2. The faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose; fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit; craft. Discourage cunning in a child; cunning is the ape of wisdom. Locke. We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom. Bacon.
CUNNINGLYCun"ning*ly (kn"nng-l), adv.
Defn: In a cunning manner; with cunning.
CUNNINGMANCun"ning*man` (-mn`), n.
Defn: A fortune teller; one who pretends to reveal mysteries. [Obs.]Hudibras.
CUNNINGNESSCun"ning*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being cunning; craft.
CUP Cup (kp), n. Etym: [AS. cuppe, LL. cuppa cup; cf. L. cupa tub, cask; cf. also Gr. k pit, hollow, OSlav. kupa cup. Cf. Coop, Cupola, Cowl a water vessel, and Cob, Coif, Cop.]
1. A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin cup, a silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern times, the pottery or porcelain vessel, commonly with a handle, used with a saucer in drinking tea, coffee, and the like.
2. The contents of such a vessel; a cupful. Give me a cup of sack, boy. Shak.
3. pl.
Defn: Repeated potations; social or exessive indulgence in intoxicating drinks; revelry. Thence from cups to civil broils. Milton.
4. That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion. O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Matt. xxvi. 39.
5. Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of a flower. The cowslip's golden cup no more I see. Shenstone.
6. (Med.)
Defn: A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping. Cup and ball, a familiar toy of children, having a cup on the top of a piece of wood to which, a ball is attached by a cord; the ball, being thrown up, is to be caught in the cup; bilboquet. Milman.- Cup and can, familiar companions. — Dry cup, Wet cup (Med.), a cup used for dry or wet cupping. See under Cupping. — To be in one's cups, to be drunk.
CUPCup, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cupped (kpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Cupping.]
1. To supply with cups of wine. [R.] Cup us, till the world go round. Shak.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping. See Cupping.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to cup the end of a screw.
CUPBEARERCup"bear`er (-br`r), n.
1. One whose office it is to fill and hand the cups at an enterainment.
2. (Antiq.)
Defn: One of the attendants of a prince or noble, permanently charged with the performance of this office for his master. "I was the king's cupbearer." Neh. i. 11.
CUPBOARDCup"board (kb"brd), n. Etym: [Cup + board.]
1. A board or shelf for cups and dishes. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A small closet in a room, with shelves to receive cups, dishes, food, etc.; hence, any small closet. Cupboard love, interested love, or that which has an eye to the cupboard. "A cupboard love is seldom true." Poor Robin. [Colloq.] — To cry cupboard, to call for food; to express hunger. [Colloq.] "My stomach cries cupboard." W. Irving.
CUPBOARDCup"board, v. t.
Defn: To collect, as into a cupboard; to hoard. [R.] Shak.
CUPEL Cu"pel (k"pl), n. Etym: [LL. cupella cup (cf. L. cupella, small cask, dim. of cupa) : cf. F. coupelle. See Cup, and cf. Coblet.]
Defn: A shallow porus cup, used in refining precious metals, commonly made of bone ashes (phosphate of lime). [Written also coppel.] Cupel dust, powder used in purifying metals.
CUPEL Cu*pel" (k-pl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cupelled (-pld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Cupelling.]
Defn: To refine by means of a cupel.
CUPELLATIONCu`pel*la"tion (k`pl-l"shn), n. Etym: [See Cupel.]
Defn: The act or process of refining gold or silver, etc., in a cupel.
Note: The process consist in exposing the cupel containing the metal to be assayed or refined to a hot blast, by which the lead, copper, tin, etc., are oxidized, dissolved, and carried down into the porous cupel, leaving the unoxidizable precious metal. If lead is not already present in the alloy it must be added before cupellation.
CUPFULCup"ful (kp"fl), n.; pl. Cupfuls (-f.
Defn: As much as a cup will hold.
CUP-GALLCup"-gall` (-gl`), n.
Defn: A kind of oak-leaf gall. See Gall.
CUPID Cu"pid (k"pd), n . Etym: [L.Cupido, fr. cupido desire, desire of love, fr. cupidus. See Cupidity.] (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The god of love, son of Venus; usually represented as a naked, winged boy with bow and arrow. Pretty dimpled boys, like smiling cupids. Shak.
CUPIDITYCu*pid"i*ty (k-pd"-t), n. Etym: [F. cupidite, L. cupiditas, fr.cupidus longing, desiring, fr. cupere to long for, desire. SeeCovet.]
1. A passionate desire; love. [Obs.]
2. Eager or inordinate desire, especially for wealth; greed of gain; avarice; covetousness. With the feelings of political distrust were mingled those of cupidity and envy, as the Spaniard saw the fairest provinces of the south still in the hands of the accursed race of Ishmael. Prescott.
CUP-MOSSCup"-moss` (kp"ms`; 115), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of lichen, of the genus Cladonia.
CUPOLA Cu"po*la (k"p-l), n.; pl. Cupolas (-l. Etym: [It. cupola, LL. cupula, cuppula (cf. L. cupula little tub). fr. cupa, cuppa, cup; cf. L. cupa tub. So called on account of its resemblance to a cup turned over. See Cup, and cf.Cupule.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A roof having a rounded form, hemispherical or nearly so; also, a celing having the same form. When on a large scale it is usually called dome.
2. A small structure standing on the top of a dome; a lantern.
3. A furnace for melting iron or other metals in large quantity, — used chiefly in foundries and steel works.
4. A revoling shot-proof turret for heavy ordnance.
5. (Anat.)
Defn: The top of the spire of the cochlea of the ear.
CUPPERCup"per (kp"pr), n. Etym: [Fropm cup.]
Defn: One who performs the operation of cupping.
CUPPINGCup"ping (kp"png), n. (Med.)
Defn: The operation of drawing blood to or from the surface of the person by forming a partial vacuum over the spot. Also, sometimes, a similar operation for drawing pus from an abscess. Cupping glass, a glass cup in which a partial vacuum is produced by heat, in the process of cupping. — Dry cupping, the application of a cupping instrument without scarification, to draw blood to the surface, produce counter irritation, etc. — Wet cupping, the operation of drawing blood by the application of a cupping instrument after scarification.
CUPPYCup"py, a.
1. Hollow; cuplike; also, full of cups, or small depressions.
2. Characterized by cup shakes; — said of timber.
CUPREOUSCu"pre*ous (k"pr-s), a. Etym: [L. cupreus, fr. cuprum.]
Defn: Consisting of copper or resembling copper; coppery.
CUPRICCu"pric (k"prk), a Etym: [From Cuprum.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, copper; containing copper; — said of those compounds of copper in which this element is present in its lowest proportion.
CUPRIFEROUSCu*prif"er*ous (k-prf"r-s), a. Etym: [Cuprum + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing copper; as, cupriferous silver.
CUPRITECu"prite (k"prt), n. (Min.)
Defn: The red oxide of copper; red copper; an important ore of copper, occurring massive and in isometric crystals.
CUPROIDCu"proid (k"proid), n. Etym: [Cuprum + -oid.]
Defn: (Crystalloq.) A solid related to a tetrahedron, and contained under twelve equal triangles.
CUP-ROSECup"-rose (kp"rz), n.
Defn: Red poppy. See Cop-rose.
CUPROUSCu"prous (k"prs), a. Etym: [From Cuprum.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, copper; containing copper; — said of those compounds of copper in which this element is present in its highest proportion.
CUPRUMCu"prum (k"prm), n. Etym: [L.] (Chem.)
Defn: Copper.
CUP SHAKECup shake. (Forestry)
Defn: A shake or fissure between the annual rings of a tree, found oftenest near the roots.
CUPULATECu"pu*late (k"p-lt), a.
Defn: Having or bearing cupeles; cupuliferous.
CUPULECu"pule (k"pl), n. Etym: [See Cupola.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A cuplet or little cup, as the acorn; the husk or bur of the filbert, chestnut, etc.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sucker or acetabulum.
CUPULIFEROUS Cu`pu*lif"er*ous (k`p-lf"r-s), a. Etym: [Cupule + -ferous: cf. F. cupulif.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants ot which the oak and the chestnut are examples, — trees bearing a smooth, solid nut inclosed in some kind of cup or bur; bearing, or furnished with, a cupule.
CUR Cur (kr), n. Etym: [OE. curre, kur; cf. dial. Sw. kurre dog, OD. korre watchdog, and Icel. kurra to murmur, grumble, Sw. kurra to rumble, croak, Dan. kurre to coo, whirr; prob. of imitative origin.]
1. A mongrel or inferior dog. They . . . like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do. Shak.
2. A worthless, snarling fellow; — used in contempt. What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war Shak.
CURABILITYCur`a*bil"i*ty (kr`-bl"-t), n.
Defn: The state of being curable; curableness.
CURABLECur"a*ble (kr"-b'l), a. Etym: [Cf. F. curable. See Cure, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being cured; admitting remedy. "Curable diseases."Harvey.— Cur"a*ble*ness, n.— Cur`a*bly, adv.
CURACAO; CURACOACu`ra*çao", Cu`ra*çoa", (k`r-s"), n.
Defn: A liqueur, or cordial, flavored with orange peel, cinnamon, and mace; — first made at the island of Curaçcao.
CURACYCu"ra*cy (k"r-s), n.; pl. Curacies (-s. Etym: [See Cure, Curate.]
Defn: The office or employment of a curate.
CURARE; CURARICu*ra"re Cu*ra"ri (k-r"r), n. Etym: [Native name. Cf. Wourall.]
Defn: A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (S. toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison. [Written also urari, woorali, woorari, etc.]
CURARINECu"ra*rine (k"r-rn or k-r"rn; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A deadly alkaloid extracted from the curare poison and from theStrychnos toxifera. It is obtained in crystalline colorless salts.
CURARIZECu"ra*rize (-rz), v. t.
Defn: To poison with curare.
CURASSOWCu*ras"sow (k-rs"s), n. Etym: [Native name in Brazil.] (Zool.)
Defn: A large gallinaceous bird of the American genera Crax, Ourax, etc., of the family Cracidæ.
Note: The crested curassow (Crax alector) is black, and about the size of a small hen-turkey, with an erectile crest of curled feathers. It ranges from Mexico to Brazil. The galeated curassow or cushew bird (Ourax Pauxi) is similar in size, and has a large, hollow, blue, pear-shaped protuberance on the head.
CURATCu"rat (k"rt), n. Etym: [SeeCuirass.]
Defn: A cuirass or breastplate. [Obs.] Spenser.
CURATE Cu"rate (k"rt), n. Etym: [LL. curatus, prop., one who is charged with the care (L. cura) of souls. See Cure, n., and cf. Cur]
Defn: One who has the cure souls; originally, any clergyman, but now usually limited to one who assist a rector or vicar Hook. All this the good old man performed alone, He spared no pains, for curate he had none. Dryden.
CURATESHIPCu"rate*ship, n.
Defn: A curacy.
CURATIONCu*ra"tion (k-r"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. OF.curacion.]
Defn: Cure; healing. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CURATIVECur"a*tive (kr"-tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F.curatif. See Cure, v. t.]
Defn: Relating to, or employed in, the cure of diseases; tending to cure. Arbuthnot.
CURATOR Cu*ra"tor (k-r"tr). n. Etym: [L., fr. curare to take care of, fr. cura care.]
1. One who has the care and superintendence of anything, as of a museum; a custodian; a keeper.
2. One appointed to act as guardian of the estate of a person not legally competent to manage it, or of an absentee; a trustee; a guardian.
CURATORSHIPCu*ra"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a curator.
CURATRIXCu*ra"trix (-trks), n. Etym: [L.]
1. A woman who cures.
2. A woman who is a guardian or custodian. Burrill.
CURBCurb (krb), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curbed (krbd); p. pr. & vb. n.Curbing.] Etym: [F. courber to bend, curve, L.curvare, fr. curvusbent, curved; cf. Gr. Curve.]
1. To bend or curve [Obs.] Crooked and curbed lines. Holland.
2. To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in check. Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton. Where pinching want must curbthy warm desires. Prior.
3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.
CURBCurb, v. i.
Defn: To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [Obs.] Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. Shak.
CURBCurb, n.
1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindbrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of the horse. He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. Drayton. By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. Denham.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome.
3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in.
4. A curbstone.
5. (Far.)
Defn: A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, justbehind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.James Law. Curb bit, a stiff bit having branches by which a leverageis obtained upon the jaws of horse. Knight.— Curb pins (Horology), the pins on the regulator which restrainthe hairspring.— Curb plate (Arch.), a plate serving the purpose of a curb.— Deck curb. See under Deck.
CURBLESSCurb"less, a.
Defn: Having no curb or restraint.
CURB ROOFCurb" roof` (rf`).
Defn: A roof having a double slope, or composed, on each side, of two parts which have unequal inclination; a gambrel roof.
CURBSTONECurb"stone` (krb"stn`), n.
Defn: A stone Curbstone broker.See under Broker.
CURCHCurch (krch), n.
Defn: See Courche.
CURCULIO Cur*cu"li*o (kr-r"l-), n.; pl. Curculios (-. Etym: [L., a grain weevil.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a large group of beetles (Rhynchophora) of many genera; — called also weevils, snout beetles, billbeetles, and billbugs. Many of the species are very destructive, as the plum curculio, the corn, grain, and rice weevils, etc.
CURCULIONIDOUSCur`cu*li*on"i*dous (kr`-k-l-n"-ds), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Curculionideæ, or weevil tribe.
CURCUMA Cur"cu*ma (kr"k-m), n. Etym: [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma; all fr. Ar. kurkum. Cf. Turmeric.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the order Scitamineæ, including the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). Curcuma paper. (Chem.) See Turmeric paper, under Turmeric.
CURCUMINCur"cu*min (-mn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: The coloring principle of turmeric, or curcuma root, extracted as an orange yellow crystalline substance, C14H14O4, with a green fluorescence.
Note: It possesses acid properties and with alkalies forms brownish salts. This change in color from yellow to brown is the characteristic reaction of tumeric paper. See Turmeric paper, under Turmeric.
CURD Curd (krd), n. Etym: [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. gruth, Ir, gruth, cruth, curd, cruthaim I milk.] [Sometimes written crud.]
1. The coagulated or thickened part of milk, as distingushed from the whey, or watery part. It is eaten as food, especially when made into cheese. Curds and cream, the flower of country fare. Dryden.
2. The coagulated part of any liquid.
3. The edible flower head of certain brassicaceous plants, as the broccoli and cauliflower. Broccoli should be cut while the curd, as the flowering mass is termed, is entire. R. Thompson. Cauliflowers should be cut for use while the head, or curd, is still close and compact. F. Burr.
CURDCurd (krd), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curded;p. pr. &* vb. n. Curding.]
Defn: To cause to coagulate or thicken; to cause to congeal; tocurdle.Does it curd thy blood To say I am thy mother Shak.
CURDCurd, v. i.
Defn: To become coagulated or thickened; to separate into curds and whey Shak.
CURDINESSCurd"i*ness (—ns), n.
Defn: The state of being curdy.
CURDLE Cur"dle (kr"d'l), v. i. Etym: [From Curd.] [Sometimes written crudle and cruddle.]
1. To change into curd; to coagulate; as, rennet causes milk to curdle. Thomson.
2. To thicken; to congeal. Then Mary could feel her heart's blood curdle cold. Southey.
CURDLE Cur"dle, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curdled (-d'ld); p.pr. & vb. n. Curdling (-dlng).]
1. To change into curd; to cause to coagulate. "To curdle whites of eggs" Boyle.
2. To congeal or thicken. My chill blood is curdled in my veins. Dryden.
CURDLESSCurd"less (krd"ls), a.
Defn: Destitute of curd.
CURDYCurd"y (krd"), a.
Defn: Like curd; full of curd; coagulated. "A curdy mass." Arbuthnot.
CURE Cure (k, n. Etym: [OF, cure care, F., also, cure, healing, cure of souls, L. cura care, medical attendance, cure; perh. akin to cavere to pay heed, E. cution. Cure is not related to care.]
1. Care, heed, or attention. [Obs.] Of study took he most cure and most heed. Chaucer. Vicarages of greatcure, but small value. Fuller.
2. Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or of a curate; hence, that which is committed to the charge of a parish priest or of a curate; a curacy; as, to resign a cure; to obtain a cure. The appropriator was the incumbent parson, and had the cure of the souls of the parishioners. Spelman.
3. Medical or hygienic care; remedial treatment of disease; a method of medical treatment; as, to use the water cure.
4. Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health from disease, or to soundness after injury. Past hope! pastcure! past help. Shak. I do cures to-day and to-morrow. Luke xii. 32.
5. Means of the removal of disease or evil; that which heals; aremedy; a restorative.Cold, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure. Dryden.The proper cure of such prejudices. Bp. Hurd.
CURECure, v. t. [imp.& p.p. Cured (krd); p. pr. & vb. n. Curing.] Etym:[OF. curer to take care, to heal, F., only, to cleanse, L. curare totake care, to heal, fr. cura. See Cure,.]
1. To heal; to restore to health, soundness, or sanity; to make well; — said of a patient. The child was cured from that very hour. Matt. xvii. 18.
2. To subdue or remove by remedial means; to remedy; to remove; to heal; — said of a malady. To cure this deadly grief. Shak. Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power . . . to cure diseases. Luke ix. 1.
3. To set free from (something injurious or blameworthy), as from a bad habit. I never knew any man cured of inattention. Swift.
4. To prepare for preservation or permanent keeping; to preserve, as by drying, salting, etc.; as, to cure beef or fish; to cure hay.
CURECure, v. i.
1. To pay heed; to care; to give attention. [Obs.]
2. To restore health; to effect a cure. Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, Is able with the change to kill and cure. Shak.
3. To become healed. One desperate grief cures with another's languish. Shak.
CURECu`ré" (k`r"), n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. curatus. See Curate.]
Defn: A curate; a pardon.
CUREALLCure"*all` (kr"l`), n.
Defn: A remedy for all diseases, o
CURELESSCure"less, a.
Defn: Incapable of cure; incurable.With patience undergo A cureless ill, since fate will have it so.Dryden.
CURERCur"er (-r), n.
1. One who cures; a healer; a physician.
2. One who prepares beef, fish, etc., for preservation by drying, salting, smoking, etc.
CURETTECu*rette" (k-rt"), n.Etym: [F., fr. curer to cleanse.] (Med.)
Defn: A scoop or ring with either a blunt or a cutting edge, for removing substances from the walls of a cavity, as from the eye, ear, or womb.
CURFEW Cur"few (kr"f), n. Etym: [OE. courfew, curfu, fr. OF. cuevrefu, covrefeu, F. couvre-feu; covrir to cover + feu fire, fr. L. focus fireplace, hearth. See Cover, and Focus.]
1. The ringing of an evening bell, originally a signal to the inhabitants to cover fires, extinguish lights, and retire to rest, — instituted by William the Conqueror; also, the bell itself. He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. Shak. The village curfew, as it tolled profound. Campbell.
2. A utensil for covering the fire. [Obs.] For pans, pots, curfews, counters and the like. Bacon.
CURIACu"ri*a (k"r-), n.; pl. Curle (-. Etym: [L.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) One of the thirty parts into which the Roman people were divided by Romulus. (b) The place of assembly of one of these divisions. (c) The place where the meetings of the senate were held; the senate house.
2. (Middle Ages)
Defn: The court of a sovereign or of a feudal lord; also; his residence or his household. Burrill.
3. (Law)
Defn: Any court of justice.
4. The Roman See in its temporal aspects, including all the machinery of administration; — called also curia Romana.
CURIALCu"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the papal curia; as, the curial etiquette of the Vatican. — n.
Defn: A member of a curia, esp. of that of Rome or the later Italian sovereignties.
CURIALISMCu"ri*a*lism (k"r—lz'm), n.
Defn: The wiew or doctrins of the ultramontane party in the LatinChurch. Gladstone.
CURIALISTCu"ri*a*list (k"r—lst), n.
Defn: One who belongs to the ultramontane party in the Latin Church.Shipley.
CURIALISTIC Cu`ri*a*lis"tic (-ls"tk), a. Etym: [L.curialis belonging to the imperial court, fr. curia, LL., also, counselors and retinue of a king.]
1. Pertaining to a court.
2. Relating or belonging to the ultramonate party in the Latin Church.
CURIALITY Cu`ri*al"i*ty (-l"-t), n. Etym: [Cf. LL. curialitas courtesy, fr. curialis.]
Defn: The privileges, prerogatives, or retinue of a court. [Obs.]Bacon.
CURIETCu"ri*et (k"r-t), n.
Defn: A cuirass. [Obs.] Spenser.
CURINGCur"ing (kr"ng),
Defn: p. a. & vb. n. of Cure. Curing house, a building in which anything is cured; especially, in the West Indies, a building in which sugar is drained and dried.
CURIOCu"ri*o (k"r-), n.; pl.Curios (-. Etym: [Abbreviation of curiosity.]
Defn: Any curiosity or article of virtu. The busy world, which does not hunt poets as collectors hunt for curios. F. Harrison.
CURIOLOGICCu`ri*o*log"ic (—lj"k), a. Etym: [Gr. Cyriologic.]
Defn: Pertaining to a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in which a thing is represented by its picture instead of by a symbol.
CURIOSITY Cu`ri*os"i*ty (k`r-s"-t), n.; pl. Curiosities (-t. Etym: [OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioseté, curiosité, F. curiosit, fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See Currious, and cf. Curio.]
1. The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. [Obs.] Bacon. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. Shak. A screen accurately cut in tapiary work . . . with great curiosity. Evelin.
2. Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness. Milton.
3. That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention. We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town. Addison. There hath been practiced also a curiosity, to set a tree upon the north side of a wall, and, at a little hieght, to draw it through the wall, etc. Bacon.
CURIOSOCu`ri*o"so (k`r-"z or k`r-"s), n.; pl. Curiosos (-zor -s. Etym: [It.See Curious.]
Defn: A virtuoso.
CURIOUS Cu"ri*ous (k"r-s), a. Etym: [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
1. Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [Obs.] Little curious in her clothes. Fuller. How shall we, If he be curious, work upon his faith Bean &
2. Exhibiting care or nicety; artfully constructed; elaborate; wrought with elegance or skill. To devise curious works. Ex. xxxv. 32 His body couched in a curious bed. Shak.
3. Careful or anxious to learn; eager for knowledge; given to research or inquiry; habitually inquisitive; prying; — sometimes with after or of. It is a picurious after things that were elegant and beatiful should not have been as curious as to their origin, their uses, and their natural history. Woodward.
4. Exciting attention or inquiry; awakening surprise; inviting and rewarding inquisitiveness; not simple or plain; strange; rare. "Acurious tale" Shak. A multitude of curious analogies. Mocaulay. Many a quaint and curiousvolume of forgotten lore. E. A. Poe. Abstruse investigations in recondite branches of learning or sciense often bring to light curious results. C. J. Smith. Curious arts, magic. [Obs.] Many . . . which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them. Acts xix. 19.
Syn.— Inquisitive; prying. See Inquisitive.
CURIOUSLYCu"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a curious manner.
CURIOUSNESSCu"ri*ous*ness, n.
1. Carefulness; painstaking. [Obs.] My father's care With curiousness and cost did train me up. Massinger.
2. The state of being curious; exactness of workmanship; ingenuity of contrivance.
3. Inquisitiveness; curiosity.
CURLCurl (krl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curled (krld); p. pr. & vb. n.Curling.] Etym: [Akin to D. krullen, Dan. kr, dial. Sw. krulla tocurl, crisp; possibly akin to E. crook. Cf. Curl, n., Cruller.]
1. To twist or form into ringlets; to crisp, as the hair. But curl their locks with bodkins and with braid. Cascoigne.
2. To twist or make onto coils, as a serpent's body. Of his tortuous train, Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve. Milton.
3. To deck with, or as with, curls; to ornament. Thicker than the snaky locks That curledMegæra. Milton. Curling with metaphors a plain intention. Herbert.
4. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple. Seas would be pools without the brushing air To curl the waves. Dryden.
5. (Hat Making)
Defn: To shape (the brim) into a curve.
CURLCurl, v. i.
1. To contract or bend into curis or ringlets, as hair; to grow in curls or spirals, as a vine; to be crinkled or contorted; to have a curly appearance; as, leaves lie curled on the ground. Thou seest it [hair] will not curl by nature. Shak.
2. To move in curves, spirals, or undulations; to contract in curving outlines; to bend in a curved form; to make a curl or curls. "Cirling billows." Dryden. Then round her slender waist he curled. Dryden. Curling smokes from village tops are seen. Pope. Gayly curl the waves before each dashing prow. Byron. He smiled a king of sickly smile, and curled up on the floor. Bret Harte. . 358
3. To play at the game called curling. [Scot.]
CURLCurl (krl), n. Etym: [Akin to D. krul, Dan. kr. See Curl, v. ]
1. A ringlet, especially of hair; anything of a spiral or windingform.Under a coronet, his flowing hair In curls on either cheek played.Milton.
2. An undulating or waving line or streak in any substance, as wood, glass, etc.; flexure; sinuosity. If the glass of the prisms . . . be without those numberless waves or curls which usually arise from the sand holes. Sir I. Newton.
3. A disease in potatoes, in which the leaves, at their first appearance, seem curled and shrunken. Blue curls. (Bot.) See under Blue.
CURLEDCurled (lrld), a.
Defn: Having curls; curly; sinuous; wavy; as, curled maple (maple having fibers which take a sinnuous course). Curled hair (Com.), the hair of the manes and tails of horses, prepared for upholstery purposes. McElrath.
CURLEDNESSCurl"ed*ness, n.
Defn: State of being curled; curliness.
CURLERCurl"er (-r), n.
1. One who, or that which, curls.
2. A player at the game called curling. Burns.
CURLEW Cur"lew (kr"l), n. Etym: [F. courlieu, corlieu, courlis; perh. of imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus courier; L. currere to run + levis light.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wading bird of the genus Numenius, remarkable for its long, slender, curved bill.
Note: The common European curlew is N. arquatus. The long-billed (N. longirostris), the Hudsonian (N. Hudsonicus), and the Eskimo curlew (N. borealis, are American species. The name is said to imitate the note of the European species. Curlew Jack (Zoöl.) the whimbrel or lesser curlew. — Curlew sandpiper (Zoöl.), a sandpiper (Tringa ferruginea, or subarquata), common in Europe, rare in America, resembling a curlew in having a long, curved bill. See Illustation in Appendix.
CURLINESSCurl"i*ness (krl"-ns), n.
Defn: State of being curly.
CURLINGCurl"ing, n.
1. The act or state of that which curls; as, the curling of smoke when it rises; the curling of a ringlet; also, the act or process of one who curls something, as hair, or the brim of hats.
2. A scottish game in which heavy weights of stone or iron are propelled by hand over the ice towards a mark. Curling . . . is an amusement of the winter, and played on the ice, by sliding from one mark to another great stones of 40 to 70 pounds weight, of a hemispherical form, with an iron or wooden handle at top. The object of the player is to lay his stone as near to the mark as possible, to guard that of his partner, which has been well laid before, or to strike off that of his antagonist. Pennant (Tour in Scotland. 1772). Curling irons, Curling tong, an instrument for curling the hair; — commonly heated when used.
CURLINGLYCurl"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With a curl, or curls.
CURLYCurl"y (krl"), a.
Defn: Curling or tending to curl; having curls; full of ripples; crinkled.
CURLYCUECurl"y*cue (krl"-k), n. Etym: [Cf. F. caracole.]
Defn: Some thing curled or spiral,, as a flourish made with a pen on paper, or with skates on the ice; a trick; a frolicsome caper. [Sometimes written carlicue.] [ Colloq. U.S.] To cut a curlycue, to make a flourish; to cut a caper. I gave a flourishing about the room and cut a curlycue with my right foot. McClintock.
CURMUDGEON Cur*mudg"eon (kr-mj"n), n. Etym: [OE. cornmudgin, where -mudgin is prob. from OF. muchier, mucier, F. musser to hide; of uncertain origin; cf. OE. muchares skulking thieves, E. miche, micher.]
Defn: An avaricious, grasping fellow; a miser; a niggard; a churl.A gray-headed curmudgeon of a negro. W. Irving.
CURMUDGEONLYCur*mudg"eon*ly, a.
Defn: Like a curmudgeon; niggardly; churlish; as, a curmudgeonly fellow.
CURMURRINGCur*mur"ring (kr-mr"rng), n.
Defn: Murmuring; grumbling; — sometimes applied to the rumbling produced by a slight attack of the gripes. [Scot.] Burns.
CURRCurr (kr), v. i. Etym: [Prob. imitative.]
Defn: To coo. [Scot.]The owlets hoot, the owlets curr. Wordsworth.
CURRANT Cur"rant (kr"rant), n. Etym: [F. corinthe (raisins de Corinthe raisins of Corinth) currant (in sense 1), from the city of Corinth in Greece, whence, probably, the small dried grape (1) was first imported, the Ribes fruit (2) receiving the name from its resemblance to that grape.]
1. A small kind of seedless raisin, imported from the Levant, chiefly from Zante and Cephalonia; — used in cookery.
2. The acid fruit or berry of the Ribes rubrum or common red currant, or of its variety, the white currant.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub or bush of several species of the genus Ribes (a genus also including the gooseberry); esp., the Ribes rubrum. Black currant,a shrub or bush (Ribes nigrum and R. floridum) and its black, strong-flavored, tonic fruit. — Cherry currant, a variety of the red currant, having a strong, symmetrical bush and a very large berry. — Currant borer (Zoöl.), the larva of an insect that bores into the pith and kills currant bushes; specif., the larvae of a small clearwing moth (Ægeria tipuliformis) and a longicorn beetle (Psenocerus supernotatus). — Currant worm (Zoöl.), an insect larva which eats the leaves or fruit of the currant. The most injurious are the currant sawfly (Nematus ventricosus), introduced from Europe, and the spanworm (Eufitchia ribearia). The fruit worms are the larva of a fly (Epochra Canadensis), and a spanworm (Eupithecia). — Flowering currant, Missouri currant, a species of Ribes (R. aureum), having showy yellow flowers.
CURRENCYCur"ren*cy (kr"rn-c), n.; pl. Currencies (-s. Etym: [Cf. LL.currentia a current, fr. L. currens, p. pr. of currere to run. SeeCurrent.]
1. A continued or uninterrupted course or flow like that of a sream; as, the currency of time. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
2. The state or quality of being current; general acceptance or reception; a passing from person to person, or from hand to hand; circulation; as, a report has had a long or general currency; the currency of bank notes.
3. That which is in circulation, or is given and taken as having or representing value; as, the currency of a country; a specie currency; esp., government or bank notes circulating as a substitute for metallic money.
4. Fluency; readiness of utterance. [Obs.]
5. Current value; general estimation; the rate at which anything is generally valued. He . . . takes greatness of kingdoms according to their bulk and currency, and not after intrinsic value. Bacon. The bare name of Englishman . . . too often gave a transient currency to the worthless and ungrateful. W. Irving.
CURRENT Cur"rent (kr"rent), a. Etym: [OE. currant, OF. curant, corant, p. pr. of curre, corre, F. courre, courir, to run, from L. currere; perh. akin to E. horse. Cf. Course, Concur, Courant, Coranto.]
1. Running or moving rapidly. [Archaic] Like the current fire, that renneth Upon a cord. Gower. To chase a creature that was current then In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns. Tennyson.
2. Now passing, as time; as, the current month.
3. Passing from person to person, or from hand to hand; circulating through the community; generally received; common; as, a current coin; a current report; current history. That there was current money in Abraham's time is past doubt. Arbuthnot. Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current. Shak. His current value, which is less or more as men have occasion for him. Grew.
4. Commonly estimated or acknowledged.
5. Fitted for general acceptance or circulation; authentic; passable.O Buckingham, now do I play the touch To try if thou be current goldindeed. Shak.Account current. See under Account.— Current money, lawful money. Abbott.
CURRENTCur"rent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. courant. See Current, a. ]
1. A flowing or passing; onward motion. Hence: A body of fluid moving continuously in a certain direction; a stream; esp., the swiftest part of it; as, a current of water or of air; that which resembles a stream in motion; as, a current of electricity. Two such silver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that bound them in. Shak. The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents, whose direction . . . the navigator should know. Nichol.
2. General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and connected movement; as, the current of time, of events, of opinion, etc. Current meter, an instrument for measuring the velocity, force, etc., of currents. — Current mill, a mill driven by a current wheel. — Current wheel, a wheel dipping into the water and driven by the current of a stream or by the ebb and flow of the tide.
Syn.— Stream; course. See Stream.
CURRENTLYCur"rent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a current manner; generally; commonly; as, it is currently believed.
CURRENTNESSCur"rent*ness, n.
1. The quality of being current; currency; circulation; general reception.
2. Easiness of pronunciation; fluency. [Obs.] When currentness [combineth] with staidness, how can the language . . . sound other than most full of sweetness Camden.
CURRICLE Cur"ri*cle (kr"r-k'l), n. Etym: [L.curriculum a running, a race course, fr. currere to run. See Current, and cf. Curriculum.]
1. A small or short course. Upon a curricle in this world depends a long course of the next. Sir T. Browne.
2. A two-wheeled chaise drawn by two horses abreast.
CURRICULUMCur*ric"u*lum (kr-rk"-lm), n.; pl. E. Curriculums (-lCurricula (-l.Etym: [L. See Curricle.]
1. A race course; a place for running.
2. A course; particularly, a specified fixed course of study, as in a university.
CURRIECur"rie (kr"r), n. & v.
Defn: See 2d & 3d Curry.
CURRIEDCur"ried (-r, p.a. Etym: [See Curry, v. t., and Curry, n.]
1. Dressed by currying; cleaned; prepared.
2. Prepared with curry; as, curried rice, fowl, etc.
CURRIERCur"ri*er (k"r-r), n. Etym: [From 1st Curry.]
Defn: One who curries and dresses leather, after it is tanned.
CURRISHCur"rish (kr"rsh), a. Etym: [From Cur.]
Defn: Having the qualities, or exhibiting the characteristics, of a cur; snarling; quarrelsome; snappish; churlish; hence, also malicious; malignant; brutal. Thy currish spirit Governed a wolf. Shak. Some currish plot, — some trick. Lockhart. — Cur"rish*ly, adv. — Cur"rish*ness, n.
CURRY Cur"ry (kr"r), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curried (-rd); p.pr. & vb. n. Currying.] Etym: [OE. curraien, curreien, OF. cunreer, correier, to prepare, arrange, furnish, curry (a horse), F. corroyer to curry (leather) (cf. OF. conrei, conroi, order, arrangement, LL. conredium); cor- (L.com-) + roi, rei, arrangement, order; prob. of German origin, and akin to E. ready. See Ready, Greith, and cf. Corody, Array.]
1. To dress or prepare for use by a process of scraping, cleansing, beating, smoothing, and coloring; — said of leather.
2. To dress the hair or coat of (a horse, ox, or the like) with a currycomb and brush; to comb, as a horse, in order to make clean. Your short horse is soon curried. Beau. & FL.
3. To beat or bruise; to drub; — said of persons.I have seen him curry a fellow's carcass handsomely. Beau. & FL.To curry favor, to seek to gain favor by flattery or attentions. SeeFavor, n.
CURRYCur"ry, n. Etym: [Tamil kari.] [Written also currie.]
1. (Cookery)
Defn: A kind of sauce much used in India, containing garlic, pepper, ginger, and other strong spices.
2. A stew of fowl, fish, or game, cooked with curry. Curry powder (Cookery), a condiment used for making curry, formed of various materials, including strong spices, as pepper, ginger, garlic, coriander seed, etc.
CURRYCur"ry (kr"r), v. t.
Defn: To flavor or cook with curry.
CURRYCOMBCur"ry*comb` (kr"r-km`), n.
Defn: A kind of card or comb having rows of metallic teeth or serrated ridges, used in curryng a horse.
CURRYCOMBCur"ry*comb`, v. t.
Defn: To comb with a currycomb.
CURSE Curse (krs), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cursed (krst) or Curst; p. pr. & vb. n. Cursing.] Etym: [AS. cursian, corsian, perh. of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. korse to make the sign of the cross, Sw. korsa, fr. Dan. & Sw. kors cross, Icel kross, all these Scand. words coming fr. OF. crois, croiz, fr. L. crux cross. Cf. Cross.]
1. To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to imprecate evil upon; to execrate. Thou shalt not . . . curse the ruler of thy people. Ex. xxii. 28. Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed. Shak.
2. To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment. On impious realms and barbarous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse 'em with such sons as those. Pope. To curse by bell, book, and candle. See under Bell.
CURSECurse, v. i.
Defn: To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny withimprecations; to swear.Then began he to curse and to swear. Matt. xxi. 74.His spirits hear me, And yet I need must curse. Shak.
CURSECurse, n. Etym: [AS. curs. See Curse, v. t.]
1. An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction. Lady, you know no rules of charity, Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses. Shak.
2. Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion; subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation. The priest shall write these curses in a book. Num. v. 23. Curses, like chickens, come home to roost. Old Proverb.
3. The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings evil or severe affliction; torment. The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance. Shak. All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget, Is propagated curse. Milton. The curse of Scotland (Card Playing), the nine of diamonds. — Not worth a curse. See under Cress.
Syn.— Malediction; imprecation; execration. See Malediction.
CURSEDCurs"ed (krs"d), a.
Defn: Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.Let us fly this cursed place. Milton.This cursed quarrel be no more renewed. Dryden.
CURSEDLYCurs"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cursed manner; miserably; in a manner to be detested; enormously. [Low]
CURSEDNESSCurs"ed*ness, n.
1. The state of being under a curse or of being doomed to execration or to evil.
2. Wickedness; sin; cursing. Chaucer.
3. Shrewishness. "My wife's cursedness." Chaucer.
CURSERCurs"er (krs"r), n.
Defn: One who curses.
CURSHIPCur"ship (kr"shp), n. Etym: [Cur +-ship.]
Defn: The state of being a cur; one who is currish. [Jocose]How durst he, I say, oppose thy curship! Hudibras.
CURSITATINGCur"si*ta`ting (kr"s-t`tng), a. Etym: [See Cursitor.]
Defn: Moving about slightly. [R.] H. Bushnell.
CURSITORCur"si*tor (kr"s-tr), n. Etym: [LL. cursitor, equiv. to L. cursor,fr. cursare to run hither and thither, fr. currere to run. SeeCurrent, and cf. Cursor.]
1. A courier or runner. [Obs.] "Cursitors to and fro." Holland.
2. (Eng.Law)
Defn: An officer in the Court of Chancery, whose business is to make out original writs.
CURSIVECur"sive (kr"sv), a. Etym: [LL. cursivus: cf. F. cursif SeeCursitor.]
Defn: Running; flowing. Cursive hand,a running handwriting.
CURSIVECur"sive, n.
1. A character used in cursive writing.
2. A manuscript, especially of the New Testament, written in small, connected characters or in a running hand; — opposed to uncial. Shipley.
CURSORCur"sor (kr"sr), n. Etym: [L., a runner. See Cursitor.]
Defn: Any part of a mathematical instrument that moves or slides backward and forward upon another part.
CURSORARYCur"so*ra*ry (-s-r-r), a.
Defn: Cursory; hasty. [Obs.]With a cursorary eye o'erglanced the articles. Shak.
CURSORES Cur*so"res (kr-s"rEz), n. pl. Etym: [L. cursor, pl. cursores, a runner.] (Zoöl.) (a) An order of running birds including the ostrich, emu, and allies; the Ratitaæ. (b) A group of running spiders; the wolf spiders.
CURSORIAL Cur*so"ri*al (kr-s"r-al), a. (Zoöl.) (a) Adapted to running or walking, and not to prehension; as, the limbs of the horse are cursorial. See Illust. of Aves. (b) Of or pertaining to the Cursores.
CURSORILYCur"so*ri*ly (kr"s-r-l), adv.
Defn: In a running or hasty manner; carelessly.
CURSORINESSCur"so*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cursory; superficial performance; as, cursoriness of view.
CURSORYCur"so*ry (kr"s-r), a. Etym: [L. cursorius, fr. cursor. See Cursor.]
1. Running about; not stationary. [Obs.]
2. Characterized by haste; hastily or superficially performed; slight; superficial; careless. Events far too important to be treated in a cursory manner. Hallam.
CURSTCurst (krst),
Defn: imp. & p.p. of Curse.
CURSTCurst, a. Etym: [SeeCurse.]
Defn: Froward; malignant; mischievous; malicious; snarling. [Obs.]Though his mind Be ne'er so curst, his tonque is kind. Crashaw.
CURSTFULLYCurst"ful*ly (-fl-l), adv.
Defn: Peevishly; vexatiously; detestably. [Obs.] "Curstfully mad."Marston.
CURSTNESSCurst"ness (krst"ns), n.
Defn: Peevishness; malignity; frowardness; crabbedness; surliness.[Obs.] Shak.
CURTCurt (krt), a. Etym: [L. curtus; cf. Skr. kart to cut. Cf. Curtail.]
Defn: Characterized by exessive brevity; short; rudely concise; as, curt limits; a curt answer. The curt, yet comprehensive reply. W. Irving.
CURTAIL Cur*tail" (kr-tl"), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curtailed (-tld"); p.pr. & vb.n. Curtailing.] Etym: [See Curtal.]
Defn: To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; toabridge; to diminish; to reduce.I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion. Shak.Our incomes have been curtailed; his salary has been doubled.Macualay.
CURTAILCur"tail (kr"tl), n.
Defn: The scroll termination of any architectural member, as of a step, etc.
CURTAIL DOGCur"tail dog` (d.
Defn: A dog with a docked tail; formerly, the dog of a person not qualified to course, which, by the forest laws, must have its tail cut short, partly as a mark, and partly from a notion that the tail is necessary to a dog in running; hence, a dog not fit for sporting. Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs. Shak.
CURTAILERCur*tail"er (kr-tl"r), n.
Defn: One who curtails.
CURTAILMENTCur*tail"ment (kr-tl"ment), n.
Defn: The act or result of curtailing or cutting off. Bancroft.
CURTAIN Cur"tain (kr"tn; 48), n. Etym: [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See Court.]
1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a window; in theaters, and like places, a movable screen for concealing the stage.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of Ravelin and Bastion.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc.
4. A flag; an ensign; — in contempt. [Obs.] Shak. Behind the curtain, in concealment; in secret. — Curtain lecture, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. Jerrold. A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. W. Irving. — The curtain falls, the performance closes. — The curtain rises, the performance begins. — To draw the curtain, to close ot over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance. — To drop the curtain, to end the tale, or close the performance.
CURTAINCur"tain, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curtained (-tnd; 48); p. pr. & vb. n.Curtaining.]
Defn: To inclose as with curtains; to furnish with curtains.So when the sun in bed Curtained with cloudy red. Milton.
CURTAL Cur"tal (kr"tal), a. Etym: [OF. courtault, F. courtaud, having a docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L. curtus. See Curt, and Curtail.]
Defn: Curt; brief; laconic.Essays and curtal aphorisms. Milton.Curtal dog. See Curtail dog.
CURTALCur"tal, n.
Defn: A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. [Obs]Nares.
CURTAL AX; CURTLE AX; CURTELASSECur"tal ax`, Cur"tle ax`, Curte"lasse (krt"las).
Defn: A corruption of Cutlass.
CURTAL FRIARCur"tal fri`ar (fr`r).
Defn: A friar who acted as porter at the gate of a monastery. Sir W.Scott.
CURTANACur*ta"na (kr-t"n), n.
Defn: The pointless sword carried before English monarchs at their coronation, and emblematically considered as the sword of mercy; — also called the sword of Edward the Confessor.
CURTATE Cur"tate (kr"tt), a. Etym: [L. curtatus, p.p. of curtare to shorten, fr. curtus. See Curt.] (Astron.)
Defn: Shortened or reduced; — said of the distance of a planet from the sun or earth, as measured in the plane of the ecliptic, or the distance from the sun or earth to that point where a perpendicular, let fall from the planet upon the plane of the ecliptic, meets the ecliptic. Curtate cycloid. (Math.) See Cycloid.
CURTATIONCur*ta"tion (kr-t"shn), n. (Astron.)
Defn: The interval by which the curtate distance of a planet is less than the true distance.
CURTEINCur*tein" (kr-tn"), n.
Defn: Same as Curtana.
CURTESCur*tes" (kr-ts"), a.
Defn: Courteous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CURTESY Cur"te*sy (kr"t-s), n.; pl. Curtesies (-s. Etym: [Either fr. courlesy, the lands being held as it were by favor; or fr. court (LL. curtis), the husband being regarded as holding the lands as a vassal of the court. See Court, Courtesy.] (Law)
Defn: the life estate which a husband has in the lands of his deceased wife, which by the common law takes effect where he has had issue by her, born alive, and capable of inheriting the lands. Mozley & W.
CURTILAGE Cur"ti*lage (k, n. Etym: [OF. cortillage, curtillage, fr. cortil court, courtyard, LL. cortis court. See Court.] (Law)
Defn: A yard, courtyard, or piece of ground, included within the fence surrounding a dwelling house. Burrill.
CURTLYCurt"ly (krt"l), adv.
Defn: In a curt manner.
CURTNESSCurt"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of bing curt.
CURTSYCurt"sy (krt"s), n.
Defn: Same as Courtesy, an act of respect.
CURULE Cu"rule (k"rl), a. Etym: [L. curulis, fr. currus a charoit: cf. F. curule.]
1. Of or pertaining to a charoit.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a kind of chair appropriated to Roman magistrates and dignitaries; pertaining to, having, or conferring, the right to sit in the curule chair; hence, official.
Note: The curule chair was usually shaped like a camp stool, and provided with curved legs. It was at first ornamented with ivory, and later sometimes made of ivory and inlaid with gold. Curule dignity right of sitting in the curule chair.
CURUROCu*ru"ro (k-r"r), n. Etym: [Chilian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Chilian burrowing rodent of the genus Spalacopus.
CURVAL; CURVANTCur"val (kr"val), Cur"vant (-vant), a. Etym: [L. curvans, p. pr. ](Her.)
Defn: Bowed; bent; curved.
CURVATE; CURVATED Cur"vate (kr"vt), Cur"va*ted (-v-td), a. Etym: [L. curvatus p. p. of curvare to curve, fr. curvus. See Curve.]
Defn: Bent in a regular form; curved.
CURVATIONCur*va"tion (kr-v"shn), n. Etym: [L. curvatio.]
Defn: The act of bending or crooking.
CURVATIVECur"va*tive (kr"v-tv), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the margins only a little curved; — said of leaves.Henslow.
CURVATURECur"va*ture (kr"v-tr; 135), n. Etym: [L. curvatura. See Curvate.]
1. The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from a rectilinear direction; a bend; a curve. Cowper. The elegant curvature of their fronds. Darwin.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The amount of degree of bending of a mathematical curve, or the tendency at any point to depart from a tangent drawn to the curve at that point. Aberrancy of curvature (Geom.), the deviation of a curve from a curcular form. -Absolute curvature. See under Absolute. — Angle of curvature (Geom.), one that expresses the amount of curvature of a curve. — Chord of curvature. See under Chord. — Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve, under Circle. — Curvature of the spine (Med.), an abnormal curving of the spine, especially in a lateral direction. — Radius of curvature, the radius of the circle of curvature, or osculatory circle, at any point of a curve.
CURVECurve (krv), a. Etym: [L. curvus bent, curved. See Cirb.]
Defn: Bent without angles; crooked; curved; as, a curve line; a curve surface.
CURVECurve, n. Etym: [See Curve, a., Cirb.]
1. A bending without angles; that wcich is bent; a flexure; as, a curve in a railway or canal.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: A line described according to some low, and having no finite portion of it a straight line. Axis of a curve. See under Axis. — Curve of quickest descent. See Brachystochrone. — Curve tracing (Math.), the process of determining the shape, location, singular points, and other perculiarities of a curve from its equation. — Plane curve (Geom.), a curve such that when a plane passes through three points of the curve, it passes through all the other points of the curve. Any other curve is called a curve of double curvature, or a twisted curve.
CURVECurve, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curved (krvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Curving.]Etym: [L. curvare., fr. curvus. See Curve, a., Curb.]
Defn: To bend; to crook; as, to curve a line; to curve a pipe; to cause to swerve from a straight course; as, to curve a ball in pitching it.