Chapter C · hap"ter, v. t. (continued 4)
Reading edition
Defn: To sail completely round. Having circumnavigated the whole earth. T. Fuller.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION Cir`cum*nav`i*ga"tion, n.
Defn: The act of circumnavigating, or sailing round. Arbuthnot.
CIRCUMNAVIGATOR Cir`cum*nav"iga`tor, n.
Defn: One who sails round. W. Guthrie.
CIRCUMNUTATE Cir`cum*nu"tate, v. i. Etym: [Pref. circum- + nutate.]
Defn: To pass through the stages of circumnutation.
CIRCUMNUTATION Cir`cum*nu*ta"tion, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The successive bowing or bending in different directions of the growing tip of the stems of many plants, especially seen in climbing plants.
CIRCUMPOLAR Cir`cum*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + polar.]
Defn: About the pole; — applied to stars that revolve around the pole without setting; as, circumpolar stars.
CIRCUMPOSITION Cir`cum*po*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumpositio, fr. circumponere, - positium, to place around.]
Defn: The act of placing in a circle, or round about, or the state of being so placed. Evelyn.
CIRCUMROTARY; CIRCUMROTATORY Cir`cum*ro"tary, Cir`cum*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + rotary, rotatory.]
Defn: turning, rolling, or whirling round.
CIRCUMROTATE Cir`cum*ro"tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. circumrotare; circum + rotare to turn round.]
Defn: To rotate about. [R.]
CIRCUMROTATION Cir`cum*ro*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of rolling or revolving round, as a wheel; circumvolution; the state of being whirled round. J. Gregory.
CIRCUMSCISSILE Cir`cum*scis"sile, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + scissle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Dehiscing or opening by a transverse fissure extending around (a capsule or pod). See Illust. of Pyxidium.
CIRCUMSCRIBABLE Cir`cum*scrib"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being circumscribed.
CIRCUMSCRIBE Cir`cum*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumscribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumscribing.] Etym: [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe.]
1. to write or engare around. [R.] Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. Ashmole.
2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain. To circumscribe royal power. Bancroft.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: To draw a line around si as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5.
Syn. — To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass.
CIRCUMSCRIBER Cir`cum*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, circumscribes.
CIRCUMSCRIPTIBLE Cir`cum*scrip"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being circumscribed or limited by bounds.
CIRCUMSCRIPTION Cir`cum*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumscriptio. See Circumscribe.]
1. An inscription written around anything. [R.] Ashmole.
2. The exterior line which determines the form or magnitude of a body; outline; periphery. Ray.
3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited, by conditions or restraints; bound; confinement; limit. The circumscriptions of terrestrial nature. Johnson. I would not my unhoused, free condition Put into circumscription and confine. Shak.
CIRCUMSCRIPTIVE Cir`cum*scrip"tive, a.
Defn: Circumscribing or tending to circumscribe; marcing the limits or form of.
CIRCUMSCRIPTIVELY Cir`cum*scrip"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a limited manner.
CIRCUMSCRIPTLY Cir"cum*script`ly, adv.
Defn: In a literal, limited, or narrow manner. [R.] Milton.
CIRCUMSPECT Cir"cum*spect, a. Etym: [L. circumspectus, p. p. of circumspicere to look about one's self, to observe; circum + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy.]
Defn: Attentive to all the circustances of a case or the probable consequences of an action; cautious; prudent; wary.
Syn. — See Cautious.
CIRCUMSPECTION Cir`cum*spec"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumspectio.]
Defn: Attention to all the facts and circumstances of a case; caution; watchfulness. With silent circumspection, unespied. Milton.
Syn. — Caution; prudence; watchfulness; deliberation; thoughtfulness; wariness; forecast.
CIRCUMSPECTIVE Cir`cum*spec"tive, a.
Defn: Looking around everi way; cautious; careful of consequences; watchful of danger. "Circumspective eyes." Pope.
CIRCUMSPECTIVELY Cir`cum*spec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Circumspectly.
CIRCUMSPECTLY Cir"cum*spect"ly, adv.
Defn: In a circumspect manner; cautiously; warily.
CIRCUMSPECTNESS Cir"cum*spect"ness, n.
Defn: Vigilance un guarding against evil from every quarter; caution. [Travel] forces circumspectness on those abroad, who at home are nursed in security. Sir H. Wotton.
CIRCUMSTANCE Cir"cum*stance, n. Etym: [L. circumstantia, fr. circumstans, -antis, p. pr. of circumstare to stand around; circum + stare to stand. See Stand.]
1. That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact or event; an attendant thing or state of things. The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened. W. Irving.
2. An event; a fact; a particular incident. The sculptor had in his thoughts the conqoeror weeping for new worlds, or the like circumstances in histery. Addison.
3. Circumlocution; detail. [Obs.] So without more circumstance at all I hold it fit that shake hands and part. Shak.
4. pl.
Defn: Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property; situation; surroundings. When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations. Addison. Not a circumstance, of no account. [Colloq.] — Under the circumstances, taking all things into consideration.
Syn. — Event; occurrence; incident; situation; condition; position; fact; detail; item. See Event.
CIRCUMSTANCE Cir"cum*stance, v. t.
Defn: To place in a particular situation; to suppy relative incidents. The poet took the matters of fact as they came down to him and circumstanced them, after his own manner. Addison.
CIRCUMSTANCED Cir"cum*stanced, p. a.
1. Placed in a particular position or condition; situated. The proposition is, that two bodies so circumstanced will balance each other. Whewell.
2. Governed by events or circumstances. [Poetic & R.] "I must be circumstanced." Shak.
CIRCUMSTANT Cir"cum*stant, a. Etym: [L. circumstans. See Circumstance.]
Defn: Standing or placed around; surrounding. [R.] "Circumstant bodies." Sir K. Digby.
CIRCUMSTANTIABLE Cir`cum*stan"tia*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being circumstantiated. [Obs.] Jer Taylor.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL Cir`cum*stan"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. circonstanciel.]
1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular incidents. The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under circumstantial variety. Paley.
2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential. We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial. Sharp.
3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the circumstances; minute; particular. Tedious and circumstantial recitals. Prior. Circumstantial evidence (Law), evidence obtained from circumstances, which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature, from which arises presumption. According to some authorities circumstantial is distinguished from positive evidence in that the latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or less circumstantial. Wharton.
Syn. — See Minute.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL Cir`cum*stan"tial, n.
Defn: Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance; opposed to an essential; — generally in the plural; as, the circumstantials of religion. Addison.
CIRCUMSTANTIALITY Cir`cum*stan`ti*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state, characteristic, or quality of being circumstantial; particularity or minuteness of detail. "I will endeavor to describe with sufficient circumstantiality." De Quincey.
CIRCUMSTANTIALLY Cir`cum*stan"tial*ly, adv.
1. In respect to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally. Of the fancy and intellect, the powers are only circumstantially different. Glanvill.
2. In every circumstance or particular; minutely. To set down somewhat circumstantially, not only the events, but the manner of my trials. Boyle.
CIRCUMSTANTIATE Cir`cum*stan"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumstantiated; p. pr. & vb. n. Circumstantiating.] Etym: [See Circumstantiating (
1. To place in particular circumstances; to invest with particular accidents or adjuncts. [R.] If the act were otherwise circumstantiated, it might will that freely which now it wills reluctantly. Bramhall.
2. To prove or confirm by circumstances; to entr into details concerning. Neither will time permint to circumstantiate these particulars, which I have only touched in the general. State Trials (1661).
CIRCUMTERRANEOUS Cir`cum*ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. terra earth.]
Defn: Being or dwelling around the earth. "Circumterraneous demouns." H. Hallywell.
CIRCUMUNDULATE Cir`cum*un"du*late, v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum- + undulate.]
Defn: To flow round, as waves. [R.]
CIRCUMVALLATE Cir`cum*val"late, v. t. Etym: [L. circumvallatus, p. p. of circumvallare to surround with a wall; circum + vallare to wall, fr. vallum rampart.]
Defn: To surround with a rampart or wall. Johnson.
CIRCUMVALLATE Cir`cum*val"late, a.
1. Surrounded with a wall; inclosed with a rampart.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Surrounded by a ridle or elevation; as, the circumvallate papillæ, near the base of the tongue.
CIRCUMVALLATION Cir`cum*val*la"tion, n. (Mil.) (a) The act of surrounding with a wall or rampart. (b) A line of field works made around a besieged place and the besieging army, to protect the camp of the besiegers against the attack of an enemy from without.
CIRCUMVECTION Cir`cum*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumvectio; circum + vehere to carry.]
Defn: The act of carrying anything around, or the state of being so carried.
CIRCUMVENT Cir`cum*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvented; p. pr. vb. n. Circumventing.] Etym: [L. circumventis, p. p. of circumvenire, to come around, encompass, decieve; circum + venire to come, akin to E. come.]
Defn: To gain advantage over by arts, stratagem, or deception; to decieve; to delude; to get around. I circumvented whom I could not gain. Dryden.
CIRCUMVENTION Cir`cum*ven"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumventio.]
Defn: The act of prevailing over another by arts, address, or fraud; deception; fraud; imposture; delusion. A school in which he learns sly circumvention. Cowper.
CIRCUMVENTIVE Cir`cum*vent"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to circumvent; deceiving by artifices; deluding.
CIRCUMVENTOR Cir`cum*vent"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who circumvents; one who gains his purpose by cunning.
CIRCUMVEST Cir`cum*vest", v. t. Etym: [L. circumvestire; circum + vestire to clothe.]
Defn: To cover round, as woth a garment; to invest. [Obs.] Circumvested with much prejudice. Sir H. Wotton.
CIRCUMVOLANT Cir*cum"vo*lant, a. Etym: [L. circumvolans, p. pr. See Circumvolation.]
Defn: Flying around. The circumvolant troubles of humanity. G. Macdonald.
CIRCUMVOLATION Cir`cum*vo*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumvolate. -volatum, to fly around; circum + volare to fly.]
Defn: The act of flying round. [R.]
CIRCUMVOLUTION Cir`cum*vo*lu"tion, n. Etym: [See Circumvolve.]
1. The act of rolling round; the state of being rolled.
2. A thing rolled round another. Arbuthnot.
3. A roundabout procedure; a circumlocution. He had neither time nor temper for sentimental circumvolutions. Beaconsfield.
CIRCUMVOLVE Cir`cum*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvolved; p. pr. vb. n. Circumvolving.] Etym: [L. circumvolvere, -volutum; circum + volvere to roll.]
Defn: To roll round; to cause to revolve; to put into a circular motion. Herrick.
CIRCUMVOLVE Cir`cum*volve", v. i.
Defn: To roll round; to revolve.
CIRCUS Cir"cus, n.; pl. Circuses. Etym: [L. circus circle, ring, circus (in sense 1). See Circle, and cf. Cirque.]
1. (Roman Antiq.)
Defn: A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public shows.
Note: The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than 100,000 spectators. Harpers' Latin Dict.
2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship, acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their equipage.
3. Circuit; space; inclosure. [R.] The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. Byron.
CIRL BUNTING Cirl" bun`ting. Etym: [Cf. It. cirlo.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European bunting (Emberiza cirlus).
CIRQUE Cirque, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. circus.]
1. A circle; a circus; a circular erection or arrangement of objects. A dismal cirque Of Druid stones upon a forlorn moor. Keats.
2. A kind of circular valley in the side of a mountain, walled around by precipices of great height.
CIRRATE Cir"rate, a. Etym: [L. cirratus having ringlets, fr. cirrus a curl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having cirri along the margin of a part or organ.
CIRRHIFEROUS Cir*rhif"er*ous, a.
Defn: See Cirriferous.
CIRRHOSE Cir"rhose, a.
Defn: Same as Cirrose.
CIRRHOSIS Cir*rho"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. cirrhose. So called from the yellowish appearance which the diseased liver often presents when cut.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the liver in which it usually becomes smaller in size and more dense and fibrous in consistence; hence sometimes applied to similar changes in other organs, caused by increase in the fibrous framework and decrease in the proper substance of the organ.
CIRRHOTIC Cir*rhot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, caused by, or affected with, cirrhosis; as, cirrhotic degeneration; a cirrhotic liver.
CIRRHOUS Cir"rhous, a.
Defn: See Cirrose.
CIRRHUS Cir"rhus, n.
Defn: Same as Cirrus.
CIRRI Cir"ri, n. pl.
Defn: See Cirrus.
CIRRIFEROUS Cir*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cirrus + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing cirri, as many plants and animals.
CIRRIFORM Cir"ri*form, a. Etym: [Cirrus + -form.] (Biol.)
Defn: Formed like a cirrus or tendril; — said of appendages of both animals and plants.
CIRRIGEROUS Cir*rig"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cirrus + -gerous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having curled locks of hair; supporting cirri, or hairlike appendages.
CIRRIGRADE Cir"ri*grade, a. Etym: [Cirrus + L. gradi to walk.] (Biol.)
Defn: Moving or moved by cirri, or hairlike appendages.
CIRRIPED Cir"ri*ped, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cirripedia.
CIRRIPEDIA Cir`ri*pe"di*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cirrus curl + pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Crustacea including the barnacles. When adult, they have a calcareous shell composed of several pieces. From the opening of the shell the animal throws out a group of curved legs, looking like a delicate curl, whence the name of the group. See Anatifa.
CIRROBRANCHIATA Cir`ro*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. E. cirrus + L. branchiae gills.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Mollusca having slender, cirriform appendages near the mouth; the Scaphopoda.
CIRRO-CUMULUS Cir`ro-cu"mu*lus, n. Etym: [Cirrus + cumulus.] (Meteor.)
Defn: See under Cloud.
CIRROSE Cir"rose, a. Etym: [See Cirrus.] (Bot.) (a) Bearing a tendril or tendrils; as, a cirrose leaf. (b) Resembling a tendril or cirrus. [Spelt also cirrhose.]
CIRROSTOMI Cir`ros"to*mi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. E. cirrus + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lowest group of vertebrates; — so called from the cirri around the mouth; the Leptocardia. See Amphioxus.
CIRRO-STRATUS Cir`ro-stra"tus, n. Etym: [Cirrus + stratus.] (Meteor.)
Defn: See under Cloud.
CIRROUS Cir"rous, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Cirrose.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tufted; — said of certain feathers of birds.
CIRRUS Cir"rus, n.; pl. Cirri. Etym: [L., lock, curl, ringlet.] [Also written cirrhus.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A tendril or clasper.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A soft tactile appendage of the mantle of many Mollusca, and of the parapodia of Annelida. Those near the head of annelids are Tentacular cirri; those of the last segment are caudal cirri. (b) The jointed, leglike organs of Cirripedia. See Annelida, and Polychæta.
Note: In some of the inferior animals the cirri aid in locomotion; in others they are used in feeding; in the Annelida they are mostly organs of touch. Some cirri are branchial in function.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The external male organ of trematodes and some other worms, and of certain Mollusca.
4. (Meteor.)
Defn: See under Cloud.
CIRSOCELE Cir"so*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The varicose dilatation of the spermatic vein.
CIRSOID Cir"soid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Med.)
Defn: Varicose. Cirsoid aneurism, a disease of an artery in which it becomes dilated and elongated, like a varicose vein.
CIRSOTOMY Cir*sot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: Any operation for the removal of varices by incision. Dunglison.
CIS- Cis-.
Defn: A Latin preposition, sometimes used as a prefix in English words, and signifying on this side.
CISALPINE Cis*al"pine, a. Etym: [L. Cisalpinus; cis on this side + Alpinus Alpine.]
Defn: On the hither side of the Alps with reference to Rome, that is, on the south side of the Alps; — opposed to transalpine.
CISATLANTIC Cis`at*lan"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + Atlantic.]
Defn: On this side of the Atlantic Ocean; — used of the eastern or the western side, according to the standpoint of the writer. Story.
CISCO Cis"co, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
CISELURE Ci`se*lure", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The process of chasing on metals; also, the work thus chased. Weale.
CISLEITHAN Cis*lei"than, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + Leitha.]
Defn: On the Austrian side of the river Leitha; Austrian.
CISMONTANE Cis*mon"tane, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + L. mons mountain.]
Defn: On this side of the mountains. See under Ultramontane.
CISPADANE Cis"pa*dane`, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + L. Padanus, pert. to the Padus or Po.]
Defn: On the hither side of the river Po with reference to Rome; that is, on the south side.
CISSOID Cis"soid, n. Etym: [Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve invented by Diocles, for the purpose of solving two celebrated problems of the higher geometry; viz., to trisect a plane angle, and to construct two geometrical means between two given straight lines.
CIST Cist, n. Etym: [L. cista box, chest, Gr. Chest.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A box or chest. Specifically: (a) A bronze receptacle, round or oval, frequently decorated with engravings on the sides and cover, and with feet, handles, etc., of decorative castings. (b) A cinerary urn. See Illustration in Appendix.
2. See Cyst.
CISTED Cist"ed, a.
Defn: Inclosed in a cyst. See Cysted.
CISTERCIAN Cis*ter"cian, n. Etym: [LL. Cistercium. F. Cîteaux, a convent not far from Dijon, in France: cf. F. cistercien.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A monk of the prolific branch of the Benedictine Order, established in 1098 at Cîteaux, in France, by Robert, abbot of Molesme. For two hundred years the Cistercians followed the rule of St. Benedict in all its rigor. — a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cistercians.
CISTERN Cis"tern, n. Etym: [OE. cisterne, OF. cisterne, F. cisterne, fr. L. cisterna, fr. cista box, chest. See Cist, and cf. chest.]
1. An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water, beer, or other liquids.
2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. "The wide cisterns of the lakes." Blackmore.
CISTIC Cist"ic, a.
Defn: See Cystic.
CIT Cit (, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. citizen.]
Defn: A citizen; an inhabitant of a city; a pert townsman; — used contemptuously. "Insulted as a cit". Johnson Which past endurance sting the tender cit. Emerson.
CITABLE Cit"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being cited.
CITADEL Cit"a*del, n. Etym: [F. citadelle, It. citadella, dicitt city, fr. L. civitas. See City.]
Defn: A fortress in or near a fortified city, commanding the city and fortifications, and intended as a final point of defense. Syn. - Stronghold. See Fortress.
CITAL Cit"al, n. Etym: [From Cite]
1. Summons to appear, as before a judge. [R.] Johnson
2. Citation; quotation [R.] Johnson.
CITATION Ci*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. citation, LL. citatio, fr.L. citare to cite. See Cite]
1. An official summons or notice given to a person to appear; the paper containing such summons or notice.
2. The act of citing a passage from a book, or from another person, in his own words; also, the passage or words quoted; quotation. This horse load of citations and fathers. Milton.
3. Enumeration; mention; as, a citation of facts.
4. (Law)
Defn: A reference to decided cases, or books of authority, to prove a point in law.
CITATOR Ci*ta"tor, n.
Defn: One who cites. [R]
CITATORY Ci"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. citatirius.]
Defn: Having the power or form of a citation; as, letters citatory.
CITE Cite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cited; p. pr. & vb. n. Citing] Etym: [F. citer, fr. L. citare, intens. of cire, ciere, to put in motion, to excite; akin to Gr.
1. To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear, as before a court; to summon. The cited dead, Of all past ages, to the general doom Shall hasten. Milton. Cited by finger of God. De Quincey.
2. To urge; to enjoin. [R.] Shak.
3. To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of another. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. Shak.
4. To refer to or specify, as for support, proof, illustration, or confirmation. The imperfections which you have cited. Shak.
5. To bespeak; to indicate. [Obs.] Aged honor cites a virtuous youth. Shak.
6. (Law)
Defn: To notify of a proceeding in court. Abbot
Syn. — To quote; mention, name; refer to; adduce; select; call; summon. See Quote.
CITER Cit"er, n.
Defn: One who cites.
CITESS Cit"ess, n. Etym: [From Cit.]
Defn: A city woman [R.]
CITHARA Cith"a*ra, n. Etym: [L. Cf. Cittern, Guitar.] (Mus.)
Defn: An ancient instrument resembling the harp.
CITHARISTIC Cith`a*ris"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining, or adapted, to the cithara.
CITHERN Cith"ern, n.
Defn: See Cittern.
CITICISM Cit"i*cism, n. Etym: [From cit.]
Defn: The manners of a cit or citizen.
CITIED Cit"ied, a.
1. Belonging to, or resembling, a city. "Smoky, citied towns" [R.] Drayton.
2. Containing, or covered with, cities. [R.] "The citied earth." Keats.
CITIFIED Cit"i*fied, a. Etym: [City +-fy.]
Defn: Aping, or having, the manners of a city.
CITIGRADAE Cit`i*gra"dæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. citus swift (p. p. of cire, ciere, to move) + gradi to walk. See Cite.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of Arachnoidea, including the European tarantula and the wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and their allies, which capture their prey by rapidly running and jumping. See Wolf spider.
CITIGRADE Cit"i*grade, a. Etym: [Cf. F. citigrade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Citigradæ. — n.
Defn: One of the Citigradæ.
CITINER Cit"i*ner, n.
Defn: One who is born or bred in a city; a citizen. [Obs.] Champan.
CITIZEN Cit"i*zen, n. Etym: [OE. citisein, OF. citeain, F. citoyen, fr. cité city. See City, and cf. Cit.]
1. One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its franchises. That large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their stomachs. G. Eliot.
2. An inhabitant of a city; a townsman. Shak.
3. A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection from it.
Note: This protection is . . . national protection, recognition of the individual, in the face of foreign nations, as a member of the state, and assertion of his security and rights abroad as well as at home. Abbot
4. One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his legal status from such country.
CITIZEN Cit"i*zen, a.
1. Having the condition or qualities of a citizen, or of citizens; as, a citizen soldiery.
2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a city; characteristic of citizens; effeminate; luxurious. [Obs.] I am not well, But not so citizen a wanton as To seem to die ere sick. Shak.
CITIZENESS Cit"i*zen*ess, n.
Defn: A female citizen. [R.]
CITIZENSHIP Cit"i*zen*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a citizen; the status of a citizen.
CITOLE Cit"ole, n. Etym: [OF. citole, fr. L. cithara. See Cittern.] (Mus.)
Defn: A musical instrument; a kind of dulcimer. [Obs.]
CITRACONIC Cit`ra*con"ic, a. Etym: [Citric + aconitic.]
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or having certain characteristics of, citric and aconitic acids. Citraconic acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline, deliquescent substance, C3H4(CO2H)2, obtained by distillation of citric acid. It is a compound of the ethylene series.
CITRANGE Cit"range, n. [Citrus + orange.]
Defn: A citrous fruit produced by a cross between the sweet orange and the trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata). It is more acid and has a more pronounced aroma than the orange; the tree is hardier. There are several varieties.
CITRATE Cit"rate, n. Etym: [From Citric.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of citric acid.
CITRIC Cit"ric, a. Etym: [Cf. F. citrique. See Citron.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the citron or lemon; as, citric acid. Citric acid (Chem.), an organic acid, C3H4OH.(CO2H)3, extracted from lemons, currants, gooseberies, etc., as a white crystalline substance, having a pleasant sour taste.
CITRINATION Cit`ri*na"tion, n. Etym: [See Citrine.]
Defn: The process by which anything becomes of the color of a lemon; esp., in alchemy, the state of perfection in the philosopher's stone indicated by its assuming a deep yellow color. Thynne.
CITRINE Cit"rine, a. Etym: [F. citrin. See Citron.]
Defn: Like a citron or lemon; of a lemon color; greenish yellow. Citrine ointment (Med.), a yellowish mercurial ointment, the unquentum hydrargyri nitratis.
CITRINE Cit"rine, n.
Defn: A yellow, pellucid variety of quartz.
CITRON Cit"ron, n. Etym: [F. citron, LL. citro, fr. L. citrus citron tree (cf. citreum, sc. malum, a citron), from Gr.
1. (Bot)
Defn: A fruit resembling a lemon, but larger, and pleasantly aromatic. The thick rind, when candied, is the citron of commerce.
2. A citron tree.
3. A citron melon. Citron melon. (a) A small variety of muskmelon with sugary greenish flesh. (b) A small variety of watermelon, whose solid white flesh is used in making sweetmeats and preserves. — Citron tree (Bot.), the tree which bears citrons. It was probably a native of northern India, and is now understood to be the typical form of Citrus Medica.
CITRUS Cit"rus, n. Etym: [L., a citron tree.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees including the orange, lemon, citron, etc., originally natives of southern Asia.
CITTERN Cit"tern, n. Etym: [L.cithara, Gr. Cithara, Gittern.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument shaped like a lute, but strung with wire and played with a quill or plectrum. [Written also cithern.] Shak.
Note: Not to be confounded with zither.
CITTERN-HEAD Cit"tern-head`, n.
Defn: Blockhead; dunce; — so called because the handle of a cittern usually ended with a carved head. Marsion
CITY Cit"y (, n.; pl. Cities. Etym: [OE. cite, F. citcivitas citizenship, state, city, fr. civis citizen; akin to Goth. heiwa (in heiwafrauja man of the house), AS. heirath marriage, prop., providing a house, E. hind a peasant.]
1. A large town.
2. A corporate town; in the United States, a town or collective body of inhabitants, incorporated and governed by a mayor and aldermen or a city council consisting of a board of aldermen and a common council; in Great Britain, a town corporate, which is or has been the seat of a bishop, or the capital of his see. A city is a town incorporated; which is, or has been, the see of a bishop; and though the bishopric has been dissolved, as at Westminster, it yet remaineth a city. Blackstone When Gorges constituted York a city, he of course meant it to be the seat of a bishop, for the word city has no other meaning in English law. Palfrey
3. The collective body of citizens, or inhabitants of a city. "What is the city but the people" Shak.
Syn. — See Village.
CITY Cit"y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a city. Shak. City council. See under Council. — City court, The municipal court of a city. [U. S.] — City ward, a watchman, or the collective watchmen, of a city. [Obs.] Fairfax.
CIVE Cive, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Chive.
CIVET Civ"et, n. Etym: [F. civette (cf. It. zibetto) civet, civet cat, fr. LGr. zub, zab, civet.]
1. 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 agreeble when a small portion is mixed with another substance. It is used as a perfume.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: 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.
CIVET Civ"et, v. t.
Defn: To scent or perfume with civet. Cowper
CIVIC Civ"ic, a. Etym: [L.civicus, fr. civis citizen. See City.]
Defn: Relating to, or derived from, a city or citizen; relating to man as a member of society, or to civil affairs. Civic crown (Rom. Antiq.), a crown or garland of oak leaves and acorns, bestowed on a soldier who had saved the life of a citizen in battle.
CIVICISM Civ"i*cism, n.
Defn: The principle of civil government.
CIVICS Civ"ics, n.
Defn: The science of civil government.
CIVIL Civ"il, a. Etym: [L. civilis, fr. civis citizen: cf. F. civil. See City.]
1. 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.
2. Subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not barbarous; — said of the community. England was very rude and barbarous; for it is but even the other day since England grew civil. Spenser.
3. Performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to government; — said of an individual. Civil men come nearer the saints of God than others; they come within a step or two of heaven. Preston
4. Having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed to those of savages or rustics; polite; courteous; complaisant; affable.
Note: "A civil man now is one observant of slight external courtesies in the mutual intercourse between man and man; a civil man once was one who fulfilled all the duties and obligations flowing from his position as a 'civis' and his relations to the other members of that 'civitas.'" Trench
5. Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from military, ecclesiastical, or official state.
6. Relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings. Civil action, an action to enforce the rights or redress the wrongs of an individual, not involving a criminal proceeding. — Civil architecture, the architecture which is employed in constructing buildings for the purposes of civil life, in distinction from military and naval architecture, as private houses, palaces, churches, etc. — Civil death. (Law.) See under Death. — Civil engineering. See under Engineering. — Civil law. See under Law. — Civil list. See under List. — Civil remedy (Law), that given to a person injured, by action, as opposed to a criminal prosecution. — Civil service, all service rendered to and paid for by the state or nation other than that pertaining to naval or military affairs. — Civil service reform, the substitution of business principles and methods for the spoils system in the conduct of the civil service, esp. in the matter of appointments to office. — Civil state, the whole body of the laity or citizens not included under the military, maritime, and ecclesiastical states. — Civil suit. Same as Civil action. — CCivil war. See under War. — Civil year. See under Year.
CIVILIAN Ci*vil"ian, n. Etym: [From Civil]
1. One skilled in the civil law. Ancient civilians and writers upon government. Swift.
2. A student of the civil law at a university or college. R. Graves.
3. One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or clerical.
CIVILIST Civ"il*ist, n.
Defn: A civilian. [R.] Warbur
CIVILITY Ci*vil"i*ty, n.; pl. Civilities. Etym: [L. civilitas: cf. F. civilité. See Civil.]
1. The state of society in which the relations and duties of a citizen are recognized and obeyed; a state of civilization. [Obs.] Monarchies have risen from barbarrism to civility, and fallen again to ruin. Sir J. Davies. The gradual depature of all deeper signification from the word civility has obliged the creation of another word — civilization. Trench.
2. A civil office, or a civil process [Obs.] To serve in a civility. Latimer.
3. Courtesy; politeness; kind attention; good breeding; a polite act or expression. The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be. Chesterfield. The sweet civilities of life. Dryden.
Syn. — Urbanity; affability; complaisance.
CIVILIZABLE Civ"i*li`za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being civilized.
CIVILIZATION Civ`i*li*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. civilisation.]
1. The act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized; national culture; refinement. Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with manners, and with civilization, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles — . . . the spirit of a gentleman, and spirit of religion. Burke
2. (Law)
Defn: Rendering a criminal process civil. [Obs.]
CIVILIZE Civ"i*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Civilized; p. pr. & vb. n. Civilizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil. See Civil.]
1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine. Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose Her land to civilize, as to subdue. Dryden
2. To admit as suitable to a civilized state. [Obs. or R.] "Civilizing adultery." Milton.
Syn. — To polish; refine; humanize.
CIVILIZED Civ"i*lized, a.
Defn: Reclaimed from savage life and manners; instructed in arts, learning, and civil manners; refined; cultivated. Sale of conscience and duty in open market is not reconcilable with the present state of civilized society. J. Quincy.
CIVILIZER Civ"i*li*zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, civilizes or tends to civilize.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Civil Service Commission.
Defn: In the United States, a commission appointed by the President, consisting of three members, not more than two of whom may be adherents of the same party, which has the control, through examinations, of appointments and promotions in the classified civil service. It was created by act of Jan, 16, 1883 (22 Stat. 403).
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM Civil Service Reform.
Defn: The substitution of business principles and methods for political methods in the conduct of the civil service. esp. the merit system instead of the spoils system in making appointments to office.
CIVILY Civ"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a civil manner; as regards civil rights and privileges; politely; courteously; in a well bred manner.
CIVISM Civ"ism, n. Etym: [Cf.F. civisme, fr.L. civis citizen.]
Defn: State of citizenship. [R.] Dyer.
CIZAR Ciz"ar, v. i. Etym: [From Cizars.]
Defn: To clip with scissors. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
CIZARS Ciz"ars, n. pl.
Defn: Scissors. [Obs.] Swift.
CIZE Cize, n.
Defn: Bulk; largeness. [Obs.] See Size.
CLABBER Clab"ber, n. Etym: [See Bonnyclabber]
Defn: Milk curdled so as to become thick.
CLABBER Clab"ber, v. i.
Defn: To become clabber; to lopper.
CLACHAN Clach"an, n. Etym: [Scot., fr.Gael.]
Defn: A small village containing a church. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott Sitting at the clachon alehouse. R. L. Stevenson.
CLACK Clack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clacked;p. pr. & vb. n. Clacking.] Etym: [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. F.claquer to clap, crack, D. klakken, MHG. klac crack, Ir. clagaim I make a noise, ring. Cf. Clack, n., Clatter, Click.]
1. 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. We heard Mr.Hodson's whip clacking on the ahoulders of the poor little wretches. Thackeray.
2. To utter words rapidly and continually, or with abruptness; to let the tongue run.
CLACK Clack, v. t.
1. To cause to make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises; to click.
2. To utter rapidly and inconsiderately. Feltham. To clack wool, to cut off the sheep's mark, in order to make the wool weigh less and thus yield less duty. [Eng.]
CLACK Clack, n. Etym: [Cf. F. claque a slap or smack, MHG. klac crack, W. clec crack, gossip. See Clack, v. t.]
1. A sharp, abrupt noise, or succession of noises, made by striking an object.
2. Anything that causes a clacking noise, as the clapper of a mill, or a clack valve.
3. Continual or importunate talk; prattle; prating. Whose chief intent is to vaunt his spiritual clack. South. Clack box (Mach.), the box or chamber in which a clack valve works. — Clack dish, a dish with a movable lid, formerly carried by beggars, who clacked the lid to attract notice. Shak. Clack door (Mining), removable cover of the opening through which access is had to a pump valve. — Clack valve (Mach.), a valve; esp. one hinged at one edge, which, when raised from its seat, falls with a clacking sound.
CLACKER Clack"er, n.
1. One who clacks; that which clacks; especially, the clapper of a mill.
2. A claqueur. See Claqueur.
CLAD Clad, v.t
Defn: To clothe. [Obs.] Holland.
CLAD Clad,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Clothe.
CLADOCERA Cla*doc"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of the Entomostraca.
Note: They have a bivalve shell, covering the body but not the head, and from four to six pairs of legs and two pairs of antenæ, for use in swimming. They mostly inhabit fresh water.
CLADOPHYLL Clad"o*phyll, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A special branch, resembling a leaf, as in the apparent foliage of the broom (Ruscus) and of the common cultivated smilax (Myrsiphillum).
CLAGGY Clag"gy, a. Etym: [Cf. Clog.]
Defn: Adhesive; — said of a roof in a mine to which coal clings.
CLAIK Claik, n.
Defn: See Clake.
CLAIM Claim (klam), v. [imp. & p. p. Claimed (klamd); p. pr. & vb. n. Claiming.] Etym: [OE. clamen, claimen, OF. clamer, fr. L. clamare to cry out, call; akin to calare to proclaim, Gr. kal to sound, G. holen to fetch, E. hale haul.]
1. To ask for, or seek to obtain, by virtue of authority, right, or supposed right; to challenge as a right; to demand as due.
2. To proclaim. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. To call or name. [Obs.] Spenser.
4. To assert; to maintain. [Colloq.]
CLAIM Claim, v. i.
Defn: To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have a claim. We must know how the first ruler, from whom any one claims, came by his authority. Locke.
CLAIM Claim, n. Etym: [Of. claim cry, complaint, from clamer. See Claim, v.t.]
1. 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.
2. 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. "A bar to all claims upon land." Hallam.
3. 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. [U.S. & Australia]
4. A laoud call. [Obs.] Spenser To lay claim to, to demand as a right. "Doth he lay claim to thine inheritance" Shak.
CLAIMABLE Claim"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being claimed.
CLAIMANT Claim"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. clamant, p. pr. of clamer. Cf.Clamant.]
Defn: One who claims; one who asserts a right or title; a claimer.
CLAIMER Claim"er, n.
Defn: One who claims; a claimant.
CLAIMLESS Claim"less, a.
Defn: Having no claim.
CLAIRAUDIENCE Clair*au"di*ence, n. [F. clair clear + F. & E. audience a hearing. See Clear.]
Defn: Act of hearing, or the ability to hear, sounds not normally audible; — usually claimed as a special faculty of spiritualistic mediums, or the like.
CLAIRAUDIENT Clair*au"di*ent, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, clairaudience.
CLAIRAUDIENT Clair*au"di*ent, n.
Defn: One alleged to have the power of clairaudience.
CLAIRE Claire, n. [F.]
Defn: A small inclosed pond used for gathering and greening oysters.
CLAIR-OBSCUR Clair"-ob*scur" (, n. Etym: [F. See Clare-obscure.]
Defn: See Chiaroscuro.
CLAIRVOYANCE Clair*voy"ance, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A power, attributed to some persons while in a mesmeric state, of discering objects not perceptible by the senses in their normal condition.
CLAIRVOYANT Clair*voy"ant, a. Etym: [F., fr. clair clear + voyant, p. pr. of voir to see. See Clear, and Vision.]
Defn: Pertaining to clairvoyance; discerning objects while in a mesmeric state which are not present to the senses.
CLAIRVOYANT Clair*voy"ant n.
Defn: One who is able, when in a mesmeric state, to discern objects not present to the senses.
CLAKE; CLAIK Clake, Claik, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bernicle goose; — called also clack goose.
CLAM Clam, n. Etym: [Cf. Clamp, Clam, v. t., Clammy.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are edible; as, the long clam (Mya arenaria), the quahog or round clam (Venus mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (Spisula solidissima), and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been given originally to the Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve. You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or cove of sand, where you may not take many clampes, or lobsters, or both, at your pleasure. Capt. John Smith (1616). Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a coclke; it lieth under the sand. Wood (1634).
2. (Ship Carp.)
Defn: Strong pinchers or forceps.
3. pl. (Mech.)
Defn: A kind of vise, usually of wood. Blood clam. See under Blood.
CLAM Clam (clam), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clamming.] Etym: [Cf. AS. clæman to clam, smear; akin to Icel. kleima to smear, OHG. kleimjan, chleimen, to defile, or E. clammy.]
Defn: To clog, as with glutinous or viscous matter. A swarm of wasps got into a honey pot, and there they cloyed and clammed Themselves till there was no getting out again. L'Estrange.
CLAM Clam, v. i.
Defn: To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere. [R.] Dryden
CLAM Clam, n.
Defn: Claminess; moisture. [R.] "The clam of death." Carlyle.
CLAM Clam, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. clamor.]
Defn: A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at once. Nares.
CLAM Clam, v. t. & i.
Defn: To produce, in bell ringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to clang. Nares.
CLAMANT Cla"mant, a. Etym: [L. clamans, p. pr. of clamare to call. Cf. Claimant.]
Defn: Crying earnestly, beseeching clamorousky. "Clamant children." Thomson.
CLAMATION Cla*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. clamatio, fr. L. clamare to call.]
Defn: The act of crying out. Sir T. Browne.
CLAMATORES Clam`a*to"res, n. pl. Etym: [L. clamator, pl. clamatores, a bawler.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of passerine birds in which the vocal muscles are but little developed, so that they lack the power of singing.
CLAMATORIAL Clam`a*to"rial, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Clamatores.
CLAMBAKE Clam"bake, n.
Defn: The backing or steaming of clams on heated stones, between layers of seaweed; hence, a picnic party, gathered on such an occasion.
CLAMBER Clam"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clambered; p. pr. & vb. n. Clambering.] Etym: [OE clambren, clameren, to heap together, climb; akin to Icel. klambra to clamp, G. klammern. Cf. Clamp, Climb.]
Defn: To climb with difficulty, or with hands and feet; — also used figuratively. The narrow street that clambered toward the mill. Tennyson.
CLAMBER Clam"ber, n.
Defn: The act of clambering. T. Moore.
CLAMBER Clam"ber, v. t.
Defn: To ascend by climbing with difficulty. Clambering the walls to eye him. Shak.
CLAMJAMPHRIE Clam*jam"phrie, n.
Defn: Low, worthless people; the rabble. [Scot.] Jamieson.
CLAMMILY Clam"mi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a clammy manner. "Oozing so clammily." Hood.
CLAMMINESS Clam"mi*ness, n.
Defn: State of being clammy or viscous.
CLAMMY Clam"my, a. [Compar. Clammier; superl. Clammiest.] Etym: [Cf. AS. clam clay. See Clam to clog, and cf. Clay.]
Defn: Having the quality of being viscous or adhesive; soft and sticky; glutinous; damp and adhesive, as if covered with a cold perspiration.
CLAMOR Clam"or, n. Etym: [OF. clamour, clamur, F. clameur, fr. L. clamor, fr. clamare to cry out. See Claim.]
1. A great outcry or vociferation; loud and continued shouting or exclamation. Shak.
2. Any loud and continued noise. Addison.
3. A continued expression of dissatisfaction or discontent; a popular outcry. Macaulay.
Syn. — Outcry; exclamation; noise; uproar.
CLAMOR Clam"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clamored; p. pr. & vb. n. Clamoring.]
1. To salute loudly. [R.] The people with a shout Rifted the air, clamoring their god with praise. Milton .
2. To stun with noise. [R.] Bacon.
3. To utter loudly or repeatedly; to shout. Clamored their piteous prayer incessantly. Longfellow. To clamor bells, to repeat the strokes quickly so as to produce a loud clang. Bp. Warbur
CLAMOR Clam"or, v. i.
Defn: To utter loud sounds or outcries; to vociferate; to complain; to make importunate demands. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Shak.
CLAMORER Clam"or*er, n.
Defn: One who clamors.
CLAMOROUS Clam"or*ous, a. Etym: [LL. clamorosus, for L. Clamosus: cf. OF. clamoreux.]
Defn: Speaking and repeating loud words; full of clamor; calling or demanding loudly or urgently; vociferous; noisy; bawling; loud; turbulent. "My young ones were clamorous for a morning's excursion." Southey. — Clam"or*ous*ly, adv. — Clam"or*ous*ness, n.
CLAMP Clamp, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. & D. klamp, Dan. klampe, also D. klampen to fasten, clasp. Cf. Clam, Cramp.]
1. Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together.
2. (a) An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its place or two parts are temporarily held together. (b) (Joinery) A piece of wood placed across another, or inserted into another, to bind or strengthen.
3. 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.
4. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A thick plank on the inner part of a ship's side, used to sustuan the ends of beams.
5. A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting, or of coal coking.
6. A mollusk. See Clam. [Obs.] Clamp nails, nails used to fasten on clamps in ships.
CLAMP Clamp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clamped p. pr. & vb. n. Clamping.]
1. To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in a clamp.
2. To cover, as vegetables, with earth. [Eng.]
CLAMP Clamp, n. Etym: [Prob. an imitative word. Cf.Clank.]
Defn: A heavy footstep; a tramp.
CLAMP Clamp, v. i.
Defn: To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump. The policeman with clamping feet. Thackeray.
CLAMPER Clamp"er, n.
Defn: An instrument of iron, with sharp prongs, attached to a boot or shoe to enable the wearer to walk securely upon ice; a creeper. Kane.
CLAN Clan, n. Etym: [Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir. clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion, slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n.]
1. A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. "I have marshaled my clan." Campbell.
2. A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of persons united by some common interest or pursuit; — sometimes used contemptuously. Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. Smolett. The whole clan of the enlightened among us. Burke.
CLANCULAR Clan"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. clancularius , from clanculum secretly, adv. dim. of clam secretly.]
Defn: Conducted with secrecy; clandestine; concealed. [Obs.] Not close and clancular, but frank and open. Barrow.
CLANCULARLY Clan"cu*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: privately; secretly. [Obs.]
CLANDESTINE Clan*des"tine, a. Etym: [L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.]
Defn: Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a clandestine marriage. Locke.
Syn. — Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy; surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent. — Clan*des"tine*ly, adv. — Clan*des"tine*ness, n.
CLANDESTINITY Clan`des*tin"i*ty, n.
Defn: Privacy or secrecy. [R.]
CLANG Clang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Clanging.] Etym: [L. clangere; akin to Gr. clank.]
Defn: To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound. The fierce Caretes . . . clanged their sounding arms. Prior.
CLANG Clang, v. i.
Defn: To give out a clang; to resound. "Clanging hoofs." Tennyson.
CLANG Clang, n.
1. A loud, ringing sound, like that made by metallic substances when clanged or struck together. The broadsword's deadly clang, As if a thousand anvils rang. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Qualyty of tone.
CLANGOR Clan"gor, n. Etym: [L., fr. clangere. See Clang, v. t.]
Defn: A sharp, harsh, ringing sound. Dryden.
CLANGOROUS Clan"gor*ous, a. Etym: [LL. clangorosus.]
Defn: Making a clangor; having a ringing, metallic sound.
CLANGOUS Clan"gous, a.
Defn: Making a clang, or a ringing metallic sound. [Obs.]
CLANJAMFRIE Clan*jam"frie, n.
Defn: Same as Clamjamphrie. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
CLANK Clank, n. Etym: [Akin to clink, and of imitative origin; cf. G. klang sound, D. klank. Cf. Clang.]
Defn: 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. But not in chains to pine, His spirit withered with tyeur clank. Byron.
CLANK Clank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Clanking.]
Defn: To cause to sound with a clank; as, the prisoners clank their chains.
CLANK Clank, v. i.
Defn: To sound with a clank.
CLANKLESS Clank"less, a.
Defn: Without a clank. Byreon.
CLAN-NA-GAEL Clan"-na-Gael", n. [Ir., clan of the Gaels.]
Defn: A secret society of Irish Fenians founded in Philadelphia in 1881.
CLANNISH Clan"nish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a clan; closely united, like a clan; disposed to associate only with one's clan or clique; actuated by the traditions, prejudices, habits, etc., of a clan. — Clan"nish*ly, adv. — Clan"nish*ness, n.
CLANSHIP Clan"ship, n.
Defn: A state of being united togheter as in a clan; an association under a chieftain.
CLANSMAN Clans"man, n.; pl. Clansmen.
Defn: One belonging to the same clan with another.
CLAP Clap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Clapping.] Etym: [AS. clappan; akin to Icel. & Sw. klappa, D, klappen, to clap, prate, G. klaffen, v.i., to split open, yelp, klopfen, v.t. & i., to knock.]
1. To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a clapping of wings. Then like a bird it sits and sings, And whets and claps its silver wings. Marvell.
2. To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; — often followed by to, into, on, or upon. He had just time to get in and clap to the door. Locke Clap an extinguaisher upon your irony. Lamb.
3. To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [Obs.] Shak. (b) To express contempt or derision. [Obs.] Lam. ii. 15. To clap hold of, to seize roughly or quickly. — To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b) To make or contrive hastily. [Obs.] "Was ever match clapped up so suddenly" Shak.
CLAP Clap, v. i.
1. To knock, as at a door. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To strike the hands together in applause. Their ladies bid them clap. Shak.
3. To come together suddenly with noise. The doors around me clapped. Dryden.
4. To enter with alacrity and briskness; — with to or into. [Obs.] "Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse" Shak.
5. To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLAP Clap, n.
1. A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. "Give the door such a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room." Swift.
2. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion. Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill.
3. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow. What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak.
4. A striking of hands to express approbation. Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison.
5. Noisy talk; chatter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
6. (Falconry)
Defn: The nether part of the beak of a hawk. Clap dish. See Clack dish, under Clack, n. — Clap net, a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together.
CLAP Clap, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. clapoir.]
Defn: Gonorrhea.
CLAPBOARD Clap"board, n.
1. A narrow board, thicker at one edge than at the other; — used for weatherboarding the outside of houses. [U. S.]
2. A stave for a cask. [Eng.] Halliwell.
CLAPBOARD Clap"board, v. t.
Defn: To cover with clapboards; as, to clapboard the sides of a house. [U. S.] Bartlett.
CLAPBREAD; CLAPCAKE Clap"bread`, Clap"cake`, n.
Defn: Oatmeal cake or bread clapped or beaten till it is thin. [Obs.] Halliwell.
CLAPE Clape, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird; the flicker.
CLAPPER Clap"per, n.
1. A person who claps.
2. That which strikes or claps, as the tongue of a bell, or the piece of wood that strikes a mill hopper, etc. See Illust. of Bell. Clapper rail (Zoöl.), an Americam species of rail (Rallus scepitans).
CLAPPER Clap"per, n. Etym: [F. clapier.]
Defn: A rabbit burrow. [Obs.]
CLAPPERCLAW Clap"per*claw, v. t. Etym: [Clap + claw.]
1. To fight and scratch. C. Smart.
2. To abuse with the tongue; to revile; to scold.
CLAPS Claps, v. t.
Defn: Variant of Clasp [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLAPTRAP Clap"trap`, n.
1. A contrivance for clapping in theaters. [Obs.]
2. A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.
CLAPTRAP Clap"trap`, a.
Defn: Contrived for the purpose of making a show, or gaining applause; deceptive; unreal.
CLAQUE Claque, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A collection of persons employed to applaud at a theatrical exhibition.
CLAQUEUR Cla`queur", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of the claque employed to applaud at a theater.
CLARE Clare, n.
Defn: A nun of the order of St.Clare.
CLARENCE Clar"ence, n.
Defn: A close four-wheeled carriage, with one seat inside, and a seat for the driver.
CLARENCEUX; CLARENCIEUX Clar"en*ceux, Clar"en*cieux, n. (Her.)
Defn: See King-at-arms.
CLARENDON Clar"en*don, n.
Defn: A style of type having a narrow and heave face. It is made in all sizes.
Note: This line is in nonpareil Clarendon.
CLARE-OBSCURE Clare"-ob*scure", n. Etym: [L. clarus clear + obscurus obscure; cf. F. clair-obscur. Cf. Chiaroscuro.] (Painting)
Defn: See Chiaroscuro.
CLARET Clar"et, n. Etym: [OE. claret, clare, clarry, OF. claret, clar, fr. cler, F. clair, clear, fr. L. clarus clear. See Clear.]
Defn: The name firat given in England to the red wines of M
CLARIBELLA Clar`i*bel"la, n. Etym: [NL., from L. clarus clear + bellus fine.] (Mus.)
Defn: A soft, sweet stop, or set of open wood pipes in an organ.
CLARICHORD Clar"i*chord, n. Etym: [F. clatocorde, fr.L. clarus clear + chorda string. See Chord.]
Defn: A musical instrument, formerly in use, in form of a spinet; — called also manichord and clavichord.
CLARIFICATION Clar`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. clarification, L. clarificatio glorification.]
1. The act or process of making clear or transparent, by freeing visible impurities; as, the clarification of wine.
2. The act of freeing from obscurities. The clarification of men's ideas. Whewell.
CLARIFIER Clar"i*fi`er, n.
1. That which clarifies.
2. A vessel in which the process of clarification is conducted; as, the clarifier in sugar works. Ure.
CLARIFY Clar"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clarified; p. pr. & vb. n. Clarifying.] Etym: [F. clarifier, from L. clarificare; clarus clear + facere to make. See Clear, and Fact.]
1. To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; — said of liquids, as wine or sirup. "Boiled and clarified." Ure.
2. To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate. To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will. South.
3. To glorify. [Obs.] Fadir, clarifie thi name. Wyclif (John ii. 28).
CLARIFY Clar"i*fy, v. i.
1. To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.
2. To grow clear or bright; to clear up. Whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and understanding do clarify and break up in the discoursing with another. Bacon.
CLARIGATE Clar"i*gate, v. i. Etym: [L. clarigare]
Defn: To declare war with certain ceremonies. [Obs.] Holland.
CLARINET Clar"i*net`, n. Etym: [F. clarinette, dim. of clarine, from L. clarus. See Clear, and cf. Clarion.] (Mus.)
Defn: A wind instrument, blown by a single reed, of richer and fuller tone than the oboe, which has a double reed. It is the leading instrument in a military band.
Note: [Often improperly called clarionet.]
CLARINO Cla*ri"no, n. Etym: [It. a trumpet.] (Mus.)
Defn: A reed stop in an organ.
CLARION Clar"i*on, n. Etym: [OE. clarioun, OF. clarion, F. clairon, LL. clario, claro; so called from its clear tone, fr. L. clarus clear. See Clear.]
Defn: A kind of trumpet, whose note is clear and shrill. He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. E. Everett.
CLARIONET Clar`i*o*net", n. Etym: [See Clarion, Clarinet.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Clarinet.
CLARISONUS Cla*ris"o*nus, a. Etym: [L. clarisonus; clarus + sonus.]
Defn: Having a clear sound. [Obs.] Ash.
CLARITUDE Clar"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. claritudo, fr. clarus clear.]
Defn: Clearness; splendor. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
CLARITY Clar"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. claritas, fr. clarus clear: cf. F. clarté.]
Defn: Clearness; brightness; splendor. Floods, in whose more than crystal clarity, Innumerable virgin graces row. Beaumont.
CLARO-OBSCURO Cla"ro-ob*scu"ro, n.
Defn: See Chiaroscuro.
CLARRE Clar`ré", n. Etym: [See Claret.]
Defn: Wine with a mixture of honey and species. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLART Clart, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Armor. kalar mud, mire, kalara to dirt, Sw. lort mud.]
Defn: To daub, smear, or spread, as with mud, etc. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CLARTY Clart"y, a.
Defn: Sticky and foul; muddy; filthy; dirty. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CLARY Clar"y, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Clarion.]
Defn: To make a loud or shrill noise. [Obs.] Golding.
CLARY Cla"ry, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. sclarea, scarlea, D. & G. scharlei, F. sclarée.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Salvia sclarea) of the Sage family, used in flavoring soups. Clary water, a composition of clary flowers with brandy, etc., formerly used as a cardiac.
CLASH Clash, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clashing.] Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. G. klatschen, Prov. G. kleschen, D. kletsen, Dan. klaske, E. clack.]
1. To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily together.
2. To meet in opposition; to act in a contrary direction; to come onto collision; to interfere. However some of his interests might clash with those of the chief adjacent colony. Palfrey.
CLASH Clash, v. t.
Defn: To strike noisily against or together.
CLASH Clash n.
1. A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of bodies; a collision. The roll of cannon and clash of arms. Tennyson.
2. Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending interests, views, purposes, etc. Clashes between popes and kings. Denham.
CLASH GEAR Clash gear. (Mach.)
Defn: A change-speed gear in which the gears are changed by sliding endwise.
CLASHINGLY Clash"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With clashing.
CLASP Clasp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clasped; p. pr. & vb. n. Clasping] Etym: [OE. claspen, clapsen, prob. akin to E. clap.]
1. To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp).
2. To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to embrace.
3. To surround and cling to; to entwine about. "Clasping ivy." Milton.
CLASP Clasp, n.
1. 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.
2. A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as with the hand. Clasp knife, a large knife, the blade of which folds or shuts into the handle. — Clasp lock, a lock which closes or secures itself by means of a spring.
CLASPER Clasp"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, clasps, as a tendril. "The claspers of vines." Derham.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) One of a pair of organs used by the male for grasping the female among many of the Crustacea. (b) One of a pair of male copulatory organs, developed on the anterior side of the ventral fins of sharks and other elasmobranchs. See Illust. of Chimæra.
CLASPERED Clasp"ered, a.
Defn: Furnished with tendrils.
CLASS Class, n. Etym: [F. classe, fr. L. classis class, collection, fleet; akin to Gr. claim, haul.]
1. A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower classes.
2. A number of students in a school or college, of the same standing, or pursuing the same studies.
3. 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, gemera, etc.
4. A set; a kind or description, species or variety. She had lost one class energies. Macaulay.
5. (Methodist Church)
Defn: One of the sections into which a church or congregation is divided, and which is under the supervision of a class leader. Class of a curve (Math.), the kind of a curve as expressed by the number of tangents that can be drawn from any point to the curve. A circle is of the second class. — Class meeting (Methodist Church), a meeting of a class under the charge of a class leader, for counsel and relegious instruction.
CLASS Class, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Classed; p. pr. & vb. n. Classing.] Etym: [Cf. F. classer. See Class, n.]
1. To arrange in classes; to classify or refer to some class; as, to class words or passages.
Note: In scientific arrangement, to classify is used instead of to class. Dana.
2. To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a class or classes.
CLASS Class, v. i.
Defn: To grouped or classed. The genus or famiky under which it classes. Tatham.
CLASS DAY Class day.
Defn: In American colleges and universities, a day of the commencement season on which the senior class celebrates the completion of its course by exercises conducted by the members, such as the reading of the class histories and poem, the delivery of the class oration, the planting of the class ivy, etc.
CLASSIBLE Class"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being classed.
CLASSIC; CLASSICAL Clas"sic, Clas"sic*al, a. Etym: [L. classicus relating to the classes of the Roman people, and especially to the frist class; hence, of the first rank, superior, from classis class: cf. F. classique. See Class, n.]
1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in literature or art. Give, as thy last memorial to the age, One classic drama, and reform the stage. Byron. Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject [Roman weights and coins]. Arbuthnot.
2. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, esp. to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds. Though throned midst Latium's classic plains. Mrs. Hemans. The epithet classical, as applied to ancient authors, is determined less by the purity of their style than by the period at which they wrote. Brande & C. He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates of his college. Macaulay.
3. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste; pure; refined; as, a classical style. Classical, provincial, and national synods. Macaulay. Classicals orders. (Arch.) See under Order.
CLASSIC Clas"sic, n.
1. A work of acknowledged excellence and authrity, or its author; — originally used of Greek and Latin works or authors, but now applied to authors and works of a like character in any language. In is once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic. Macaulay.
2. One learned in the literature of Greece and Rome, or a student of classical literature.
CLASSICALISM Clas"sic*al*ism, n.
1. A classical idiom, style, or expression; a classicism.
2. Adherence to what are supposed or assumed to be the classical canons of art.
CLASSICALIST Clas"sic*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to what he thinks the classical canons of art. Ruskin.
CLASSICALITY; CLASSICALNESS Clas`si*cal"i*ty, Clas"sic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being classical.
CLASSICALLY Clas"sic*al*ly, adv.
1. In a classical manner; according to the manner of classical authors.
2. In the manner of classes; according to a regular order of classes or sets.
CLASSICISM Clas"si*cism, n.
Defn: A classic idiom or expression; a classicalism. C. Kingsley.
CLASSICIST Clas"si*cist, n.
Defn: One learned in the classics; an advocate for the classics.
CLASSIFIABLE Clas"si*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being classified.
CLASSIFIC Clas*sif"ic, a.
Defn: Characterizing a class or classes; relating to classification.
CLASSIFICATION Clas`si*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. classification.]
Defn: The act of forming into a class or classes; a distibution into groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common relations or affinities. Artificial classification. (Science) See under Artifitial.
CLASSIFICATORY Clas"si*fi*ca`to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to classification; admitting of classification. "A classificatory system." Earle.
CLASSIFIER Clas"si*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who classifies.
CLASSIFY Clas"si*fy, v. t. [imp. & pp. Classified; p. pr. & vb. n. Classifying.] Etym: [L. classis class +
Defn: To distribute into classes; to arrange according to a system; to arrnge in sets according to some method founded on common properties or characters.
Syn. — To arrange; distibute; rank.
CLASSIS Clas"sis, n.; pl. Classes. Etym: [L. See Class, n.]
1. A class or order; sort; kind. [Obs.] His opinion of that classis of men. Clarendon.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: An ecclesiastical body or judicat
CLASSMAN Class"man, n.; pl. Classmen(#).
1. A member of a class; a classmate.
2. A candidate for graduation in arts who is placed in an honor class, as opposed to a passman, who is not classified. [Oxford, Eng.]
CLASSMATE Class"mate`, n.
Defn: One who is in the same class with another, as at school or college.
CLASTIC Clas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Pertaining to what may be taken apart; as, clastic anatomy (of models).
2. (Min.)
Defn: Fragmental; made up of brokas, sandstone is a clastic rock.
CLATCH Clatch, n. [Cf. Scot. clatch a slap, the noise caused by the collision of soft bodies; prob. of imitative origin.] (Scot. & Dial. Eng.)
1. A soft or sloppy lump or mass; as, to throw a clatch of mud.
2. Anything put together or made in a careless or slipshod way; hence, a sluttish or slipshod woman.
CLATCH Clatch, v. t. & i.
Defn: To daub or smear, as with lime; to make or finish in a slipshod way. [Scot.]
CLATHRATE Clath"rate, a. Etym: [L. clathri latti
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a lattice; cancellate. Gray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the surface marked with raised lines resembling a lattice, as many shells.
CLATTER Clat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Clattering.] Etym: [AS. cla a rattle, akin to D. klateren to rattle. Cf. Clack.]
1. To make a rattling sound by striking hard bodies together; to make a succession of abrupt, rattling sounds. Clattering loud with clamk. Longfellow.
2. To talk fast and noisily; to rattle with the tongue. I see thou dost but clatter. Spenser.
CLATTER Clat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make a rattling noise with. You clatter still your brazen kettle. Swift.
CLATTER Clat"ter, n.
1. A rattling noise, esp. that made by the collision of hard bodies; also, any loud, abrupt sound; a repetition of abrupt sounds. The goose let fall a golden egg With cackle and with clatter. Tennyson.
2. Commotion; disturbance. "Those mighty feats which made such a clatter in story." Barrow.
3. Rapid, noisy talk; babble; chatter. "Hold still thy clatter." Towneley Myst. (15 th Cent. ). Throw by your clatter And handle the matter. B. Jonson
CLATTERER Clat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who clatters.
CLATTERINGLY Clat"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With clattering.
CLAUDE LORRAINE GLASS Claude" Lor*raine" glass`. Etym: [Its name is supposed to be derived from the similarity of the effects it gives to those of a picture by Claude Lorrain (often written Lorraine).]
Defn: A slightly convex mirror, commonly of black glass, used as a toy for viewing the reflected landscape.
CLAUDENT Clau"dent, a. Etym: [L. claudens, p. pr. of claudere to shut.]
Defn: Shutting; confining; drawing together; as, a claudent muscle. [R.] Jonson
CLAUDICANT Clau"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. claudicans, p. pr. of claudicare to limp, fr. claudus lame.]
Defn: Limping. [R.]
CLAUDICATION Clau`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. claudicatio.]
Defn: A halting or limping. [R.] Tatler.
CLAUSE Clause, n. Etym: [F. clause, LL. clausa, equiv. to L. clausula clause, prop., close of claudere to shut, to end. See Close.]
1. A separate portion of a written paper, paragraph, or sentence; an article, stipulation, or proviso, in a legal document. The usual attestation clause to a will. Bouvier.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A subordinate portion or a subdivision of a sentence containing a subject and its predicate.
CLAUSE Clause, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Letters clause or close, under Letter.
CLAUSTRAL Claus"tral, a. Etym: [F., fr. LL. claustralis, fr. L. claustrum. See Cloister.]
Defn: Cloistral. Ayliffe
CLAUSTRUM Claus"trum, n.; pl. Claustra. Etym: [L., a bolt or bar.] (Anat.)
Defn: A thin lamina of gray matter in each cerebral hemiphere of the brain of man. — Claus"tral, a.
CLAUSULAR Clau"su*lar, a. Etym: [From L. clausula. See Clause, n.]
Defn: Consisting of, or having, clauses. Smart.
CLAUSURE Clau"sure, n. Etym: [L. clausura. See Closure.]
Defn: The act of shutting up or confining; confinement. [R.] Geddes.
CLAVATE; CLAVATED Cla"vate, Cla"va*ted, a. Etym: [L. clava club.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Club-shaped; having the form of a club; growing gradually thicker toward the top.
Note: [See Illust. of Antennae.]
CLAVE Clave,
Defn: imp. of Cleave. [Obs.]
CLAVECIN Clav"e*cin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The harpsichord.
CLAVEL Cla"vel, n.
Defn: See Clevis.
CLAVELLATE Clav"el*late, a.
Defn: See Clavate.
CLAVELLATED Clav"el*la`ted, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. cineres clavelatti ashes of burnt lees or dregs of wine, F. clavel an inferior sort of soda, E. clavate.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: Said of potash, probably in reference to its having been obtained from billets of wood by burning. [Obs.]
CLAVER Clav"er, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Clover. Holland.
CLAVER Clav"er, n.
Defn: Frivolous or nonsensical talk; prattle; chattering. [Scot. & North of Eng.] Emmy found herself entirely at a loss in the midst of their clavers. Thackeray.
CLAVICHORD Clav"i*chord, n. Etym: [F. clavicorde, fr. L. clavis key + chorda string.] (Mus.)
Defn: A keyed stringed instrument, now superseded by the pianoforte. See Clarichord.
CLAVICLE Clav"i*cle, n. Etym: [F. clavicule, fr. L. clavicula a little key, tendril, dim. of clavis key, akin to claudere to shut. See Close, and cf. Clef.] (Anat.)
Defn: The collar bone, which is joined at one end to the scapula, or shoulder blade, and at the other to the sternum, or breastbone. In man each clavicle is shaped like the letter
CLAVICORN Clav"i*corn, a. Etym: [Cf. F. clavicorne.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having club-shaped antennæ. See Antennæ — n.
Defn: One of the Clavicornes.
CLAVICORNES Clav`i*cor"nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL.; Fr. L. clava club + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of beetles having club-shaped antennæ.
CLAVICULAR Cla*vic"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. claviculaire. See Clavicle.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the clavicle.
CLAVIER Cla"vi*er ( F. ), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. clavis key.] (Mus.)
Defn: The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.
Note: Clavier (
CLAVIFORM Clav"i*form, a. Etym: [L. clava club + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Club-shaped; clavate. Craig.
CLAVIGER Clav"i*ger, n. Etym: [L., fr. clavis key + gerere to carry.]
Defn: One who carries the keys of any place.
CLAVIGER Clav"i*ger, n. Etym: [L., fr. clava club + gerere to carry.]
Defn: One who carries a club; a club bearer.
CLAVIGEROUS Cla*vig"er*ous, a.
Defn: Bearing a club or a key.
CLAVIS Cla"vis, n.; pl. L. Claves, E. Clavises. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A key; a glossary.
CLAVUS Cla"vus, n. Etym: [L., a nail.]
Defn: A callous growth, esp. one the foot; a corn.
CLAVY Cla"vy, n.; pl. Clavies. Etym: [Cf. F. claveau centerpiece of an arch.] (Arch.)
Defn: A mantelpiece.
CLAW Claw, n. Etym: [AS. clawu, cla, cleó; akin to D. klaauw, G. Klaue, Icel. klo, SW. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E. clew.]
1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.
2. The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.
3. Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base of petals of the pink. Gray. Claw hammer, a hammer with one end of the metallic head cleft for use in extracting nails, etc. — Claw hammer coat, a dress coat of the swallowtail pattern. [Slang] — Claw sickness, foot rot, a disease affecting sheep.
CLAW Claw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clawing.] Etym: [AS. clawan. See Claw, n.]
1. To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails.
2. To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court. [Obs.] Rich men they claw, soothe up, and flatter; the poor they contemn and despise. Holland.
3. To rail at; to scold. [Obs.] In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth the great monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion, thanks be to God, is right well kept and observed; though he claweth them soon after in another acceptation. T. Fuller Claw me, claw thee, stand by me and I will stand by you; — an old proverb. Tyndale. To claw away, to scold or revile. "The jade Fortune is to be clawed away for it, if you should lose it." L'Estrange. To claw (one) on the back, to tickle; to express approbation. (Obs.) Chaucer. — To claw (one) on the gall, to find falt with; to vex. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLAW Claw, v. i.
Defn: To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a claw. "Clawing [in ash barrels] for bits of coal." W. D. Howells. To claw off (Naut.), to turn to windward and beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore.
CLAWBACK Claw"back`, n.
Defn: A flatterer or sycophant. [Obs.] "Take heed of these clawbacks." Latimer.
CLAWBACK Claw"back`, a.
Defn: Flattering; sycophantic. [Obs.] Like a clawback parasite. Bp. Hall.
CLAWBACK Claw"back`, v. t.
Defn: To flatter. [Obs.] Warner.
CLAWED Clawed, a.
Defn: Furnished with claws. N. Grew.
CLAWLESS Claw"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of claws.
CLAY Clay, n. Etym: [AS. clæg; akin to LG. klei, D. klei, and perh. to AS. clam clay, L. glus, gluten glue, Gr. glue. Cf. Clog.]
1. A soft earth, which is plastuc, or may be molded with the hands, consisting of hydrous silicate of alumunium. It is the result of the wearing down and decomposition, in part, of rocks containing aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and other ingredients, are often present as impurities.
2. (Poetry & Script.)
Defn: Earth in general, as representing the elementary particles of the human body; hence, the human body as formed from such particles. I also am formed out of the clay. Job xxxiii. 6. The earth is covered thick with other clay, Which her own clay shall cover. Byron. Bowlder clay. See under Bowlder. — Brick clay, the common clay, containing some iron, and therefore turning red when burned. — Clay cold, cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate. — Clay ironstone, an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand. — Clay marl, a whitish, smooth, chalky clay. — Clay mill, a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug mill. — Clay pit, a pit where clay is dug. — Clay slate (Min.), argillaceous schist; argillite. — Fatty clays, clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite, bole, etc. — Fire clay , a variety of clay, entirely free from lime, iron, or an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for fire brick. — Porcelain clay, a very pure variety, formed directly from the decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin. — Potter's clay, a tolerably pure kind, free from iron.
CLAY Clay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Claying.]
1. To cover or manure with clay.
2. To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar.
CLAY-BRAINED Clay"-brained`, a.
Defn: Stupid. [Obs.] Shak.
CLAYES Clayes, n. pl. Etym: [F. claie hurdle.] (Fort.)
Defn: Wattles, or hurdles, made with stakes interwoven with osiers, to cover lodgments. [Obs.]
CLAYEY Clay"ey, a.
Defn: Consisting of clay; abounding with clay; partaking of clay; like clay.
CLAYISH Clay"ish, a.
Defn: Partaking of the nature of clay, or containing particles of it.
CLAYMORE Clay"more`, n. Etym: [Gael. claidheamhmor a broadsword; Gael. claidheamh sword + mor great, large. Cf. Claymore.]
Defn: A large two-handed sword used formerly by the Scottish Highlanders.
CLAYTONIA Clay*to"ni*a, n. Etym: [Named after Dr.John Clayton, an American botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: An American genus of perennial herbs with delicate blossoms; — sometimes called spring beauty.
CLEADING Clead"ing, n. Etym: [Scot., clothing. See Cloth.]
1. A jacket or outer covering of wood, etc., to prevent radiation of heat, as from the boiler, cylinder. etc., of a steam engine.
2. The planking or boarding of a shaft, cofferdam, etc.
CLEAN Clean, a. [Compar. Cleaner (; superl. Cleanest.] Etym: [OE. clene, AS. cl; akin to OHG. chleini pure, neat, graceful, small, G. klein small, and perh. to W. glan clean, pure, bright; all perh. from a primitive, meaning bright, shining. Cf. Glair.]
1. Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
2. Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
3. Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, aclean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
4. Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
5. Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire. When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field. Le
6. Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Ps. li. 10 That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven Tennyson.
7. (Script.)
Defn: Free from ceremonial defilement.
8. Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy. "Lothair is clean." F. Harrison.
9. Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs. A clean bill of health, a certificate from the proper authrity that a ship is free from infection. — Clean breach. See under Breach, n., 4. — To make a clean breast. See under Breast.
CLEAN Clean, adv.
1. Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely. "Domestic broils clean overblown." Shak. "Clean contrary." Milton. All the people were passed clean over Jordan. Josh. iii. 17.
2. Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously. [Obs.] "Pope came off clean with Homer." Henley.
CLEAN Clean, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaning.] Etym: [See Clean, a., and cf. Cleanse.]
Defn: To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse. To clean out, to exhaust; to empty; to get away from (one) all his money. [Colloq.] De Quincey.
CLEAN-CUT Clean"-cut`, a.
Defn: See Clear-cut.
CLEANER Clean"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, cleans.
CLEANING Clean"ing, n.
1. The act of making clean.
2. The afterbirth of cows, ewes, etc. Gardner.
CLEANLILY Clean"li*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cleanly manner.
CLEAN-LIMBED Clean"-limbed`, a.
Defn: With well-proportioned, unblemished limbs; as, a clean-limbed young fellow. Dickens.
CLEANLINESS Clean"li*ness, n. Etym: [From Cleanly.]
Defn: State of being cleanly; neatness of person or dress. Cleanliness from head to heel. Swift.
CLEANLY Clean"ly, a. [Compar. Cleanlier; superl. Cleanliest.] Etym: [From Clean.]
1. Habitually clean; pure; innocent. "Cleanly joys." Glanvill. Some plain but cleanly country maid. Dryden. Displays her cleanly platter on the board. Goldsmith.
2. Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc. [Obs.] "With cleanly powder dry their hair." Prior.
3. Adroit; skillful; dexterous; artful. [Obs.] Through his fine handling and his cleanly play. Spenser.
CLEANLY Clean"ly, adv.
1. In a clean manner; neatly. He was very cleanly dressed. Dickens.
2. Innocently; without stain. Shak.
3. Adroitly; dexterously. Middleton.
CLEANNESS Clean"ness, n. Etym: [AS. cl. See Clean.]
1. The state or quality of being clean.
2. Purity of life or language; freedom from licentious courses. Chaucer.
CLEANSABLE Cleans"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being cleansed. Sherwood.
CLEANSE Cleanse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleansed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleansing.] Etym: [AS. clænsian, fr. clæne clean. See Clean.]
Defn: To render clean; to free from fith, pollution, infection, guilt, etc.; to clean. If we walk in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7. Can'st thou not minister to a mind diseased, And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the suffed bosom of that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart Shak.
CLEANSER Cleans"er, n. Etym: [AS. cl.]
Defn: One who, or that which, cleanses; a detergent. Arbuthnot.
CLEAN-TIMBERED Clean"-tim`bered, a.
Defn: Well-propotioned; symmetrical. [Poetic] Shak.
CLEAR Clear, a. [Compar. Clearer; superl. Clearest.] Etym: [OE. cler, cleer, OF. cler, F. clair, fr.L. clarus, clear, broght, loud, distinct, renownwd; perh. akin to L. clamare to call, E. claim. Cf. Chanticleer, Clairvoyant, Claret, Clarufy.]
1. Free from opaqueness; transparent; bright; light; luminous; unclouded. The stream is so transparent, pure, and clear. Denham. Fair as the moon, clear as the sun. Canticles vi. 10.
2. Free from ambiquity or indistinctness; lucid; perspicuous; plain; evident; manifest; indubitable. One truth is clear; whatever is, is right. Pop
3. Able to perceive clearly; keen; acute; penetrating; discriminating; as, a clear intellect; a clear head. Mother of science! now I feel thy power Within me clear, not only to discern Things in their causes, but to trace the ways Of highest agents. Milton.
4. Not clouded with passion; serene; cheerful. With a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts. Shak.
5. Easily or distinctly heard; audible; canorous. Hark! the numbers soft and clear Gently steal upon the ear. Pope.
6. Without mixture; entirely pure; as, clear sand.
7. Without defect or blemish, such as freckles or knots; as, a clear complexion; clear lumber.
8. Free from guilt or stain; unblemished. Statesman, yet friend to truth! in soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honor clear. Pope.
9. Without diminution; in full; net; as, clear profit. I often wished that I had clear, For life, six hundred pounds a-year. Swift .
10. Free from impediment or obstruction; unobstructed; as, a clear view; to keep clear of debt. My companion . . . left the way clear for him. Addison.
11. Free from embarrassment; detention, etc. The cruel corporal whispered in my ear, Five pounds, if rightly tipped, would set me clear. Gay. Clear breach. See under Breach, n., 4. — Clear days (Law.), days reckoned from one day to another, excluding both the first and last day; as, from Sunday to Sunday there are six clear days. — Clear stuff, boards, planks, etc., free from knots.
Syn. — Manifest; pure; unmixed; pellucid; transparent; luminous; obvious; visible; plain; evident; apparent; distinct; perspicuous. See Manifest.
CLEAR Clear, n. (Carp.)
Defn: 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.
CLEAR Clear, adv.
1. In a clear manner; plainly. Now clear I understand What oft . . . thoughts have searched in vain. Milton.
2. Without limitation; wholly; quite; entirely; as, to cut a piece clear off.
CLEAR Clear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleared; p. pr. & vb. n. Clearing.]
1. To render bright, transparent, or undimmed; to free from clouds. He sweeps the skies and clears the cloudy north. Dryden.
2. To free from impurities; to clarify; to cleanse.
3. To free from obscurity or ambiguity; to relive of perplexity; to make perspicuous. Many knotty points there are Which all discuss, but few can clear. Prior.
4. To render more quick or acute, as the understanding; to make perspicacious. Our common prints would clear up their understandings. Addison
5. 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. Clear your mind of cant. Dr. Johnson. A statue lies hid in a block of marble; and the art of the statuary only clears away the superfluous matter. Addison.
6. To free from the imputation of guilt; to justify, vindicate, or acquit; — often used with from before the thing imputed. I . . . am sure he will clear me from partiality. Dryden. How! wouldst thou clear rebellion Addison.
7. To leap or pass by, or over, without touching or fallure; as, to clear a hedge; to clear a reef.
8. To gain without deduction; to net. The profit which she cleared on the cargo. Macaulay. To clear a ship at the customhouse, to exhibit the documents required by law, give bonds, or perform other acts requisite, and procure a permission to sail, and such papers as the law requires. — To clear a ship for action, or To clear for action (Naut.), to remove incumbrances from the decks, and prepare for an engagement. — To clear the land (Naut.), to gain such a distance from shore as to have sea room, and be out of danger from the land. — To clear hawse (Naut.), to disentangle the cables when twisted. — To clear up, to explain; to dispel, as doubts, cares or fears.
CLEAR Clear, v. i.
1. To become free from clouds or fog; to become fair; — often fallowed by up, off, or away. So foul a sky clears without a strom. Shak. Advise him to stay till the weather clears up. Swift.
2. To disengage one's self frpm incumbrances, distress, or entanglements; to become free. [He that clears at once will relapse; for finding himself out of straits, he will revert to the customs; but he that cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of frugality. Bacon.
3. (Banking)
Defn: To make exchanges of checks and bills, and settle balances, as is done in a clearing house.
4. To obtain a clearance; as, the steamer cleared for Liverpool to- day. To clear out, to go or run away; to depart. [Colloq.]
CLEARAGE Clear"age, n.
Defn: The act of reforming anything; clearance. [R.]
CLEARANCE Clear"ance, n.
1. The act of clearing; as, to make a through clearance.
2. A certificate that a ship or vessel has been cleared at the customhouse; permission to sail. Every ship was subject to seizure for want of stamped clearances. Durke
3. Clear or net profit. Trollope.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: The distance by which one object clears another, as the distance between the piston and cylinder head at the end of a stroke in a steam engine, or the least distance between the point of a cogwell tooth and the bottom of a space between teeth of a wheel with which it engages. Clearance space (Steam engine), the space inclosed in one end of the cylinder, between the valve or valves and the piston, at the beginning of a stroke; waste room. It includes the space caused by the piston's clearance and the space in ports, passageways, etc. Its volume is often expressed as a certain proportion of the volume swept by the piston in a single stroke.
CLEARCOLE Clear"cole`, n. [F. claire colle clear glue; clair clear (f. claire) + colle glue, Gr. ]
Defn: A priming of size mixed with whiting or white lead, used in house painting, etc.; also, a size upon which gold leaf is applied in gilding.
CLEARCOLE Clear"cole`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clearcoled; p. pr. & vb. n. Clearcoling.]
Defn: To coat or paint with clearcole.
CLEAR-CUT Clear"-cut`, a.
1. Having a sharp, distinct outline, like that of a cameo. She has . . . a cold and clear-cut face. Tennyson.
2. Concisely and distinctly expressed.
CLEAREDNESS Clear"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cleared. Imputed by his friends to the clearedness, by his foes to the searedness, of his conscience. T. Fuller.
CLEARER Clear"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, clears. Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding. Addison.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A tool of which the hemp for lines and twines, used by sailmakers, is finished.
CLEAR-HEADED Clear"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a clear understanding; quick of perception; intelligent. "He was laborious and clear-headed." Macaulay. — Clear"-head`ed*ness, n.
CLEARING Clear"ing, n.
1. The act or process of making clear. The better clearing of this point. South.
2. A tract of land cleared of wood for cultivation. A lonely clearing on the shores of Moxie Lake. J. Burroughs.
3. A method adopted by banks and bankers for making an exchange of checks held by each against the others, and settling differences of accounts.
Note: In England, a similar method has been adopted by railroads for adjusting their accounts with each other.
4. The gross amount of the balances adjusted in the clearing house. Clearing house, the establishment where the business of clearing is carried on. See above, 3.
CLEARLY Clear"ly, adv.
Defn: In a clear manner.
CLEARNESS Clear"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being clear.
Syn. — Clearness, Perspicuity. Clearness has reference to our ideas, and springs from a distinct conception of the subject under consideration. Perspicuity has reference to the mode of expressing our ideas and belongs essentially to style. Hence we speak of a writer as having clear ideas, a clear arrangement, and perspicuous phraseology. We do at times speak of a person's having great clearness of style; but in such cases we are usually thinking of the clearness of his ideas as manifested in language. "Whenever men think clearly, and are thoroughly interested, they express themselves with perspicuity and force." Robertson.
CLEAR-SEEING Clear"-see`ing, a.
Defn: Having a clear physical or mental vision; having a clear understanding.
CLEAR-SHINING Clear"-shin`ing, a.
Defn: Shining brightly. Shak.
CLEAR-SIGHTED Clear"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Seeing with clearness; discerning; as, clear-sighted reason
CLEAR-SIGHTEDNESS Clear"-sight`ed*ness, n.
Defn: Acute discernment.
CLEARSTARCH Clear"starch`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clearstarched; p. pr. & vb. n. Clearstraching.]
Defn: To stiffen with starch, and then make clear by clapping with the hands; as, to clearstarch muslin.
CLEARSTARCHER Clear"starch`er, n.
Defn: One who clearstarches.
CLEARSTORY; CLERESTORY Clear"sto`ry, Clere"sto`ry, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The upper story of the nave of a church, containing windows, and rising above the aisle roofs.
CLEARWING Clear"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lepidop terous insect with partially transparent wings, of the family Ægeriadæ, of which the currant and peach-tree borers are examples.
CLEAT Cleat (klet), n. Etym: [OE. clete wedge; cf.D. kloot ball, Ger. kloss, klotz, lump. clod, MHG. kloz lump, ball, wedge, OHG. chloz ball, round mass.]
1. (Carp.)
Defn: A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: 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.
CLEAT Cleat, v. t.
Defn: To strengthen with a cleat.
CLEAVABLE Cleav"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of cleaving or being divided.
CLEAVAGE Cleav"age, n.
1. The act of cleaving or splitting.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: The quality possessed by many crystallized substances of splitting readily in one or more definite directions, in which the cohesive attraction is a minimum, affording more or less smooth surfaces; the direction of the dividing plane; a fragment obtained by cleaving, as of a diamond. See Parting.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Division into laminæ, like slate, with the lamination not necessarily parallel to the plane of deposition; — usually produced by pressure. Basal cleavage, cleavage parallel to the base of a crystal, or to the plane of the lateral axes. — Cell cleavage (Biol.), multiplication of cells by fission. See Segmentation. — Cubuc cleavage, cleavage parallel to the faces of a cube. — Diagonal cleavage, cleavage parallel to ta diagonal plane. — Egg clavage. (Biol.) See Segmentation. — Lateral cleavage, cleavage parallel to the lateral planes. — Octahedral, Dodecahedral, or Rhombohedral, cleavage, cleavage parallel to the faces of an octahedron, dodecahedron, or rhombohedron. — Prismatic cleavage, cleavage parallel to a vertical prism.
CLEAVE Cleave, v. i. [.. Cleaved (, Clave (, (Obs.); p. p. Cleaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] Etym: [OE. cleovien, clivien, cliven, AS. cleofian, clifian; akin to OS. klibon, G. kleben, LG. kliven, D. kleven, Dan. klæbe, Sw. klibba, and also to G. kleiben to cleve, paste, Icel. klifa to climb. Cf. Climb.]
1. To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast; to cling. My bones cleave to my skin. Ps. cii. 5. The diseases of Egypt . . . shall cleave unto thee. Deut. xxviii. 60. Sophistry cleaves close to and protects Sin's rotten trunk, concealing its defects. Cowper.
2. To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere with strong attachment. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife. Gen. ii. 24. Cleave unto the Lord your God. Josh. xxiii. 8.
3. To fit; to be adapted; to assimilate. [Poetic.] New honors come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to their mold But with the aid of use. Shak.
CLEAVE Cleave, v. t. [imp. Cleft, Clave (, Clove (, (Obsolescent); p. p. Cleft, Cleaved ( or Cloven (; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] Etym: [OE. cleoven, cleven, AS. cleófan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G. klieben, Icel. kljufa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. klöve and prob. to Gr. glubere to peel. Cf. Cleft.]
1. To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Shak.
2. To pert or open naturally; to divide. Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws. Deut. xiv. 6.
CLEAVE Cleave, v. i.
Defn: To part; to open; to crack; to separate; as parts of bodies; as, the ground cleaves by frost. The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst. Zech. xiv. 4.
CLEAVELANDITE Cleave"land*ite, n. Etym: [From Professor Parker Cleaveland.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of albite, white and lamellar in structure.
CLEAVER Cleav"er, n.
Defn: One who cleaves, or that which cleaves; especially, a butcher's instrument for cutting animal bodies into joints or pieces.
CLEAVERS Cleav"ers, n. Etym: [From Cleave to stick.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Galium (G. Aparine), having a fruit set with hooked bristles, which adhere to whatever they come in contact with; — called also, goose grass, catchweed, etc.
CLECHE Clé`ché", a. Etym: [F. cléché.] (Her.)
Defn: Charged with another bearing of the same figure, and of the color of the field, so large that only a narrow border of the first bearing remains visible; — said of any heraldic bearing. Compare Voided.
CLECHY Cle"chy, a.
Defn: See Cléché.
CLEDGE Cledge, n. Etym: [Cf. Clay.] (Mining.)
Defn: The upper stratum of fuller's earth.
CLEDGY Cledg"y, a.
Defn: Stiff, stubborn, clayey, or tenacious; as, a cledgy soil. Halliwell.
CLEE Clee, n.
Defn: A claw. [Holland.
CLEE Clee, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The redshank.
CLEEK Cleek, n.
1. A large hook or crook, as for a pot over a fire; specif., an iron- headed golf club with a straight, narrow face and a long shaft.
2. Act of cleeking; a clutch. [Scot.]
CLEEK Cleek, v. t. [pret. Claught; pret. & p. p. Cleeked; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleeking.] [ME. cleken, clechen, to seize, clutch; perh. akin to E. clutch.] [Scot & Dial. Eng.]
1.
Defn: To seize; clutch; snatch; catch; pluck.
2. To catch or draw out with a cleek, as a fish; to hook.
3. To hook or link (together); hence, to marry. Scott.
CLEF Clef, n. Etym: [F. clef key, a key in music, fr. L. clavis key. See Clavicle.] (Mus.)
Defn: A character used in musical notation to determine the position and pitch of the scale as represented on the staff.
Note: The clefs are three in number, called the C, F, and G clefs, and are probably corruptions or modifications of these letters. They indicate that the letters of absolute pitch belonging to the lines upon which they are placed, are respectively C, F, and G. The F or bass clef, and the G or treble clef, are fixed in their positions upon the staff. The C clef may have three positions. It may be placed upon the first or lower line of the staff, in which case it is called soprano clef, upon the third line, in which case it called alto clef, or upon the fourth line, in which case tenor clef. It rarely or never is placed upon the second line, except in ancient music. See other forms of C clef under C, 2. Alto clef, Bass clef. See under Alto, Bass.