without angles; that which is bent; a flexure; as, a curve in a railway or canal., A line described according to some low, and having no finite portion of it a straight line., To bend; to crook; as, to curve a line; to curve a pipe; to cause to swerve from a straight course; as, to curve a ball in pitching it., To bend or turn gradually from a given direction; as, the road curves to the right. |
| cutch | noun | See Catechu., See Cultch. |
| cutin | noun | The substance which, added to the material of a cell wall, makes it waterproof, as in cork. |
| cutis | noun | See Dermis. |
| cytty | adjective | Short; as, a cutty knife; a cutty sark. |
| cutty | noun | A short spoon., A short tobacco pipe., A light or unchaste woman. |
| cycad | noun | Any plant of the natural order Cycadaceae, as the sago palm, etc. |
| cycas | noun | A genus of trees, intermediate in character between the palms and the pines. The pith of the trunk of some species furnishes a valuable kind of sago. |
| cycle | noun | An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the celestial spheres., An interval of time in which a certain succession of events or phenomena is completed, and then returns again and again, uniformly and continually in the same order; a periodical space of time marked by the recurrence of something peculiar; as, the cycle of the seasons, or of the year., An age; a long period of time., An orderly list for a given time; a calendar., The circle of subjects connected with the exploits of the hero or heroes of some particular period which have served as a popular theme for poetry, as the legend of Arthur and the knights of the Round Table, and that of Charlemagne and his paladins., One entire round in a circle or a spire; as, a cycle or set of leaves., A bicycle or tricycle, or other light velocipede., To pass through a cycle of changes; to recur in cycles., To ride a bicycle, tricycle, or other form of cycle. |
| cyder | noun | See Cider. |
| cymar | noun | A slight covering; a scarf. See Simar. |
| cymry | noun | A collective term for the Welsh race; — so called by themselves . |
| cynic | adjective | Alt. of Cynical, One of a sect or school of philosophers founded by Antisthenes, and of whom Diogenes was a disciple. The first Cynics were noted for austere lives and their scorn for social customs and current philosophical opinions. Hence the term Cynic symbolized, in the popular judgment, moroseness, and contempt for the views of others., One who holds views resembling those of the Cynics; a snarler; a misanthrope; particularly, a person who believes that human conduct is directed, either consciously or unconsciously, wholly by self-interest or self-indulgence, and that appearances to the contrary are superficial and untrustworthy. |
| czech | noun | One of the Czechs., The language of the Czechs (often called Bohemian), the harshest and richest of the Slavic languages. |