1. A stall for cattle. [Obs.] I would rather have such . . . .in cubor kennel than in my closet or at my table. Landor.
2. A cupboard. [Obs.] Laud.
CUBCub, v. t.
Defn: To shut up or confine. [Obs.] Burton.
CUBANCu"ban (k"ban), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cuba or its inhabitants.— n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Cuba.
CUBATIONCu*ba"tion (k-b"shn), n. Etym: [L. cubatio, fr. cubare to lie down.]
Defn: The act of lying down; a reclining. [Obs.]
CUBATORY Cu"ba*to*ry (k"b-t-r), a. Etym: [L. cubator he who lies down, fr. cubare.]
Defn: Lying down; recumbent. [R.]
CUBATURECu"ba*ture (k"b-tr; 135), n. Etym: [L. cubus cube: cf. F. cubature.See Cube.]
Defn: The process of determining the solid or cubic contents of a body.
CUBBRIDGE-HEADCub"bridge-head` (kb"rjj-hd), n. (Naut.)
Defn: A bulkhead on the forecastle and half deck of a ship.
CUBBY; CUBBYHOLECub"by (kb"b), Cub"by*hole` (-hl`), n. Etym: [See Cub a stall.]
Defn: A snug or confined place.
CUBDRAWNCub"*drawn` (kb"drn`), a.
Defn: Sucked by cubs. [R.]This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch. Shak.
CUBECube (kb), n. Etym: [F. cube, L. cubus, fr. Gr.
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A regular solid body, with six equal square sides.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The product obtained by taking a number or quantity three times as a factor; as, 4x4=16, and 16x4=64, the cube of 4. Cube ore (Min.), pharmacosiderite. It commonly crystallizes in cubes of a green color. — Cube root. (Math.), the number or quantity which, multiplied into itself, and then into the product, produces the given cube; thus, 3 is the cube root of 27, for 3x3x3 = 27. — Cube spar (Min.), anhydrite; anhydrous calcium sulphate.
CUBECube, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cubed (kbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cubing.]
Defn: To raise to the third power; to obtain the cube of.
CUBEB Cu"beb (k"bb), n. Etym: [F. cub (cf. It. cubebe, Pr., Sp., Pg., & NL. cubeba), fr. Ar. kab.]
Defn: The small, spicy berry of a species of pepper (Piper Cubeba; in med., Cubeba officinalis), native in Java and Borneo, but now cultivated in various tropical countries. The dried unripe fruit is much used in medicine as a stimulant and purgative.
CUBEBICCu*beb"ic (k-bb"k), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cubebs; as, cubebic acid (a soft olive-green resin extracted from cubebs).
CUBHOODCub"hood (kb"hd), n.
Defn: The state of being a cub. [Jocose] "From cubhood to old age."W. B. Dawkins.
CUBIC; CUBICALCu"bic (k"bk), Cu"bic*al (-b-kal), a. Etym: [L. cubicus, Gr. cubique.See Cube.]
1. Having the form or properties of a cube; contained, or capable of being contained, in a cube.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Isometric or monometric; as, cubic cleavage. See Crystallization. Cubic equation, an equation in which the highest power of the unknown quantity is a cube. — Cubic foot, a volume equivalent to a cubical solid which measures a foot in each of its dimensions. — Cubic number, a number produced by multiplying a number into itself, and that product again by the same number. See Cube. — Cubical parabola (Geom.), two curves of the third degree, one plane, and one on space of three dimensions.
CUBICCu"bic, n. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve of the third degree. Circular cubic. See underCircular.
CUBICALLYCu"bic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cubical method.
CUBICALNESSCu"bic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cubical.
CUBICLECu"bi*cle (k"b-k'l), n. Etym: [L. cubiculum.]
Defn: A loding room; esp., a sleeping place partitioned off from a large dormitory.
CUBICULAR Cu*bic"u*lar (k-k"-lr), a. Etym: [L. cubicularis, fr. cubiculum a sleeping room, fr. cubare to lie down.]
Defn: Belonging to a chamber or bedroom. [Obs.] Howell.
CUBIFORMCu"bi*form (k"b-frm), a.
Defn: Of the form of a cube.
CUBILECu*bi"le (k-b"l), n. Etym: [L., bed.]
Defn: The lowest course of stones in a building.
CUBILOSECu"bi*lose` (k"b-ls`), n. Etym: [L. cubile bed, nest.]
Defn: A mucilagenous secretion of certain birds found as the characteristic ingredient of edible bird's-nests.
CUBISMCu"bism (ku"biz'm), n. (Painting)
Defn: A movement or phase in post-impressionism (which see, below). -- Cu"bist (#), n.
CUBITCu"bit (k"bt), n. Etym: [L. cubitum, cubitus; elbow, ell, cubit, fr.(because the elbow serves focubare to lie down, recline; cf. Gr.Incumbent, Covey.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The forearm; the ulna, a bone of the arm extending from elbow to wrist. [Obs.]
2. A measure of length, being the distance from the elbow to the extremity of the middle finger.
Note: The cubit varies in length in different countries, the Roman cubit being 17,47 inches, the Greek 18,20, the Hebrew somewhat longer, and the English 18 inches.
CUBITALCu"bit*al (k"bt-al), a. Etym: [L. cubitalis.]
1. Of or pertaining to the cubit or ulna; as, the cubital nerve; the cubital artery; the cubital muscle.
2. Of the length of a cubit. Sir. T. Browne.
CUBITALCu"bit*al, n.
Defn: A sleeve covering the arm from the elbow to the hand. Crabb.
CUBITEDCu"bit*ed, a.
Defn: Having the measure of a cubit.
CUBLESSCub"less (kb"ls), a.
Defn: Having no cubs. Byron.
CUBOIDCu"boid (k"boid), a. Etym: [Cube + -oid: cf. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Cube-shaped, or nearly so; as, the cuboid bone of the foot.— n. (Anat.)
Defn: The bone of the tarsus, which, in man and most mammals, supports the metatarsals of the fourth and fifth toes.
CUBOIDALCu*boid"al (k-boid"al), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Cuboid.
CUBO-OCTAHEDRALCu`bo-oc`ta*he"dral (k`b-k`t-hdral), a.
Defn: Presenting a combination of a cube and an octahedron.
CUBO-OCTAHEDRONCu`bo-oc`ta*he"dron (-drn), n. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A combination of a cube and octahedron, esp. one in which the octahedral faces meet at the middle of the cubic edges.
CUCACu"ca (k"k), n. Etym: [Sp., fr. native name.]
Defn: See Coca.
CUCKING STOOL Cuck"ing stool` (k. Etym: [Cf. AS. scealfingstol, a word of similar meaning, allied to scealfor a diver, mergus avis; or possibly from F. coquine a hussy, slut, jade, f. of coquin, OE. cokin, a rascal; or cf. Icel. k to dung, k dung, the name being given as to a disgracing or infamous punishment.]
Defn: A kind of chair formerly used for punishing scolds, and also dishonest tradesmen, by fastening them in it, usually in front of their doors, to be pelted and hooted at by the mob, but sometimes to be taken to the water and ducked; — called also a castigatory, a tumbrel, and a trebuchet; and often, but not so correctly, a ducking stool. Sir. W. Scott.
CUCKOLD Cuck"old (kk"ld), n. Etym: [OE. kukeweld, cokewold, cokold, fr. OF. coucoul, cucuault, the last syllable being modified by the OE. suffix -wold (see Herald); cf. F. cocu a cuckold, formerly also, a cuckoo, and L. cuculus a cuckoo. The word alludes to the habit of the female cuckoo, who lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, to be hatched by them.]
1. A man whose wife is unfaithful; the husband of an adulteress. Shak.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) A West Indian plectognath fish (Ostracion triqueter). (b) The cowfish.
CUCKOLDCuck"old, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cuckolded;p. pr. & vb. n. Cuckolding.]
Defn: To make a cuckold of, as a husband, by seducing his wife, or by her becoming an adulteress. Shak.
CUCKOLDIZECuck"old*ize (-z), v. t.
Defn: To cuckold. Dryden.
CUCKOLDLYCuck"old*ly, a.
Defn: Having the qualities of a cuckold; mean-spirited; sneaking.Shak.
CUCKOLDOMCuck"ol*dom (-l-dm), n.
Defn: The state of a cuckold; cuckolds, collectively. Addison.
CUCKOLDRYCuck"old*ry (-ld-r), n.
Defn: The state of being a cuckold; the practice of making cuckolds.
CUCKOLD'S KNOTCuck"old's knot` (kk"ldz nt`). (Naut.)
Defn: A hitch or knot, by which a rope is secured to a spar, the two parts of the rope being crossed and seized together; — called also cuckold's neck. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
CUCKOOCuck"oo (kk"), n. Etym: [OE. coccou, cukkow, F. coucou, prob. ofimitative origin; cf. L. cuculus, Gr. k, G. kuckuk, D. koekoek.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird belonging to Cuculus, Coccyzus, and several allied genera, of many species.
Note: The European cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) builds no nest of its own, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, to be hatched by them. The American yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus) and the black-billed cuckoo (C. erythrophthalmus) build their own nests. Cuckoo bee (Zool.), a bee, parasitic in the larval stage in the nests of other bees, feeding either upon their food or larvae. They belong to the genera Nomada, Melecta, Epeolus, and others. — Cuckoo clock, a clock so constructed that at the time for striking it gives forth sounds resembling the cry of the cuckoo. — Cuckoo dove (Zoöl.), a long-tailed pigeon of the genus Macropygia. Many species inhabit the East Indies. — Cuckoo fish (Zoöl.), the European red gurnard (Trigla cuculus). The name probably alludes to the sound that it utters. — Cuckoo falcon (Zoöl.), any falcon of the genus Baza. The genus inhabits Africa and the East Indies. — Cuckoo maid (Zoöl.), the wryneck; — called also cuckoo mate. — Cuckoo ray (Zoöl.), a British ray (Raia miraletus). — Cuckoo spit, or Cuckoo spittle. (a) A frothy secretion found upon plants, exuded by the larvae of certain insects, for concealment; — called also toad spittle and frog spit. (b) (Zoöl.) A small hemipterous insect, the larva of which, living on grass and the leaves of plants, exudes this secretion. The insects belong to Aphrophora, Helochara, and allied genera. — Ground cuckoo, the chaparral cock.
CUCKOOBUDCuck"oo*bud" (kk"-bd`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Ranunculus (R. bulbosus); — called also butterflower, buttercup, kingcup, goldcup. Shak.
CUCKOOFLOWERCuck"oo*flow`er (-flou`r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Cardamine (C. pratensis), or lady's smock. Its leaves are used in salads. Also, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos- cuculi).
CUCKOOPINTCuck"oo*pint` (-pnt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Arum (A. maculatum); the European wake- robin.
CUCQUEANCuc"quean` (kk"kwn`), n. Etym: [Cuckold + quean.]
Defn: A woman whose husband is unfaithful to her. [Obs.]
CUCUJOCu*cu"jo (k-k"h), n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fire beetle of Mexico and the West Indies.
CUCULLATE; CUCULLATEDCu"cul*late (k"kl-lt or k-kl"lt), Cu"cul*la`ted (-l`td or -l-td), a.Etym: [LL. cullatus, fr. L. cucullus a cap, hood. See Cowl a hood.]
1. Hooded; cowled; covered, as with a hood. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the edges toward the base rolled inward, as the leaf of the commonest American blue violet.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) Having the prothorax elevated so as to form a sort of hood, receiving the head, as in certain insects. (b) Having a hoodlike crest on the head, as certain birds, mammals, and reptiles.
CUCULLUSCu*cul"lus, n.; pl. Cuculli (#). [L., a hood.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A hood-shaped organ, resembling a cowl or monk's hood, as certain concave and arched sepals or petals.
2. (Zoöl.) A color marking or structure on the head somewhat resembling a hood.
CUCULOIDCu"cu*loid (kk-loid), a. Etym: [L.cuculus a cuckoo + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the cuckoos (Cuculidæ).
CUCUMBER Cu"cum*ber (k`km-br, formerly kou"km-br), n.Etym: [OE. cucumer, cocumber, cucumber, fr. L. cucmis, gen.cucumeris; cf. OF. cocombre,F. concombre.] (Bot.)
Defn: A creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the genus Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of which is eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar plants or fruits of several other genera. See below. Bitter cucumber (Bot.), the Citrullus or Cucumis Colocynthis. SeeColocynth. — Cucumber beetle. (Zoöl.) (a) A small, black flea-beetle (Crepidodera cucumeris), which destroys the leaves of cucumber, squash, and melon vines. (b) The squash beetle. — Cucumber tree.(a) A large ornamental or shade tree of the genus Magnolia (M. acuminata), so called from a slight resemblance of its young fruit to a small cucumber. (b) An East Indian plant (Averrhoa Bilimbi) which produces the fruit known as bilimbi. — Jamaica cucumber, Jerusalem cucumber, the prickly-fruited gherkin (Cucumis Anguria). — Snake cucumber, a species (Cucumis flexuosus) remarkable for its long, curiously-shaped fruit. — Squirting cucumber, a plant (Ecbalium Elaterium) whose small oval fruit separates from the footstalk when ripe and expels its seeds and juice with considerable force through the opening thus made. See Elaterium. — Star cucumber,a climbing weed (Sicyos angulatus) with prickly fruit.
CUCUMIFORMCu*cu"mi*form (k-k"m-frm), a. Etym: [L. cucumis cucumber + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of a cucumber; having the form of a cylinder tapered and rounded at the ends, and either straight or curved.
CUCUMISCu"cu*mis (kk—ms), n. Etym: [L., cucumber.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the cucumber, melon, and same kinds of gourds.
CUCURBIT; CUCURBITECu*cur"bit Cu*cur"bite (k-kr"bt), n. Etym: [L. cucurbita a gourd: cf.F. cucurbite. See Gourd.] (Chem.)
Defn: A vessel of flask for distillation, used with, or forming part of, an alembic; a matrass; — originally in the shape of a gourd, with a wide mouth. See Alembic.
CUCURBITACEOUSCu*cur`bi*ta"ceous (-b-t"shs), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cucurbitac.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants of which the cucumber, melon, and gourd are common examples.
CUCURBITIVECu*cur"bi*tive (k-kr"b-tv), a.
Defn: Having the shape of a gourd seed; — said of certain small worms.
CUD Cud (kd), n Etym: [AS. cudu, cwudu,cwidu,cweodo, of uncertain origin; cf, G. k bait, Icel. kvi womb, Goth. qipus. Cf. Quid.]
1. That portion of food which is brought up into the mouth by ruminating animals from their first stomach, to be cheved a second time. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Levit. xi. 3
2. A portion of tobacco held in the mouth and chewed; a quid. [Low]
3. The first stomach of ruminating beasts. Crabb. To chew the cud, to ruminate; to meditate; used with of; as, to chew the cud of bitter memories. Chewed the thrice turned cudof wrath. Tennyson.
CUDBEARCud"bear` (kd"br`), n Etym: [Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name ofDr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice.]
1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with water, used for making violet or purple dye. It is prepared from certain species of lichen, especially Lecanora tartarea. Ure.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A lichen (Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is obtained.
CUDDEN Cud"den (kd"d'n), n. Etym: [For sense 1, cf. Scot.cuddy an ass; for sense 2, see 3d Cuddy.]
1. A clown; a low rustic; a dolt. [Obs.] The slavering cudden, propped upon his staff. Dryden.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The coalfish. See 3d Cuddy.
CUDDLECud"dle (kd"d'l), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Cuddled (-d'ld); p.pr. & vb. n.Cuddling (-dlng).] Etym: [Prob. for couthle, fr. couth known; cf. OE.kuppen to cuddle, or cu to make friends with. SeeCouth, Uncouth,Can.]
Defn: To She cuddles low beneath the brake; Nor would she stay, nor dares she fly. Prior.
CUDDLECud"dle, v. t.
Defn: To embrace closely; to foundle. Forby.
CUDDLECud"dle, n.
Defn: A close embrace.
CUDDYCud"dy (-d), n. Etym: [See Cudden. ]
1. An ass; esp., one driven by a huckster or greengrocer. [Scot.]
2. Hence: A blockhead; a lout. Hood.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A lever mounted on a tripod for lifting stones, leveling up railroad ties, etc. Knight.
CUDDYCud"dy (kd"d), n. Etym: [Prob. a contraction fr. D. kajuit cabin: cf.F.cahute hut.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small cabin: also, the galley or kitchen of a vessel.
CUDDY Cud"dy, n. Etym: [Scot.; cf. Gael. cudaig, cudainn, or E.cuttlefish, or cod, codfish.] (Zoöl)
Defn: The coalfish (Pollachius carbonarius). [Written also cudden.]
CUDGEL Cudg"el (kj"l), n. Etym: [OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds, cudgel.]
Defn: A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon. He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating of them as if they were dogs. Bunyan. Cudgel play, a fight or sportive contest with cudgels. — To cross the cudgels, to forbear or give up the contest; — a phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who lay one cudgel over another when the contest is ended. — To take up cudgels for, to engage in a contest in behalf of (some one or something).
CUDGEL Cudg"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled (-; p. pr. & vb. n. Cudgeling or cudgelling.]
Defn: To beat with a cudgel.An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. Shak.To cudgel one's brains, to exercise one's wits.
CUDGELERCudg"el*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who beats with a cudgel. [Written also cudgeller.]
CUDWEED Cud"weed` (kd"wd`), n Etym: [Apparently fr. cud. + weed, but perh. a corruption of cottonweed; or of cut weed, so called from its use as an application to cuts and chafings.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small composite plant with cottony or silky stem and leaves, primarily a species of Gnaphalium, but the name is now given to many plants of different genera, as Filago, Antennaria, etc.; cottonweed.
CUECue (k, n. Etym: [ OF. coue, coe, F. queue, fr. L. coda, cauda, tail.Cf. Caudal, Coward, Queue.]
1. The tail; the end of a thing; especially, a tail-like twist of hair worn at the back of the head; a queue.
2. The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation for the next succeeding player to speak; any word or words which serve to remind a player to speak or to do something; a catchword. When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. Shak.
3. A hint or intimation. Give them [the servants] their cue to attend in two lines as he leaves the house. Swift.
4. The part one has to perform in, or as in, a play. Were it my cueto fight, I should have known it Without a prompter. Shak.
5. Humor; temper of mind. [Colloq.] Dickens.
6. A straight tapering rod used to impel the balls in playing billiards.
CUECue, v. t.
Defn: To form into a cue; to braid; to twist.
CUECue, n. Etym: [From q, an abbreviation for quadrans a farthing.]
Defn: A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or half farthing. [Obs.]
Note: The term was formerly current in the English universities, the letter q being the mark in the buttery books to denote such a portion. Nares. Hast thou worn Gowns in the university, tossed logic, Sucked philosophy, eat cues Old Play.
CUERPOCuer"po (kwr"p), n. Etym: [Sp. cuerpo, fr. L. corpus body. SeeCorpse.]
Defn: The body. In cuerpo, without full dress, so that the shape of the Body is exposed; hence, naked or uncovered. Exposed in cuerpo to their rage. Hudibras.
CUESTACues"ta, n. [Sp.]
Defn: A sloping plain, esp. one with the upper end at the crest of a cliff; a hill or ridge with one face steep and the opposite face gently sloping. [Southwestern U. S.]
CUFFCuff (kf), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cuffed (k; p. pr. & vb. n. Cuffing.]Etym: [Cf. Sw. kuffa to knock, push,kufva to check, subdue, and E.cow, v. t. ]
1. To strike; esp., to smite with the palm or flat of the hand; to slap. I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. Shak. They with their quills did all the hurt they could, And cuffed the tender chickens from their food. Dryden.
2. To buffet. "Cuffed by the gale." Tennyson.
CUFFCuff, v. i.
Defn: To fight; to scuffle; to box.While the peers cuff to make the rabble sport. Dryden.
CUFFCuff, n.
Defn: A blow; esp.,, a blow with the open hand; a box; a slap.Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies; Who well it wards,and quitten cuff with cuff. Spenser.Many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras.
CUFF Cuff, n. Etym: [Perh. from F. coiffe headdress, hood, or coif; as if the cuff were a cap for the hand. Cf. Coif.]
1. The fold at the end of a sleeve; the part of a sleeve turned back from the hand. He would visit his mistress in a morning gown, band,short cuffs, and a peaked beard. Arbuthnot.
2. Any ornamental appendage at the wrist, whether attached to the sleeve of the garment or separate;especially, in modern times, such an appendage of starched linen, or a substitute for it of paper, or the like.
CUFFYCuf"fy (k, n.
Defn: A name for a negro. [Slang]
CUFIC Cu"fic (k`fk), a. Etym: [So called from the town of Cufa, in the province of Bagdad.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the older characters of the Arabic language. [Written also Kufic.]
CUI BONOCui` bo"no. [L.]
Defn: Lit., for whose benefit; incorrectly understood, it came to be used in the sense, of what good or use; and hence, (what) purpose; object; specif., the ultimate object of life.
CUINAGECuin"age (kwn`j), n.Etym: [Corrupted fr. coinage.]
Defn: The stamping of pigs of tin, by the proper officer, with the arms of the duchy of Cornwall.
CUIRASS Cui*rass" (kw-rs`, or kw`rs; 277), n.; pl. Cuirasses(-. Etym: [ F.cuirasse, orig., a breascuir, cuirie influenced by It. corazza, or Sp. cora, fr. an assumed LL. coriacea, fr. L. coriacevs, adj., of leather, fr. corium leather, hide; akin to Gr. skora hide, Lith. skura hide, leather. Cf. Coriaceous.]
1. (a) A piece of defensive armor, covering the body from the neck to the girdle. (b) The breastplate taken by itself.
Note: The cuirass covered the body before and behind. It consisted of two parts, a breast- and backpiece of iron fastened together by means of straps and buckles or other like contrivances. It was originally, as the name imports, made of leather, but afterward of metal. Crose.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: An armor of bony plates, somewhat resembling a cuirass.
CUIRASSEDCui*rassed" (kw-rst` or kw`rst), a.
1. Wearing a cuirass.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: Having a covering of bony plates, resembling a cuirass;- said of certain fishes.
CUIRASSIERCui`ras*sier" (kw`rs-sr"), n. Etym: [F. cuirassier. See Curass.]
Defn: A soldier armed with a cuirass. Milton.
CUIR BOUILLICuir" bou`illi". [F.]
Defn: In decorative art, boiled leather, fitted by the process to receive impressed patterns, like those produced by chasing metal, and to retain the impression permanently.
CUISH Cuish (kws), n. Etym: [F. cuisse thigh, fr. L. coxa hip: cf. F. cuissard, OF, cuissot, armor for the thigh, cuish. Cf. Hough.]
Defn: Defensive armor for the thighs. [ Written also cuisse, and quish.]
CUISINE Cui`sine" (kw`zn"), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. coquina kitchen, fr. coquere to cook. See Kitchen.]
1. The kitchen or cooking department.
2. Manner or style of cooking.
CULASSECu`lasse" (ku`ls"), n. Etym: [F., fr. cul back.]
Defn: The lower faceted portion of a brilliant-cut diamond.
CULDEECul*dee" (k, n. Etym: [ Prob. fr. Gael.cuilteach; cf. Ir. ceilede.]
Defn: One of a class of anchorites who lived in various parts ofScotland, Ireland, and Wales.The pure Culdees Were Albyn's earliest priests of God. Campbell.
CUL-DE-SAC Cul`-de-sac" (ku`de-sk" or kul`de-sk"), n.; pl. Culs-de-sac (ku`- or kulz`-). Etym: [ F., lit., bottom of a bag.]
1. A passage with only one outlet, as a street closed at one end; a blind alley; hence, a trap.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: a position in which an army finds itself with no way of exit but to the front.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: Any bag-shaped or tubular cavity, vessel, or organ, open only at one end.
CULERAGECul"er*age (kl"r-j), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Culrage.
CULEXCu"lex (k"lks), n. Etym: [L., a gnat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of dipterous insects, including the gnat and mosquito.
CULICIDCu"li*cid, a. [L. culex, -icis, gnat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Mosquito family (Culicidæ). — n.
Defn: A culicid insect.
CULICIFORM Cu*lic"i*form (k-ls"i-frm). a. Etym: [L. culex a gnat + -form:cf. F. culiciforme.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Gnat-shaped.
CULINARILYCu"li*na*ri*ly (k`l-n-r-l), adv.
Defn: In the manner of a kitchen; in connection with a kitchen or cooking.
CULINARY Cu"li*na*ry (k"l-n-r), a. Etym: [L. culinarius, fr. culina kitchen, perh. akin to carbo coal: cf. F. culinare.]
Defn: Relating to the kitchen, or to the art of cookery; used in kitchens; as, a culinary vessel; the culinary art.
CULLCull (kl), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Culled (kld); p. pr.& Culling.] Etym:[OE., OF. cuillir, coillir, F.cueillir, to gather, pluck, pick, fr.L. colligere. See Coil, v. t., and cf. Collect.]
Defn: To separate, select, or pick out; to choose and gather orcollect; as, to cuil flowers.From his herd he culls, For slaughter, from the fairest of his bulls.Dryden.Whitest honey in fairy gardens culled. Tennyson.
CULLCull, n.
Defn: A cully; a dupe; a gull. See Gully.
CULLENDERCul"len*der (kl"ln-dr), n.
Defn: A strainer. See Colander.
CULLERCull"er (kl"r), n.
Defn: One who piks or chooses; esp., an inspector who select wares suitable for market.
CULLETCul"let (kl"lt), n. Etym: [From Cull, v. t. ]
Defn: Broken glass for remelting.
CULLETCul"let, n. Etym: [A dim. from F. cul back.]
Defn: A small central plane in the back of a cut gem. See Collet, 3 (b).
CULLIBILITYCul`li*bil"i*ty (-l-bl"-ty), n. Etym: [From cully to trick, cheat.]
Defn: Gullibility. [R.] Swift.
CULLIBLECul"li*ble (kl"l-b'l), a.
Defn: Easily deceived; gullible.
CULLINGCull"ing (kl"ng), n
1. The act of one who culls.
2. pl.
Defn: Anything separated or selected from a mass.
CULLION Cul"lion (kl"yn), n. Etym: [OF. couillon, coillon, F. co, a vile fellow, coward, dupe, from OF. couillon, coillon, testicle, fr. il the scrotum, fr. L. coleus a leather bag, the scrotum.]
Defn: A mean wretch; a base fellow; a poltroon; a scullion. "Away, base cullions." Shak.
CULLIONLYCul"lion*ly, a.
Defn: Mean; base. Shak.
CULLISCul"lis (k, n. Etym: [OF. coleïs, F. coulis, fr. OF. & F. couler tostrain, to flow, fr. L. colare to filter, strain; cf. LL. coladicium.Cf. Colander.]
Defn: A strong broth of meat, strained and made clear for invalids; also, a savory jelly. [Obs.] When I am exellent at caudles And cullises . . . you shall be welcome to me. Beau. & Fl.
CULLIS Cul"lis, n.; pl. Cullises (-. Etym: [F.coulisse groove, fr. the same source as E. cullis broth.] (Arch.)
Defn: A gutter in a roof; a channel or groove.
CULLSCulls (klz), n. pl. Etym: [From Cull,, v. t.]
1. Refuse timber, from which the best part has been culled out.
2. Any refuse stuff, as rolls not properly baked.
CULLYCul"ly (kl"l), n.; pl. Cullies (-l. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. cullion.]
Defn: A person easily deceived, tricked, or imposed on; a mean dupe;a gull.I have learned that . . . I am not the first cully whom she haspassed upon for a countess. Addison.
CULLYCul"ly, v. t. Etym: [See Cully,n., and cf. D. kullen to cheat, gull.]
Defn: To trick, cheat, or impose on; to deceive. "Tricks to cully fools." Pomfret.
CULLYISMCul"ly*ism (-z'm), n.
Defn: The state of being a cully.Less frequent instances of eminent cullyism. Spectator.
CULMCulm (klm), n. Etym: [L. culmus stark, stem; akin to colasmus.SeeHalm.] (Bot.)
Defn: The stalk or stem of grain and grasses (including the bamboo), jointed and usually hollow.
CULM Culm, n. Etym: [Perh. from W. cwlm knot or tie, applied to this species of coal, which is much found in balls or knots in some parts of Wales: cf. OE. culme smoke, soot.] (Min.) (a) Mineral coal that is not bituminous; anthracite, especially when found in small masses. (b) The waste of the Pennsylvania anthracite mines, consisting of fine coal, dust, etc., and used as fuel. Raymond.
CULMEN Cul"men (kl"mn), n. Etym: [L., fr. cellere (in comp.) to impel; cf. celsus pushed upward, lofty.]
1. Top; summit; acme. R. North.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dorsal ridge of a bird's bill.
CULMIFEROUS Cul*mif"er*ous (kl-mf"r-s), a. Etym: [L. culmus stalk or stem + - ferous: cf. F. culmif.]
Defn: Having jointed stems or culms.
CULMIFEROUSCul*mif"er*ous (kl-mf"r-s), a.Etym: [2d culm + -ferous.] (Min.)
Defn: Containing, or abounding in, culm or glance coal.
CULMINALCul"mi*nal (kl"m-nal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to a culmen.
CULMINANTCul"mi*nant (-nant), a.
Defn: Being vertical, or at the highest point of altitude; hence, predominant. [R.]
CULMINATE Cul"mi*nate (kl"m-nt), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Culminated (-n`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Culminating (-n Etym: [L. cuimen top or ridge. See Column.]
1. To reach its highest point of altitude; to come to the meridian; to be vertical or directly overhead. As when his beams at noon Culminate from the equator. Milton.
2. To reach the highest point, as of rank, size, power, numbers, etc. The reptile race culminated in the secondary era. Dana. The house of Burgundy was rapidly culminating. Motley.
CULMINATECul"mi*nate (kl"m-nt), a.
Defn: Growing upward, as distinguished from a laterral growth; — applied to the growth of corals. Dana.
CULMINATIONCul"mi*na"tion (kl`m-n"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F.culmination]
1. The attainment of the highest point of altitude reached by a heavently body; passage across the meridian; transit.
2. Attainment or arrival at the highest pitch of glory, power, etc.
CULPACul"pa (kl"p), n. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit, fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of intellect, dolus to defect of heart. Wharton.
CULPABILITYCul`pa*bil"i*ty (kl`p-bl`-t), n.; pl. Culpabilities (-t. Etym: [Cf.F. culpabilité.]
Defn: The state of being culpable.
CULPABLECul"pa*ble (kl"p-b'l), a. Etym: [OE. culpable, coulpable, coupable,F. coupable, formerly also coupable, formerly also coulpable,culpable, fr. L. culpabilis, fr. culpare to blame, fr. culpa fault.]
1. Deserving censure; worthy of blame; faulty; immoral; criminal. State Trials (1413). If he acts according to the best reason he hath, he is not culpable, though he be mistaken in his measures. Sharp.
2. Guilty; as, clpable of a crime. [Obs.] Spenser.— Cul"pa*ble*ness, n.— Cul"pa*bly, adv.
CULPATORYCul"pa*to*ry (-t-r), a.
Defn: Expressing blame; censuring; reprehensory; inculpating. Adjectives . . . commonly used by Latian authors in a culpatory sense. Walpole.
CULPECulpe (klp), n. Etym: [F. coulpe, fr.L.culpa.]
Defn: Blameworthiness. [Obs.]Banished out of the realme . . . without culpe. E. Hall.
CULPONCul"pon (kl"pn), n. Etym: [See Coupon.]
Defn: A shered; a fragment; a strip of wood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CULPRITCul"prit (kl"prt), n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted for culpate, fr. LawLatin culpatus the accused, p. p. of L. culpare to blame. SeeCulpable.]
1. One accused of, or ar An author is in the condition of a culprit; the public are his judges. Prior.
2. One quilty of a fault; a criminal.
CULRAGE Cul"rage (kl"rj), n. Etym: [OE. culrage, culrache; prob. fr. F. cul the buttok + F. & E. rage; F. curage.] (Bot.)
Defn: Smartweed (Polygonum Hydropiper).
CULT Cult (klt) n .Etym: [F. culte, L. cultus care, culture, fr. colere to cultivate. Cf. Cultus.]
1. Attentive care; homage; worship. Every one is convinced of the reality of a better self, and of. thecult or homage which is due to it. Shaftesbury.
2. A system of religious belief and worship. That which was the religion of Moses is the ceremonial or cult of the religion of Christ. Coleridge.
CULTCHCultch (klch;224), n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Empty oyster shells and other substances laid down on oyster grounds to furnish points for the attachment of the spawn of the oyster. [Also written cutch.]
CULTERCul"ter (kl"tr), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A colter. See Colter.
CULTIROSTRALCul`ti*ros"tral (-t-rs"tral), a. Etym: [See Cultirostres.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a bill shaped like the colter of a plow, or like a knife, as the heron, stork, etc.
CULTIROSTRES Cul`ti*ros"tres (-trz), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. culter colter of a plow, knife + rostrum bill.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tribe of wading birds including the stork, heron, crane, etc.
CULTIVABLECul"ti*va*ble (kl"t-v-b'l), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cultivable.]
Defn: Capable of being cultivated or tilled. Todd.
CULTIVATABLECul"ti*va`ta*ble (kl"t-v`t-b'l), a.
Defn: Cultivable.
CULTIVATE Cul"ti*vate (kl"t-vt), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cultivated (-v`td); p.pr. & vb. n. Cultivating (-v`-t*ng).] Etym: [LL. cultivatus, p.p. of cultivare to cultivate, fr. cultivus cultivated, fr. L. cultus, p.p. of colere to till, cultivate. Cf. Colony.]
1. To bestow attention, care, and labor upon, with a view to valuable returns; to till; to fertilize; as, to cultivate soil.
2. To direct special attention to; to devote time and thought to; to foster; to cherish. Leisure . . . to cultivate general literature. Wordsworth.
3. To seek the society of; to court intimacy with. I ever looked on Lord Keppel as one of the greatest and best men of his age; and I loved and cultivated him accordingly. Burke.
4. To improve by labor, care, or study; to impart culture to; to civilize; to refine. To cultivate the wild, licentious savage. Addison. The mind of man hath need to be prepared for piety and virtue; it must be cultivated to the end. Tillotson.
5. To raise or produce by tillage; to care for while growing; as, to cultivate corn or grass.
CULTIVATIONCul`ti*va"tion (kl`t-v"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cultivation.]
1. The art or act of cultivating; improvement for agricultural purposes or by agricultural processes; tillage; production by tillage.
2. Bestowal of time or attention for self-improvement or for the benefit of others; fostering care.
3. The state of being cultivated; advancement in physical, intellectual, or moral condition; refinement; culture. Italy . . . was but imperfectly reduced to cultivation before the irruption of the barbarians. Hallam.
CULTIVATORCul"ti*va`tor (kl"t-v`tr), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cultivateur.]
1. One who cultivates; as, a cultivator of the soil; a cultivator of literature. Whewell.
2. An agricultural implement used in the tillage of growing crops, to loosen the surface of the earth and kill the weeds; esp., a triangular frame set with small shares, drawn by a horse and by handles.
Note: In a broader signification it includes any complex implement for pulverizing or stirring the surface of the soil, as harrows, grubbers, horse hoes, etc.
CULTRATE; CULTRATED Cul"trate (kl"trt), Cul"tra*ted (-tr-td), a. Etym: [L. cultratus knife-shaped, fromculter, cultri, knife.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Sharp-edged and pointed; shaped like a pruning knife, as the beak of certain birds.
CULTRIFORMCul"tri*form (-tr-frm), a. Etym: [L. culter, cultri, knife + -form.](Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Shaped like a pruning knife; cultrate.
CULTRIVOROUS Cul*triv"o*rous (kl-trb"-rs), a. Etym: [L. culter, cultri, knife + vorare to devour.]
Defn: Devouring knives; swallowing, or pretending to swallow, knives; — applied to persons who have swallowed, or have seemed to swallow, knives with impunity. Dunglison.
CULTURABLECul"tur*a*ble (kl"tr—b'l; 135), a.
Defn: Capable of, or fit for, being cultivated; capable or becoming cultured. London Spectator.
CULTURALCul"tur*al (kl"tr-al), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to culture.
CULTURE Cul"ture (kl"tr; 135), n. Etym: [F. culture, L. cultura, fr. colere to till, cultivate; of uncertain origin. Cf. Colony.]
1. The act or practice of cultivating, or of preparing the earth for seed and raising crops by tillage; as, the culture of the soil.
2. The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man; as. the culture of the mind. If vain our toil We ought to blame theculture, not the soil. Pepe.
3. The state of being cultivated; result of cultivation; physical improvement; enlightenment and discipline acquired by mental and moral training; civilization; refinement in manners and taste. What the Greeks expressed by their humanitas, we less happily try to express by the more artificial word culture. J. C. Shairp. The list of all the items of the general life of a people represents that whole which we call its culture. Tylor. Culture fluid, a fluid in which the germs of microscopic organisms are made to develop, either for purposes of study or as a means of modifying their virulence.
CULTURECul"ture, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cultured (-trd; 135); p. pr. & vb. n.Culturing.]
Defn: To cultivate; to educate.They came . . . into places well inhabited and cultured. Usher.
CULTUREDCul"tured (kl"trd), a.
1. Under culture; cultivated. "Cultured vales." Shenstone.
2. Characterized by mental and moral training; disciplined; refined; well-educated. The sense of beauty in nature, even among cultured people, is less often met with than other mental endowments. I. Taylor. The cunning hand and cultured brain. Whittier.
CULTURE FEATURESCulture features. (Surv.)
Defn: The artificial features of a district as distinguished from the natural.
CULTURELESSCul"ture*less, a.
Defn: Having no culture.
CULTURE MYTHCulture myth.
Defn: A myth accounting for the discovery of arts and sciences or the advent of a higher civilization, as in the Prometheus myth.
CULTURISTCul"tur*ist, n.
1. A cultivator.
2. One who is an advocate of culture. The culturists, by which term I mean not those who esteem culture (as what intelligent man does notJ. C. Shairp
CULTUS Cul"tus (kl"ts), n. sing. & pl.; E. pl.Cultuses (-. Etym: [L., cultivation, culture. See Cult.]
Defn: Established or accepted religious rites or usages of worship; state of religious development. Cf.Cult, 2.
CULTUS CODCul"tus cod` (kd`). Etym: [Chinook cultus of little worth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cod, and Buffalo cod, under Buffalo.
CULVERCul"ver (k"vr), n. Etym: [AS. culfre, perh. fr. L. columba.]
Defn: A dove. "Culver in the falcon's fist." Spenser.
CULVERCul"ver, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. Culverin.]
Defn: A culverin. Falcon and culver on each tower Stood prompt their deadly hail to shower. Sir W. Scott.
CULVERHOUSECul"ver*house` (-hous`), n.
Defn: A dovecote.
CULVERIN Cul"ver*in (kl"vr-n), n.Etym: [F. coulevrine, prop. fem. of couleuvrin like a serpent, fr. couleuvre adder, fr. L. coluber, colubra.]
Defn: A long cannon of the 16th century, usually an 18-pounder with serpent-shaped handles. Trump, and drum, and roaring culverin. Mac
CULVERKEYCul"ver*key` (-k`), n.
1. A bunch of the keys or samaras of the ash tree. Wright.
2. An English meadow plant, perhaps the columbine or the bluebell squill (Scilla nutans). [Obs.] A girl cropping culverkeys and cowslips to make garlands. Walton.
CULVER'S PHYSIC; CULVER'S ROOT Cul"ver's phys"ic, or Cul"ver's root`. [So called after a Dr. Culver, who used it.] (Bot.)
Defn: The root of a handsome erect herb (Leptandra, syn. Veronica, Virginica) common in most moist woods of North America , used as an active cathartic and emetic; also, the plant itself.
CULVERT Cul"vert (kl"vrt), n. Etym: [Prob. from OF. coulouere, F. couloir, channel, gutter, gallery, fr. couler to flow. See Cullis.]
Defn: A transverse drain or waterway of masonry under a road, railroad, canal, etc.; a small bridge.
CULVERTAILCul"ver*tail` (kl"vr-tl`), n. (Carp.)
Defn: Dovetail.
CULVERTAILEDCul"ver*tailed` (-tld`), a.
Defn: United or fastened by a dovetailed joint.
CUMACEACu*ma"ce*a (k-m"sh- or -s-), n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of marine Crustacea, mostly of small size.
CUMBENTCum"bent (km"bent), a. Etym: [Cf. Recumbent, Covey.]
Defn: Lying down; recumbent. J. Dyer.
CUMBERCum"ber (km"br), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cumbered (-brd); p. pr. & vb. n.Cumbering.] Etym: [OE. combren, cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, fromLL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus; cf. Skr. to increase, growstrong. Cf. Cumulate.]
Defn: To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble. Why asks he what avails him not in fight, And would but cumber and retard his flight Dryden. Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke x. 40. Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground Luke xiii. 7. The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . . . but cumbers the memory. Locke.
CUMBERCum"ber (km"br), n. Etym: [Cf. encombre hindrance, impediment. SeeCuber,v.]
Defn: Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also comber.]A place of much distraction and cumber. Sir H. Wotton.Sage counsel in cumber. Sir W. Scott.
CUMBERSOMECum"ber*some (k, a.
1. Burdensome or hindering, as a weight or drag; embarrassing; vexatious; cumbrous. To perform a cumbersome obedience. Sir. P. Sidney.
2. Not easily managed; as, a cumbersome contrivance or machine. He holds them in utter contempt, as lumbering, cumbersome, circuitous. I. Taylor. — Cum"ber*some*ly, adv. — Cum"ber*some*ness,n.
CUMBRANCECum"brance (km"brans), n.
Defn: Encumbrance. [Obs.] Extol not riches then, the toil of fools, The wise man's cumbrance, if not snare. Milton.
CUMBRIANCum"bri*an (km"br-an), a.
Defn: Pertaining to Cumberland, England, or to a system of rocks found there. Cumbrian system (Geol.), the slate or graywacke system of rocks, now included in the Cambrian or Silurian system; — so called because most prominent at Cumberland.
CUMBROUSCum"brous (km"brs), a.
1. Rendering action or motion difficult or toilsome; serving to obstruct or hinder; burdensome; clogging. He sunk beneath the cumbrous weight. Swift. That cumbrousand unwieldy style which disfigures English composition so extensively. De Quincey.
2. Giving trouble; vexatious. [Obs.]A clud of cumbrous gnats. Spenser.— Cum"brous*ly, adv.— Cum"brous*ness, n.
CUMENECu"mene (k"mn), n. Etym: [From Cumin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oily hydrocarbon, C6H5.C3H7, obtained by the distillation of cuminic acid; — called also cumol.
CUMFREYCum"frey (km"fr), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Comfrey.
CUMICCu"mic (k"mk), a. (Chem.)
Defn: See Cuming.
CUMIDINECu"mi*dine (k"m-dn or -dn), n. Etym: [From Cumin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A strong, liquid, organic base, C3H7.C6H4.NH2, homologous with aniline.
CUMINCum"in (km"n), n. Etym: [OE.comin, AS. cymen, fr. L. cuminum,Gr.kamm, Heb. kamm; cf. OF. comin, F. cumin. Cf. Kummel.] (Bot.)
Defn: A dwarf umbelliferous plant, somewhat resembling fennel (Cuminum Cyminum), cultivated for its seeds, which have a bitterish, warm taste, with an aromatic flavor, and are used like those of anise and caraway. [Written also cummin.] Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. Spenser. Black cumin (Bot.), a plant (Nigella sativa) with pungent seeds, used by the Afghans, etc.
CUMINICCu*min"ic (k-mn"k), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cumin, or from oil of caraway; as, cuminic acid. Cuminic acid (Chem.), white crystalline substance, C3H7.C6H4.CO2H, obtained from oil of caraway.
CUMINILCu"mi*nil (k"m-nl), n .
Defn: A substance, analogous to benzil, obtained from oil of caraway.
CUMINOLCu"mi*nol (-nl), n. Etym: [Cuminic + L. oleum.]
Defn: A liquid, C3H7.C6H4.CHO, obtained from oil of caraway; — called also cuminic aldehyde.
CUMMERBUND Cum"mer*bund`, n. [Written also kummerbund, cummerband, etc.] [Hind. kamarband, fr. Per. Kamar loins + band fastening.]
Defn: A sash for the waist; a girdle. [India]
CUMMINCum"min (km"mn), n.
Defn: Same as Cumin.Ye pay tithe of mint, and cummin. Matt. xxiii. 23.
CUMQUATCum"quat, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Kumquat.
CUMSHAWCum"shaw (km"sha), n. Etym: [Chin. kom-tsie.]
Defn: A present or bonus; — originally applied to that paid on ships which entered the port of Canton. S. Wells Williams.
CUMSHAWCum"shaw, v. t.
Defn: To give or make a present to.
CUMU-CIRRO-STRATUSCu"mu-cir`ro-stra"tus (k`m*-sr`r-str"ts), n. (Meteor.)
Defn: Nimbus, or rain cloud. See Nimbus, and Cloud.
CUMULATE Cu"mu*late (k"m-lt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cumulated (-l`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Cumulating (-l`tng).] Etym: [L. cumulatus, p. p. of cumulare to heap up, fr. cumulus a heap. See Cumber.]
Defn: To gather or throw into a heap; to heap together; toaccumulate.Shoals of shells, bedded and cumulated heap upon heap. Woodward.
CUMULATIONCu`mu*la"tion (k`m-l"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cumulation.]
Defn: The act of heaping together; a heap. See Accumulation.
CUMULATISTCu"mu*la*tist (k"m-l-tst), n.
Defn: One who accumulates; one who collects. [R.]
CUMULATIVECu"mu*la*tive (k"m-l-tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cumulatif.]
1. Composed of parts in a heap; forming a mass; agregated. "As for knowledge which man receiveth by teaching, it is cumulative, njt original." Bacon
2. Augmenting, gaining, or giving force, by successive additions; as, a cumulative argument, i. e., one whose force increases as the statement proceeds. The argument . . . is in very truth not logical and single, but moral and cumulative. Trench.
3. (Law) (a) Tending to prove the same point to which other evidence has been offered; — said of evidence. (b) Given by same testator to the same legatee; — said of a legacy. Bouvier. Wharton.
Cumulative action (Med.), that action of certain drugs, by virtue of which they produce, when administered in small doses repeated at considerable intervals, the same effect as if given in a single large dose. — Cumulative poison, a poison the action of which is cumulative. — Cumulative vote or system of voting (Politics), that system which allows to each voter as many votes as there are persons to be voted for, and permits him to accumulate these votes upon one person, or to distribute them among the candidates as he pleases.
CUMULOSECu"mu*lose` (k"m-ls`), a. Etym: [From Cumulus.]
Defn: Full of heaps.
CUMULOSTRATUSCu"mu*lo*stra"tus (k"m-l-str"ts), n. (Meteor.)
Defn: A form of cloud. See Cloud.
CUMULUSCu"mu*lus (k"m-ls), n.; pl. Cumuli (-l. Etym: [L., a heap. SeeCumber.] (Meteor.)
Defn: One of the four principal forms of clouds. SeeCloud.
CUNCun (kn), v. t. Etym: [See Cond.]
Defn: To con (a ship). [Obs.]
CUNCun, v. t. Etym: [See 1st Con.]
Defn: To know. See Con. [Obs.]
CUNABULA Cu*nab"u*la (k-nb"-l), n. pl. Etym: [L., a cradle, earliest abode, fr. cunae cradle.]
1. The earliest abode; original dwelling place; originals; as, the cunabula of the human race.
2. (Bibliography)
Defn: The extant copies of the first or earliest printed books, or of such as were printed in the 15th century.
CUNCTATION Cunc*ta"tion (knk-t"shn), n. Etym: [L. cunctatio, fr. cunctari, p.p. cunctatus, to delay.]
Defn: Delay; procrastination. [R.] Carlyle.
CUNCTATIVECunc"ta*tive (knk"t-tv), a.
Defn: Slow; tardy; dilatory; causing delay.
CUNCTATOR Cunc*ta"tor (knk-t"tr), n. Etym: [L., lit., a delayer; — applied as a surname to Q. Fabius Maximus.]
Defn: One who delays or lingers. [R.]
CUNCTIPOTENT Cunc*tip"o*tent (knk-tp"-tent), a. Etym: [L. cunctipotens; cunctus all + potens powerful.]
Defn: All-powerful; omnipotent. [R] "God cunctipotent." Neale (Trans.Rhythm of St. Bernard).
CUNDCund (k*nd), v. t. Etym: [See Cond.]
Defn: To con (a ship). [Obs.]
CUNDURANGOCun`du*ran"go (kn`d-rn"g), n. (Med.)
Defn: The bark of a South American vine (Gonolobus Condurango) of the Milkweed family. It has been supposed, but erroneously, to be a cure for cancer. [Written also condurango.]
CUNEALCu"ne*al (k"n-al), Etym: [L. cuneus a wege. See Coin.]
Defn: Relating to a wedge; wedge-shaped.
CUNEATE; CUNEATED Cu"ne*ate (k"n-t), Cu"ne*a`ted (-`tEd), a. Etym: [L.cuneatus, fr. cuneus a wege SeeCoin.]
Defn: Wedge-shaped; (Bot.), wedge-shaped, with the point at the base; as, a cuneate leaf.
CUNEATICCu`ne*at"ic (k`n-t"k), a.
Defn: Cuneiform. "Cuneatic decipherment." Sayce.
CUNEIFORM; CUNIFORM Cu*ne"i*form (k-n"-frm), Cu"ni*form (k"n-frm), a. Etym: [L. cuneus a wedge + -form: cf. F. cunei-forme. See Coin.]
1. Wedge-shaped; as, a cuneiform bone; — especially applied to the wedge-shaped or arrowheaded characters of ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. See Arrowheaded.
2. Pertaining to, or versed in, the ancient wedge-shaped characters, or the inscriptions in them. "A cuneiform scholar." Rawlinson.
CUNEIFORM; CUNIFORMCu*ne"i*form, Cu"ni*form, n.
1. The wedge-shaped characters used in ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
2. (Anat.) (a) One of the three tarsal bones supporting the first, second third metatarsals. They are usually designated as external, middle, and internal, or ectocuniform, mesocuniform, and entocuniform, respectively. (b) One of the carpal bones usually articulating wich the ulna; — called also pyramidal and ulnare.
CUNETTECu*nette" (k-nt"), n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: A drain trench, in a ditch or moat; — called also cuvette.
CUNNER Cun"ner (kn"nr), n. Etym: [Cf. Conner.] (Zoöl.) (a) A small edible fish of the Atlantic coast (Ctenolabrus adspersus); — called also chogset, burgall, blue perch, and bait stealer. [Written also conner.] (b) A small shellfish; the limpet or patella.
CUNNINGCun"ning (kn"nng), a. Etym: [AS. cunnan to know, to be able. See 1stCon, Can.]
1. Knowing; skillfull; dexterous. "A cunning workman." Ex. xxxviii. 23. "Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on. Shak. Esau was a cunning hunter. Gen xxv. 27.
2. Wrought with, or exibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious; as, cunning work. Over them Arachne high did lift Her cunning web. Spenser.
3. Crafty; sly; artful; designid; deceitful. They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being sincere. South.
4. Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy. [Colloq. U.S.] Barlett.
Syn. — Cunning, Artful, Sly, Wily, Crafty. These epithets agree in expressing an aptitude for attaining some end by peculiar and secret means. Cunning is usually low; as, a cunning trick. Artful is more ingenious and inventive; as, an artful device. Sly implies a turn for what is double or concealed; as, sly humor; a sly evasion. Crafty denotes a talent for dexterously deceiving; as, a crafty manager. Wily describes a talent for the use of stratagems; as, a wily politician. "Acunning man often shows his dexterity in simply concealing. An artful man goes further, and exerts his ingenuity in misleading. A crafty man mingles cunning with art, and so shapes his actions as to lull suspicions. The young may be cunning, but the experienced only can be crafty. Slyness is a vulgar kind of cunning; the sly man goes cautiously and silently to work. Wiliness is a species of cunning or craft applicable only to cases of attack and defence." Crabb.
CUNNINGCun"ning, n. Etym: [AS. cunnung trial, or Icel. kunnandi knowledge.See Cunning, a.]
1. Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity. [Archaic] Let my right hand forget her cunning. Ps. cxxxvii. 5. A carpenter's desert Stands more in cunning than in power. Chapman.