Causerie, kōz′ri,n.a talk or gossip: a paragraph of chat about literature or art; a short and informal essay on any subject in a newspaper or magazine—as in Sainte-Beuve's famousCauseries du Lundi. [Fr.]
Causeway, kawz′wā,Causey,kawz′e,n.a raised way through a marsh: a pathway raised and paved with stone: a paved street.—v.t.to pave.—p.adjs.Cause′wayed,Caus′eyed. [Causewayis formed fromCauseyandWay.Causeyis in M. E.causee—O. Fr.caucie—Low L.calciata—L.calx, heel.]
Caustic, kaws′tik,adj.burning: (fig.) bitter, severe, cutting: (math.) noting an envelope of rays of light proceeding from a fixed point and reflected (catacaustic) or refracted (diacaustic) by a surface or a curve.—n.a substance that exerts a corroding or disintegrating action on the skin and flesh.—adv.Caus′tically.—n.Caustic′ity, quality of being caustic.—Caustic alkali(chem.), a name given to the hydrates of potassium and sodium, called caustic potash and caustic soda respectively;Caustic ammonia, ammonia as a gas, or in solution;Caustic lime, quicklime.—Common caustic, potash;Lunar caustic, nitrate of silver in sticks for surgical use. [L.,—Gr.kaustikos—kai-ein,kaus-ein, to burn.]
Cautel, kaw′tel,n.(Shak.) craft: insidious purpose: caution: wariness: a traditionary caution or written direction about the proper manner of administering the sacraments.—adj.Cau′telous(Shak.), cautious: insidious: artful. [Fr.cautèle—L.cautela—cavēre,cautum, to guard against.]
Cauterise, kaw′tėr-īz,v.t.to burn with a caustic or a hot iron: (fig.) to sear.—ns.Cau′ter,Cau′tery, a burning with caustics or a hot iron: a burning iron or caustic used for burning tissue;Cauterisā′tion,Cau′terism. [Fr.cautériser—Low L.cauterizāre—Gr.kautēr, a hot iron—kai-ein, to burn.]
Caution, kaw′shun,n.heedfulness: security: warning: a surety: (Scot.) bail.—v.t.to warn to take care.—adj.Cau′tionary, containing caution: given as a pledge.—ns.Cau′tioner, one who cautions or advises: (Scots law) a surety;Cau′tionry, the act of giving security for another.—adj.Cau′tious, possessing or using caution: watchful: prudent.—adv.Cau′tiously.—n.Cau′tiousness.—Caution money, money paid in advance as security for good behaviour. [Fr.,—L.caution-em—cavēre, to beware.]
Cavalcade, kav-al-kād′,n.a train or procession of persons on horseback.—v.i.to go in a cavalcade. [Fr., through It. and Low L. forms from L.caballus, a horse.]
Cavalier, kav-al-ēr′,n.a knight: a Royalist in the great Civil War: a swaggering fellow: a gallant or gentleman in attendance upon a lady, as her escort or partner in a dance or the like: in military fortification, a raised work so situated as to command the neighbouring country.—adj.like a cavalier: gay: war-like: haughty, supercilious, free-and-easy.—v.i.to act as cavalier.—adj.Cavalier′ish.—n.Cavalier′ism.—adv.Cavalier′ly.—n.Cavalier′o, a cavalier.—Cavaliere-servente(It.), one who waits upon a lady, esp. a married lady, with fantastic devotion—a cicisbeo. [Fr.,—It.cavallo. SeeCavalcade.]
Cavalry, kav′al-ri,n.horse-soldiers: a troop of horse or horsemen. [Fr.cavallerie—It.cavalleria—L.caballarius, horseman.]
Cavass.SeeKavass.
Cavatina, kav-at-ē′na,n.a short form of operatic air, of a smooth and melodious character, differing from the ordinary aria in consisting only of one part, and frequently appearing as part of a grand scena. [It.]
Cave, kāv,n.a hollow place in the earth: a den: any small faction of seceders from a political party.—v.t.to hollow out.—v.i.to lodge in a cave.—n.Cave′-bear(Ursus spelæus), a fossil bear of the Quaternary epoch.—n.pl.Cave′-dwell′ers, prehistoric men who lived in caves.—n.Cav′ing, yielding.—To cave in, of land, to slip, to fall into a hollow: to yield to outside pressure, to give way, collapse. [Fr.,—L.cavus, hollow.]
Caveat, kā′ve-at,n.a notice or warning: a formal warning, entered in the books of a court or public office, that no step shall be taken in a particular matter without notice to the person lodging the caveat, so that he may appear and object. [L., 'let him take care'—cavēre, to take care.]
Cavendish, kav′en-dish,n.tobacco moistened and pressed into quadrangular cakes. [Possibly from the name of the original manufacturer.]
Cavern, kav′ėrn,n.a deep hollow place in the earth.—v.t.to put in a cavern: to hollow out, in the form of a cavern.—adjs.Cav′erned, full of caverns: dwelling in a cavern;Cav′ernous, hollow: full of caverns.—adv.Cav′ernously.—adj.Caver′nūlous, full of little cavities. [Fr.,—L.caverna—cavus, hollow.]
Cavesson, kav′es-on,n.a nose-band for a horse. [Fr.,—It.—L.capitia,capitium, a head-covering.]
Cavetto, ka-vet′to,n.a hollowed moulding whose curvature is the quarter of a circle, used chiefly in cornices. [It.; dim. ofcavo—L.cavus, hollow.]
Caviare,Caviar, kav-i-är′, orkav-i-ār′(originally four syllables),n.an article of food made from the salted roes of the sturgeon, &c.: (fig.) something whose flavour is too fine for the vulgar taste. [Prob. the 16th-cent. It.caviale; the Turk,khāvyāris prob. borrowed.]
Cavicorn, kav′i-korn,adj.hollow-horned, as a ruminant.—n.one of theCavicor′nia, a family contrasted with the solid-horned ruminants, or deer (Cervidæ). [L.cavus, hollow,cornu, a horn.]
Cavie, kāv′i,n.a hen-coop or cage. [Dut.kevie; Ger.käfig.]
Cavil, kav′il,v.t.to make empty, trifling objections: to use false arguments:—pr.p.cav′illing;pa.p.cav′illed.—n.a frivolous objection.—ns.Cavillā′tion,Cav′illing;Cav′iller. [O. Fr.caviller—L.cavillāri, to practise jesting—cavilla, jesting.]
Cavity, kav′it-i,n.a hollow place: hollowness: an opening.—adj.Cav′itied. [L.cavitas,-tatem—cavus, hollow.]
Cavo-rilievo, kä′vō-rē-lyā′vō,n.a kind of relief in which the highest surface is level with the plane of the original stone, which is left round the outlines of the design.—AlsoIntaglio-rilievoandCœlanaglyphic sculpture. [It.cavo, hollow,rilievo, relief. SeeCaveandRelief.]
Cavort, kav-ort′,v.i.(U.S. slang) to curvet, bound. [Explained as a corr. ofCurvet.]
Cavy, kāv′i,n.a genus of Rodents, best known by the domesticated species, the common guinea-pig. [Cabiai, the native name in French Guiana.]
Caw, kaw,v.i.to cry as a crow.—n.the cry of a crow—alsoKaw.—n.Caw′ing. [From the sound.]
Cawk, kawk,n.a miner's familiar name for heavy spar. [Prov. Eng.cauk,Chalk.]
Cawker. Same asCalker.
Caxon, kak′son,n.a kind of wig formerly worn. [Origin obscure.]
Caxton, kaks′ton,n.a book printed by WilliamCaxton(1422-91), the first English printer: a kind of printing-type in imitation of Caxton's.
Cay, kā,n.a low islet, the same asKey. [Sp.cayo.]
Cayenne, kā-en′,Cayenne-pepper,kā-en′-pep′ėr,n.a very pungent red pepper, made from several species of capsicum.—adj.Cayenned′, seasoned with cayenne. [Usually referred toCayennein French Guiana; but there is little doubt the word is Brazilian.]
Cayman, kā′man,n.a local name loosely applied to various species of alligator—to that of the Mississippi, and more frequently to others found in tropical or subtropical America. [Sp.caiman, most prob. Carib.]
Cazique, a form ofCacique.
Cease, sēs,v.i.to give over: to stop: to be at an end (withfrom).—v.t.to put an end to.—n.(Shak.) extinction.—adj.Cease′less, without ceasing: incessant.—adv.Cease′lessly.—n.Ceas′ing.—Without cease, continually. [Fr.cesser—L.cessāre, to give over—cedĕre, to yield, give up.]
Cebadilla.SeeCevadilla.
Cebus, sē′bus,n.a genus of South American monkeys—Cebidæ(seb′i-dē)is sometimes applied to all the broad-nosed New-World monkeys (Platyrrhini) with prehensile tails, in contrast to the Pithecidæ. [Gr.kēbos.]
Cecidomyia, ses-i-dom-ī′ya,n.a genus of dipterous (two-winged) insects in the Tipularia (gnat and mosquito) division. [Gr.kēkis,-idos, juice.]
Cecils, sē′silz,n.pl.minced meat, bread crumbs, onions, &c., made up into balls and fried.
Cecity, sē′si-ti,n.blindness. [L.cæcitas—cæcus, blind.]
Cedar, sē′dar,n.a large evergreen tree remarkable for the durability and fragrance of its wood; applied also to many more or less similar trees, as the Barbadoes cedar, properly a juniper, and the Bastard Barbadoes cedar, properly aCedrela(used for canoes, cigar-boxes, blacklead pencils).—adj.made of cedar.—adjs.Cē′dared, covered with cedars;Cē′darn(Milton), pertaining to or made of cedar;Cē′drine, belonging to the cedar-tree;Cē′dry, obsolete form ofCē′dary, having the colour or properties of cedar. [L.—Gr.kedros.]
Cede, sēd,v.t.to yield or give up to another.—v.i.to give way. [L.cedĕre,cessum, to yield, give up.]
Cedilla, se-dil′la,n.a mark placed under the letterc(thusç), esp. in French, to show that it is to have its soft sound ofs, where one would expect the hard, as beforea,o,u. [Sp. (Fr.cédille, It.zediglia), all fromzēta, the Greek name ofz.]
Cedrate, sē′drāt,n.the citron. [Fr.,—L.citrus.]
Cedrela, sed′rē-la,n.a tropical genus ofMeliaceæ, allied to mahogany, whose wood is popularly called cedar.—adj.Cedrelā′ceous. [Gr.kedrelatē—kedros, cedar,elatē, the silver fir.]
Cedula, sed′ū-lä,n.a South American promissory-note or mortgage-bond on lands. [Sp. Cf.Schedule.]
Cee-spring,C-spring, sē′-spring,n.a spring supporting the frame of a carriage, in the shape of a C.
Ceil,Ciel, sēl,v.t.to overlay the inner roof of a room, generally to plaster it: to wainscot.—n.Ceil′ing, the inner roof of a room. [Prob. conn. with Fr.ciel, It.cielo, Low L.cælum, a canopy.]
Celadon, sel′a-don,n.a pale-green colour. [Fr.]
Celandine, sel′an-dīn,n.swallow-wort, the popular name (and corruption) ofChelidonium majus, a perennial papaveraceous (poppy) herb, so named because it was supposed to flower when the swallows appeared, and to perish when they departed. [O. Fr.celidoine—Gr.chelidonion—chelidōn, a swallow.]
Celebrate, sel′e-brāt,v.t.to make famous: to distinguish by solemn ceremonies, as a festival or an event: to perform with proper rites and ceremonies, as mass, the eucharist, marriage, &c.: to publish the praises of.—n.Cel′ebrant, one who celebrates: the principal officiant at the holy communion.—adj.Cel′ebrated, distinguished: famous.—ns.Celebrā′tion, act of celebrating any solemn ceremony, as the eucharist (high, if with music, &c.;low, if without): an extolling;Celebrāt′or, one who celebrates;Celeb′rity, the condition of being celebrated: fame: notoriety: a person of distinction or fame. [L.celebrāre,-ātum—celeber, frequented.]
Celerity, sel-er′it-i,n.quickness: rapidity of motion. [Fr.,—L.celeritas—celer, quick.]
Celery, sel′er-i,n.a kitchen vegetable cultivated for its long blanched succulent stalks. [Fr.céleri—L. and Gr.selīnon, parsley.]
Celestial, sel-est′yal,adj.heavenly: dwelling in heaven: in the visible heavens.—n.an inhabitant of heaven.—adv.Celest′ially.—The Celestial Empire, a name for China. [Through Fr. from L.cœlestis—cœlum, heaven.]
Celestine, sel′es-tīn, orsel-es′tin,n.one of an order of monks following the rule of St Benedict, wearing a white garment with black hood and scapulary, founded about 1254 by Peter da Murrone, who became PopeCelestineV. in 1294, and resigned after five years—'the great refusal' of Dante.
Celestine, sel′es-tin,n.a mineral, native sulphate of strontia.—AlsoCel′estite. [From its sky-blue colour.]
Celiac, sē′li-ak,adj.Same asCœliac.
Celibacy, sel′i-bas-i, orse-lib′as-i,n.a single life: an unmarried state.—adjs.Celibatā′rian, favouring celibacy;Cel′ibate, living single.—n.one unmarried, or not allowed to marry. [L.cœlebs, single.]
Cell, sel,n.a small room in a prison, monastery, &c.: a cave: a small shut cavity: the grave: a unit-mass of living matter, whether rounded off by itself, as in the simplest plants or animals, and in the youngest stage of all organisms, or associated with other cells to form a higher unity.—adjs.Celled, having cells, cellular;Cellif′erous, having or producing cells;Cell′ular,Cell′ulated, consisting of or containing cells.—n.Cell′ule, a little cell.—adj.Cellulif′erous, having or producing little cells.—n.Cell′uloid, a hard elastic compound used for ivory, obtained by hydraulic pressure from pyroxylin, mixed with camphor, &c.—adj.Cell′ulose, containing cells.—n.the substance of which the permanent cell-membranes of plants are composed. [O. Fr.celle—L.cella, conn. withcelāre, to cover.]
Cella, sel′a,n.the body of the temple, as distinguished from the portico, &c.
Cellar, sel′ar,n.any underground room or vault: a cell underground, where stores are kept, esp. wine, &c.—v.t.to store in a cellar.—ns.Cell′arage, space for cellars: cellars: charge for storing in cellars;Cell′arer,Cell′arist, one who has charge of the cellar: an officer in a monastery who has the charge of procuring and keeping the provisions;Cell′aret, an ornamental case for holding bottles;Cell′arman, one who has the care of a cellar.—adj.Cell′arous(Dickens), belonging to a cellar: excavated: sunken. [O. Fr.celier—L.cellarium—cella.]
Cello, chel′o, forVioloncello; sometimes written'Cello.—Cellist,'Cellist, forVioloncellist.
Cellulares, sel-ū-lā′rez,n.pl.a name sometimes applied to theCryptogamia—properly only to the mosses and lower cryptogams.
Celt, selt,n.a cutting instrument of stone or bronze found in ancient barrows. [Founded onCelte, perh. a misreading forcerte('surely'), in the Vulgate, Job, xix. 24, there being apparently no such Latin word asceltes, a chisel.]
Celt, selt,n.one of the Celts, an Aryan race, now represented by the Bretons, the Welsh, the Irish, and the Scottish Highlanders—also Kelt.—adj.Celt′ic.—ns.Celt′icism, a Celtic idiom or custom;Celtomā′nia. [L.Celtæ; Gr.KeltoiorKeltai.]
Cement, se-ment′,n.anything that makes two bodies stick together: mortar: a bond of union.—v.t.to unite with cement: to join firmly.—n.Cementā′tion, the act of cementing: the process by which iron is turned into steel, glass into porcelain, &c.—done by surrounding them with a cement or powder and exposing them to heat.—adjs.Cement′atory,Cementi′tious, having the quality of cementing or uniting firmly. [O. Fr.ciment—L.cæmentum, chip of stone used to fill up in building a wall,cædimentum—cædĕre, to cut.]
Cemetery, sem′e-tėr-i,n.a burying-ground. [Low L.cæmeterium—Gr.koimētērion.]
Cenacle, sen′a-kl,n.a supper-room, esp. that in which the Last Supper was eaten by Jesus and His disciples. [Fr.cénacle—L.cenaculum.]
Cenobite.Same asCœnobite.
Cenotaph, sen′ō-taf,n.a sepulchral monument to one who is buried elsewhere. [Fr.,—L.—Gr.kenotaphion—kenos, empty, andtaphos, a tomb.]
Cenozoic, sē-no-zō′ik,adj.Same asCainozoic.
Cense, sens,v.t.to burn incense before: (obs.) to think.—n.(obs.) a public rate or tax: rank, condition. [SeeCensus.]
Censer, sens′ėr,n.a pan in which incense is burned. [O. Fr.censier,encensier(mod.encensoir)—Low L.incensorium—L.incendĕre,incensum, to burn.]
Censor, sen′sor,n.in ancient Rome, an officer who kept account of the property of the citizens, imposed taxes, and watched over their morals: an officer who examines books or newspapers before they are printed: one who censures or blames.—adjs.Censō′rial, belonging to a censor, or to the correction of public morals;Censō′rious, expressing censure: fault-finding—alsoCensō′rian.—adv.Censō′riously.—ns.Censō′riousness;Cen′sorship, office of censor: time during which he holds office.—Censorship of the press, a regulation of certain governments, by which books and newspapers must be examined by officers, whose approval is necessary to their publication. [L.,—censēre, to weigh, to estimate.]
Censure, sen′shūr,n.an unfavourable judgment: blame: reproof: (obs.) criticism, judgment generally.—v.t.to blame: to condemn as wrong.—adj.Cen′surable, deserving of censure: blamable.—n.Cen′surableness.—adv.Cen′surably. [L.censūra, an opinion, a severe judgment—censēre, to estimate or judge.]
Census, sen′sus,n.an official enumeration of the inhabitants of a country, and of statistics relating to them.—adj.Cen′sual, relating to or containing a census. [L.census, a register.]
Cent, sent,n.a hundred: an American coin—the hundredth part of a dollar.—ns.Cent′age, rate by the hundred;Cent′al, a weight of 100 lb. proposed for general adoption, legalised in 1878.—Per cent., by the hundred. [L.centum, a hundred.]
Centaur, sen′tawr,n.a fabulous monster, half-man, half-horse.—adj.Centau′rian. [L.,—Gr.kentauros; ety. dub.]
Centaury, sen′taw-ri,n.an annual with pink or rose-coloured flowers, possessing the tonic and other medicinal virtues of gentian, esteemed in medicine since the days of Galen.
Centenary, sen′tin-ar-i (also sometimessen-tēn′ar-iand evensen-ten′ar-i),n.a hundred: a century or hundred years.—adj.pertaining to a hundred.—ns.Centenā′rian, one a hundred years old;Centenā′rianism;Centenier(sen′ten-ēr), a centurion: a police-officer in Jersey. [L.,—centeni, a hundred each—centum.]
Centennial, sen-ten′i-al,adj.happening once in a hundred years.—n.a hundredth anniversary. [Coined from L.centum, andannus, a year.]
Center.SeeCentre.
Centering, sen′tėr-ing,n.(archit.) the framework upon which an arch or vault of stone, brick, or iron is supported during its construction.
Centesimal, sen-tes′i-mal,adj.hundredth.—adv.Centes′imally. [L.centesimus—centum.]
Centifolious, sen-ti-fō′li-us,adj.hundred-leaved.
Centigrade, sen′ti-grād,adj.having a hundred degrees: divided into a hundred degrees, as the centigrade thermometer constructed by Celsius (1701-44), in which freezing-point is zero and boiling-point is 100° (for its relation to the Fahrenheit scale, seeThermometer). [L.centum, andgradus, a step, a degree.]
Centigramme, sen′ti-gram,n.in the Metric System, the hundredth part of a gramme, or .1543248 of a gr. troy. [Fr.,—L.centum, a hundred, andGramme.]
Centilitre, sen′ti-lē-tr,n.the hundredth part of a litre, a little more than6⁄10ths of a cubic inch. [Fr.,—L.centum, a hundred, andLitre.]
Centime, sen-tēm′,n.the hundredth part of anything, esp. a French coin, the hundredth part of a franc. [Fr.,—L.centum, a hundred.]
Centimetre, sen′ti-mē-tr,n.a lineal measure, the hundredth part of a metre—0.3937 inches. [Fr.,—L.centum, a hundred,metrum, Gr.metron, a measure.]
Centinel.Same asSentinel.
Centipede, sen′ti-pēd,n.a general name for the members of one of the orders of the classMyriapoda, being segmented animals bearing jointed appendages, having a well-defined head furnished with feelers and jaws, and breathing by means of air-tubes or tracheæ. [L.centum, andpes,pedis, a foot.]
Centner, sent′ner,n.a common name on the Continent for a hundredweight.
Cento, sen′to,n.a name applied to literary trivialities in the form of poems manufactured by putting together distinct verses or passages of one author, or of several authors, so as to make a new meaning: a composition formed by joining scraps from other authors: expressing contempt, a mere string of commonplace phrases and quotations:—pl.usuallyCen′tos.—ns.Cen′toist;Cen′tonism,Cen′toism. [L.cento, Gr.kentrōn, patchwork.]
Centre,Center, sen′tėr,n.the middle point of anything, esp. a circle or sphere: the middle: the point toward which all things move or are drawn: the chief leader of an organisation—head-centre: the men of moderate political opinions in the French Chamber, sitting right in front of the president, with extreme men on the right and on the left—further subdivisions areRight-centreandLeft-centre: the Ultramontane party in Germany.—v.t.to place on or collect to a centre.—v.i.to be placed in the middle:—pr.p.cen′tring,cen′tering;pa.p.cen′tred,cen′tered.—adj.Cen′tral, belonging to the centre, principal, dominant: belonging to a nerve-centre, of affections caused by injury to the brain or spinal cord.—ns.Centralisā′tion,Cen′tralism, the tendency to administer by the sovereign or central government matters which would be otherwise under local management.—v.t.Cen′tralise, to draw to a centre.—n.Central′ity, central position.—advs.Cen′trally,Cen′trically.—ns.Cen′tre-bit, a joiner's tool, turning on a centre, for boring circular holes—one of the chief tools of the burglar;Cen′tre-board, a shifting keel, fitted to drop below and in line with the keel proper in order to increase or diminish the draught of a boat—much used in United States racing yachts;Cen′tre-piece, an ornament for the middle of a table, ceiling, &c.—adjs.Cen′tric,Cen′trical, relating to, placed in, or containing the centre.—ns.Cen′tricalness,Centric′ity;Cen′trum, the body of a vertebra.—Central fire, said of a cartridge in which the fulminate is placed in the centre of the base, as opposed torim fire;Central forces, forces whose action is to cause a moving body to tend towards a fixed point called the centre of force.—Centre of attraction, the point to which bodies tend by the force of gravity;Centre of buoyancy, ordisplacement, the point in an immersed body at which the resultant vertical pressure may be supposed to act;Centre of gravity, a certain point, invariably situated with regard to the body, through which the resultant of the attracting forces between the earth and its several molecules always passes;Centre of inertia, ormass, the centre of a set of parallel forces acting on all the particles of a body, each force being proportional to the mass of the particle on which it acts;Centre of oscillation, the point in a body occupied by that particle which is accelerated and retarded to an equal amount, and which therefore moves as if it were a single pendulum unconnected with the rest of the body;Centre of percussion, the point in which the direction of a blow, given to a body, intersects the plane in which the fixed axis and the centre of inertia lie, making the body begin to rotate about a fixed axis, without causing any pressure on the axis;Centre of pressure, the point at which the direction of a single force, which is equivalent to the fluid pressure on the plane surface, meets the surface. [Fr.,—L.centrum—Gr.kentron, a sharp point.]
Centrifugal, sen-trif′ū-gal,adj.relating to the force directed towards the centre of curvature constantly required to keep a body moving in a curve instead of in its natural straight line: (bot.) applied to an inflorescence when the development proceeds from the apex towards the base of the axis or leaf, as opposed tocentripetal, when it is from the base upwards towards the apex.—n.Cen′trifuge, a centrifugal machine. [L.centrum, andfug-ĕre, to flee from.]
Centripetal, sen-trip′et-al,adj.of a force impelling a body towards some point as a centre. [L.centrum, andpet-ĕre, to seek.]
Centrobaric, sen-tro-bar′ik,adj.relating to the centre of gravity. [L.centrum, and Gr.baros, weight.]
Centrode, sen′trōd,n.a locus traced out by the successive positions of an instantaneous centre of pure rotation.
Centumvir, sen-tum′vir,n.one of the Roman judges chosen annually for civil suits, originally 105 in number (three from each of the thirty-five tribes):—pl.Centum′virī.—n.Centum′virate. [L.centum, a hundred, andvir, a man.]
Centuple, sen′tū-pl,adj.hundredfold.—v.t.Centū′plicate, to multiply a hundred times.—n.Centuplicā′tion. [L.centuplex—centum, andplicāre, to fold.]
Century, sen′tū-ri,n.a hundred, or something consisting of a hundred in number, as sonnets, &c.: a hundred years.—adj.Centū′rial.—ns.Centū′riātor, the centuriators of Magdeburg were a group of Reformed divines who in the 16th century compiled a church history in 13 vols., each volume covering a century;Centū′rion, among the Romans, the commander of a hundred men.—Century plant(seeAgave). [L.centuria—centum.]
Ceorl, churl,n.before the Norman Conquest an ordinary freeman not of noble birth. [A.S.]
Cephalaspis, sef-a-las′pis,n.a genus of fossil Ganoid fishes found in the Upper Silurian and Devonian measures. [Gr.kephalē, the head,aspis, a shield.]
Cephalic, se-fal′ik,adj.belonging to the head—alsoCephalis′tic.—ns.Cephalag′ra, gout in the head;Cephalal′gia,Ceph′algy, headache.—adjs.Cephalal′gic;Ceph′alate, having a head, as a mollusc.—n.Cephalī′tis, inflammation of the brain.—adjs.Ceph′aloid, in the form of the head: spherical.—ns.Ceph′alo-thō′rax, the anterior division of the body in arthropods;Cephalot′omy, the dissection of the head.—adj.Ceph′alous, having a head. [Gr.kephalikos—kephalē, the head.]
Cephalopoda, sef-al-op′od-a,n.pl.the highest class of molluscs, usually large animals, exclusively marine, with well-developed head region, but having the ventral surface grown round the mouth and split up into arms bearing suckers—more commonlycuttlefish.—adj.Ceph′alopod. [Gr.kephalē, the head,pous,podos, the foot.]
Cephaloptera, sef-a-lop′tėr-a,n.a name formerly used for a genus of rays. [Gr.kephalē, the head,ptera, wings.]
Ceramic, se-ram′ik,adj.pertaining to pottery. [Gr.keramos, potter's earth.]
Cerasine, ser′a-sin,n.the insoluble portion of the gum which exudes from the cherry, &c. [L.cerasus, Gr.kerasos, the cherry-tree.]
Cerastes, se-ras′tēz,n.a genus of poisonous snakes having a horny process over each eye. [L.; Gr.kerastēs—keras, a horn.]
Cerate, sē′rāt,n.a compound of wax with other oily or medicinal substances in such proportions as to form a stiff ointment.—adj.Cē′rated.—n.Cero′mancy, divination from figures produced by melted wax when dropped into water. [L.cerāre,cerātum, to cover with wax,cera, wax.]
Ceratitis, ser-a-tī′tis,n.inflammation of the cornea.—AlsoKeratī′tis.
Ceratode, ser′a-tōd,n.the horny skeletal substance of sponges—alsoCer′atose.—adjs.Cerat′odous,Cer′atose.
Ceratoid, ser′a-toid,adj.horny.
Ceraunic, se-raw′nik,adj.pertaining to, or produced by, thunder.—ns.Cerau′nite, a belemnite;Cerau′noscope, an apparatus for imitating thunder and lightning in ancient mysteries. [Gr.keraunos, a thunderbolt.]
Cerberus, ser′bėr-us,n.(myth.) the monster that guarded the entrance to Hades, a dog with three, according to some a hundred, heads.—adj.Cerbē′rian. [L.—Gr.Kerberos.]
Cercaria, ser-kā′ri-a,n.the technical name applied to an embryonic form of many flukes.—adj.Cercā′rian. [Gr.kerkos, a tail.]
Cere, sēr,v.t.to cover with wax.—n.the bare waxlike patch at the base of the upper part of the beak in birds.—adj.Cerā′ceous, of or like wax.—ns.Cerā′go, a wax-like substance (bee-bread) used by bees as food;Cere′cloth,Cere′ment, a cloth dipped in melted wax in which to wrap a dead body: a winding-sheet or grave-clothes generally.—adjs.Cē′reous, waxy;Cē′ric.—ns.Cē′rin,Cē′rine, the portion of wax which dissolves in boiling alcohol: a waxy substance obtained by boiling grated cork in alcohol;Cē′rograph, a writing on wax: an encaustic painting.—adjs.Cerograph′ic,-al.—ns.Cerog′raphist;Cerog′raphy, the art of writing or engraving on wax.—adj.Ceroplas′tic, modelled or moulded in wax.—n.the art of modelling in wax.—n.Cer′osine, a wax-like substance produced on the surface of certain species of sugar-cane. [L.cera, cog. with Gr.kēros, wax; Gr.graphein, to write,plassein, to mould.]
Cereal.SeeCeres.
Cerebrum, ser′e-brum,n.the front and larger part of the brain.—adjs.Cerebell′ar,Cerebell′ous.—n.Cerebell′um, the hinder and lower part of the brain.—adj.Cer′ebral, pertaining to the cerebrum.—ns.Cer′ebralism, the theory that all mental operations originate in the cerebrum;Cer′ebralist.—v.i.Cer′ebrate, to show brain action.—n.Cerebrā′tion, action of the brain, conscious or unconscious, marked by molecular changes in the cerebrum.—adjs.Cer′ebric, cerebral;Cereb′riform, brain-shaped.—ns.Cer′ebrin, a name given to several nitrogenous non-phosphorised substances obtained from the brain;Cerebrī′tis, inflammation of the cerebrum.—adj.Cer′ebro-spīn′al, relating to the brain and spinal cord together.—Cerebral hemispheres, the two great divisions of the cerebrum. [L.cerebrum, the brain; prob. cog. with Gr.kara, the head,kranion, the cranium.]
Ceremony, ser′e-mo-ni,n.a sacred rite: the outward form, religious or otherwise: any empty form without inwardness: pomp or state; a portent or omen.—adj.Ceremō′nial, relating to ceremony.—n.outward form: a system of ceremonies.—n.Ceremō′nialism, adherence to outward form.—adv.Ceremō′nially.—adj.Ceremō′nious, full of ceremony: particular in observing forms: precise.—adv.Ceremō′niously.—n.Ceremōniousness.—Master of ceremonies, the person who directs the form and order of the ceremonies to be observed on some public occasion. [Fr.—L.cærimonia, sanctity.]
Ceres, sē′rēz,n.the Roman name for the Greek Demētēr, goddess of tillage and corn.—adj.Cē′real, relating to corn or edible grain.—n.pl.Cē′reals, the grains used as food, such as wheat, barley, &c. [L. prob. from root ofcreāre, to create.]
Cereus, sē′ri-us,n.a large genus of cactuses, including some of the most imposing forms. [L., 'waxen.']
Cerge, sėrj,n.a large wax-candle burned before the altar.—AlsoCierge,Serge. [O. Fr.,—L.cereus—cera, wax.]
Cerinthian, ser-in′thi-an,adj.pertaining toCerinthus, one of the earliest heretics in the Christian Church, against whose crude Gnosticism the Gospel of John was written, according to Irenæus.
Ceriph.Same asSerif.
Cerise, ser-ēz′,n.andadj.a light and clear red colour. [Fr., 'cherry.']
Cerium, sē′ri-um,n.a rare metal found in the mineralCē′rite, which is its hydrated silicate. [Named from the plantCeres.]
Cern, sėrn (Shak.).Concern.
Ceromancy.SeeCerate.
Ceroon.SeeSeroon.
Ceroplastic.SeeCere.
Certain, sėr′tān, orsėr′tin,adj.sure: not to be doubted: resolved: fixed: regular: inevitable: some: one.—advs.Cer′tainly, (Scot.)Cer′ty,Cer′tie.—ns.Cer′titude,Cer′tainty.—'A certain person,' implying some degree of contempt;A lady of a certain age, of an age best not stated accurately—at least no longer young.—For certain, assuredly.—Moral certainty, a conviction so justifiable that one is morally entitled to act on it. [O. Fr.,—L.certus—cern-ĕre, to decide.]
Certes, sėr′tēz,adv.certainly: in sooth. [Fr.]
Certificate, sėr-tif′i-kāt,n.a written declaration of some fact: a testimonial of character or definite statement of qualifications.—v.t.to give a certificate.—ns.Certificā′tion;Certif′icatory, a certificate—alsoadj.—n.Cer′tifier, one who certifies.—v.t.Cer′tify, to make known as certain: to inform: to declare in writing:—pr.p.cer′tifying;pa.p.cer′tified. [Fr.certificat—L.certificāre,certus, andfacĕre, to make.]
Certiorari, sėr-shi-o-rā′ri,n.the writ by which, since the abolition of imprisonment for debt and the consequent disuse of the better-known writ,habeas corpus, causes are removed from inferior courts of record into the High Court of Justice. [Low L., 'be informed of'—certior, comp. ofcertus, certain.]
Cerulean, se-rū′le-an,adj.sky-blue: dark-blue; sea-green.—adj.Cerū′leous. [L.cæruleus.]
Cerulein, sėr-ū′lē-in,n.a coal-tar colour chiefly used in dyeing cotton fabrics, producing fast olive-green shades.
Cerumen, se-rū′men,n.the yellow waxy matter secreted in the ear.—adj.Cerū′minous. [L.cera, wax.]
Ceruse, sē′rōōs, orser-ūs′,n.white-lead, the native carbonate of lead.—n.Cē′rusite. [Fr.,—L.cerussa, conn. withcera, wax.]
Cervical, sėr′vi-kal,adj.belonging to the neck. [Fr.,—L.cervix,cervicis, the neck.]
Cervine, sėr′vīn,adj.relating to deer. [L.cervinus,cervus, a stag.]
Cesarean.SeeCæsarean.
Cesarevitch.SeeCzar.
Cespitose, ses′pi-tōs,adj.turfy: growing in tufts.—AlsoCes′pitous. [L.cespes,cespitis, turf.]
Cess, ses,n.a tax, a local rate.—v.t.to impose a tax.—Out of all cesse(Shak.), excessively, immoderately. [Shortened fromAssess.]
Cessation, ses-ā′shun,n.a ceasing or stopping: a rest: a pause. [Fr.,—L.cessation-em. SeeCease.]
Cesse, ses,v.i.(Spens.). Same asCease.
Cession, sesh′un,n.a yielding up.—n.Ces′sionary, one to whom an assignment has been legally made.—Cessio bonōrum(Scots law), before 1880 a debtor's surrender of his estate to his creditors in return for a judicial protection from imprisonment in respect of his debts. [Fr.—L.cession-em. SeeCede.]
Cesspool, ses′pōōl,n.a pool or hollow in which filthy water collects. [Acc. to Skeat, from Celt.soss-pool, a pool into which foul messes flow. Cf. Scot.soss, a mixed dirty mess.]
Cestoid, ses′toid,n.one of a family of flat worms of internal parasitic habit, having a long strap-like body divided into numerous segments: a tapeworm.—AlsoCestoid′ean. [L.cestus, Gr.kestos, a girdle, a strap, andeidos, form.]
Cestracion, ses-trā′si-on,n.a generic name for the hammer-headed sharks. [Formed from Gr.kestra, a weapon.]
Cestui, sest′wē,n.any person who—in such phrases asCestui que trust, a person entitled to the benefit of a trust, a beneficiary in Scots law phraseology. [O. Fr.]