Defn: To make a prolonged sharp grating or ssqueaking sound, as bythe friction of hard substances; as, shoes creak.The creaking locusts with my voice conspire. Dryden.Doors upon their hinges creaked. Tennyson.
CREAKCreak, v. t.
Defn: To produce a creaking sound with.Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry. Shak.
CREAKCreak (krk), n.
Defn: Thew sound produced by anuthing that creaks; a creaking. Roget.
CREAKINGCReak"ing, n.
Defn: A harsh grating or squeaking sound, or the act of making such asound.Start not at the creaking of the door. Longfellow.
CREAMCream (krm), n. Etym: [F. cr, perh. fr. LL. crema cteam of milk; cf.L. cremor thick juice or broth, perh. akin to cremare to burn.]
1. The rich, oily, and yellowish part of milk, which, when the milk stands unagitated, rises, and collects on the surface. It is the part of milk from which butter is obtained.
2. The part of any liquor that rises, and collects on the surface. [R.]
3. A delicacy of several kinds prepared for the table from cream, etc., or so as to resemble cream.
4. A cosmetic; a creamlike medicinal preparation. In vain she tries her paste and creams, To smooth her skin or hide its seams. Goldsmith.
5. The best or choicest part of a thing; the quintessence; as. the cream of a jest or story; the cream of a collection of books or pictures. Welcome, O flower and cream of knights errant. Shelton. Bavarian cream, a preparation of gelatin, cream, sugar, and eggs, whipped; — to be eaten cold. — Cold cream, an ointment made of white wax, almond oil, rose water, and borax, and used as a salve for the hands and lips. — Cream cheese, a kind of cheese made from curd from which the cream has not been taken off, or to which cream has been added. — Cream gauge, an instrument to test milk, being usually a graduated glass tube in which the milk is placed for the cream to rise. — Cream nut, the Brazil nut. — Cream of lime. (a) A scum of calcium carbonate which forms on a solution of milk of lime from the carbon dioxide of the air. (b) A thick creamy emulsion of lime in water. — Cream of tartar (Chem.), purified tartar or argol; so called because of the crust of crystals which forms on the surface of the liquor in the process of purification by recrystallization. It is a white crystalline substance, with a gritty acid taste, and is used very largely as an ingredient of baking powders; — called also potassium bitartrate, acid potassium tartrate, etc.
CREAMCream, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Creamed (krmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Creaming.]
1. To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
2. To take off the best or choicest part of.
3. To furnish with, or as with, cream. Creaming the fragrant cups. Mrs. Whitney. To cream butter (Cooking), to rub, stir, or beat, butter till it is of a light creamy consistency.
CREAMCream, v. i.
Defn: To form or become covered with cream; to become thick like cream; to assume the appearance of cream; hence, to grow stiff or formal; to mantle. There are a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing pool. Shak.
CREAMCAKECream"cake` (-kk`), n. (Cookery)
Defn: A kind of cake filled with custard made of cream, eggs, etc.
CREAM-COLOREDCream"-col`ored (-kl`rd), a.
Defn: Of the color of cream; light yellow. "Cream-colored horses."Hazlitt.
CREAMERYCream"er*y (-r-), n.; pl. Creameries (-. Etym: [CF. F. cr.]
1. A place where butter and cheese are made, or where milk and cream are put up in cans for market.
2. A place or apparatus in which milk is set for raising cream.
3. An establishment where cream is sold.
CREAM-FACEDCream"-faced` (krm"fst`), a.
Defn: White or pale, as the effect of fear, or as the naturalcomplexion.Thou cream-faced loon. Shak.
CREAM-FRUITCream"-fruit` (krm"frt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of Sierra Leone which yields a wholesome, creamy juice.
CREAMINESSCream"i*ness (—ns), n.
Defn: The quality of being creamy.
CREAM LAIDCream" laid` (krm" ld`).
Defn: See under Laid.
CREAM-SLICECream"-slice` (-sls`), n.
Defn: A wooden knife with a long thin blade, used in handling cream or ice cream.
CREAM-WHITECream"-white` (-hwt`), a.
Defn: As white as cream.
CREAMYCream"y (krm"), a.
Defn: Full of, or containing, cream; resembling cream, in nature,appearance, or taste; creamlike; unctuous. "Creamy bowis." Collins."Lines of creamy spray." Tennyson. "Your creamy words but cozen."Beau & Fl.
CREANCE Cre"ance (kr"ans), n. Etym: [F. créance, lit., credence, fr. L. credere to trust. See Credence.]
1. Faith; belief; creed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Falconry)
Defn: A fine, small line, fastened to a hawk's leash, when it is first lured.
CREANCECre"ance (kr*"ans), v. i. & t.
Defn: To get on credit; to borrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CREANTCre"ant (kr"ant), a. Etym: [L. creans, p. pr. of creare to create.]
Defn: Creative; formative. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
CREASECrease (krs), n.
Defn: See Creese. Tennison.
CREASE Crease, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. krus, G. krause, crispness, krausen, kr, to crisp, curl, lay on folds; or perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Armor.kriz a wrinkle, crease, kriza to wrinkle, fold, W. crych a wrinkle, crychu to rumple, ripple, crease.]
1. A line or mark made by folding or doubling any pliable substance; hence, a similar mark, howewer produced.
2. (Cricket)
Defn: One of the lines serving to define the limits of the bowler and the striker. Bowling crease (Cricket), a line extending three feet four inches on each side of the central strings at right angles to the line between the wickets. — Return crease (Cricket), a short line at each end of the bowling crease and at right angles to it, extending toward the bowler. — Popping crease (Cricket),, a line drawn in front of the wicket, four feet distant from it, parallel to the bowling crease and at least as long as the latter. J. H. Walsh (Encyc. of Rural Sports).
CREASECrease, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Creased (krst); p. pr. & vb. n.Creasing.]
Defn: To make a crease or mark in, as by folding or doubling.Creased, like dog's ears in a folio. Gray.
CREASERCreas"er (krs"r), n.
1. A tool, or a sewing-mashine attachment, for making lines or creases on leather or cloth, as guides to sew by.
2. A tool for making creases or beads, as in sheet iron, or for rounding small tubes.
3. (Bookbinding)
Defn: A tool for making the band impression distinct on the back.Knight.
CREASINGCreas"ing (krs"ng), n. (Arch.)
Defn: A layer of tiles forming a corona for a wall.
CREASOTECre"a*sote (kr"-st), n.
Defn: See Creosote.
CREASYCreas"y (krs"), a.
Defn: Full of creases. Tennyson.
CREAT Cre"at (kr"t), n. Etym: [F. cr, ultimateli fr. L. creatus created, begotten; cf. It. creato pupil, servant, Sp. criado a servant, client.] (Man.)
Defn: An usher to a riding master.
CREATABLECre*at"a*ble (kr-"t-b'l), a.
Defn: That may be created.
CREATE Cre*ate" (kr-t"), a.Etym: [L. creatus, p. p. of creare to create; akin to Gr. k to make, and to E. ending -cracy in aristocracy, also to crescent, cereal.]
Defn: Created; composed; begotte. [Obs.]Hearts create of duty and zeal. Shak.
CREATECre*ate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Created;p. pr. & vb. n. Creating.]
1. To bring into being; to form out of nothing; to cause to exist. In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1.
2. To effect by the agency, and under the laws, of causation; to be the occasion of; to cause; to produce; to form or fashion; to renew. Your eye in Scotland Would create soldiers. Shak. Create in me a clean heart. Ps. li. 10.
3. To invest with a new form, office, or character; to constitute; to appoint; to make; as, to create one a peer. "I create you companions to our person." Shak.
CREATICCre*at"ic (kr-t"k), a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to, or produced by, flesh or animal food; as, creatic nausea. [Written also kreatic.]
CREATINCre"a*tin (kr"-tn), n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance found abundantly in muscle tissue. [Written also kreatine.]
CREATININCre*at"i*nin (kr-t"-nn), n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous body closely related to creatin but more basic in its properties, formed from the latter by the action of acids, and occurring naturally in muscle tissue and in urine. [Written also kretinine.]
CREATIONCre*a"tion (kr-A"shn), n. Etym: [L. creatio: cf. F. cr. See Create.]
1. The act of creating or causing to exist. Specifically, the act of bringing the universe or this world into existence. From the creation to the general doom. Shak. As when a new particle of matter dotn begin to exist, in rerum natura, which had before no being; and this we call creation. Locke.
2. That which is created; that which is produced or caused to exist, as the world or some original work of art or of the imagination; nature. We know that the whole creation groaneth. Rom. viii. 22. A dagger of the mind, a false creation. Shak. Choice pictures and creations of curious art. Beaconsfield.
3. The act of constituting or investing with a new character; appointment; formation. An Irish peer of recent creation. Landor.
CREATIONALCre*a"tion*al (-al), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to creation.
CREATIONISMCre*a"tion*ism (-z'm), n.
Defn: The doctrine that a soul is specially created for each human being as soon as it is formed in the womb; — opposed to traducianism.
CREATIVECre*a"tive (-tv), a.
Defn: Having the power to create; exerting the act of creation."Creative talent." W. Irving.The creative force exists in the germ. Whewell.
CREATIVENESSCre*a"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The qualiyu of being creative.
CREATORCrea*"tor (kr-"tr), n. Etym: [L. creator: cf. F. cr.]
Defn: One who creates, produces, or constitutes. Specifically, the Supreme Being. To sin's rebuke and my Creater's praise. Shak. The poets and artists of Greece, who are at the same time its prophets, the creators of its divinities, and the revealers of its theological beliefs. Caird.
CREATORSHIPCre*a"tor*ship, n.
Defn: State or condition of a creator.
CREATRESSCre*a"tress, n. Etym: [L. creatrix: cf. F. cr.]
Defn: She who creates. Spenser.
CREATRIXCre*a"trix (-trks), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A creatress. [R.]
CREATURALCrea"tur*al (kr"tr-al; 135), a.
Defn: Belonging to a creature; having the qualities of a creature.[R.]
CREATURECrea"ture (kr"tr; 135), n. Etym: [F. cr, L. creatura. See Create.]
1. Anything created; anything not self-existent; especially, any being created with life; an animal; a man. He asked water, a creature so common and needful that it was against the law of nature to deny him. Fuller. God's first creature was light. Bacon. On earth, join, all ye creatures, to extol Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. Milton. And most attractive is the fair result Of thought, the creature of a polished mind. Cowper.
2. A human being, in pity, contempt, or endearment; as, a poor creature; a pretty creature. The world hath not a sweeter creature. Shak.
3. A person who owes his rise and fortune to another; a servile dependent; an instrument; a tool. A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen. Shak. Both Charles himself and his creature, Laud. Macualay.
4. A general term among farmers for horses, oxen, etc. Creature comforts, those which minister to the comfort of the body.
CREATURELESSCrea"ture*less, a.
Defn: Without created beings; alone.God was alone And creatureless at first. Donne.
CREATURELYCrea"ture*ly, a.
Defn: Creatural; characteristic of a creature. [R.] "Creaturely faculties." Cheyne.
CREATURESHIPCrea"ture*ship, n.
Defn: The condition of being a creature.
CREATURIZECrea"tur*ize (-z), v. t.
Defn: To make like a creature; to degrade [Obs.]Degrade and creaturize that mundane soul. Cudworth.
CREAZECreaze (krz), n. (Mining)
Defn: The tin ore which collects in the central part of the washing pit or buddle.
CREBRICOSTATE Cre`bri*cos"tate (kr`br-ks"tt), a. Etym: [L. creber close + costa rib.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Marked with closely set ribs or ridges.
CREBRISULCATE Cre`bri*sul"cate (kr`br-sl"kt), a. Etym: [L. creber close + sulcus furrow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Marked with closely set transverse furrows.
CREBRITUDECreb"ri*tude (krb"r-td), n. Etym: [L. crebritudo, fr. creber close.]
Defn: Frequency. [Obs.] Bailey.
CREBROUSCre"brous (kr"brs), a. Etym: [L. creber close set, frequent.]
Defn: Frequent; numerous. [Obs.] Goodwin.
CRECHECreche (krsh), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A public nursery, where the young children of poor women are cared for during the day, while their mothers are at work.
CREDENCE Cre"dence (kr"dens), n. Etym: [LL. credentia, fr. L. credens, -entis, p. pr. of credere to trust, believe: cf. OF. credence. See Creed, and cf. Credent, Creance.]
1. Reliance of the mind on evidence of facts derived from other sources than personal knowledge; belief; credit; confidence. To give credence to the Scripture miracles. Trench. An assertion which might easily find credence. Macualay.
2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief, or confidence; as, a letter of credence.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: The small table by the side of the altar or communion table, on which the bread and wine are placed before being consecrated.
4. A cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet, particularly one intended for the display of rich vessels or plate, and consisting chiefly of open shelves for that purpose.
CREDENCECre"dence, v. t.
Defn: To give credence to; to believe. [Obs.]
CREDENDUM Cre*den"dum (kr-dn"dm), n.;pl. Credenda (-d. Etym: [L., fr. credere to belive.] (Theol.)
Defn: A thing to be believed; an article of faith; — distinguished from agendum, a practical duty. The great articles and credenda of Christianity. South.
CREDENT Cre"dent (kr"dent), a. Etym: [. credens, -entis, p. pr. of credere to trust, believe. See Creed.]
1. Believing; giving credence; credulous. [R.] If with too credent esr you list songs. Shak.
2. Having credit or authority; credible. [Obs.] For my authority bears of a credent bulk. Shak.
CREDENTIAL Cre*den"tial (kr-dn"shal), a. Etym: [Cf. It. credenziale, fr. LL. credentia. See Credence.]
Defn: Giving a title or claim to credit or confidence; accrediting.Their credential letters on both sides. Camden.
CREDENTIALCre*den"tial, n. Etym: [Cf. It. credenziale.]
1. That which gives a title to credit or confidence.
2. pl.
Defn: Testimonials showing that a person is entitled to credit, or has right to exercise official power, as the letters given by a government to an ambassador or envoy, or a certificate that one is a duly elected delegate. The committee of estates excepted against the credentials of the English commissioners. Whitelocke. Had they not shown undoubted credentials from the Divine Person who sent them on such a message. Addison.
CREDIBILITYCred`i*bil"i*ty (krd`-bl"-t), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cr.]
Defn: The quality of being credible; credibleness; as, the credibility of facts; the credibility of witnesses.
CREDIBLECred"i*ble (krd"-b'l), a. Etym: [L. credibilis, fr. credere. SeeCreed.]
Defn: Capable of being credited or believed; worthy of belief; entiled to confidence; trustworthy. Things are made credible either by the known condition and quality of the utterer or by the manifest likelihood of truth in themselves. Hooker. A very diligent and observing person, and likewise very sober and credible. Dampier.
CREDIBLENESSCred"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being credible; worthness of belief; credibility. [R.] Boyle.
CREDIBLYCred"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner inducing belief; as, I have been credibly informed of the event.
CREDITCred"it (krd"t), n. Etym: [F. cr (cf. It. credito), L. creditum loan,prop. neut. of creditus, p. p. of credere to trust, loan, believe.See Creed.]
1. Reliance on the truth of something said or done; belief; faith; trust; confidence. When Jonathan and the people heard these words they gave no credit into them, nor received them. 1 Macc. x. 46.
2. Reputation derived from the confidence of others; esteem; honor; good name; estimation. John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown. Cowper.
3. A ground of, or title to, belief or confidence; authority derived from character or reputation. The things which we properly believe, be only such as are received on the credit of divine testimony. Hooker.
4. That which tends to procure, or add to, reputation or esteem; an honor. I published, because I was told I might please such as it was a credit to please. Pope.
5. Influence derived from the good opinion, confidence, or favor ofothers; interest.Having credit enough with his master to provide for his own interest.Clarendon.
6. (Com.)
Defn: Trust given or received; expectation of future playment for property transferred, or of fulfillment or promises given; mercantile reputation entitling one to be trusted; — applied to individuals, corporations, communities, or nations; as, to buy goods on credit. Credit is nothing but the expectation of money, within some limited time. Locke.
7. The time given for payment for lands or goods sold on trust; as, a long credit or a short credit.
8. (Bookkeeping)
Defn: The side of an account on which are entered all items reckoned as values received from the party or the category named at the head of the account; also, any one, or the sum, of these items; — the opposite of debit; as, this sum is carried to one's credit, and that to his debit; A has several credits on the books of B. Bank credit, or Cash credit. See under Cash. — Bill of credit. See under Bill. — Letter of credit, a letter or notification addressed by a banker to his correspondent, informing him that the person named therein is entitled to draw a certain sum of money; when addressed to several different correspondents, or when the money can be drawn in fractional sums in several different places, it is called a circular letter of credit. — Public credit. (a) The reputation of, or general confidence in, the ability or readiness of a government to fulfull its pecuniary engagements. (b) The ability and fidelity of merchants or others who owe largely in a community. He touched the dead corpse of Public Credit, and it sprung upon its feet. D. Webster.
CREDITCred"it (krd"t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Credited; p. pr. & vb. n.Crediting.]
1. To confide in the truth of; to give credence to; to put trust in; to believe. How shall they credit A poor unlearned virgin Shak.
2. To bring honor or repute upon; to do credit to; to raise the estimation of. You credit the church as much by your government as you did the school formerly by your wit. South.
3. (Bookkeeping)
Defn: To enter upon the credit side of an account; to give credit for; as, to credit the amount paid; to set to the credit of; as, to credit a man with the interest paid on a bond. To credit with, to give credit for; to assign as justly due to any one. Crove, Helmholtz, and Meyer, are more than any others to be credited with the clear enunciation of this doctrine. Newman.
CREDITABLECred"it*a*ble (—b'l), a.
1. Worthy of belief. [Obs.] Divers creditable witnesses deposed. Ludlow.
2. Deserving or possessing reputation or esteem; reputable; estimable. This gentleman was born of creditable parents. Goldsmith.
3. Bringing credit, reputation, or honor; honorable; as, such conduct is highly creditable to him. Macualay. He settled him in a good creditable way of living. Arbuthnot.
CREDITABLENESSCred"it*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being creditable.
CREDITABLYCred"it*a*bly (—bl), adv.
Defn: In a creditable manner; reputably; with credit.
CREDIT FONCIER Cre`dit" fon`cier" (krd" fn`s"). Etym: [F. cr credit & foncier relating to land, landed.]
Defn: A company licensed for the purpose of carrying out improvements, by means of loans and advances upon real securities. ]
CREDIT MOBILIER Cre`dit" mo`bi`lier" (m`b`ly"). Etym: [F. cr credit & mobilier personal, pertaining to personal property.]
Defn: A joint stock company, formed for general banking business, or for the construction of public works, by means of loans on personal estate, after the manner of the crédit foncier on real estate. In practice, however, this distinction has not been strictly observed.
CREDITORCred"it*or (krd"t-r), n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. cr. See Credit.]
1. One who credits, believes, or trusts. The easy creditors of novelties. Daniel.
2. One who gives credit in business matters; hence, one to whom money is due; — correlative to debtor. Creditors have better memories than debtors. Franklin.
CREDITRESS; CREDITRIX Cred"it*ress (krd"t-rs), Cred"i*trix (krd"-trks), n. Etym: [L. creditrix.]
Defn: A female creditor.
CREDOCre"do (kr"d), n. Etym: [L. See Creed.]
Defn: The creed, as sung or read in the Roman Catholic church.He repeated Aves and Credos. Macualay.
CREDULITYCre*du"li*ty (kr-d"l-t), n. Etym: [L. credulitas, fr. credulus: cf.F. cr. See Credulous.]
Defn: Readiness of belief; a disposition to believe on slightevidence.That implict credulity is the mark of a feeble mind will not bedisputed. Sir W. Hamilton.
CREDULOUSCred"u*lous (krd"-ls; 135), a. Etym: [L. credulus, fr. credere. SeeCreed.]
1. Apt to believe on slight evidence; easly imposed upon; unsuspecting. Landor. Eve, our credulous mother. Milton.
2. Believed too readily. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.
CREDULOUSLYCred"u*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: With credulity.
CREDULOUSNESSCred"u*lous*ness, n.
Defn: Readiness to believe on slight evidence; credulity.Beyond all credulity is the credulousness of atheists. S. Clarke.
CREED Creed (krd), n. Etym: [OE. credo, crede, AS. creda, fr. L. credo I believe, at the beginning of the Apostles' creed, fr. credere to believe; akin to OIr. cretin I believe, and Skr. ; crat trust + dh to put. See Do, v. t., and cf. Credo, Grant.]
1. A definite summary of what is believed; esp., a summary of the articles of Christian faith; a confession of faith for public use; esp., one which is brief and comprehensive. In the Protestant system the creed is not coördinate with, but always subordinate to, the Bible. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
2. Any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed. Shak.Apostles' creed, Athanasian creed, Nicene creed. See under Apostle,Athanasian, Nicene.
CREEDCreed, v. t.
Defn: To believe; to credit. [Obs.]That part which is so creeded by the people. Milton.
CREEDLESSCreed"less, a.
Defn: Without a creed. Carlyle.
CREEKCreek (krk), n. Etym: [AS. crecca; akin to D. kreek, Icel. krikicrack, nook; cf. W. crig crack, crigyll ravine, creek. Cf. Crick,Crook.]
1. A small inlet or bay, narrower and extending further into the land than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river. Each creek and cavern of the dangerous shore. Cowper. They discovered a certain creek, with a shore. Acts xxvii. 39.
2. A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than a brook. Lesser streams and rivulets are denominated creeks. Goldsmith.
3. Any turn or winding. The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands. Shak.
CREEKFISHCreek"fish (krk"fsh), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chub sucker.
CREEKSCreeks (krks), n. pl.; sing. Creek. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe or confederacy of North American Indians, including the Muskogees, Seminoles, Uchees, and other subordinate tribes. They formerly inhabited Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
CREEKYCreek"y (krk"), a.
Defn: Containing, or abounding in, creeks; characterized by creeks; like a creek; winding. "The creeky shore." Spenser.
CREELCreel (krl), n. Etym: [Gael. craidhleag basket, creel.]
1. An osier basket, such as anglers use. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Spinning)
Defn: A bar or set of bars with skewers for holding paying-off bobbins, as in the roving machine, throstle, and mule.
CREEP Creep (krp), v. t. [imp. Crept (krpt) (Crope (kr, Obs.); p. p. Crept; p. pr. & vb. n. Creeping.] Etym: [OE. crepen, creopen, AS. cre; akin to D. kruipen, G. kriechen, Icel. krjupa, Sw. krypa, Dan. krybe. Cf. Cripple, Crouch.]
1. To move along the ground, or on any other surface, on the belly, as a worm or reptile; to move as a child on the hands and knees; to crawl. Ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep. Milton.
2. To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness,fear, or weakness.The whining schoolboy . . . creeping, like snail, Unwillingly toschool. Shak.Like guilty thing, Icreep. Tennyson.
3. To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or one's self; as, age creeps upon us. The sothistry which creeps into most of the books of argument. Locke. Of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women. 2. Tim. iii. 6.
4. To slip, or to become slightly displaced; as, the collodion on a negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying; the quicksilver on a mirror may creep.
5. To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn; as, a creeping sycophant. To come as humbly as they used to creep. Shak.
6. To grow, as a vine, clinging to the ground or to some other support by means of roots or rootlets, or by tendrils, along its length. "Creeping vines." Dryden.
7. To have a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin of the body; to crawl; as, the sight made my flesh creep. See Crawl, v. i.,4.
8. To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine cable.
CREEPCreep, n.
1. The act or process of creeping.
2. A distressing sensation, or sound, like that occasioned by the creeping of insects. A creep of undefinable horror. Blackwood's Mag. Out of the stillness, with gathering creep, Like rising wind in leaves. Lowell.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A slow rising of the floor of a gallery, occasioned by the pressure of incumbent strata upon the pillars or sides; a gradual movement of mining ground.
CREEPERCreep"er (krp"r), n.
1. One who, or that which, creeps; any creeping thing. Standing waters are most unwholesome, . . . full of mites,creepers; slimy, muddy, unclean. Burton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant that clings by rootlets, or by tendrils, to the ground, or to trees, etc.; as, the Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolia).
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small bird of the genus Certhia, allied to the wrens. The brown or common European creeper is C. familiaris, a variety of which (var. Americana) inhabits America; — called also tree creeper and creeptree. The American black and white creeper is Mniotilta varia.
4. A kind of patten mounted on short pieces of iron instead of rings; also, a fixture with iron points worn on a shoe to prevent one from slipping.
5. pl.
Defn: A spurlike device strapped to the boot, which enables one to climb a tree or pole; — called often telegraph creepers.
6. A small, low iron, or dog, between the andirons.
7. pl.
Defn: An instrument with iron hooks or claws for dragging at the bottom of a well, or any other body of water, and bringing up what may lie there.
8. Any device for causing material to move steadily from one part of a machine to another, as an apron in a carding machine, or an inner spiral in a grain screen.
9. pl. (Arch.)
Defn: Crockets. See Crocket.
CREEPHOLECreep"hole` (-hl`), n.
1. A hole or retreat onto which an animal may creep, to escape notice or danger.
2. A subterfuge; an excuse.
CREEPIECreep"ie (-), n.
Defn: A low stool. [Scot.]
CREEPINESSCreep"i*ness (—ns), n.
Defn: An uneasy sensation as of insects creeping on the skin.She felt a curious, uneasy creepiness. Mrs. Alexander.
CREEPINGCreep"ing, a.
1. Crawling, or moving close to the ground. "Every creeping thing." Gen. vi. 20.
2. Growing along, and clinging to, the ground, or to a wall, etc., by means of rootlets or tendrils. Casements lined with creeping herbs. Cowper. Ceeping crowfoot (Bot.), a plant, the Ranunculus repens.- Creeping snowberry, an American plant (Chiogenes hispidula) with white berries and very small round leaves having the flavor of wintergreen.
CREEPING CHARLIECreep"ing Char"lie.
Defn: The stonecrop (Sedum acre).
CREEPINGLYCreep"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: by creeping slowly; in the manner of a reptile; insidiously;cunningly.How slily and creepingly did he address himself to our first parents.South.
CREEPLECree"ple (kr"p'l), n. Etym: [See Cripple.]
1. A creeping creature; a reptile. [Obs.] There is one creeping beast, or long creeple (as the name is in Devonshire), that hath a rattle at his tail that doth discover his age. Morton (1632).
2. One who is lame; a cripple. [Obs.] Thou knowest how lame a creeple this world is. Donne.
CREEPYCreep"y (krp"), a.
Defn: Crawly; having or producing a sensation like that caused by insects creeping on the skin. [Colloq.] One's whole blood grew curdling and creepy. R. Browning.
CREESCrees (krz), n. pl.; sing. Cree. (Ethnol.)
Defn: An Algonquin tribe of Indians, inhabiting a large part ofBritish America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of Hudson'sBay.
CREESECreese (krs), n. Etym: [Malay. kris.]
Defn: A dagger or short sword used by the Malays, commonly having a serpentine blade. [Written also crease and kris.] From a Malayan creese to a sailor's jackknife. Julian Hawthorne.
CREMAILLERECré`mail`lère" (kr`m`lyr" or -m`yr"), n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: An indented or zigzaged line of intrenchment.
CREMASTERCre*mas"ter (kr-ms"tr), n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A thin muscle which serves to draw up the testicle.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The apex of the last abdominal segment of an insect.
CREMASTERICCrem`as*ter"ic (krm`3s-tr"k), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cremaster; as, the cremasteric artery.
CREMATE Cre"mate (kr"mt or kr-mt"), v. t. Etym: [L. crematus, p. p. of cremare to burn; cf. Skr. cr to cook.]
Defn: To burn; to reduce to ashes by the action of fire, either directly or in an oven or retort; to incremate or incinerate; as, to cremate a corpse, instead of burying it.
CREMATIONCre*ma"tion (kr-m"shn), n. Etym: [L. crematio.]
Defn: A burning; esp., the act or practice of cremating the dead.Without cremation . . . of their bodies. Sir T. Browne.
CREMATIONISTCre*ma"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who advocates the practice of cremation.
CREMATORCre*ma"tor (-tr), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, cremmates or consumes to ashes.
CREMATORIUM; CREMATORYCrem`a*to"ri*um (krm`-t"r-m), Crem"a*to*ry (krm"-t-r), n.; pl.Crematoriums (-Crematories (-r. Etym: [NL. crematorium, fr. L.cremator.]
Defn: A furnace for cremating corpses; a building containing such a furnace.
CREMATORYCrem"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, cremation.
CREMECrême, n. [F.]
Defn: Cream; — a term used esp. in cookery, names of liqueurs, etc.
CREMOCARPCrem"o*carp (krm"-krp or kr"m-), n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The peculiar fruit of fennel, carrott, parsnip, and the like, consisting of a pair of carpels pendent from a supporting axis.
CREMONACre*mo"na (kr-m"n), n.
Defn: A superior kind of violin, formerly made at Cremona, in Italy.
CREMORCre"mor (kr"mr), n. Etym: [L. CF. Cream.]
Defn: Cream; a substance resembling cream; yeast; scum.
CREMOSINCrem"o*sin (krm"-sn), n.
Defn: See Crimson. [Obs.]
CREMSCrems (krmz), n.
Defn: See Krems.
CRENATE; CRENATEDCre"nate (krnt), Cre"na*ted (kr"n-td), a. Etym: [L. crena notch. SeeCranny.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the margin cut into rounded teeth notches, or scallops.
CRENATIONCre*na"tion (kr-n"shn), n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A rounded tooth on the edge of a leaf.
2. The condition of being crenate.
CRENATURECren"a*ture (krn"-tr or kr"n-; 135), n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A rounded tooth or notch of a crenate leaf, or any part that is crenate; — called also crenelle.
2. The state of being crenated or notched.
CRENELCre*nel" (kr-nl"), n.
Defn: See Crenelle.
CRENELATE Cren"el*ate (krn"l-t or kr"nl-t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crenelated (- `td); p. pr. & vb. n. Crenelating (-`tng).] Etym: [LL. crenellare, kernellare: cf. F. cr to indent. See Crenelle.] [Written also crenellate.]
1. To furnish with crenelles.
2. To indent; to notch; as, a crenelated leaf. Crenelated molding (Arch.), a kind of indented molding used in Norman buildings.
CRENELATIONCren`el*a"tion (-"shn), n.
Defn: The act of crenelating, or the state of being crenelated; an indentation or an embrasure. [Written also crenellation.]
CRENELLE; CRENEL Cre*nelle", Cre*nel" (kr-nl"), n. Etym: [OF. crenel, F. cr, LL. crenellus, kernellus, dim. (prob.) fr. L. crena notch. See Crenny.]
1. An embrasure or indentation in a battlement; a loophole in a fortress; an indentation; a notch. See Merlon, and Illust. of Battlement.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Crenature.
CRENELLEDCre*nelled" (kr a. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Crenate.
CRENGLE; CRENKLECren"gle (krn"g'l), Cren"kle (-k'l), n.
Defn: See Cringle.
CRENULATE; CRENULATED Cren"u*late (krn"-lt), Cren"u*la`ted (-l`td), a. Etym: [Dim. of crenate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Minutely crenate.
CRENULATIONCren`u*la"tion (-l"shn), n.
1. A minute crenation.
2. The state of being minutely scalloped.
CREOLE Cre"ole (kr"l), n. Etym: [F. cr, Sp. criollo, from an American negro word, perh. a corruption of a Sp. criadillo, dim. of criado servant, formerly also, child, fr. L. creatus, p. p. of creare to create. Cf. Create.]
Defn: One born of European parents in the American colonies of France or Spain or in the States which were once such colonies, esp. a person of French or Spanish descent, who is a native inhabitant of Louisiana, or one of the States adjoining, bordering on the Gulf of of Mexico.
Note: "The term creole negro is employed in the English West Indies to distinguish the negroes born there from the Africans imported during the time of the slave trade. The application of this term to the colored people has led to an idea common in some parts of the United States, though wholly unfounded, that it implies an admixture greater or less of African blood." R. Hildreth.
Note: "The title [Creole] did not first belong to the descendants of Spanish, but of French, settlers, But such a meaning implied a certain excellence of origin, and so came early to include any native of French or Spanish descent by either parent, whose nonalliance with the slave race entitled him to social rank. Later, the term was adopted by, not conceded to, the natives of mixed blood, and is still so used among themselves. . . . Besides French and Spanish, there are even, for convenience of speech, 'colored' Creoles; but there are no Italian, or Sicilian, nor any English, Scotch, Irish, or 'Yankee' Creoles, unless of parentage married into, and themselves thoroughly proselyted in, Creole society." G. W. Cable.
CREOLECre"ole (kr"l), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a Creole or the Creoles.
Note: In New Orleans the word Creole is applied to any product, or variety of manufacture, peculiar to Louisiana; as, Creole ponies, chickens, cows, shoes, eggs, wagons, baskets, etc.
CREOLEAN; CREOLIANCre*o"le*an (kr-"l-an), Cre*o"li*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the Creoles.— n.
Defn: A Creole.
CREOLE STATECreole State.
Defn: Louisiana; — a nickname. See Creole, n. & a.
CREOSOLCre"o*sol (kr"-sl), n. Etym: [Cresote + phenol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid resembling phenol or carbolic acid, homologous with pyrocatechin, and obtained from beechwood tar and gum guaiacum. [Written also creasol.]
CREOSOTECre"o*sote (kr"-st), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Wood-tar oil; an oily antiseptic liquid, of a burning smoky taste, colorless when pure, but usually colored yellow or brown by impurity or exposure. It is a complex mixture of various phenols and their ethers, and is obtained by the distillation of wood tar, especially that of beechwood.
Note: It is remarkable as an antiseptic and deodorizer in the preservation of wood, flesh, etc., and in the prevention of putrefaction; but it is a poor germicide, and in this respect has been overrated. Smoked meat, as ham, owes its preservation and taste to a small quantity of creosote absorbed from the smoke to which it is exposed. Carbolic acid is phenol proper, while creosote is a mixture of several phenols. Coal-tar creosote (Chem.), a colorless or yellow, oily liquid, obtained in the distillation of coal tar, and resembling wood-tar oil, or creosote proper, in composition and properties.
CREOSOTECre"o*sote, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Creosoted (-s"td); p. pr. & vb. n.Creosoting.]
Defn: To saturate or impregnate with creosote, as timber, for the prevention of decay.
CREOSOTE BUSHCre"o*sote bush.
Defn: A shrub (Covillea mexicana) found in desert regions from Colorado to California and southward through Mexico. It has yellow flowers and very resinous foliage with a strong odor of creosote.
CREPANCE; CREPANE Cre"pance (kr"pans), Cre"pane (kr"pn), n. Etym: [Cf. L. crepare to crack.] (Far.)
Defn: An injury in a horse's leg, caused by the shoe of one hind foot striking and cutting the other leg. It sometimes forms an ulcer.
CREPECrêpe (krp), n.
Defn: Same as Crape.
CREPITANTCrep"i*tant (krp"-tant), a. Etym: [See Crepitate.]
Defn: Having a crackling sound; crackling; rattling. Crepitant rale (Med.), a peculiar crackling sound audible with inspiration in pneumonia and other lung disease.
CREPITATECrep"i*tate (kr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crepitated (-t; p. pr. & vb. n.Crepitating (-t.] Etym: [L. crepitatus, p. p. of crepitare tocrackle, v. intensive of crepare to crack. Cf. Crevice.]
Defn: To make a series of small, sharp, rapidly repeated explosions or sounds, as salt in fire; to crackle; to snap.
CREPITATIONCrep`i*ta"tion (krp`-t"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. crépitation.]
1. The act of crepitating or crackling.
2. (Med.) (a) A grating or crackling sensation or sound, as that produced by rubbing two fragments of a broken bone together, or by pressing upon cellular tissue containing air. (b) A crepitant râle.
CREPITUS Crep"i*tus (krp"-ts), n. Etym: [L., fr. crepare to crack.] (Med.) (a) The noise produced bu a sudden discharge of wind from the bowels. (b) Same as Crepitation, 2.
CREPONCre"pon (kr"pn; F. kr`pn"), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A thin stuff made of the finest wool or silk, or of wool and silk.
CREPTCrept (krpt),
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Creep.
CREPUSCLE; CREPUSCULE Cre*pus"cle (kr-ps"s'l), Cre*pus"cule (kr-ps"kl), n. Etym: [L. crepusculum, fr. creper dusky, dark: cf. F. cr.]
Defn: Twilight. Bailey.
CREPUSCULAR; CREPUSCULOUSCre*pus"cu*lar (-k-lr), Cre*pus"cu*lous (-ls), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cr.]
1. Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; hence, imperfectly clear or luminous. This semihistorical and crepuscular period. Sir G. C. Lewis.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Flying in the twilight or evening, or before sunrise; — saidcertain birds and insects.Others feed only in the twilight, as bats and owls, and are calledcrepuscular. Whewell.
CREPUSCULINECre*pus"cu*line, a.
Defn: Crepuscular. [Obs.] Sprat.
CRESCENCECres"cence (krs"sens), n. Etym: [See Crescent.]
Defn: Increase; enlargement. [Obs.]And toward the moon's attractive crescence bend. H. Brooke.
CRESCENDO Cres*cen"do (krs-sn"d; It. kr-shn"d), a. & adv. Etym: [It., from crescere to increase. See Crescent.] (Mus.)
Defn: With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone; — a direction for the performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word on the score.
CRESCENDO Cres*cen"do, n. (Mus.) (a) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with which a passage is performed. (b) A pssage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of tone.
CRESCENT Cres"cent (krs"sent), n. Etym: [OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of cro, OF. creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create. See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo.]
1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state.
2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon.
3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge; as: (a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana. (b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence: (c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople. The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale, dying crescent is daunted. Campbell.
4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by René of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services. Brande & C.
5. (Her.)
Defn: The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; — often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.
CRESCENTCres"cent (krs"sent), a.
1. Shaped like a crescent. Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton.
2. Increasing; growing. O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. Tennyson.
CRESCENTCres"cent, v. t.
1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [R.] Anna Seward.
2. To adorn with crescents.
CRESCENTICCres*cen"tic (krs-sn"tk), a.
Defn: Crescent-shaped. "Crescentic lobes." R. Owen.
CRESCENTWISECres"cent*wise` (krs"sent-wz`), adv.
Defn: In the form of a crescent; like a crescent. Tennyson.
CRESCIVECres"cive (krs"sv), a. Etym: [L. crescere to increase.]
Defn: Increasing; growing. [R.]Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. Shak.
CRESOLCre"sol (kr"sl), n. Etym: [From Creosote.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of three metameric substances, CH3.C6H4.OH, homologous with and resembling phenol. They are obtained from coal tar and wood tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or solids.
Note: [Called also cresylic acid.]
CRESORCINCre*sor"cin (kr-sr"sn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Isorcin.
CRESS Cress (krs), n.; pl. Cresses (kr. Etym: [OE. ces, cresse, kers, kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers, G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw. krasse, and possibly also to OHG. chresan to creep.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic.
Note: The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called cresses. To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread. Goldsmith. Bitter cress. See under Bitter. — Not worth a cress, or "not worth a kers." a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless "not worth a curse." Skeat.
CRESSELLECres*selle" (krs-sl"), n. Etym: [F. crécelle rattle.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A wooden rattle sometimes used as a substitute for a bell, in the Roman Catholic church, during the latter part of Holy Week, or the last week of Lent.
CRESSET Cres"set (krs"st), n. Etym: [OF. crasset, cresset, sort of lamp or torch; perh. of Dutch or German origin, and akin to E. cruse, F. creuset crucible, E. crucible.]
1. An open frame or basket of iron, filled with combustible material, to be burned as a beacon; an open lamp or firrepan carried on a pole in nocturnal processions. Starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed With naphtha and asphaltus. Milton. As a cresset true that darts its length Of beamy luster from a tower of strength. Wordsworth.
2. (Coopering)
Defn: A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible. Knight.
CRESSYCress"y (krs"), a.
Defn: Abounding in cresses.The cressy islets white in flower. Tennyson.
CRESTCrest (krst), n. Etym: [OF. creste, F. cr, L. crista.]
1. A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc. Darwin. [Attack] his rising crest, and drive the serpent back. C. Pitt.
2. The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the weare; hence, also, the helmet. Stooping low his lofty crest. Sir W. Scott. And on his head there stood upright A crest, in token of a knight. Gower.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a relic of the ancient cognizance. See Cognizance, 4.
4. The upper curve of a horse's neck. Throwing the base thong from his bending crest. Shak.
5. The ridge or top of wave. Like wave with crest of sparkling foam. Sir W. Scott.
6. The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.
7. The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage. Now the time is come That France must vail her lofty plumed crest. Shak.
8. (Arch.)
Defn: The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof,canopy, etc.The finials of gables and pinnacles are sometimes called crest.Parker.
9. (Engin.)
Defn: The top line of a slope or embankment. Crest tile, a tile made to cover the ridge of a roof, fitting upon it like a saddle. — Interior crest (Fort.), the highest line of the parapet.
CRESTCrest, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crested; p. pr. & vb. n. Cresting.]
1. To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for.
His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm Crested the world. Shak.Mid groves of clouds that crest the mountain's brow. Wordsworth.
2. To mark with lines or streaks, like, or regarded as like, waving plumes. Like as the shining sky in summer's night, . . . Is crested with lines of fiery light. Spenser.
CRESTCrest (krst), v. i.
Defn: To form a crest.
CRESTEDCrest"ed (krst"d), a.
1. Having a crest. But laced crested helm. Dryden.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a crest of feathers or hair upon the head. "The crested bird." Dryden.
3. (Bott.)
Defn: Bearing any elevated appendage like a crest, as an elevated line or ridge, or a tuft. Gray.
CRESTFALLENCrest"fall`en (-fl`'n), a.
1. With hanging head; hence, dispirited; dejected; cowed. Let it make thee crestfullen; Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride. Shak.
2. Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side; — said of a horse.
CRESTINGCrest"ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornamental finish on the top of a wall or ridge of a roof.
CRESTLESSCrest"less, a.
Defn: Without a crest or escutcheon; of low birth. "Crestless yeomen." Shak.
CRESYLICCre*syl"ic (kr-sl"k), a. Etym: [From Creosote.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cresol, creosote, etc. Cresylic acid. (Chem.) See Cresol.
CRETACEOUSCre*ta"ceous (kr-t"shs), a. Etym: [L. cretaceus, fr. creta chalk. SeeCrayon.]
Defn: Having the qualities of chalk;abounding with chalk; chalky; as,cretaceous rocks and formations. See Chalk. Cretaceous acid, an oldname for carbonic acid.— Cretaceous formation (Geol.), the series of strata of variouskinds, including beds of chalk, green sand, etc., formed in theCretaceous period; — called also the chalk formation. See theDiagram under Geology.— Cretaceous period (Geol.), the time in the latter part of theMesozoic age during which the Cretaceous formation was deposited.
CRETACEOUS; CRETACICCre*ta"ceous, a. Also Cre*tac"ic. (Geol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the period of time following the Jurassic and preceding the Eocene.
CRETACEOUSLYCre*ta"ceous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chalky manner; as chalk.
CRETANCre"tan (kr"tan), a.
Defn: Pertaining to Crete, or Candia.— n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Crete or Candia.
CRETECrete (krt), n. Etym: [L. Cres, Cretis.]
Defn: A Cretan
CRETIANCre"tian (kr"shan), a. & n.
Defn: See Cretan.
CRETICCre"tic (kr"tk), n. Etym: [L. Creticus (sc. pes foot), Gr. (Gr. &Lat. Pros.)
Defn: A poetic foot, composed of one short syllable between two long ones (-Bentley.
CRETICISMCre"ti*cism (-t-sz'm), n.
Defn: Falsehood; lying; cretism.
CRETINCre"tin (kr"tn), n. Etym: [F. crétin; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: One afflicted with cretinism.
CRETINISMCre"tin*ism (kr"tn-*z'm), n. Etym: [F. cr.]
Defn: A condition of endemic or inherited idiocy, accompanied by physical degeneracy and deformity (usually with goiter), frequent in certain mountain valleys, esp. of the Alps.
CRETINOUSCre"tin*ous (-s), a.
Defn: Having the characteristics of a cretin. "Cretinous stupefaction." Ruskin.
CRETISMCre"tism (kr"tz'm), n. Etym: [Gr. Titus i. 12.]
Defn: A Cretan practice; iying; a falsehood.
CRETONNE Cre*tonne" (kr-tn"), n. Etym: [F., gr. Creton, its first manufacturer.]
1. A strong white fabric with warp of hemp and welt of flax.
2. A fabric with cotton warp and woolen weft.
3. A kind of chintz with a glossy surface.
CRETOSECre"tose (kr"ts), a. Etym: [L. cretosus, fr. creta chalk.]
Defn: Chalky; cretaceous. [Obs.] Ash.
CREUTZERCreut"zer
Defn: (kroitn. See Kreutzer.
CREUXCreux (kr), n. Etym: [F., adj., hollow, n., a hollow.]
Defn: Used in English only in the expression en creux. Thus, engraving en creux is engraving in intaglio, or by sinking or hollowing out the design.
CREVALLE Cre`val*le" (kr`vl-l"), n. Etym: [Prob. of same origin as cavally. See Cavally.] (Zoöl.) (a) The cavally or jurel. See Cavally, and Jurel. (b) The pompano (Trachynotus Carolinus).
CREVASSECre`vasse" (kr`vs"), n. Etym: [F. See Crevice.]
1. A deep crevice or fissure, as in embankment; one of the clefts or fissure by which the mass of a glacier is divided.
2. A breach in the levee or embankment of a river, caused by the pressure of the water, as on the lower Mississippi. [U.S.]
CREVETCrev"et (krv"t), n. Etym: [Cf. Creut.]
Defn: A crucible or melting pot; a cruset. Crabb.
CREVICECrev"ice (krv"s), n. Etym: [OE. crevace, crevice. F. crevasse, fr.crever to break, burst, fr. L. crepare to crack,break. Cf. Craven,Crepitate, Crevasse.]
Defn: A narrow opening resulting from a split or crack or the separation of a junction; a cleft; a fissure; a rent. The mouse, Behind the moldering wainscot, shrieked, Or from the crevice peered about. Tennyson.
CREVICECrev"ice, v. t.
Defn: To crack; to flaw. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
CREVICEDCrev"iced (-st), a.
Defn: Having a crevice or crevices; as, a creviced structure forstoring ears of corn.Trickling through the creviced rock. J. Cunningham.
CREVISCrev"is (-s), n. (Zoöl.)