Defn: To sew or hem; — said of seams.
FELLFell, n.
1. (Sewing)
Defn: A form of seam joining two pieces of cloth, the edges being folded together and the stitches taken through both thicknesses.
2. (Weaving)
Defn: The end of a web, formed by the last thread of the weft.
FELLABLEFell"a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit to be felled.
FELLAHFel"lah, n.; pl. Ar. Fellahin, E. Fellahs. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: A peasant or cultivator of the soil among the Egyptians,Syrians, etc. W. M. Thomson.
FELLERFell"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, fells, knocks or cuts down; a machine for felling trees.
FELLERFell"er, n.
Defn: An appliance to a sewing machine for felling a seam.
FELLFAREFell"fare`, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. fealafor, and E. fieldfare.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fieldfare.
FELLIFLUOUSFellif"lu`ous, a. Etym: [L. fellifluus; fel gall + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing with gall. [R.] Johnson.
FELLINICFel*lin"ic, a. Etym: [L. fel, fellis, gall.]
Defn: Of, relating to, or derived from, bile or gall; as, fellinic acid.
FELLMONGERFell"mon`ger, n.
Defn: A dealer in fells or sheepskins, who separates the wool from the pelts.
FELLNESSFell"ness, n. Etym: [See Fell cruel.]
Defn: The quality or state of being fell or cruel; fierce barbarity.Spenser.
FELLOEFel"loe, n.
Defn: See Felly.
FELLONFel"lon, n.
Defn: Variant of Felon. [Obs.]Those two were foes the fellonest on ground. Spenser.
FELLOW Fel"low, n. Etym: [OE. felawe, felaghe, Icel. felagi, fr. felag companionship, prop., a laying together of property; fe property + lag a laying, pl. lög law, akin to liggja to lie. See Fee, and Law, Lie to be low.]
1. A companion; a comrade; an associate; a partner; a sharer. The fellows of his crime. Milton. We are fellows still, Serving alike in sorrow. Shak. That enormous engine was flanked by two fellows almost of equal magnitude. Gibbon.
Note: Commonly used of men, but sometimes of women. Judges xi. 37.
2. A man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble or mean man. Worth makes the man, and want of it, the fellow. Pope.
3. An equal in power, rank, character, etc. It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow. Shak.
4. One of a pair, or of two things used together or suited to each other; a mate; the male. When they be but heifers of one year, . . . they are let go to the fellow and breed. Holland. This was my glove; here is the fellow of it. Shak.
5. A person; an individual. She seemed to be a good sort of fellow. Dickens.
6. In the English universities, a scholar who is appointed to a foundation called a fellowship, which gives a title to certain perquisites and privileges.
7. In an American college or university, a member of the corporation which manages its business interests; also, a graduate appointed to a fellowship, who receives the income of the foundation.
8. A member of a literary or scientific society; as, a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Note: Fellow is often used in compound words, or adjectively, signifying associate, companion, or sometimes equal. Usually, such compounds or phrases are self-explanatory; as, fellow-citizen, or fellow citizen; fellow-student, or fellow student; fellow-workman, or fellow workman; fellow-mortal, or fellow mortal; fellow-sufferer; bedfellow; playfellow; workfellow. Were the great duke himself here, and would lift up My head to fellow pomp amongst his nobles. Ford.
FELLOWFel"low, v. t.
Defn: To suit with; to pair with; to match. [Obs.] Shak.
FELLOW-COMMONERFel"low-com"mon*er, n.
Defn: A student at Cambridge University, England, who commons, or dines, at the Fellow's table.
FELLOW-CREATUREFel"low-crea"ture, n.
Defn: One of the same race or kind; one made by the same Creator. Reason, by which we are raised above our fellow-creatures, the brutes. I. Watts.
FELLOWFEELFel"low*feel", v. t.
Defn: To share through sympathy; to participate in. [R.] D. Rodgers.
FELLOW-FEELINGFel"low-feel"ing, n.
1. Sympathy; a like feeling.
2. Joint interest. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
FELLOWLESSFel"low*less, a.
Defn: Without fellow or equal; peerless.Whose well-built walls are rare and fellowless. Chapman.
FELLOWLIKEFel"low*like`, a.
Defn: Like a companion; companionable; on equal terms; sympathetic.[Obs.] Udall.
FELLOWLYFel"low*ly, a.
Defn: Fellowlike. [Obs.] Shak.
FELLOWSHIPFel"low*ship, n. Etym: [Fellow + -ship.]
1. The state or relation of being or associate.
2. Companionship of persons on equal and friendly terms; frequent and familiar intercourse. In a great town, friends are scattered, so that there is not that fellowship which is in less neighborhods. Bacon. Men are made for society and mutual fellowship. Calamy.
3. A state of being together; companionship; partnership; association; hence, confederation; joint interest. The great contention of the sea and skies Parted our fellowship. Shak. Fellowship in pain divides not smart. Milton. Fellowship in woe doth woe assuage. Shak. The goodliest fellowship of famous knights, Whereof this world holds record. Tennyson.
4. Those associated with one, as in a family, or a society; acompany.The sorrow of Noah with his fellowship. Chaucer.With that a joyous fellowship issued Of minstrels. Spenser.
5. (Eng. & Amer. Universities) A foundation for the maintenance, on certain conditions, of a scholar called a fellow, who usually resides at the university.
6. (Arith.) The rule for dividing profit and loss among partners; — called also partnership, company, and distributive proportion.
FELLOWSHIPFel"low*ship, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fellowshiped (; p. pr. & vb. n..Fellowshiping.]
Defn: (Eccl.) To acknowledge as of good standing, or in communion according to standards of faith and practice; to admit to Christian fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP; GOOD FELLOWSHIPGood fel"low*ship
Defn: companionableness; the spirit and disposition befittingcomrades.There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fellowship in thee. Shak.
FELLYFel"ly
Defn: , adv. In a fell or cruel manner; fiercely; barbarously; savagely. Spenser.
FELLY Fel"ly, n.; pl. Fellies (. Etym: [OE. feli, felwe, felow, AS. felg, felge; akin to D. velg, G. felge, OHG. felga felly (also, a harrow, but prob. a different word), Dan. felge.]
Defn: The exterior wooden rim, or a segment of the rim, of a wheel, supported by the spokes. [Written also felloe.] Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel. Shak.
FELO-DE-SE Fe"lo-de-se`, n.; pl. Felos-de-se. Etym: [LL. felo, E. felon + de of, concerning + se self.] (Law)
Defn: One who deliberately puts an end to his own existence, or loses his life while engaged in the commission of an unlawful or malicious act; a suicide. Burrill.
FELONFel"on, n. Etym: [OE., adj., cruel, n., villain, ruffian, traitor,whitlow, F. félon traitor, in OF. also, villain, fr. LL. felo. SeeFell, a.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A person who has committed a felony.
2. A person guilty or capable of heinous crime.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of whitlow; a painful imflammation of the periosteum of a finger, usually of the last joint.
Syn.— Criminal; convict; malefactor; culprit.
FELONFel"on, a.
Defn: Characteristic of a felon; malignant; fierce; malicious; cruel;traitorous; disloyal.Vain shows of love to vail his felon hate. Pope.
FELONIOUSFe*lo"nious, a.
Defn: Having the quality of felony; malignant; malicious; villainous; traitorous; perfidious; in a legal sense, done with intent to commit a crime; as, felonious homicide. O thievish Night, Why should'st thou, but for some felonious end, In thy dark lantern thus close up the stars Milton. — Fe*lo"ni`ous*ly, adv. — Fe*lo"ni`ous*ness, n.
FELONOUSFel"o*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. feloneus. Cf. Felonious.]
Defn: Wicked; felonious. [Obs.] Spenser.
FELONRYFel"on*ry, n.
Defn: A body of felons; specifically, the convict population of a penal colony. Howitt.
FELONWORTFel"on*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The bittersweet nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara). SeeBittersweet.
FELONYFel"o*ny, n.; pl. Felonies. Etym: [OE. felonie cruelty, OF. felonie,F. félonie treachery, malice. See Felon, n.]
1. (Feudal Law)
Defn: An act on the part of the vassal which cost him his fee by forfeiture. Burrill.
2. (O.Eng.Law)
Defn: An offense which occasions a total forfeiture either lands or goods, or both, at the common law, and to which capital or other punishment may be added, according to the degree of guilt.
3. A heinous crime; especially, a crime punishable by death or imprisonment.
Note: Forfeiture for crime having been generally abolished in the United States, the term felony, in American law, has lost this point of distinction; and its meaning, where not fixed by statute, is somewhat vague and undefined; generally, however, it is used to denote an offense of a high grade, punishable either capitally or by a term of imprisonment. In Massachusetts, by statute, any crime punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison, and no other, is a felony; so in New York. the tendency now is to obliterate the distinction between felonies and misdemeanors; and this has been done partially in England, and completely in some of the States of the Union. The distinction is purely arbitrary, and its entire abolition is only a question of time.
Note: There is no lawyer who would undertake to tell what a felony is, otherwise than by enumerating the various kinds of offenses which are so called. originally, the word felony had a meaning: it denoted all offenses the penalty of which included forfeiture of goods; but subsequent acts of Parliament have declared various offenses to be felonies, without enjoining that penalty, and have taken away the penalty from others, which continue, nevertheless, to be called felonies, insomuch that the acts so called have now no property whatever in common, save that of being unlawful and purnishable. J. S. Mill.
FELONY; TO COMPOUND A FELONYTo compound a felony
Defn: . See under Compound, v. t.
FELSITEFel"site, n. Etym: [Cf. Feldspar.] (Min.)
Defn: A finegrained rock, flintlike in fracture, consisting essentially of orthoclase feldspar with occasional grains of quartz.
FELSITICFel*sit"ic, a.
Defn: relating to, composed of, or containing, felsite.
FELSPAR; FELSPATHFel"spar`, Fel"spath`, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Feldspar.
FELSPATHICFel*spath"ic, a.
Defn: See Feldspathic.
FELSTONEFel"stone`, n. Etym: [From G. feldstein, in analogy with E. felspar.](Min.)
Defn: See Felsite.
FELTFelt,
Defn: imp. & p. p. or a. from Feel.
FELTFelt, n. Etym: [AS. felt; akin to D. vilt, G. filz, and possibly toGr. pilus hair, pileus a felt cap or hat.]
1. A cloth or stuff made of matted fibers of wool, or wool and fur, fulled or wrought into a compact substance by rolling and pressure, with lees or size, without spinning or weaving. It were a delicate stratagem to shoe A troop of horse with felt. Shak .
2. A hat made of felt. Thynne.
3. A skin or hide; a fell; a pelt. [Obs.] To know whether sheep are sound or not, see that the felt be loose. Mortimer.
FELTFelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Felted; p. pr. & vb. n. Felting.]
1. To make into felt, or a feltike substance; to cause to adhere and mat together. Sir M. Hale.
2. To cover with, or as with, felt; as, to felt the cylinder of a steam emgine.
FELTERFelt"er, v. t.
Defn: To clot or mat together like felt.His feltered locks that on his bosom fell. Fairfax.
FELT GRAINFelt grain
Defn: , the grain of timber which is transverse to the annular rings or plates; the direction of the medullary rays in oak and some other timber. Knight.
FELTINGFelt"ing, n.
1. The material of which felt is made; also, felted cloth; also, the process by which it is made.
2. The act of splitting timber by the felt grain.
FELTRYFel"try, n. Etym: [OF. feltre.]
Defn: See Felt, n. [Obs.]
FELUCCAFe*luc"ca (, n. Etym: [It. feluca (cf. Sp. faluca, Pg. falua), fr.Ar. fulk ship, or harraqah a sort of ship.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small, swift-sailing vessel, propelled by oars and lateen sails, — once common in the Mediterranean.
Note: Sometimes it is constructed so that the helm may be used at either end.
FELWORTFel"wort`, n. Etym: [Probably a corruption of fieldwort.] (Bot.)
Defn: A European herb (Swertia perennis) of the Gentian family.
FEMALE Fe"male, n. Etym: [OE. femel, femal, F. femelle, fr. L. femella, dim. of femina woman. See Feminine.]
1. An individual of the sex which conceives and brings forth young, or (in a wider sense) which has an ovary and produces ova. The male and female of each living thing. Drayton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which produces only that kind of reproductive organs which are capable of developing into fruit after impregnation or fertilization; a pistillate plant.
FEMALEFe"male, a.
1. Belonging to the sex which conceives and gives birth to young, or (in a wider sense) which produces ova; not male. As patient as the female dove When that her golden couplets are disclosed. Shak.
2. Belonging to an individual of the female sex; characteristic of woman; feminine; as, female tenderness. "Female usurpation.'b8 Milton. To the generous decision of a female mind, we owe the discovery of America. Belknap.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Having pistils and no stamens; pistillate; or, in cryptogamous plants, capable of receiving fertilization.
FEMALE FERNFemale fern (Bot.),
Defn: a common species of fern with large decompound fronds(Asplenium Filixfæmina), growing in many countries; lady fern.
Note: The names male fern and female fern were anciently given to two common ferns; but it is now understood that neither has any sexual character.
Syn. — Female, Feminine. We apply female to the sex or individual, as opposed to male; also, to the distinctive belongings of women; as, female dress, female form, female character, etc.; feminine, to things appropriate to, or affected by, women; as, feminine studies, employments, accomplishments, etc. "Female applies to sex rather than gender, and is a physiological rather than a grammatical term. Feminine applies to gender rather than sex, and is grammatical rather than physiological." Latham.
FEMALE RHYMESFemale rhymes (Pros.),
Defn: double rhymes, or rhymes (called in French feminine rhymes because they end in e weak, or feminine) in which two syllables, an accented and an unaccented one, correspond at the end of each line.
Note: A rhyme, in which the final syllables only agree (strain, complain) is called a male rhyme; one in which the two final syllables of each verse agree, the last being short (motion, ocean), is called female. Brande & C. — Female screw, the spiral-threaded cavity into which another, or male, screw turns. Nicholson.
FEMALISTFe"mal*ist, n.
Defn: A gallant. [Obs.]Courting her smoothly like a femalist. Marston.
FEMALIZEFe"mal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make, or to describe as, female or feminine. Shaftesbury.
FEMEFeme ( or ), n. Etym: [OF. feme, F. femme.] (Old Law)
Defn: A woman. Burrill. Feme covert (Law), a married woman. See Covert, a., 3. — Feme sole (Law), a single or unmarried woman; a woman who has never been married, or who has been divorced, or whose husband is dead. — Feme sole trader or merchant (Eng. Law), a married woman, by the custom of London, engages in business on her own account, inpendently of her husband.
FEMERALFem"er*al, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Femerell.
FEMERELLFem"er*ell, n. Etym: [OF. fumeraille part of a chimney. See Fume.](Arch.)
Defn: A lantern, or louver covering, placed on a roof, for ventilation or escape of smoke.
FEMINALFem"i*nal, a.
Defn: Feminine. [Obs.] West.
FEMINALITYFem`i*nal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Feminity.
FEMINATEFem"i*nate, a. Etym: [L. feminatus effeminate.]
Defn: Feminine. [Obs.]
FEMINEITYFem`in*e"ity, n. Etym: [L. femineus womanly.]
Defn: Womanliness; femininity. C. Read
FEMININEFem"i*nine, a. Etym: [L. femininus, fr. femina woman; prob. akin toL. fetus, or to Gr. fæmme woman, maid: cf. F. féminin. See Fetus.]
1. Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of awoman; womanish; womanly.Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace.Macaulay.
2. Having the qualities of a woman; becoming or appropriate to the female sex; as, in a good sense, modest, graceful, affectionate, confiding; or, in a bad sense, weak, nerveless, timid, pleasure- loving, effeminate. Her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft and feminine. Milton. Ninus being esteemed no man of war at all, but altogether feminine, and subject to ease and delicacy. Sir W. Raleigh.
FEMININEFem"i*nine, n.
1. A woman. [Obs. or Colloq.] They guide the feminines toward the palace. Hakluyt.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Any one of those words which are the appellations of females, or which have the terminations usually found in such words; as, actress, songstress, abbess, executrix. There are but few true feminines in English. Latham.
FEMININELYFem"i*nine*ly, adv.
Defn: In a feminine manner. Byron.
FEMININENESSFem"i*nine*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being feminine; womanliness; womanishness.
FEMININE RHYMEFeminine rhyme. (Pros.)
Defn: See Female rhyme, under Female, a.
Syn.— See Female, a.
FEMININITYFem`i*nin"i*ty, n.
1. The quality or nature of the female sex; womanliness.
2. The female form. [Obs.] O serpent under femininitee. Chaucer.
FEMINITYFe*min"i*ty, n.
Defn: Womanliness; femininity. [Obs.] "Trained up in true feminity."Spenser.
FEMINIZATIONFem`i*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of feminizing, or the state of being feminized.
FEMINIZEFem"i*nize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. féminiser.]
Defn: To make womanish or effeminate. Dr. H. More.
FEMINYE Fem"i*nye, n. Etym: [OF. femenie, feminie, the female sex, realm of women.]
Defn: The people called Amazons. [Obs.] "[The reign of] feminye."Chaucer.
FEMMEFemme ( or ), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A woman. See Feme, n. Femme de chambre. Etym: [F.] A lady's maid; a chambermaid.
FEMORALFem"o*ral, a. Etym: [L. femur, femoris, thigh: cf. F. fémoral.]
Defn: Pertaining to the femur or thigh; as, the femoral artery."Femoral habiliments." Sir W. Scott.
FEMUR Fe"mur, n.; pl. Femora (. Etym: [L. thigh.] (Anat.) (a) The thigh bone. (b) The proximal segment of the hind limb containing the thigh bone; the thigh. See Coxa.
FENFen, n. Etym: [AS. fen, fenn, marsh, mud, dirt; akin to D. veen,OFries. fenne, fene, OHG. fenna, G. fenn, Icel. fen, Goth. fani mud.]
Defn: Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with water,but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic plants; boggyland; moor; marsh.'Mid reedy fens wide spread. Wordsworth.
Note: Fen is used adjectively with the sense of belonging to, or ofthe nature of, a fen or fens. Fen boat, a boat of light draught usedin marshes.— Fen duck (Zoöl.), a wild duck inhabiting fens; the shoveler.[Prov. Eng.] — Fen fowl (Zoöl.), any water fowl that frequent fens.— Fen goose (Zoöl.), the graylag goose of Europe. [Prov. Eng.] —Fen land, swamp land.
FENCEFence, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from defence.]
1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a cover; security; shield. Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for fence impregnable. Shak. A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath. Addison.
2. An inclosure about a field or other space, or about any object; especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material, intended to prevent intrusion from without or straying from within. Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. Milton.
Note: In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence.
3. (Locks)
Defn: A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler gates in locking and unlocking.
4. Self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice of fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and repartee. See Fencing. Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught her dazzing fence. Milton. Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence. Macaulay.
5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received. [Slang] Mayhew.
FENCEFence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fenced ( Fencing.]
1. To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to guard. To fence my ear against thy sorceries. Milton.
2. To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an inclosure. O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth, And fence not Athens. Shak. A sheepcote fenced about with olive trees. Shak. To fence the tables (Scot. Church), to make a solemn address to those who present themselves to commune at the Lord's supper, on the feelings appropriate to the service, in order to hinder, so far as possible, those who are unworthy from approaching the table. McCheyne.
FENCEFence, v. i.
1. To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence. Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and therefore, in the first place, to be fenced against. Locke.
2. To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only. He will fence with his own shadow. Shak.
3. Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc. They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar; Their dewlaps and their sides are batDryden. As when a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I fenced A little ceased, but recommenced. Tennyson.
FENCEFULFence"ful, a.
Defn: Affording defense; defensive. [Obs.] Congreve.
FENCELESSFence"less, a.
Defn: Without a fence; uninclosed; open; unguarded; defenseless.Milton.
FENCE MONTHFence month (Forest Law),
Defn: the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is prohibited. Bullokar. — Fence roof, a covering for defense. "They fitted their shields close to one another in manner of a fence roof." Holland. Fence time, the breeding time of fish or game, when they should not be killed. — Rail fence, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by posts. — Ring fence, a fence which encircles a large area, or a whole estate, within one inclosure. — Worm fence, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one another at their ends; — called also snake fence, or Virginia rail fence. — To be on the fence, to be undecided or uncommitted in respect to two opposing parties or policies. [Colloq.]
FENCERFen"cer, n.
Defn: One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencingwith sword or foil.As blunt as the fencer's foils. Shak.
FENCI-BLEFen"ci-ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being defended, or of making or affording defense.[Obs.]No fort so fencible, nor walls so strong. Spenser.
FENCIBLEFen"ci*ble, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A soldier enlisted for home service only; — usually in the pl.
FENCINGFen"cing, n.
1. The art or practice of attack and defense with the sword, esp. with the s,allword. See Fence, v. i., 2.
2. Disputing or debating in a manner resembling the art of fencers. Shak.
3. The materials used for building fences. [U.S.]
4. The act of building a fence.
5. To aggregate of the fences put up for inclosure or protection; as, the fencing of a farm.
FEN CRICKETFen" crick`et. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The mole cricket. [Prov. Eng.]
FENDFend, n.
Defn: A fiend. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FENDFend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fended; p. pr. & vb. n. Fending.] Etym:[Abbrev. fr. defend.]
Defn: To keep off; to prevent from entering or hitting; to ward off; to shut out; — often with off; as, to fend off blows. With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold. Dryden. To fend off a boat or vessel (Naut.), to prevent its running against anything with too much violence.
FENDFend, v. i.
Defn: To act on the defensive, or in opposition; to resist; to parry;to shift off.The dexterous management of terms, and being able to fend . . . withthem, passes for a great part of learning. Locke.
FENDERFen"der, n. Etym: [From Fend, v. t. & i., cf. Defender.]
Defn: One who or that which defends or protects by warding off harm; as: (a) A screen to prevent coals or sparks of an open fire from escaping to the floor. (b) Anything serving as a cushion to lessen the shock when a vessel comes in contact with another vessel or a wharf. (c) A screen to protect a carriage from mud thrown off the wheels: also, a splashboard. (d) Anything set up to protect an exposed angle, as of a house, from damage by carriage wheels.
FENDLICHEFend"liche, a.
Defn: Fiendlike. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FENERATE Fen"er*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. faeneratus, p.p. of faenerari lend on interest, fr. faenus interest.]
Defn: To put money to usury; to lend on interest. [Obs.] Cockeram.
FENERATIONFen`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. faeneratio.]
Defn: The act of fenerating; interest. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FENES-TELLAFen`es-tel"la, n. Etym: [L., dim. of fenestra (Arch.)
Defn: Any small windowlike opening or recess, esp. one to show the relics within an altar, or the like.
FENESTRAFe*nes"tra, n.; pl. Fenestræ. Etym: [L., a window.] (Anat.)
Defn: A small opening; esp., one of the apertures, closed by membranes, between the tympanum and internal ear.
FENESTRALFe*nes"tral, a. Etym: [L. fenestra a window.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Pertaining to a window or to windows.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a fenestra.
FENESTRALFe*nes"tral, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A casement or window sash, closed with cloth or paper instead of glass. Weale.
FENESTRATE Fe*nes"trate, a. Etym: [L. fenestratus, p.p. of fenestrare to furnish with openings and windows.]
1. Having numerous openings; irregularly reticulated; as, fenestrate membranes; fenestrate fronds.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having transparent spots, as the wings of certain butterflies.
FENESTRATEDFe*nes"tra*ted, a.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Having windows; characterized by windows.
2. Same as Fenestrate.
FENESTRATIONFen`es*tra"tion, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The arrangement and proportioning of windows; — used by modern writers for the decorating of an architectural composition by means of the window (and door) openings, their ornaments, and proportions.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The state or condition of being fenestrated.
FENESTRULE Fe*nes"trule, n. Etym: [L. fenestrula a little window, dim. of fenestra a window.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the openings in a fenestrated structure.
FENG-HWANGFêng"-hwang`, n. [Chin. feng + 'huang.] (Chinese Myth.)
Defn: A pheasantlike bird of rich plumage and graceful form and movement, fabled to appear in the land on the accession of a sage to the throne, or when right principles are about to prevail. It is often represented on porcelains and other works of art.
FENGITEFen"gite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A kind of marble or alabaster, sometimes used for windows on account of its transparency.
FENG-SHUIFêng"-shu`i, n. [Chin. feng wind + shiu water.]
Defn: A system of spirit influences for good and evil believed by the Chinese to attend the natural features of landscape; also, a kind of geomancy dealing with these influences, used in determining sites for graves, houses, etc.
FENIANFe"ni*an, n. Etym: [From the Finians or Fenii, the old militia ofIreland, who were so called from Fin or Finn, Fionn, or Fingal, apopular hero of Irish traditional history.]
Defn: A member of a secret organization, consisting mainly of Irishment, having for its aim the overthrow of English rule in ireland.
FENIANFe"ni*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Fenians or to Fenianism.
FENIANISMFe"ni*an*ism, n.
Defn: The principles, purposes, and methods of the Fenians.
FENKSFenks, n.
Defn: The refuse whale blubber, used as a manure, and in the manufacture of Prussian blue. Ure.
FENNECFen"nec, n. Etym: [Ar. fanek.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, African, foxlike animal (Vulpes zerda) of a pale fawn color, remarkable for the large size of its ears.
FENNELFen"nel, n. Etym: [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum,dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.](Bot.)
Defn: A perennial plant of the genus Fæniculum (F.vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds. Smell of sweetest fennel. Milton. A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex. S. G. Goodrich. Azorean, or Sweet, fennel, (Fæniculum dulce). It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb. — Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European weed; — called also mayweed. — Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. N.Damascena is common in gardens. N.sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in Isaiah (xxviii. 25). — Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is stimulant and carminative. — Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus. — Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale) looking something like fennel.
FENNISHFen"nish, a.
Defn: Abounding in fens; fenny.
FENNYFen"ny, a. Etym: [AS. fennig.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or inhabiting, a fen; abounding in fens; swampy; boggy. "Fenny snake." Shak.
FENOWED Fen"owed, a. Etym: [AS. fynig musty, fynegean to become musty or filthy: cf. fennig fenny, muddy, dirty, fr. fen fen. Cf. Finew.]
Defn: Corrupted; decayed; moldy. See Vinnewed. [Obs.] Dr. Favour.
FENSI-BLEFen"si-ble, a.
Defn: Fencible. [Obs.] Spenser.
FEN-SUCKEDFen"-sucked`, a.
Defn: Sucked out of marches. "Fen-sucked fogs." Shak.
FENUGREEKFen"u*greek ( or ), n. Etym: [L. faenum Graecum, lit., Greek hay: cf.F. fenugrec. Cf. Fennel.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (trigonella Foenum Græcum) cultivated for its strong- smelling seeds, which are "now only used for giving false importance to horse medicine and damaged hay." J. Smith (Pop. Names of Plants, 1881).
FEODFeod, n.
Defn: A feud. See 2d Feud. Blackstone.
FEODALFeod"al, a.
Defn: Feudal. See Feudal.
FEODALITYFeo*dal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Feudal tenure; the feudal system. See Feudality. Burke.
FEODARYFeod"a*ry, n.
1. An accomplice. Art thou a feodary for this act Shak.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: An ancient officer of the court of wards. Burrill.
FEODATORYFeod"a*to*ry, n.
Defn: See Feudatory.
FEOFFFeoff
Defn: , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feoffed; p. pr. & vb. n.. Feoffing.] Etym: [OE. feffen, OF. feffer, fieffer, F. fieffer, fr. fief fief; cf. LL. feoffare, fefare. See Fief.] (Law)
Defn: To invest with a fee or feud; to give or grant a corporeal hereditament to; to enfeoff.
FEOFFFeoff, n. (Law)
Defn: A fief. See Fief.
FEOFFEEFeof*fee", n. Etym: [OF. feoffé.] (Law)
Defn: The person to whom a feoffment is made; the person enfeoffed.
FEOFFMENT Feoff"ment, n. Etym: [OF. feoffement, fieffement; cf. LL. feoffamentum.] (Law) (a) The grant of a feud or fee. (b) (Eng. Law) A gift or conveyance in fee of land or other corporeal hereditaments, accompanied by actual delivery of possession. Burrill. (c) The instrument or deed by which corporeal hereditaments are conveyed. [Obs. in the U.S., Rare in Eng.]
FEOFOR; FEOFFERFeo"for, Feof"fer, n. Etym: [OF. feoour.] (Law)
Defn: One who enfeoffs or grants a fee.
FERFer, a. & adv.
Defn: Far. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERACIOUSFe*ra"cious, a. Etym: [L. ferax, -acis, fr. ferre to bear.]
Defn: Fruitful; producing abudantly. [R.] Thomson.
FERACITYFe*rac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. feracitas.]
Defn: The state of being feracious or fruitful. [Obs.] Beattie.
FERAEFe"ræ, n. pl. Etym: [L., wild animals, fem. pl. of ferus wild.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of mammals which formerly included the Carnivora, Insectivora, Marsupialia, and lemurs, but is now often restricted to the Carnivora.
FERAE NATURAEFe"ræ na*tu"ræ. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Of a wild nature; — applied to animals, as foxes, wild ducks, etc., in which no one can claim property.
FERALFe"ral, a. Etym: [L. ferus. See Fierce.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; — said of beasts, birds, and plants. feral child, not raised by humans
FERALFe"ral, a. Etym: [L. feralis, belonging to the dead.]
Defn: Funereal; deadly; fatal; dangerous. [R.] "Feral accidents."Burton.
FERDEFerde, obs.
Defn: imp. of Fare. Chaucer.
FER-DE-LANCEFer`-de-lance", n. Etym: [F., the iron of a lance, lance head.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, venomous serpent (Trigonocephalus lanceolatus) of Brazil and the West Indies. It is allied to the rattlesnake, but has no rattle.
FERDINGFer"ding, n. Etym: [See Farthing.]
Defn: A measure of land mentioned in Domesday Book. It is supposed to have consisted of a few acres only. [Obs.]
FERDNESSFerd"ness, n. Etym: [OE. ferd fear. See Fear.]
Defn: Fearfulness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERE Fere, n. Etym: [OE. fere companion, AS. gefera, from feran to go, travel, faran to travel. sq. root78. See Fare.]
Defn: A mate or companion; — often used of a wife. [Obs.] [Writtenalso fear and feere.] Chaucer.And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere. Spenser.In fere, together; in company. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEREFere, a. Etym: [Cf. L. ferus wild.]
Defn: Fierce. [Obs.]
FEREFere, n. Etym: [See Fire.]
Defn: Fire. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEREFere, n. Etym: [See Fear.]
Defn: Fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEREFere, v. t. & i.
Defn: To fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERETORY Fer`e*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. feretrum bier, Gr. ferre, E. bear to support.]
Defn: A portable bier or shrine, variously adorned, used for containing relics of saints. Mollett.
FERFORTHFer"forth`, adv.
Defn: Far forth. [Obs.] As ferforth as, as far as.— So ferforth, to such a degree.
FERFORTHLYFer"forth`ly, adv.
Defn: Ferforth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERGUSONITEFer"gu*son*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a brownish black color, essentially a tantalo- niobate of yttrium, erbium, and cerium; — so called after Robert Ferguson.
FERIAFe"ri*a, n.; pl. Feriæ (. (Eccl.)
Defn: A week day, esp. a day which is neither a festival nor a fast.Shipley.
FERIALFe"ri*al, n.
Defn: Same as Feria.
FERIAL Fe"ri*al, a. Etym: [LL. ferialis, fr. L. ferie holidays: cf. F. férial. See 5th Fair.]
1. Of or pertaining to holidays. [Obs.] J. Gregory.
2. Belonging to any week day, esp. to a day that is neither a festival nor a fast.
FERIATION Fe`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. feriari to keep holiday, fr. ferie holidays.]
Defn: The act of keeping holiday; cessation from work. [Obs.] Sir T.Browne.
FERIEFe"rie, n. Etym: [OF. ferie, fr. L. ferie holidays. See 5th Fair.]
Defn: A holiday. [Obs.] Bullokar.
FERIERFe"ri*er, a.
Defn: , compar. of Fere, fierce. [Obs.]Rhenus ferier than the cataract. Marston.
FERINEFe"rine, a. Etym: [L. ferinus, fr. ferus wild. See Fierce.]
Defn: Wild; untamed; savage; as, lions, tigers, wolves, and bears are ferine beasts. Sir M. Hale. — n.
Defn: A wild beast; a beast of prey.— Fe"rine*ly, adv.— Fe"rine*ness, n.
FERINGEEFer*in"gee, n. Etym: [Per. Farangi, or Ar. Firanji, properly, aFrank.]
Defn: The name given to Europeans by the Hindos. [Written alsoFeringhee.]
FERITYFer"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. feritas, from ferus wild.]
Defn: Wildness; savageness; fierceness. [Obs.] Woodward.
FERLYFer"ly, a. Etym: [AS. f sudden, unexpected. See Fear, n.]
Defn: Singular; wonderful; extraordinary. [Obs.] — n.
Defn: A wonder; a marvel. [Obs.]Who hearkened ever such a ferly thing. Chaucer.
FERM; FERMEFerm, Ferme, n.Etym: [See Farm.]
Defn: Rent for a farm; a farm; also, an abode; a place of residence; as, he let his land to ferm. [Obs.] Out of her fleshy ferme fled to the place of pain. Spenser.
FERMACYFer"ma*cy, n. Etym: [OE. See Pharmacy.]
Defn: Medicine; pharmacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERMENT Fer"ment, n. Etym: [L. fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for fervimentum, fr. fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F. ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent.]
1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.
Note: Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organized ferments. (b) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called soluble or chemical ferments, and enzymes. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment, etc. See Fermentation. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt. globular proteins, capable of catalyzing a wide variety of chemical reactions, not merely hydrolytic. The full set of enzymes causing production of ethyl alcohol from sugar has been identified and individually purified and studied. See enzyme
2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation. Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. Rogers. the nation is in a ferment. Walpole. in a ferment in a state of agitation, applied to human groups.
3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.] Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. Thomson. ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchenists. Ure.
FERMENTFer*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n.Fermenting.] Etym: [L. fermentare, fermentatum: cf. F. fermenter. SeeFerment, n.]
Defn: To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat. Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood. Pope.
FERMENTFer*ment", v. i.
1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent oarticles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.
2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions. But finding no redress, ferment an rage. Milton. The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect. De Quincey.
FERMENTABILITYFer*ment`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of fermentation.
FERMENTABLEFer*ment"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentable.]
Defn: Capable of fermentation; as, cider and other vegetable liquors are fermentable.
FERMENTALFer*ment"al, a.
Defn: Fermentative. [Obs.]
FERMENTATIONFer`men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentation.]
1. The process of undergoing an effervescent change, as by the action of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.), the transformation of an organic substance into new compounds by the action of a ferment, either formed or unorganized. It differs in kind according to the nature of the ferment which causes it.
2. A state of agitation or excitement, as of the intellect or the feelings. It puts the soul to fermentation and activity. Jer. Taylor. A univesal fermentation of human thought and faith. C. Kingsley. Acetous, or Acetic, fermentation, a form of oxidation in which alcohol is converted into vinegar or acetic acid by the agency of a specific fungus or ferment (Mycoderma aceti). The process involves two distinct reactions, in which the oxygen of the air is essential. An intermediate product, aldehyde, is formed in the first process. 1. C2H6O + O = H2O + C2H4O
Note: Alcohol. Water. Aldehyde. 2. C2H4O + O = C2H4O2
Note: Aldehyde. Acetic acid. — Alcoholic fermentation, the fermentation which saccharine bodies undergo when brought in contact with the yeast plant or Torula. The sugar is converted, either directly or indirectly, into alcohol and carbonic acid, the rate of action being dependent on the rapidity with which the Torulæ develop. — Ammoniacal fermentation, the conversion of the urea of the urine into ammonium carbonate, through the growth of the special urea ferment. CON2H4 + 2H2O = (NH4)2CO3
Note: Urea. Water. Ammonium carbonate.
Note: Whenever urine is exposed to the air in open vessels for several days it undergoes this alkaline fermentation. — Butyric fermentation, the decomposition of various forms of organic matter, through the agency of a peculiar worm-shaped vibrio, with formation of more or less butyric acid. It is one of the many forms of fermentation that collectively constitute putrefaction. See Lactic fermentation. — Fermentation by an unorganized ferment or enzyme. Fermentations of this class are purely chemical reactions, in which the ferment acts as a simple catalytic agent. Of this nature are the decomposition or inversion of cane sugar into levulose and dextrose by boiling with dilute acids, the conversion of starch into dextrin and sugar by similar treatment, the conversion of starch into like products by the action of diastase of malt or ptyalin of saliva, the conversion of albuminous food into peptones and other like products by the action of pepsin-hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice or by the ferment of the pancreatic juice. — Fermentation theory of disease (Biol. & Med.), the theory that most if not all, infectious or zymotic disease are caused by the introduction into the organism of the living germs of ferments, or ferments already developed (organized ferments), by which processes of fermentation are set up injurious to health. See Germ theory. — Glycerin fermentation, the fermentation which occurs on mixing a dilute solution of glycerin with a peculiar species of schizomycetes and some carbonate of lime, and other matter favorable to the growth of the plant, the glycerin being changed into butyric acid, caproic acid, butyl, and ethyl alcohol. With another form of bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) ethyl alcohol and butyric acid are mainly formed. — Lactic fermentation, the transformation of milk sugar or other saccharine body into lactic acid, as in the souring of milk, through the agency of a special bacterium (Bacterium lactis of Lister). In this change the milk sugar, before assuming the form of lactic acid, presumably passes through the stage of glucose. C12H22O11.H2O = 4C3H6O3
Note: Hydrated milk sugar. Lactic acid.
Note: In the lactic fermentation of dextrose or glucose, the lactic acid which is formed is very prone to undergo butyric fermentation after the manner indicated in the following equation: 2C3H6O3 (lactic acid) = C4H8O2 (butyric acid) + 2CO2 (carbonic acid) + 2H2 (hydrogen gas). — Putrefactive fermentation. See Putrefaction.
FERMENTATION THEORYFer`men*ta"tion the"o*ry. (Med.)
Defn: The theory which likens the course of certain diseases (esp. infectious diseases) to the process of fermentation, and attributes them to the organized ferments in the body. It does not differ materially from the accepted germ theory (which see).
FERMENTATIVEFer*ment"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentatif.]
Defn: Causing, or having power to cause, fermentation; produced by fermentation; fermenting; as, a fermentative process. — Fer*ment"a*tive*ly, adv. — Fer*ment"a*tive*ness, n.
FERMEREREFer"mer*ere, n. Etym: [OF. enfermerier, fr. enfermerie infirmary. SeeInfirmary.]
Defn: The officer in a religious house who had the care of the infirmary. [Obs.]
FERMETUREFer"me*ture, n. [F., fr. fermer to close.] (Mil.)
Defn: The mechanism for closing the breech of a breech-loading firearm, in artillery consisting principally of the breechblock, obturator, and carrier ring.
FERMILLET Fer"mil*let, n. Etym: [OF., dim. of fermeil, fermail, clasp, prob. fr. OF. & F. fermer to make fast, fr. ferme fast. See Firm.]
Defn: A buckle or clasp. [Obs.] Donne.
FERNFern, adv.
Defn: Long ago. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERNFern, a. Etym: [AS. fyrn.]
Defn: Ancient; old. [Obs.] "Pilgrimages to . . . ferne halwes." [saints]. Chaucer.
FERNFern, n. Etym: [AS. fearn; akin to D. varen, G. farn, farnkraut; cf.Skr. parna wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. papartisfern.] (Bot.)
Defn: An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices, which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size.
Note: The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns. Christmas fern. See under Christmas. — Climbing fern (Bot.), a delicate North American fern (Lygodium palmatum), which climbs several feet high over bushes, etc., and is much sought for purposes of decoration. — Fern owl. (Zoöl.) (a) The European goatsucker. (b) The short- eared owl. [Prov. Eng.] — Fern shaw, a fern thicket. [Eng.] R. Browning.
FERNERYFern"er*y, n.
Defn: A place for rearing ferns.
FERNTICLEFern"ti*cle, n.
Defn: A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern. [Prov.Eng.]
FERNYFern"y, a.
Defn: Abounding in ferns.
FEROCIOUSFe*ro"cious, a. Etym: [L. ferox, -ocis, fierce: cf. F. féroce. SeeFerocity.]
Defn: Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion. The humbled power of a ferocious enemy. Lowth.
Syn. — Ferocious, Fierce, Savage, Barbarous. When these words are applied to human feelings or conduct, ferocious describes the disposition; fierce, the haste and violence of an act; barbarous, the coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; savage, the cruel and unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is ferocious in his temper, fierce in his actions, barbarous in the manner of carrying out his purposes, savage in the spirit and feelings expressed in his words or deeds. — Fe*ro"cious*ly, adv. — Fe*ro"cious*ness, n. It [Christianity] has adapted the ferociousness of war. Blair.
FEROCITY Fe*roc"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. ferocitas, fr. ferox, -ocis, fierce, kin to ferus wild: cf. F. ferocité. See Fierce.]
Defn: Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity ofcountenance.The pride and ferocity of a Highland chief. Macaulay.
FEROHERFer*o"her, n. (Archæol.)
Defn: A symbol of the solar deity, found on monuments exhumed inBabylon, Nineveh, etc.
FEROUSFe"rous, a. Etym: [L. ferus. See Fierce.]
Defn: Wild; savage. [R.] Arthur Wilson.
-FEROUS -fer*ous. Etym: [L. -fer. fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.]
Defn: A suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as, auriferous, yielding gold; chyliferous, producing chyle.
FERRANDINE Fer*ran"dine ( or ), n. Etym: [F.; cf. OF. ferrant iron-gray, from L. ferrum iron.]
Defn: A stuff made of silk and wool.I did buy a colored silk ferrandine. Pepys.
FERRANTI CABLES; FERRANTI MAINSFer*ran"ti ca"bles, Fer*ran"ti mains". (Elec.)
Defn: A form of conductor, designed by Ferranti, for currents of high potential, and consisting of concentric tubes of copper separated by an insulating material composed of paper saturated with black mineral wax.
FERRANTI PHENOMENONFer*ran"ti phe*nom"e*non. (Elec.)
Defn: An increase in the ratio of transformation of an alternating current converter, accompanied by other changes in electrical conditions, occurring when the secondary of the converter is connected with a condenser of moderate capacity; — so called because first observed in connection with the Ferranti cables in London.
FERRARAFer*ra"ra, n.
Defn: A sword bearing the mark of one of the Ferrara family of Italy. These swords were highly esteemed in England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.
FERRARESEFer`ra*rese", a.
Defn: Pertaining to Ferrara, in Italy.— n., sing. & pl.
Defn: A citizen of Ferrara; collectively, the inhabitants of Ferrara.
FERRARYFer"ra*ry, n. Etym: [L. ferraria iron works. See Ferreous.]
Defn: The art of working in iron. [Obs.] Chapman.
FERRATEFer"rate, n. Etym: [L. ferrum iron.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of ferric acid.
FERRE; FERRERFer"re, Fer"rer, a. & adv. Obs.
Defn: compar. of Fer.
FERREOUSFer"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. ferreus, fr. ferrum iron. Cf. Farrier,Ferrous.]
Defn: Partaking of, made of, or pertaining to, iron; like iron.[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FERRESTFer"rest, a. & adv. Obs.
Defn: superl. of Fer. Chaucer.
FERRET Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes.
FERRETFer"ret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting.]Etym: [Cf. F. fureter. See Ferret, n.]
Defn: To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; — often used with out; as, to ferret out a secret. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.
FERRET Fer"ret, n. Etym: [Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or F. fleuret. Cf. Floret.]
Defn: A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; — called also ferreting.
FERRETFer"ret, n. Etym: [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.] (GlassMaking)
Defn: The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.
FERRETERFer"ret*er, n.
Defn: One who ferrets. Johnson.
FERRET-EYEFer"ret-eye`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The spur-winged goose; — so called from the red circle around the eyes.
FERRETTOFer*ret"to, n. Etym: [It. ferretto di Spagna, dim. of ferro iron, fr.L. ferrum.]
Defn: Copper sulphide, used to color glass. Hebert.
FERRI-Fer"ri- (. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form indicating ferric iron as an ingredient; as, ferricyanide.
FERRIAGEFer"ri*age (; 48), n. Etym: [From Ferry.]
Defn: The price or fare to be paid for passage at a ferry.
FERRICFer"ric, a. Etym: [L. ferrum iron: cf. F. ferrique. See Ferrous.]
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing iron. Specifically (Chem.), denoting those compounds in which iron has a higher valence than in the ferrous compounds; as, ferric oxide; ferric acid. Ferric acid (Chem.), an acid, H2FeO4, which is not known in the free state, but forms definite salts, analogous to the chromates and sulphates. — Ferric oxide (Chem.), sesquioxide of iron, Fe2O3; hematite. See Hematite.
FERRICYANATEFer`ri*cy"a*nat, n. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of ferricyanic acid; a ferricyanide.
FERRICYANICFer`ri*cy*an"ic, a. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, a ferricyanide. Ferricyanic acid (Chem.), a brown crystalline substance, H6(CN)12Fe2, obtained from potassium ferricyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferricyanides; — called also hydro-ferricyanic acid, hydrogen ferricyanide, etc.