Syn.— Ability; faculty; gift; endowment. See Genius.
TALENTEDTal"ent*ed, a.
Defn: Furnished with talents; possessing skill or talent; mentally gifted. Abp. Abbot (1663).
Note: This word has been strongly objected to by Coleridge and some other critics, but, as it would seem, upon not very good grounds, as the use of talent or talents to signify mental ability, although at first merely metaphorical, is now fully established, and talented, as a formative, is just as analogical and legitimate as gifted, bigoted, moneyed, landed, lilied, honeyed, and numerous other adjectives having a participal form, but derived directly from nouns and not from verbs.
TALESTa"les, n. Etym: [L., pl. of talis such (persons).] (Law) (a) pl.
Defn: Persons added to a jury, commonly from those in or about the courthouse, to make up any deficiency in the number of jurors regularly summoned, being like, or such as, the latter. Blount. Blackstone. (b) syntactically sing.
Defn: The writ by which such persons are summoned. Tales book, a book containing the names of such as are admitted of the tales. Blount. Craig. — Tales de circumstantibus Etym: [L.], such, or the like, from those standing about.
TALESMANTales"man, n.; pl. Talesmen (. (Law)
Defn: A person called to make up a deficiency in the number of jurors when a tales is awarded. Wharton.
TALETELLERTale"tell`er, n.
Defn: One who tells tales or stories, especially in a mischievous or officious manner; a talebearer; a telltale; a tattler.
TALEWISETale"wise`, adv.
Defn: In a way of a tale or story.
TALIACOTIANTal"ia*co`tian, a.
Defn: See Tagliacotian.
TALIATIONTal`i*a"tion, n.
Defn: Retaliation. [Obs.]Just heav'n this taliation did decree. Beaumont.
TALIONTa"li*on, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. talio, perh. fr. talis such. Cf.Retaliation.]
Defn: Retaliation. [R.] Holinshed.
TALIPES Tal"i*pes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. talus an ankle + pes, pedis, a foot; cf. L. talipedare to be weak in the feet, properly, to walk on the ankles.] (Surg.)
Defn: The deformity called clubfoot. See Clubfoot.
Note: Several varieties are distinguished; as, Talipes varus, in which the foot is drawn up and bent inward; T. valgus, in which the foot is bent outward; T. equinus, in which the sole faces backward and the patient walks upon the balls of the toes; and T. calcaneus (called also talus), in which the sole faces forward and the patient walks upon the heel.
TALIPOTTal"i*pot, n. Etym: [Hind. talpat the leaf of the tree.] (Bot.)
Defn: A beautiful tropical palm tree (Corypha umbraculifera), a native of Ceylon and the Malabar coast. It has a trunk sixty or seventy feet high, bearing a crown of gigantic fan-shaped leaves which are used as umbrellas and as fans in ceremonial processions, and, when cut into strips, as a substitute for writing paper.
TALISMAN Tal"is*man, n.; pl. Talismans. Etym: [Sp., from Ar. tilism, tilsam, a magical image, pl. tilsaman, fr. Gr.
1. A magical figure cut or engraved under certain superstitious observances of the configuration of the heavens, to which wonderful effects are ascribed; the seal, figure, character, or image, of a heavenly sign, constellation, or planet, engraved on a sympathetic stone, or on a metal corresponding to the star, in order to receive its influence.
2. Hence, something that produces extraordinary effects, esp. in averting or repelling evil; an amulet; a charm; as, a talisman to avert diseases. Swift.
TALISMANIC; TALISMANICALTal`is*man"ic, Tal`is*man"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. talismanique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a talisman; having the properties of a talisman, or preservative against evils by occult influence; magical.
TALK Talk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Talked; p. pr. & vb. n. Talking.] Etym: [Cf. LG. talk talk, gabble, Prov. G. talken to speak indistinctly; or OD. tolken to interpret, MHG. tolkan to interpret, to tell, to speak indistinctly, Dan. tolke to interpret, Sw. tolka, Icel. t to interpret, t an interpreter, Lith. tulkas an interpreter, tulkanti, tulkoti, to interpret, Russ. tolkovate to interpret, to talk about; or perhaps fr. OE. talien to speak (see Tale, v. i. & n.).]
1. To utter words; esp., to converse familiarly; to speak, as in familiar discourse, when two or more persons interchange thoughts. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you. Shak.
2. To confer; to reason; to consult. Let me talk with thee of thy judgments. Jer. xii. 1.
3. To prate; to speak impertinently. [Colloq.] To talk of, to relate; to tell; to give an account of; as, authors talk of the wonderful remains of Palmyra. "The natural histories of Switzerland talk much of the fall of these rocks, and the great damage done." Addison. — To talk to, to advise or exhort, or to reprove gently; as, I will talk to my son respecting his conduct. [Colloq.]
TALKTalk, v. t.
1. To speak freely; to use for conversing or communicating; as, to talk French.
2. To deliver in talking; to speak; to utter; to make a subject of conversation; as, to talk nonsense; to talk politics.
3. To consume or spend in talking; — often followed by away; as, to talk away an evening.
4. To cause to be or become by talking. "They would talk themselves mad." Shak. To talk over. (a) To talk about; to have conference respecting; to deliberate upon; to discuss; as, to talk over a matter or plan. (b) To change the mind or opinion of by talking; to convince; as, to talk over an opponent.
TALKTalk, n.
1. The act of talking; especially, familiar converse; mutual discourse; that which is uttered, especially in familiar conversation, or the mutual converse of two or more. In various talk the instructive hours they passed. Pope. Their talk, when it was not made up of nautical phrases, was too commonly made up of oaths and curses. Macaulay.
2. Report; rumor; as, to hear talk of war. I hear a talk up and down of raising our money. Locke.
3. Subject of discourse; as, his achievment is the talk of the town.
Syn. — Conversation; colloquy; discourse; chat; dialogue; conference; communication. See Conversation.
TALKATIVETalk"a*tive, a.
Defn: Given to much talking.
Syn.— Garrulous; loquacious. See Garrulous.— Talk"a*tive*ly, adv.— Talk"a*tive*ness, n.
TALKERTalk"er, n.
1. One who talks; especially, one who is noted for his power of conversing readily or agreeably; a conversationist. There probably were never four talkers more admirable in four different ways than Johnson, Burke, Beauclerk, and Garrick. Macaulay.
2. A loquacious person, male or female; a prattler; a babbler; also, a boaster; a braggart; — used in contempt or reproach. Jer. Taylor.
TALKINGTalk"ing, a.
1. That talks; able to utter words; as, a talking parrot.
2. Given to talk; loquacious. The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade, For talking age and whispering lovers made. Goldsmith.
TALL Tall, a. [Compar. Taller; superl. Tallest.] Etym: [OE. tal seemly, elegant, docile; of uncertain origin; cf. AS. un-tala, un-tale, bad, Goth. untals indocile, disobedient, uninstructed, or W. & Corn. tal high, Ir. talla meet, fit, proper, just.]
1. High in stature; having a considerable, or an unusual, extension upward; long and comparatively slender; having the diameter or lateral extent small in proportion to the height; as, a tall person, tree, or mast. Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. Milton.
2. Brave; bold; courageous. [Obs.] As tall a trencherman As e'er demolished a pye fortification. Massinger. His companions, being almost in despair of victory, were suddenly recomforted by Sir William Stanley, which came to succors with three thousand tall men. Grafton.
3. Fine; splendid; excellent; also, extravagant; excessive. [Obs. or Slang] B. Jonson.
Syn. — High; lofty. — Tall, High, Lofty. High is the generic term, and is applied to anything which is elevated or raised above another thing. Tall specifically describes that which has a small diameter in proportion to its height; hence, we speak of a tall man, a tall steeple, a tall mast, etc., but not of a tall hill. Lofty has a special reference to the expanse above us, and denotes an imposing height; as, a lofty mountain; a lofty room. Tall is now properly applied only to physical objects; high and lofty have a moral acceptation; as, high thought, purpose, etc.; lofty aspirations; a lofty genius. Lofty is the stronger word, and is usually coupled with the grand or admirable.
TALLAGE; TALLIAGETal"lage, Tal"li*age, n. Etym: [F. taillage. See Taille, and cf.Tailage.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A certain rate or tax paid by barons, knights, and inferior tenants, toward the public expenses. [Written also tailage, taillage.]
Note: When paid out of knight's fees, it was called scutage; when by cities and burghs, tallage; when upon lands not held by military tenure, hidage. Blackstone.
TALLAGETal"lage, v. t.
Defn: To lay an impost upon; to cause to pay tallage.
TALLBOYTall"boy`, n.
1. A kind of long-stemmed wineglass or cup.
2. A piece of household furniture common in the eighteenth century, usually in two separate parts, with larger drawers above and smaller ones below and raised on legs fifteen inches or more in height; — called also highboy.
3. A long sheet-metal pipe for a chimney top.
TALLIERTal"li*er, n.
Defn: One who keeps tally.
TALLISTal"lis, n.
Defn: Same as Tallith.
TALLITH Tal"lith, n. [NHeb. tallith.] (Jewish Costume) (a) An undergarment worn by orthodox Jews, covering the chest and the upper part of the back. It has an opening for the head, and has tassels, called zizith, on its four corners. (b) A tasseled shawl or scarf worn over the head or thrown round the shoulders while at prayer.
TALLNESSTall"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being tall; height of stature.
TALLOWTal"low, n. Etym: [OE. taluh, talugh; akin to OD. talgh, D. talk, G.,Dan. and Sw. talg, Icel. tolgr, tolg, tolk; and perhaps to Goth.tulgus firm.]
1. The suet or fat of animals of the sheep and ox kinds, separated from membranous and fibrous matter by melting.
Note: The solid consistency of tallow is due to the large amount of stearin it contains. See Fat.
2. The fat of some other animals, or the fat obtained from certain plants, or from other sources, resembling the fat of animals of the sheep and ox kinds. Tallow candle, a candle made of tallow. — Tallow catch, a keech. See Keech. [Obs.] — Tallow chandler, one whose occupation is to make, or to sell, tallow candles. — Tallow chandlery, the trade of a tallow chandler; also, the place where his business is carried on. — Tallow tree (Bot.), a tree (Stillingia sebifera) growing in China, the seeds of which are covered with a substance which resembles tallow and is applied to the same purposes.
TALLOWTal"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tallowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Tallowing.]
1. To grease or smear with tallow.
2. To cause to have a large quantity of tallow; to fatten; as, tallow sheep.
TALLOWERTal"low*er, n.
Defn: An animal which produces tallow.
TALLOW-FACETal"low-face`, n.
Defn: One who has a sickly, pale complexion. Shak.
TALLOW-FACEDTal"low-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a sickly complexion; pale. Burton.
TALLOWINGTal"low*ing, n.
Defn: The act, or art, of causing animals to produce tallow; also, the property in animals of producing tallow.
TALLOWISHTal"low*ish, a.
Defn: Having the qualities of tallow.
TALLOWYTal"low*y, a.
Defn: Of the nature of tallow; resembling tallow; greasy.
TALLWOODTall"wood`, n. Etym: [Cf. Tally.]
Defn: Firewood cut into billets of a certain length. [Obs.] [Eng.]
TALLY Tal"ly, n.; pl. Tallies. Etym: [OE. taile, taille, F. taille a cutting, cut tally, fr. tailler to cut, but influenced probably by taillé, p.p. of tailler. See Tailor, and cf. Tail a limitation, Taille, Tallage.]
1. Originally, a piece of wood on which notches or scores were cut, as the marks of number; later, one of two books, sheets of paper, etc., on which corresponding accounts were kept.
Note: In purshasing and selling, it was once customary for traders to have two sticks, or one stick cleft into two parts, and to mark with a score or notch, on each, the number or quantity of goods delivered, — the seller keeping one stick, and the purchaser the other. Before the use of writing, this, or something like it, was the only method of keeping accounts; and tallies were received as evidence in courts of justice. In the English exchequer were tallies of loans, one part being kept in the exchequer, the other being given to the creditor in lieu of an obligation for money lent to government.
2. Hence, any account or score kept by notches or marks, whether on wood or paper, or in a book; especially, one kept in duplicate.
3. One thing made to suit another; a match; a mate. They were framed the tallies for each other. Dryden.
4. A notch, mark, or score made on or in a tally; as, to make or earn a tally in a game.
5. A tally shop. See Tally shop, below. Tally shop, a shop at which goods or articles are sold to customers on account, the account being kept in corresponding books, one called the tally, kept by the buyer, the other the counter tally, kept by the seller, and the payments being made weekly or otherwise by agreement. The trade thus regulated is called tally trade. Eng. Encyc. — To strike tallies, to act in correspondence, or alike. [Obs.] Fuller.
TALLYTal"ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tallied; p. pr. & vb. n. Tallying.] Etym:[Cf. F. tialler to cut. See Tally, n.]
1. To score with correspondent notches; hence, to make to correspond; to cause to fit or suit. They are not so well tallied to the present juncture. Pope.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To check off, as parcels of freight going inboard or outboard.W. C. Russell. Tally on (Naut.), to dovetail together.
TALLYTal"ly, v. i.
1. To be fitted; to suit; to correspond; to match.I found pieces of tiles that exactly tallied with the channel.Addison.Your idea . . . tallies exactly with mine. Walpole.
2. To make a tally; to score; as, to tally in a game. Tally on (Naut.), to man a rope for hauling, the men standing in a line or tail.
TALLYTal"ly, adv. Etym: [See Tall, a.]
Defn: Stoutly; with spirit. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
TALLYHOTal"ly*ho`, interj. & n.
1. The huntsman's cry to incite or urge on his hounds.
2. A tallyho coach. Tallyho coach, a pleasure coach. See under Coach.
TALLYMANTal"ly*man, n.; pl. Tallymen (.
1. One who keeps the tally, or marks the sticks.
2. One who keeps a tally shop, or conducts his business as tally trade.
TALMA Tal"ma, n.; pl. Talmas. Etym: [Prob. so called from Talma, a French actor.] (a) A kind of large cape, or short, full cloak, forming part of the dress of ladies. (b) A similar garment worn formerly by gentlemen.
TALMUD Tal"mud, n. Etym: [Chald. talmud instruction, doctrine, fr. lamad to learn, limmad to teach.]
Defn: The body of the Jewish civil and canonical law not comprised in the Pentateuch.
Note: The Talmud consists of two parts, the Mishna, or text, and the Gemara, or commentary. Sometimes, however, the name Talmud is restricted, especially by Jewish writers, to the Gemara. There are two Talmuds, the Palestinian, commonly, but incorrectly, called the Talmud of Jerusalem, and the Babylonian Talmud. They contain the same Mishna, but different Gemaras. The Babylonian Talmud is about three times as large as the other, and is more highly esteemed by the Jews.
TALMUDIC; TALMUDICALTal*mud"ic, Tal*mud"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. talmudique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Talmud; contained in the Talmud; as,Talmudic Greek; Talmudical phrases. Lightfoot.
TALMUDISMTal"mud*ism, n. , n.
Defn: The teachings of the Talmud, or adherence to them.
TALMUDISTTal"mud*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. talmudiste.]
Defn: One versed in the Talmud; one who adheres to the teachings of the Talmud.
TALMUDISTICTal`mud*is"tic, a.
Defn: Resembling the Talmud; Talmudic.
TALON Tal"on, n. Etym: [F., heel, spur, LL. talo, fr. L. talus the ankle, heel.]
1. The claw of a predaceous bird or animal, especially the claw of a bird of prey. Bacon.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of certain small prominences on the hind part of the face of an elephant's tooth.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A kind of molding, concave at the bottom and convex at the top; — usually called an ogee.
Note: When the concave part is at the top, it is called an inverted talon.
4. The shoulder of the bolt of a lock on which the key acts to shoot the bolt. Knight.
TALOOK; TALUKTa*look", Ta*luk", n. Etym: [Ar. ta'lluq.]
Defn: A large estate; esp., one constituting a revenue district or dependency the native proprietor of which is responsible for the collection and payment of the public revenue due from it. [India]
TALOOKDAR; TALUKDARTa*look"dar, Ta*luk"dar, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Per. ta'lluqdar.]
Defn: A proprietor of a talook. [India]
TALPATal"pa, n. Etym: [L., mole.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small insectivores including the common European mole.
TALUSTa"lus, n.; pl. Tali. Etym: [L., the ankle, the ankle bone.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The astragalus.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: A variety of clubfoot (Talipes calcaneus). See the Note underTalipes.
TALUSTa"lus, n. Etym: [F.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A slope; the inclination of the face of a work.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: A sloping heap of fragments of rock lying at the foot of a precipice.
TAMABILITYTam`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being tamable; tamableness.
TAMABLETam"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being tamed, subdued, or reclaimed from wildness orsavage ferociousness.— Tam"a*ble*ness, n.
TAMALE Ta*ma"le, n. [Written also tamal, tomale.] [Amer. Sp. tamal, of Mex. origin.]
Defn: A Mexican dish made of crushed maize mixed with minced meat, seasoned with red pepper, dipped in oil, and steamed.
TAMANDUTa*man"du, n. Etym: [Sp., from the native name: cf. F. tamandua.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A small ant-eater (Tamandua tetradactyla) native of the tropical parts of South America.
Note: It has five toes on the fore feet, an elongated snout, small ears, and short woolly hair. Its tail is stout and hairy at the base, tapering, and covered with minute scales, and is somewhat prehensile at the end. Called also tamandua, little ant-bear, fourmilier, and cagouare. The collared, or striped, tamandu (Tamandua bivittata) is considered a distinct species by some writers, but by others is regarded as only a variety.
TAMANOIRTa`ma*noir", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ant-bear.
TAMARACK Tam"a*rack, n. (Bot.) (a) The American larch; also, the larch of Oregon and British Columbia (Larix occidentalis). See Hackmatack, and Larch. (b) The black pine (Pinus Murrayana) of Alaska, California, etc. It is a small tree with fine-grained wood.
TAMARICTam"a*ric, n. Etym: [L. tamarice. See Tamarisk.]
Defn: A shrub or tree supposed to be the tamarisk, or perhaps somekind of heath. [Obs.]He shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see whengood shall come. Jer. xvii. 6 (Douay version).
TAMARINTam"a*rin, n. Etym: [From the native name in Cayenne.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small squirrel-like SouthAmerican monkeys of the genus Midas, especially M. ursulus.
TAMARIND Tam"a*rind, n. Etym: [It. tamarindo, or Sp. tamarindo, or Pg. tamarindo, tamarinho, from Ar. tamarhindi, literally, Indian date; tamar a dried date + Hind India: cf. F. tamarin. Cf. Hindoo.] (Bot.)
1. A leguminous tree (Tamarindus Indica) cultivated both the Indies, and the other tropical countries, for the sake of its shade, and for its fruit. The trunk of the tree is lofty and large, with wide- spreading branches; the flowers are in racemes at the ends of the branches. The leaves are small and finely pinnated.
2. One of the preserved seed pods of the tamarind, which contain an acid pulp, and are used medicinally and for preparing a pleasant drink. Tamarind fish, a preparation of a variety of East Indian fish with the acid pulp of the tamarind fruit. — Velvet tamarind. (a) A West African leguminous tree (Codarium acutifolium). (b) One of the small black velvety pods, which are used for food in Sierra Leone. — Wild tamarind (Bot.), a name given to certain trees somewhat resembling the tamarind, as the Lysiloma latisiliqua of Southern Florida, and the Pithecolobium filicifolium of the West Indies.
TAMARISK Tam"a*risk, n. Etym: [L. tamariscus, also tamarix, tamarice, Skr. tamala, tamalaka, a tree with a very dark bark; cf. tamas darkness: cf. F. tamarisc, tamarix, tamaris.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any shrub or tree of the genus Tamarix, the species of which are European and Asiatic. They have minute scalelike leaves, and small flowers in spikes. An Arabian species (T. mannifera) is the source of one kind of manna. Tamarisk salt tree, an East Indian tree (Tamarix orientalis) which produces an incrustation of salt.
TAMBACTam"bac, n. (Metal.)
Defn: See Tombac. [Obs.]
TAMBOURTam"bour, n.
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A kind of small flat drum; a tambourine.
2. A small frame, commonly circular, and somewhat resembling a tambourine, used for stretching, and firmly holding, a portion of cloth that is to be embroidered; also, the embroidery done upon such a frame; — called also, in the latter sense, tambour work.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Drum, n., 2(d).
4. (Fort.)
Defn: A work usually in the form of a redan, to inclose a space before a door or staircase, or at the gorge of a larger work. It is arranged like a stockade.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: A shallow metallic cup or drum, with a thin elastic membrane supporting a writing lever. Two or more of these are connected by an India rubber tube, and used to transmit and register the movements of the pulse or of any pulsating artery.
TAMBOURTam"bour, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tamboured; p. pr. & vb. n. Tambouring.]
Defn: To embroider on a tambour.
TAMBOURINTam`bou`rin", n. Etym: [F. See Tambourine.]
1. A tambourine. [Obs.]
2. (Mus.)
Defn: An old Provençal dance of a lively character, common on the stage.
TAMBOURINETam`bour*ine", n. Etym: [F. tambourin; cf. It. tamburino. SeeTambour, and cf. Tamborine.]
Defn: A small drum, especially a shallow drum with only one skin, played on with the hand, and having bells at the sides; a timbrel.
TAMBREETTam"breet, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The duck mole.
TAMBURINTam`bu*rin", n.
Defn: See Tambourine. Spenser.
TAMETame, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. entamer to cut into, to broach.]
Defn: To broach or enter upon; to taste, as a liquor; to divide; to distribute; to deal out. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] In the time of famine he is the Joseph of the country, and keeps the poor from starving. Then he tameth his stacks of corn, which not his covetousness, but providence, hath reserved for time of need. Fuller.
TAME Tame, a. [Compar. Tamer; superl. Tamest.] Etym: [AS. tam; akin to D. tam, G. zahm, OHG. zam, Dan. & Sw. tam, Icel. tamr, L. domare to tame, Gr. dam to be tame, to tame, and perhaps to E. beteem. *61. Cf. Adamant, Diamond, Dame, Daunt, Indomitable.]
1. Reduced from a state of native wildness and shyness; accustomed to man; domesticated; domestic; as, a tame deer, a tame bird.
2. Crushed; subdued; depressed; spiritless. Tame slaves of the laborious plow. Roscommon.
3. Deficient in spirit or animation; spiritless; dull; flat; insipid; as, a tame poem; tame scenery.
Syn.— Gentle; mild; meek. See Gentle.
TAMETame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Taming.] Etym: [AS.tamian, temian, akin to D. tammen, temmen, G. zähmen, OHG. zemmen,Icel. temja, Goth. gatamjan. See Tame, a.]
1. To reduce from a wild to a domestic state; to make gentle and familiar; to reclaim; to domesticate; as, to tame a wild beast. They had not been tamed into submission, but baited into savegeness and stubbornness. Macaulay.
2. To subdue; to conquer; to repress; as, to tame the pride or passions of youth.
TAMEABLETame"a*ble, a.
Defn: Tamable. Bp. Wilkins.
TAMELESSTame"less, a.
Defn: Incapable of being tamed; wild; untamed; untamable. Bp. Hall.— Tame"less*ness, n.
TAMELYTame"ly, adv.
Defn: In a tame manner.
TAMENESSTame"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being tame.
TAMERTam"er, n.
Defn: One who tames or subdues.
TAMIASTa"mi*as, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ground squirrels, including the chipmunk.
TAMILTa"mil, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Tamils, or to their language. [Written also Tamul.]
TAMILTa"mil, n. Etym: [Written also Tamul.]
1. (Ethnol.)
Defn: One of a Dravidian race of men native of Northern Ceylon andSouthern India.
2. The Tamil language, the most important of the Dravidian languages. See Dravidian, a.
TAMILIANTa*mil"i*an, a. & n.
Defn: Tamil.
TAMINE; TAMINYTam"ine, Tam"i*ny, n. Etym: [Cf. F. tamis a sort of sieve. Cf.Stamin, Temse.]
Defn: A kind of woolen cloth; tammy.
TAMISTam"is, n. Etym: [F., a kind of sieve.]
1. A sieve, or strainer, made of a kind of woolen cloth.
2. The cloth itself; tammy. Tamis bird (Zoöl.), a Guinea fowl.
TAMKINTam"kin, n.
Defn: A tampion. Johnson (Dict.).
TAMMYTam"my, n.; pl. Tammies (.
1. A kind of woolen, or woolen and cotton, cloth, often highly glazed, — used for curtains, sieves, strainers, etc.
2. A sieve, or strainer, made of this material; a tamis.
TAMPTamp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tamped; p. pr. & vb. n. Tamping.] Etym:[Cf. F. tamponner to plug or stop. See Tampion.]
1. In blasting, to plug up with clay, earth, dry sand, sod, or other material, as a hole bored in a rock, in order to prevent the force of the explosion from being misdirected.
2. To drive in or down by frequent gentle strokes; as, to tamp earth so as to make a smooth place.
TAMPANTam"pan, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A venomous South African tick. Livingstone.
TAMPEONTam"pe*on, n.
Defn: See Tampion. Farrow.
TAMPERTamp"er, n.
1. One who tamps; specifically, one who prepares for blasting, by filling the hole in which the charge is placed.
2. An instrument used in tamping; a tamping iron.
TAMPERTam"per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tampered; p. pr. & vb. n. Tampering.]Etym: [A corruption of temper.]
1. To meddle; to be busy; to try little experiments; as, to tamper with a disease. 'T is dangerous tampering with a muse. Roscommon.
2. To meddle so as to alter, injure, or vitiate a thing.
3. To deal unfairly; to practice secretly; to use bribery. Others tampered For Fleetwood, Desborough, and Lambert. Hudibras.
TAMPERERTam"per*er, n.
Defn: One who tampers; one who deals unfairly.
TAMPICO FIBER; TAMPICO FIBRETam*pi"co fi"ber or; Tam*pi"co fi"bre.
Defn: A tough vegetable fiber used as a substitute for bristles in making brushes. The piassava and the ixtle are both used under this name.
TAMPINGTamp"ing, n.
1. The act of one who tamps; specifically, the act of filling up a hole in a rock, or the branch of a mine, for the purpose of blasting the rock or exploding the mine.
2. The material used in tamping. See Tamp, v. t., 1. Tamping iron, an iron rod for beating down the earthy substance in tamping for blasting.
TAMPIONTam"pi*on, n. Etym: [F. tampon, tapon, tape, of Dutch or Germanorigin. See Tap a pipe or plug, and cf. Tamp, Tampop, Tompion.][Written also tampeon, and tompion.]
1. A wooden stopper, or plug, as for a cannon or other piece of ordnance, when not in use.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A plug for upper end of an organ pipe.
TAMPOETam"poe, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The edible fruit of an East Indian tree (Baccaurea Malayana) of the Spurge family. It somewhat resembles an apple.
TAMPONTam"pon, n. Etym: [F. See Tampion.] (Surg.)
Defn: A plug introduced into a natural or artificial cavity of the body in order to arrest hemorrhage, or for the application of medicine.
TAMPONTam"pon, v. t. (Surg.)
Defn: To plug with a tampon.
TAMPOONTam"poon, n. Etym: [See Tampion.]
Defn: The stopper of a barrel; a bung.
TAM-'-SHANTERTam`-o'-shan"ter, n. [So named after Tam o'Shanter, a character inBurns's poem of the same name.]
Defn: A kind of Scotch cap of wool, worsted, or the like, having a round, flattish top much wider than the band which fits the head, and usually having a tassel in the center.
TAM-TAM Tam"-tam`, n. Etym: [Hind.; of imitative origin.] (Mus.) (a) A kind of drum used in the East Indies and other Oriental countries; — called also tom-tom. (b) A gong. See Gong, n., 1.
TAMULTa"mul, a. & n.
Defn: Tamil.
TAMWORTHTam"worth, n. [From Tamworth, Staffordshire, England.]
Defn: One of a long-established English breed of large pigs. They are red, often spotted with black, with a long snout and erect or forwardly pointed ears, and are valued as bacon producers.
TANTan, n. Etym: [Chin.]
Defn: See Picul.
TANTan, n. Etym: [F. tan, perhaps fr. Armor. tann an oak, oak bar; or ofTeutonic origin; cf. G. tanne a fir, OHG. tanna a fir, oak, MHG. tana forest. Cf. Tawny.]
1. The bark of the oak, and some other trees, bruised and broken by a mill, for tanning hides; — so called both before and after it has been used. Called also tan bark.
2. A yellowish-brown color, like that of tan.
3. A brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun; as,hands covered with tan. Tan bed (Hort.), a bed made of tan; a barkbed.— Tan pickle, the liquor used in tanning leather.— Tan spud, a spud used in stripping bark for tan from trees.— Tan stove. See Bark stove, under Bark.— Tan vat, a vat in which hides are steeped in liquor with tan.
TANTan, a.
Defn: Of the color of tan; yellowish-brown. Black and tan. See underBlack, a.
TAN Tan, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Tanning.] Etym: [F. tanner, LL. tannare. See Tan, n.]
1. To convert (the skin of an animal) into leather, as by usual process of steeping it in an infusion of oak or some other bark, whereby it is impregnated with tannin, or tannic acid (which exists in several species of bark), and is thus rendered firm, durable, and in some degree impervious to water.
Note: The essential result in tanning is due to the fact that the tannins form, with gelatins and albuminoids, a series of insoluble compounds which constitute leather. Similar results may be produced by the use of other reagents in place of tannin, as alum, and some acids or chlorides, which are employed in certain processes of tanning.
2. To make brown; to imbrown, as by exposure to the rays of the sun; as, to tan the skin.
TANTan, v. i.
Defn: To get or become tanned.
TANATa"na, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Banxring.
TANAGERTan"a*ger, n. Etym: [NL. tanagra, probably fr. Brazilian tangara.](Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of bright-colored singing birds belonging to Tanagra, Piranga, and allied genera. The scarlet tanager (Piranga erythromelas) and the summer redbird (Piranga rubra) are common species of the United States.
TANAGRINETan"a*grine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the tanagers.
TANAGROIDTan"a*groid, a. Etym: [Tanager + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tanagrine.
TANATETa*na"te, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Asiatic wild dog (Canis procyonoides), native of Japan and adjacent countries. It has a short, bushy tail. Called also raccoon dog.
TANDEM Tan"dem, adv. & a. Etym: [L. tandem at length (of time only), punningly taken as meaning, lengthwise.]
Defn: One after another; — said especially of horses harnessed and driven one before another, instead of abreast.
TANDEMTan"dem, n.
Defn: A team of horses harnessed one before the other. "He drove tandems." Thackeray. Tandem engine, a compound steam engine having two or more steam cylinders in the same axis, close to one another. — Tandem bicycle or tricycle, one for two persons in which one rider sits before the other.
TANDEM CARTTan"dem cart.
Defn: A kind of two-wheeled vehicle with seats back to back, the front one somewhat elevated.
TANDEM ENGINETandem engine.
Defn: A steam engine having two or more steam cylinders in line, with a common piston rod.
TANDEM SYSTEMTandem system. (Elec.)
Defn: = Cascade system.
TANGTang, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Dan. tang seaweed, Sw. tång,Icel. þang. Cf. Tangle.] (Bot.)
Defn: A coarse blackish seaweed (Fuscus nodosus). Dr. Prior. Tang sparrow (Zoöl.), the rock pipit. [Prov. Eng.]
TANG Tang, n. Etym: [Probably fr. OD. tanger sharp, tart, literally, pinching; akin to E. tongs. *59. See Tong.]
1. A strong or offensive taste; especially, a taste of something extraneous to the thing itself; as, wine or cider has a tang of the cask.
2. Fig.: A sharp, specific flavor or tinge. Cf. Tang a twang. Such proceedings had a strong tang of tyranny. Fuller. A cant of philosophism, and a tang of party politics. Jeffrey.
3. Etym: [Probably of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. tangi a projecting point; akin to E. tongs. See Tongs.]
Defn: A projecting part of an object by means of which it is secured to a handle, or to some other part; anything resembling a tongue in form or position. Specifically: — (a) The part of a knife, fork, file, or other small instrument, which is inserted into the handle. (b) The projecting part of the breech of a musket barrel, by which the barrel is secured to the stock. (c) The part of a sword blade to which the handle is fastened. (d) The tongue of a buckle. [Prov. Eng.]
TANG Tang, n. Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Twang. This word has become confused with tang tatse, flavor.]
Defn: A sharp, twanging sound; an unpleasant tone; a twang.
TANGTang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Tanging.]
Defn: To cause to ring or sound loudly; to ring.Let thy tongue tang arguments of state. Shak.To tang bees, to cause a swarm of bees to settle, by beating metal tomake a din.
TANGTang, v. i.
Defn: To make a ringing sound; to ring.Let thy tongue tang arguments of state. Shak.
TANGALUNGTan"ga*lung, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian civet (Viverra tangalunga).
TANGELOTan"ge*lo (tan"je*lo), n. [Tangerine + pomelo.]
Defn: A hybrid between the tangerine orange and the grapefruit, or pomelo; also, the fruit.
TANGENCETan"gence, n.
Defn: Tangency. [R.]
TANGENCYTan"gen*cy, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being tangent; a contact or touching.
TANGENTTan"gent, n. Etym: [L. tangens, -entis, p.pr. of tangere to touch;akin to Gr. tangente. Cf. Attain, Contaminate, Contingent, Entire,Tact, Taste, Tax, v. t.] (Geom.)
Defn: A tangent line curve, or surface; specifically, that portion of the straight line tangent to a curve that is between the point of tangency and a given line, the given line being, for example, the axis of abscissas, or a radius of a circle produced. See Trigonometrical function, under Function. Artificial, or Logarithmic, tangent, the logarithm of the natural tangent of an arc. — Natural tangent, a decimal expressing the length of the tangent of an arc, the radius being reckoned unity. — Tangent galvanometer (Elec.), a form of galvanometer having a circular coil and a short needle, in which the tangent of the angle of deflection of the needle is proportional to the strength of the current. — Tangent of an angle, the natural tangent of the arc subtending or measuring the angle. — Tangent of an arc, a right line, as ta, touching the arc of a circle at one extremity a, and terminated by a line ct, passing from the center through the other extremity o.
TANGENTTan"gent, a. Etym: [L. tangens, -entis, p.pr.]
Defn: Touching; touching at a single point; specifically (Geom.)
Defn: meeting a curve or surface at a point and having at that point the same direction as the curve or surface; — said of a straight line, curve, or surface; as, a line tangent to a curve; a curve tangent to a surface; tangent surfaces. Tangent plane (Geom.), a plane which touches a surface in a point or line. — Tangent scale (Gun.), a kind of breech sight for a cannon. — Tangent screw (Mach.), an endless screw; a worm.
TANGENTALTan*gen"tal, a. (Geom.)
Defn: Tangential.
TANGENTIALTan*gen"tial, a. (Geom.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a tangent; in the direction of a tangent. Tangential force (Mech.), a force which acts on a moving body in the direction of a tangent to the path of the body, its effect being to increase or diminish the velocity; — distinguished from a normal force, which acts at right angles to the tangent and changes the direction of the motion without changing the velocity. — Tangential stress. (Engin.) See Shear, n., 3.
TANGENTIALLYTan*gen"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In the direction of a tangent.
TANGENT SPOKETangent spoke.
Defn: A tension spoke of a bicycle or similar wheel, secured tangentially to the hub.
TANGENT WHEELTangent wheel.(a) A worm or worm wheel; a tangent screw.(b) A wheel with tangent spokes.
TANGERINETan"ger*ine`, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of orange, much like the mandarin, but of deeper color and higher flavor. It is said to have been produced in America from the mandarin. [Written also tangierine.]
TANGFISHTang"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common harbor seal. [Prov. Eng.]
TANGHINIATan*ghin"i*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: The ordeal tree. See under Ordeal.
TANGIBILITYTan`gi*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. tanggibilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being tangible.
TANGIBLE Tan"gi*ble, a. Etym: [L. tangibilis, fr. tangere to touch: cf. F. tangible. See Tangent.]
1. Perceptible to the touch; tactile; palpable. Bacon.
2. Capable of being possessed or realized; readily apprehensible by the mind; real; substantial; evident. "A tangible blunder." Byron. Direct and tangible benefit to ourselves and others. Southey. — Tan"gi*ble*ness, n. — Tan"gi*bly, adv.
TANGLETan"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Tangling.]Etym: [A frequentative fr. tang seaweed; hence, to twist likeseaweed. See Tang seaweed, and cf. Tangle, n.]
1. To unite or knit together confusedly; to interweave or interlock, as threads, so as to make it difficult to unravel the knot; to entangle; to ravel.
2. To involve; to insnare; to entrap; as, to be tangled in lies. "Tangled in amorous nets." Milton. When my simple weakness strays, Tangled in forbidden ways. Crashaw.
TANGLETan"gle, v. i.
Defn: To be entangled or united confusedly; to get in a tangle.
TANGLETan"gle, n.
1. Etym: [Cf. Icel. þöngull. See Tang seaweed.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any large blackish seaweed, especially the Laminariasaccharina. See Kelp.Coral and sea fan and tangle, the blooms and the palms of the ocean.C. Kingsley.
2. Etym: [From Tangle, v.]
Defn: A knot of threads, or other thing, united confusedly, or so interwoven as not to be easily disengaged; a snarl; as, hair or yarn in tangles; a tangle of vines and briers. Used also figuratively.
3. pl.
Defn: An instrument consisting essentiallly of an iron bar to which are attached swabs, or bundles of frayed rope, or other similar substances, — used to capture starfishes, sea urchins, and other similar creatures living at the bottom of the sea. Blue tangle. (Bot.)See Dangleberry. — Tangle picker (Zoöl.), the turnstone. [Prov. Eng.]
TANGLEFISHTan"gle*fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sea adder, or great pipefish of Europe.
TANGLINGLYTan"gling*ly, adv.
Defn: In a tangling manner.
TANGLYTan"gly, a.
1. Entangled; intricate.
2. Covered with tangle, or seaweed. Prone, helpless, on the tangly beach he lay. Falconer.
TANGO Tan"go, n.; pl. Tangos (#). [Sp., a certain dance.] (a) A difficult dance in two-four time characterized by graceful posturing, frequent pointing positions, and a great variety of steps, including the cross step and turning steps. The dance is of Spanish origin, and is believed to have been in its original form a part of the fandango. (b) Any of various popular forms derived from this.
TANGRAMTan"gram, n. Etym: [Cf. Trangram.]
Defn: A Chinese toy made by cutting a square of thin wood, or other suitable material, into seven pieces, as shown in the cut, these pieces being capable of combination in various ways, so as to form a great number of different figures. It is now often used in primary schools as a means of instruction.
TANGUETangue, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tenrec.
TANGUNTan"gun, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A piebald variety of the horse, native of Thibet.
TANGWHAUPTang"whaup, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The whimbrel. [Prov. Eng.]
TANIERTan"i*er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An aroid plant (Caladium sagittæfolium), the leaves of which are boiled and eaten in the West Indies. [Written also tannier.]
TANIST Tan"ist, n. Etym: [Ir. tanaiste, tanaise, second, the second person in rank, the presumptive or apparent heir to a prince.]
Defn: In Ireland, a lord or proprietor of a tract of land or of a castle, elected by a family, under the system of tanistry. This family [the O'Hanlons] were tanists of a large territory within the present county of Armagh. M. A. Lower.
TANISTRYTan"ist*ry, n. Etym: [See Tanist.]
Defn: In Ireland, a tenure of family lands by which the proprietor had only a life estate, to which he was admitted by election.
Note: The primitive intention seems to have been that the inheritance should descend to the oldest or most worthy of the blood and name of the deceased. This was, in reality, giving it to the strongest; and the practice often occasioned bloody feuds in families, for which reason it was abolished under James I.
TANITETa"nite, n.
Defn: A firm composition of emery and a certain kind of cement, used for making grinding wheels, slabs, etc.
TANKTank, n.
Defn: A small Indian dry measure, averaging 240 grains in weight; also, a Bombay weight of 72 grains, for pearls. Simmonds.
TANKTank, n. Etym: [Pg. tanque, L. stangum a pool; or perhaps of EastIndian origin. Cf. Stank, n.]
Defn: A large basin or cistern; an artificial receptacle for liquids. Tank engine, a locomotive which carries the water and fuel it requires, thus dispensing with a tender. — Tank iron, plate iron thinner than boiler plate, and thicker than sheet iron or stovepipe iron. — Tank worm (Zoöl.), a small nematoid worm found in the water tanks of India, supposed by some to be the young of the Guinea worm.
TANKATan"ka, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A kind of boat used in Canton. It is about 25 feet long and is often rowed by women. Called also tankia. S. W. Williams.
TANKAGETank"age, n.
1. The act or process of putting or storing in tanks.
2. Fees charged for storage in tanks.
3. The capacity or contents of a tank or tanks.
4. (Agric.) Waste matter from tanks; esp., the dried nitrogenous residue from tanks in which fat has been rendered, used as a fertilizer.
TANKARD Tank"ard, n. Etym: [OF. tanquart; cf. OD. tanckaert; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A large drinking vessel, especially one with a cover. Marius was the first who drank out of a silver tankard, after the manner of Bacchus. Arbuthnot.
TANKIATan"ki*a, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Tanka.
TANKLINGTank"ling, n.
Defn: A tinkling. [Obs.]
TANK SHIP; TANK VESSELTank ship, Tank vessel . (Naut.)
Defn: A vessel fitted with tanks for the carrying of oil or other liquid in bulk.
TANLINGTan"ling, n.
Defn: One tanned by the sun. [R.]Hot summer's tanlings and The shrinking slaves of winter. Shak.
TANNABLETan"na*ble, a.
Defn: That may be tanned.
TANNAGETan"nage, n.
Defn: A tanning; the act, operation, or result of tanning. [R.]They should have got his cheek fresh tannage. R. Browning.
TANNATETan"nate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. tannate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of tannic acid.
TANNERTan"ner, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to tan hides, or convert them into leather by the use of tan.
TANNERYTan"ner*y, n.; pl. Tanneries. Etym: [Cf. F. tannerie.]
1. A place where the work of tanning is carried on.
2. The art or process of tanning. [R.] Carlyle.
TANNICTan"nic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to tan; derived from, or resembling, tan; as, tannic acid. Tannic acid. (Chem.) (a) An acid obtained from nutgalls as a yellow amorphous substance, C14H10O9, having an astringent taste, and forming with ferric salts a bluish-black compound, which is the basis of common ink. Called also tannin, and gallotannic acid. (b) By extension, any one of a series of astringent substances resembling tannin proper, widely diffused through the vegetable kingdom, as in oak bark, willow, catechu, tea, coffee, etc.
TANNIERTan"ni*er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Tanier.
TANNIGENTan"ni*gen, n. [Tannin + -gen.] (Pharm.)
Defn: A compound obtained as a yellowish gray powder by the action of acetyl chloride or acetic anhydride or ordinary tannic acid. It is used as an intestinal astringent, and locally in rhinitis and pharyngitis.
TANNINTan"nin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. tannin.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Tannic acid, under Tannic.
TANNINGTan"ning, n.
Defn: The art or process of converting skins into leather. See Tan, v. t., 1.
TANRECTan"rec, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Tenrec.
TANSYTan"sy, n. Etym: [OE. tansaye, F. tanaise; cf. It. & Sp. tanaceto,NL. tanacetum, Pg. atanasia, athanasia, Gr. 'aqanasi`a immortality,fr. 'aqa`natos immortal; 'a priv. + qa`natos death.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the composite genus Tanacetum. The common tansy (T. vulgare) has finely divided leaves, a strong aromatic odor, and a very bitter taste. It is used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
2. A dish common in the seventeenth century, made of eggs, sugar, rose water, cream, and the juice of herbs, baked with butter in a shallow dish. [Obs.] Pepys. Double tansy (Bot.), a variety of the common tansy with the leaves more dissected than usual. — Tansy mustard (Bot.), a plant (Sisymbrium canescens) of the Mustard family, with tansylike leaves.
TANTTant, n. Etym: [Cf. Taint tincture.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small scarlet arachnid.
TANTALATETan"ta*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of tantalic acid.
TANTALICTan*tal"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to tantalum; derived from, or containing, tantalum; specifically, designating any one of a series of acids analogous to nitric acid and the polyacid compounds of phosphorus.
TANTALISMTan"ta*lism, n. Etym: [See Tantalize.]
Defn: A punishment like that of Tantalus; a teasing or tormenting bythe hope or near approach of good which is not attainable;tantalization. Addison.Is not such a provision like tantalism to this people Josiah Quincy.
TANTALITETan"ta*lite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. tantalite.] (Min.)
Defn: A heavy mineral of an iron-black color and submetallic luster.It is essentially a tantalate of iron.
TANTALIZATIONTan`ta*li*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of tantalizing, or state of being tantalized. Gayton.
TANTALIZETan"ta*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tantalized; p. pr. & vb. n.Tantalizing.] Etym: [From Tantalus: cf. F. tantaliser.]
Defn: To tease or torment by presenting some good to the view and exciting desire, but continually frustrating the expectations by keeping that good out of reach; to tease; to torment. Thy vain desires, at strife Within themselves, have tantalized thy life. Dryden.
Syn. — To tease; vex; irritate; provoke. — Tantalize, Disappoint. To disappoint is literally to do away with what was (or was taken to be) appointed; hence the peculiar pain from hopes thus dashed to the ground. To tantalize, a much stronger term, describes a most distressing form of disappointment, as in the case of Tantalus, the Phrygian king. To tantalize is to visit with the bitterest disappointment — to torment by exciting hopes or expectations which can never be realized.
TANTALIZERTan"ta*li`zer, n.
Defn: One who tantalizes.
TANTALIZINGLYTan"ta*li`zing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a tantalizing or teasing manner.
TANTALUMTan"ta*lum, n. Etym: [NL. So named on account of the perplexity anddifficulty encounterd by its discoverer (Ekeberg) in isolating it.See Tantalus.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium.
TANTALUSTan"ta*lus, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. Ta`ntalos.] (Gr. Myth.)
1. A Phrygian king who was punished in the lower world by being placed in the midst of a lake whose waters reached to his chin but receded whenever he attempted to allay his thirst, while over his head hung branches laden with choice fruit which likewise receded whenever he stretched out his hand to grasp them.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of wading birds comprising the wood ibises. Tantalus's cup (Physics), a philosophical toy, consisting of a cup, within which is the figure of a man, and within the figure a siphon, the longer arm of which passes down through the bottom of the cup, and allows the escape of any liquid that may be poured in, when it reaches as high as the bend of the siphon, which is just below the level of the mouth of the figure in the cup.
TANTAMOUNTTan"ta*mount`, a. Etym: [F. tant so much (L. tantus) + E. amount.]
Defn: Equivalent in value, signification, or effect.A usage nearly tantamount to constitutional right. Hallam.The certainty that delay, under these circumstances, was tantamountto ruin. De Quincey.
TANTAMOUNTTan"ta*mount`, v. i.
Defn: To be tantamount or equivalent; to amount. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
TANTIVYTan*tiv"y, adv. Etym: [Said to be from the note of a hunting horn.]
Defn: Swiftly; speedily; rapidly; — a fox-hunting term; as, to ride tantivy.
TANTIVYTan*tiv"y, n.
Defn: A rapid, violent gallop; an impetulous rush. Cleverland.
TANTIVYTan*tiv"y, v. i.
Defn: To go away in haste. [Colloq.]
TANTRATan"tra (tan"tra; tun"-), n. [Skr.] (Hinduism)
Defn: A ceremonial treatise related to Puranic and magic literature; esp., one of the sacred works of the worshipers of Sakti. — Tan"tric (-trik), a.
TANTRISMTan"trism, n.
Defn: The system of doctrines and rites taught in the tantras. —Tan"trist (#), n.
TANTRUMTan"trum, n.
Defn: A whim, or burst of ill-humor; an affected air. [Colloq.]Thackeray.
TANYARDTan"yard`, n.
Defn: An inclosure where the tanning of leather is carried on; a tannery.
TANYSTOMATATan`y*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of dipterous insects in which the proboscis is large and contains lancelike mandibles and maxillæ. The horseflies and robber flies are examples.
TAOISMTa"o*ism, n.
Defn: One of the popular religions of China, sanctioned by the state.— Ta"o*ist, a. & n.
TAOTAITao`tai", n. [Chin. tao circuit + t'ai, a title of respect.]
Defn: In China, an official at the head of the civil and military affairs of a circuit, which consists of two or more fu, or territorial departments; —called also, by foreigners, intendant of circuit. Foreign consuls and commissioners associated with taotais as superintendants of trade at the treaty ports are ranked with the taotai.