3. Wary; cautious. [Obs.] Bacon.
CAUTIONARY BLOCKCau"tion*a*ry block. (Railroads)
Defn: A block in which two or more trains are permitted to travel, under restrictions imposed by a caution card or the like.
CAUTIONERCau"tion*er, n.
1. One who cautions or advises.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: A surety or sponsor.
CAUTIONRYCau"tion*ry, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: Suretyship.
CAUTIOUSCau"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. L. cautus, fr. caver. See Caution.]
Defn: Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect; wary; watchful; as, a cautious general. Cautious feeling for another's pain. Byron. Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. Watts.
Syn. — Wary; watchful; vigilant; prudent; circumspect; discreet; heedful; thoughtful; scrupulous; anxious; careful. — Cautious, Wary, Circumspect. A man is cautious who realizes the constant possibility of danger; one may be wary, and yet bold and active; a man who is circumspect habitually examines things on every side in order to weigh and deliberate. It is necessary to be cautious at all times; to be wary in cases of extraordinary danger; to be circumspect in matters of peculiar delicacy and difficulty.
CAUTIOUSLYCau"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cautious manner.
CAUTIOUSNESSCau"tious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cautious.
CAVALCADE Cav"al*cade`, n. Etym: [F. cavalcade, fr. It. cavalcata, fr. cavalcare to go on horseback, fr. LL. caballicare, fr. L. caballus an inferior horse, Gr. Cavalier, Cavalry.]
Defn: A procession of persons on horseback; a formal, pompous march of horsemen by way of parade. He brought back war-worn cavalcade to the city. Prescott.
CAVALERO; CAVALIEROCav`a*le"ro, Cav`a*lie"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. caballero. See Cavalier.]
Defn: A cavalier; a gallant; a libertine. Shak.
CAVALIER Cav`a*lier", n. Etym: [F. cavalier, It. cavaliere, LL. caballarius, fr. L. caballus. See Cavalcade, and cf. Cavallier, Caballine.]
1. A military man serving on horseback; a knight.
2. A gay, sprightly, military man; hence, a gallant.
3. One of the court party in the time of king Charles L. as contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament. Clarendon.
4. (Fort.)
Defn: A work of more that ordinary heigh, rising from the level ground of a bastion, etc., and overlooking surrounding parts.
CAVALIERCav`a*lier", a.
Defn: Gay; easy; offhand; frank. The plodding, persevering scupulous accuracy of the one, and the easy, cavalier, verbal fluency of the other, from a complete contrast. Hazlitt.
2. High-spirited. [Obs.] "The people are naturally not valiant, and not much cavalier." Suckling.
3. Supercilious; haughty; disdainful; curt; brusque.
4. Of or pertaining to the party of King Charles I. "An old Cavalier family." Beaconsfleld.
CAVALIERISHCav`a*lier"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like a cavalier.
CAVALIERISMCav`a*lier"ism, n.
Defn: The practice or principles of cavaliers. Sir. W. Scott.
CAVALIERLYCav`a*lier"ly, adv.
Defn: In a supercilious, disdainful, or haughty manner; arroganty.Junius.
CAVALIERNESSCav`a*lier"ness, n.
Defn: A disdanful manner.
CAVALLY Ca*val"ly, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. cavalla a kind of fish; Sp. caballa; prob. fr. Pg. cavallo horse, Sp. caballa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carangoid fish of the Atlantic coast (Caranx hippos): — called also horse crevallé.
Note: [See Illust. under Carangoid.]
CAVALRY Cav"al*ry, n. Etym: [F. cavalerie, fr. It. cavalleria. See Cavalier, and cf. chivalry.] (Mil.)
Defn: That part of military force which serves on horseback.
Note: Heavy cavalry and light cavalry are so distinguished by the character of their armament, and by the size of the men and horses.
CAVALRYMANCav"al*ry*man, n.; pl. Cavalrymen (.
Defn: One of a body of cavalry.
CAVATINACa`va*ti"na, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Originally, a melody of simpler form than the aria; a song without a second part and a da capo; — a term now variously and vaguely used.
CAVECave, n. Etym: [F. cave, L. cavus hollow, whence cavea cavity. Cf.Cage.]
1. A hollow place in the earth, either natural or artificial; a subterraneous cavity; a cavern; a den.
2. Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. [Obs.] "The cave of the ear." Bacon. Cave bear (Zoöl.), a very large fossil bear (Ursus spelæus) similar to the grizzly bear, but large; common in European caves. — Cave dweller, a savage of prehistoric times whose dwelling place was a cave. Tylor. — Cave hyena (Zoöl.), a fossil hyena found abundanty in British caves, now usually regarded as a large variety of the living African spotted hyena. — Cave lion (Zoöl.), a fossil lion found in the caves of Europe, believed to be a large variety of the African lion. — Bone cave. See under Bone.
CAVECave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caved; p. pr. & vb. n. Caving.] Etym: [Cf.F. caver. See Cave, n.]
Defn: To make hollow; to scoop out. [Obs.]The mouldred earth cav'd the banke. Spenser.
CAVECave, v. i.
1. To dwell in a cave. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Etym: [See To cave in, below.]
Defn: To fall in or down; as, the sand bank caved. Hence (Slang), to retreat from a position; to give way; to yield in a disputed matter. To cave in. Etym: [Flem. inkalven.] (a) To fall in and leave a hollow, as earth on the side of a well or pit. (b) To submit; to yield. [Slang] H. Kingsley.
CAVEAT Ca"ve*at, n. Etym: [L. caved let him beware, pres. subj. of cavere to be on one's guard to, beware.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A notice given by an interested party to some officer not to do a certain act until the party is heard in opposition; as, a caveat entered in a probate court to stop the proving of a will or the taking out of letters of administration, etc. Bouvier.
2. (U. S. Patent Laws)
Defn: A description of some invention, designed to be patented, lodged in the patent office before the patent right is applied for, and operating as a bar to the issue of letters patent to any other person, respecting the same invention.
Note: A caveat is operative for one year only, but may be renewed.
3. Intimation of caution; warning; protest. We think it right to enter our caveat against a conclusion. Jeffrey. Caveat emptor Etym: [L.] (Law), let the purchaser beware, i. e., let him examine the article he is buying, and act on his own judgment.
CAVEATINGCa"ve*a`ting, n. (Fencing)
Defn: Shifting the sword from one side of an adversary's sword to the other.
CAVEATORCa"ve*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who enters a caveat.
CAVENDISHCav"en*dish, n.
Defn: Leaf tobacco softened, sweetened, and pressed into plugs or cakes. Cut cavendish, the plugs cut into long shreds for smoking.
CAVERNCav"ern, n. Etym: [L. caverna, fr. cavus hollow: cf. F. caverne.]
Defn: A large, deep, hollow place in the earth; a large cave.
CAVERNEDCav"erned, a.
1. Containing caverns. The wolves yelled on the caverned hill. Byron.
2. Living in a cavern. "Caverned hermit." Pope.
CAVERNOUSCav"ern*ous, a. Etym: [L. cavernosus: cf. F. caverneux.]
1. Full of caverns; resembling a cavern or large cavity; hollow.
2. Filled with small cavities or cells.
3. Having a sound caused by a cavity. Cavernous body, a body of erectile tissue with large interspaces which may be distended with blood, as in the penis or clitoris. — Cavernous respiration, a peculiar respiratory sound andible on auscultation, when the bronchial tubes communicate with morbid cavities in the lungs.
CAVERNULOUSCa*ver"nu*lous, a.Etym: [L. cavernula, dim. of caverna cavern.]
Defn: Full of little cavities; as, cavernulous metal. Black.
CAVESSON; CAVEZON Cav"es*son, Cav"e*zon, n. Etym: [F. caveçon, augm. fr. LL. capitium a head covering hood, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Caberzon.] (Man.)
Defn: A kind of noseband used in breaking and training horses.[Written also caveson, causson.] White.
CAVETTOCa*vet"to, n. Etym: [It. cavetto, fr. cavo hollow, L. cavus.] (Arch.)
Defn: A concave molding; — used chiefly in classical architecture.See Illust. of Calumn.
CAVIARE; CAVIARCa*viare", Cav"i*ar, n. Etym: [F. caviar, fr. It. caviale, fr. Turk.Havi\'ber.]
Defn: The roes of the sturgeon, prepared and salted; — used as a relish, esp. in Russia.
Note: Caviare was considered a delicacy, by some, in Shakespeare's time, but was not relished by most. Hence Hamlet says of a certain play. "'T was caviare to the general," i. e., above the taste of the common people.
CAVICORNCav"i*corn, a. Etym: [L. cavus hollow + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having hollow horns.
CAVICORNIACav`i*cor"ni*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of ruminants whose horns are hollow, and planted on a bony process of the front, as the ox.
CAVILCav"il, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled (; p. pr. & vb. n.Caviling or Cavilling.] Etym: [L. cavillari to practice jesting, tocensure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
Defn: To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find faultwithout good reason.You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract.Shak.
CAVILCav"il, v. t.
Defn: To cavil at. [Obs.] Milton.
CAVILCav"il, n.
Defn: A captious or frivolous objection.All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak.
CAVIL; CAVILER; CAVILLERCav"il or Cav"il*er, n.
Defn: One who cavils.Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle.
CAVILINGCav"il*ing, a.
Defn: Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. SeeCaptious.His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis.
CAVILINGLYCav"il*ing*ly, adb.
Defn: In a caviling manner.
CAVILLATIONCav`il*la"tion, n.Etym: [F. cavillation, L. cavillatio.]
Defn: Frivolous or sophistical objection. [Obs.] Hooker.
CAVILOUS; CAVILLOUSCav"il*ous or Cav"il*lous, a. Etym: [L. cavillosus.]
Defn: Characterized by caviling, or disposed to cavil; quibbing. [R.]— Cav"il*ous*ly, adv. [R.] — Cav"il*ous*ness, n. [R.]
CAVINCav"in, n. Etym: [F. See Cave.] (Mil.)
Defn: A hollow way, adapted to cover troops, and facilitate their aproach to a place. Farrow.
CAVITARYCav"i*ta*ry, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Containing a body cavity; as, the cavitary or nematoid worms.
CAVITYCav"i*ty, n.; pl. Cavities. Etym: [L. cavus hollow: cf. F. cavité.]
1. Hollowness. [Obs.] The cavity or hollowness of the place. Goodwin.
2. A hollow place; a hollow; as, the abdominal cavity. An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon. Arbuthot. Abnormal spaces or excavations are frequently formed in the lungs, which are designated cavities or vomicæ. Quain. Body cavity, the coelum. See under Body.
CAVO-RELIEVOCa"vo-re*lie"vo, n.
Defn: Cavo-rilievo.
CAVO-RILIEVOCa"vo-ri*lie"vo, n. Etym: [It.] (Sculp.)
Defn: Hollow relief; sculpture in relief within a sinking made for the purpose, so no part of it projects beyond the plain surface around.
CAVORTCa*vort", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cavorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Cavorting.]
Defn: To prance ostentatiously; — said of a horse or his rider.[Local slang U. S.]
CAVYCa"vy, n.; pl. Cavies (. Etym: [NL. cavia, fr. Brazilian cabiai: cf.F. cabiai.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rodent of the genera cavia and Dolichotis, as the guinea pig(Cavia cabaya). Cavies are natives of South America. Water cavy(Zoöl.), The capybara.
CAWCaw, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cawing.] Etym:[Imitative. *22 Cf. Chough.]
Defn: To cry like a crow, rook, or raven.Rising and cawing at the gun's report. Shak.
CAWCaw, n.
Defn: The cry made by the crow, rook, or raven.
CAWKCawk, n. Etym: [Prov. E. cauk limestone. A doublet of chalk.] (Min.)
Defn: An opaque, compact variety of barite, or heavy spar. [Also written cauk.]
CAWKERCawk"er, n.
Defn: See Calker.
CAWKYCawk"y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cawk; like cawk.
CAXONCax"on, n.
Defn: A kind of wig. [Obs.] Lamb.
CAXTONCax"ton, n. (Bibliog.)
Defn: Any book printed by William Caxton, the first English printer.Hansard.
CAYCay, n.
Defn: See Key, a ledge.
CAYENNECay*enne, n. Etym: [From Cayenne, a town and island in French Guiana,South America.]
Defn: Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper. (a) (Bot.) A species of capsicum (C. frutescens) with small and intensely pungent fruit. (b) A very pungent spice made by drying and grinding the fruits or seeds of several species of the genus Capsicum, esp. C. annuum and C. Frutescens; — Called also red pepper. It is used chiefly as a condiment.
CAYMANCay"man, n. Etym: [From the language of Guiana: cf. Sp. caiman.](Zoöl.)
Defn: The south America alligator. See Alligator. [Sometimes written caiman.]
CAYOCa"yo, n.; pl. -yos (#). [Sp.]
Defn: A small island or ledge of rock in the water; a key. [Sp. Am.]
CAYUGASCa*yu"gas, n. pl.
Defn: ; sing Cayuga. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians formerly inbabiting western New-York, forming part of the confederacy called the Five Nations.
CAYUSECay*use", n.
Defn: An Indian pony. [Northw. U. S.]
CAZIQUE; CAZICCa*zique", Cazic", n. Etym: [Sp. Cacique, fr. the language of Hayti.]
Defn: A chief or petty king among some tribes of Indians in America.
CC IRA Ça" i*ra". [F. ça ira, ça ira, les aristocrates à la lanterne, it shall go on, it shall go on, [hang]the arictocrats to the lantern (lamp-post).]
Defn: The refrain of a famous song of the French Revolution.
CEASECease, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ceased; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceasing.] Etym:[OE. cessen, cesen, F. cesser, fr. L. cessare, v. intemsive fr.cedere to withdraw. See Cede , and cf. Cessation.]
1. To come to an end; to stop; to leave off or give over; to desist; as, the noise ceased "To cease from strife." Prov. xx. 3.
2. To be wanting; to fail; to pass away. The poor shall never cease out of the land. Deut. xv. 11.
Syn. — To intermit; desist; stop; abstain; quit; discontinue; refrain; leave off; pause; end.
CEASECease, v. t.
Defn: To put a stop to; to bring to an end.But he, her fears to cease Sent down the meek-eyed peace. Milton.Cease, then, this impious rage. Milton
CEASECease, n.
Defn: Extinction. [Obs.] Shak.
CEASELESSCease"less, a.
Defn: Without pause or end; incessant.
CEASELESSCease"less, adv.
Defn: Without intermission or end.
CECIDOMYIACec`i*do*my"i*a, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small dipterous files, including several very injurious species, as the Hessian fly. See Hessian fly.
CECITYCe"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. caecitas, fr. caecus blind: cf. F. cécité.]
Defn: Blindness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
CECUTIENCYCe*cu"tien*cy, n. Etym: [L. caecutire to be blind, fr. caecus blind.]
Defn: Partial blindness, or a tendency to blindness. [R.] Sir T.Browne.
CEDARCe"dar, n. Etym: [AS. ceder, fr. L. cedrus, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several evergreen trees. The wood is remarkable for its durability and fragrant odor.
Note: The cedar of Lebanon is the Cedrus Libani; the white cedar (Cupressus thyoides) is now called Chamoecyparis sphæroidea; American red cedar is the Juniperus Virginiana; Spanish cedar, the West Indian Cedrela odorata. Many other trees with odoriferous wood are locally called cedar. Cedar bird (Zoöl.), a species of chatterer (Ampelis cedrarum), so named from its frequenting cedar trees; — called also cherry bird, Canada robin, and American waxwing.
CEDARCe"dar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cedar.
CEDAREDCe"dared, a.
Defn: Covered, or furnished with, cedars.
CEDARNCe"darn, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cedar or its wood. [R.]
CEDE Cede, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceding.] Etym: [L. cedere to withdraw, yield; akin to cadere to fall, and to E. chance; cf. F. céder.]
Defn: To yield or surrender; to give up; to resign; as, to cede afortress, a province, or country, to another nation, by treaty.The people must cede to the government some of their natural rights.Jay.
CEDILLACe*dil"la, n. Etym: [Sp. cedilla, cf. F. cédille; dim. of zeta, theGr. name of the letter z, because this letter was formerly writtenafter the c, to give it the sound of s.]
Defn: A mark placed under the letter c [thus, ç], to show that it is to be sounded like s, as in façade.
CEDRATCe"drat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cédrat. See Cedar.] (Bot.)
Defn: Properly the citron, a variety of Citrus medica, with large fruits, not acid, and having a high perfume.
CEDRENECe"drene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A rich aromatic oil, C15H24, extracted from oil of red cedar, and regarded as a polymeric terpene; also any one of a class of similar substances, as the essential oils of cloves, cubebs, juniper, etc., of which cedrene proper is the type. [Written also cedren.]
CEDRINECe"drine, a. Etym: [L. cedrinus, Gr. Cedar.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to cedar or the cedar tree.
CEDRIRETCe"dri*ret, n.
Defn: Same as Coerulignone.
CEDRYCe"dry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of cedar. [R.]
CEDULECed"ule, n. Etym: [F. cédule, fr. L. shedula. See Shedule.]
Defn: A scroll; a writing; a schedule. [Obs.]
CEDUOUSCed"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. caeduus, fr. caedere to cut down.]
Defn: Fit to be felled. [Obs.] Eyelyn.
CEILCeil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceiling.] Etym:[From an older noun, fr. F. ciel heaven, canopy, fr. L. carlumheaven, vault, arch, covering; cf. Gr.
1. To overlay or cover the inner side of the roof of; to furnish with a ceiling; as, to ceil a room. The greater house he ceiled with fir tree. 2 Chron. iii. 5
2. To line or finish a surface, as of a wall, with plaster, stucco, thin boards, or the like.
CEILINGCeil"ing, n. Etym: [See Cell, v. t.]
1. (Arch.) (a) The inside lining of a room overhead; the under side of the floor above; the upper surface opposite to the floor. (b) The lining or finishing of any wall or other surface, with plaster, thin boards, etc.; also, the work when done.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The inner planking of a vessel. Camp ceiling. See under Camp.— Ceiling boards, Thin narrow boards used to ceil with.
CEINTCeint, n. Etym: [See Cincture.]
Defn: A girdle. [Obs.]
CEINTURECein`ture", n. [F.]
Defn: A cincture, girdle, or belt; — chiefly used in English as a dressmaking term.
CELADONCel"a*don, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A pale sea-green color; also, porcelain or fine pottery of this tint.
CELANDINE; CALANDINE Cel"an*dine, Cal"an*dine, n. Etym: [OE. celidoine, OF. celidoine, F. chélidoine, fr. L. chelidonia (sc. herba), fr. chelidonius pertaining to the swallow, Gr. hirundo a swallow.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial herbaceous plant (Chelidonium majus) of the poppy family, with yellow flowers. It is used as a medicine in jandice, etc., and its acrid saffron-colored juice is used to cure warts and the itch; — called also greater celandine and swallowwort. Lasser celandine, the pilewort (Ranunculus Ficaria).
CELATURE Cel"a*ture, n. Etym: [L. caelatura, fr. caelare to engrave in relief.]
1. The act or art of engraving or embossing.
2. That which is engraved. [Obs.] Hakewill.
CELEBRANTCel"e*brant, n. Etym: [L. celebrans, p. pr. of celebrare. SeeCelebrate.]
Defn: One who performs a public religious rite; — applied particularly to an officiating priest in the Roman Catholic Church, as distinguished from his assistants.
CELEBRATECel"e*brate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Celebrated; p. pr. & vb. n.Celebrating.] Etym: [L. celebratus, p. p. of celebrare to frequent,to celebrate, fr. celeber famous.]
1. To extol or honor in a solemn manner; as, to celebrate the name of the Most High.
2. To honor by solemn rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep; as, to celebrate a birthday. Fron even unto shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Lev. xxiii. 32.
3. To perforn or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites; as, to celebrate a marriage.
Syn. — To commemorate; distinguish; honor. — To Celebrate, Commemorate. We commemorate events which we desire to keep in remembrance, when we recall them by some special observace; as, to commemorate the death of our Savior. We celebrate by demonstrations of joy or solemnity or by appropriate ceremonies; as, to celebrate the birthday of our Independence. We are called upon to commemorate a revolution as surprising in its manner as happy in its consequences. Atterbury. Earth, water, air, and fire, with feeling glee, Exult to celebrate thy festival. Thomson.
CELEBRATEDCel"e*bra`ted, a.
Defn: Having celebrity; distinguished; renowned.Celebrated for the politeness of his manners. Macaulay.
Syn.— Distinguished; famous; noted; famed; renowned; illustrious. SeeDistinguished.
CELEBRATIONCel`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. celebratio.]
Defn: The act, process, or time of celebrating.His memory deserving a particular celebration. Clarendok.Celebration of Mass is equivalent to offering Mass Cath. Dict.To hasten the celebration of their marriage. Sir P. Sidney.
CELEBRATORCel"e*bra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who celebrates; a praiser. Boyle.
CELEBRIOUSCe*le"bri*ous, a.
Defn: Famous. [Obs.] Speed.
CELEBRITY Ce*leb"ri*ty, n.; pl. Celebriries. Etym: [L. celebritas: cf. F. célébrité.]
1. Celebration; solemnization. [Obs.] The celebrity of the marriage. Bacon.
2. The state or condition of being celebrated; fame; renown; as, the celebrity of Washington. An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy. Whewell.
3. A person of distinction or renown; — usually in the plural; as, he is one of the celebrities of the place.
CELERIACCe*le"ri*ac, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Turnip-rooted celery, a from of celery with a large globular root, which is used for food.
CELERITY Ce*ler"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. celeritas, from celer swiftm speedy: sf. F. célérité.]
Defn: Rapidity of motion; quickness; swiftness. Time, with all its celerity, moves slowly to him whose whole employment is to watch its flight. Johnson.
CELERY Cel"er*y, n. Etym: [F. céleri, cf. Prov. It. seleno, seler; fr. Gr. celery. Cf. Parsley.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Parsley family (Apium graveolens), of which the blanched leafstalks are used as a salad.
CELESTIAL Ce*les"tial, a. Etym: [OF. celestial, celestied, fr. L. caelestic, fr. caelum heaved. See Cell.]
1. Belonging to the aërial regions, or visible heavens. "The twelve celestial signs." Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the spiritual heaven; heavenly; divine. "Celestial spirits." "Celestial light," Milton. Celestial city, heaven; the heavenly Jerusalem. Bunyan. — Celestial empire, China; — so called from the Chinese words, tien chan, Heavenly Dynasty, as being the kingdom ruled over by the dynasty appoined by heaven. S. W. Williams.
CELESTIALCe*les"tial, n.
1. An inhabitant of heaven. Pope.
2. A native of China.
CELESTIALIZECe*les"tial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make celestial. [R.]
CELESTIALLYCe*les"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a celestial manner.
CELESTIFYCe*les"ti*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. caelestis heavenly + -fly.]
Defn: To make like heaven. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CELESTINE; CELESTITECel"es*tine, Cel"es*tite,, n. Etym: [LL. caelestinus bine.] (Min.)
Defn: Native strontium sulphate, a mineral so named from its occasional delicate blue color. It occurs crystallized, also in compact massive and fibrous forms.
CELESTINE; CELESTINIANCel"es*tine, Cel`es*tin"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A monk of the austere branch of the Franciscan Order founded byCelestine V. in the 13th centry.
CELIACCe"li*ac, a. (Anat.)
Defn: See Coellac.
CELIBACYCe*lib"a*cy, n. Etym: [See Celibate, n.]
Defn: The state of being unmarried; single life, esp. that of a bachelor, or of one bound by vows not to marry. "The celibacy of the clergy." Hallom.
CELIBATECel"i*bate, n. Etym: [L. aelibatus, fr. caelebs unmarried, single.]
1. Celibate state; celibacy. [Obs.] He . . . preferreth holy celibate before the estate of marrige. Jer. Taylor.
2. One who is unmarried, esp. a bachelor, or one bound by vows not to marry.
CELIBATECel"i*bate, a.
Defn: Unmarried; single; as, a celibate state.
CELIBATISTCe*lib"a*tist, n.
Defn: One who lives unmarried. [R.]
CELIDOGRAPHYCel`i*dog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. célidographie.]
Defn: A description of apparent spots on the disk of the sun, or on planets.
CELLCell, n. Etym: [OF. celle, fr. L. cella; akin to celare to hide, andE. hell, helm, conceal. Cf. Hall.]
1. A very small and close apartment, as in a prison or in a monastery or convent; the hut of a hermit. The heroic confessor in his cell. Macaulay.
2. A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent. "Cells or dependent priories." Milman.
3. Any small cavity, or hollow place.
4. (Arch.) (a) The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof. (b) Same as Cella.
5. (Elec.)
Defn: A jar of vessel, or a division of a compound vessel, for holding the exciting fluid of a battery.
6. (Biol.)
Defn: One of the minute elementary structures, of which the greater part of the various tissues and organs of animals and plants are composed.
Note: All cells have their origin in the primary cell from which the organism was developed. In the lowest animal and vegetable forms, one single cell constitutes the complete individual, such being called unicelluter orgamisms. A typical cell is composed of a semifluid mass of protoplasm, more or less granular, generally containing in its center a nucleus which in turn frequently contains one or more nucleoli, the whole being surrounded by a thin membrane, the cell wall. In some cells, as in those of blood, in the amoeba, and in embryonic cells (both vegetable and animal), there is no restricting cell wall, while in some of the unicelluliar organisms the nucleus is wholly wanting. See Illust. of Bipolar. Air cell. See Air cell. — Cell development (called also cell genesis, cell formation, and cytogenesis), the multiplication, of cells by a process of reproduction under the following common forms; segmentation or fission, gemmation or budding, karyokinesis, and endogenous multiplication. See Segmentation, Gemmation, etc. — Cell theory. (Biol.) See Cellular theory, under Cellular.
CELLCell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Celled.]
Defn: To place or inclosed in a cell. "Celled under ground." [R.]Warner.
CELLACel"la, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: The part inclosed within the walls of an ancient temple, as distinguished from the open porticoes.
CELLAR Cel"lar, n. Etym: [OE. celer, OF. celier, F. celier, fr. L. cellarium a receptacle for food, pantry, fr. cella storeroom. See Cell.]
Defn: A room or rooms under a building, and usually below the surface of the ground, where provisions and other stores are kept.
CELLARAGECel"lar*age, n.
1. The space or storerooms of a cellar; a cellar. Sir W. Scott. You hear this fellow in the cellarage. Shak.
2. Chare for storage in a cellar.
CELLARER Cel"lar*er, n. Etym: [LL. cellararius, equiv. to L. cellarius steward: cf. F. cellérier. See Cellar.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A steward or butler of a monastery or chapter; one who has charge of procuring and keeping the provisions.
CELLARETCel`lar*et", n. Etym: [Dim of cellar.]
Defn: A receptacle, as in a dining room, for a few bottles of wine or liquor, made in the form of a chest or coffer, or a deep drawer in a sideboard, and usually lined with metal.
CELLARISTCel"lar*ist, n.
Defn: Same as Cellarer.
CELLEDCelled, a.
Defn: Containing a cell or cells.
CELLEPORECel"le*pore, n. Etym: [L. cella cell + porus, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of delicate branching corals, made up of minute cells, belonging to the Bryozoa.
CELLIFEROUSCel*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cell + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing or producing cells.
CELLOCel"lo, n.; pl. E. Cellos (, It. Celli (.
Defn: A contraction for Violoncello.
CELLULARCel"lu*lar, a. Etym: [L. cellula a little cell: cf. F. cellulaire.See Cellule.]
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, cells; of or pertaining to a cell or cells. Cellular plants, Cellular cryptogams (Bot.), those flowerless plants which have no ducts or fiber in their tissue, as mosses, fungi, lichens, and algæ. — Cellular theory, or Cell theory (Biol.), a theory, according to which the essential element of every tissue, either vegetable or animal, is a cell; the whole series of cells having been formed from the development of the germ cell and by differentiation converted into tissues and organs which, both in plants ans animals, are to be considered as a mass of minute cells communicating with each other. — Cellular tissue. (a) (Anat.) See conjunctive tissue under Conjunctive. (b) (Bot.) Tissue composed entirely of parenchyma, and having no woody fiber or ducts. cellular telephone, a portable radio- telephone transmitting and receiving the radio-telephonic signals from one of a group of transmitter-receiver stations so arranged that they provide adequate signal contact for such telephones over a certain geographical area. The area within which one transmitter may service such portable telephones is called its "cell.
CELLULATEDCel"lu*la`ted, a.
Defn: Cellular. Caldwell.
CELLULECel"lule, n. Etym: [L. cellula a small apartment, dim. of cella: cf.F. cellule. See Cell.]
Defn: A small cell.
CELLULIFEROUSCel`lu*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. cellula + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing or producing little cells.
CELLULITISCel`lu*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cellula + -itis.]
Defn: An inflammantion of the cellular or areolar tissue, esp. of that lying immediately beneath the skin.
CELLULOIDCel"lu*loid`, n. Etym: [Cellulose + -oid.]
Defn: A substance composed essentially of gun cotton and camphor, and when pure resembling ivory in texture and color, but variously colored to imitate coral, tortoise shell, amber, malachite, etc. It is used in the manufacture of jewelry and many small articles, as combs, brushes, collars, and cuffs; — originaly called xylonite.
CELLULOSECel"lu*lose`, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, cells.
CELLULOSECel"lu*lose`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The substance which constitutes the essential part of the solid framework of plants, of ordinary wood, linen, paper, etc. It is also found to a slight extent in certain animals, as the tunicates. It is a carbohydrate, (C6H10O5)n, isomeric with starch, and is convertible into starches and sugars by the action of heat and acids. When pure, it is a white amorphous mass. See Starch, Granulose, Lignin. Unsized, well bleached linen paper is merely pure cellulose. Goodale. Starch cellulose, the delicate framework which remains when the soluble part (granulose) of starch is removed by saliva or pepsin. Goodale.
CELOTOMYCe*lot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The act or operation of cutting, to relieve the structure in strangulated hernia. [Frequently written kelotomy.]
CELSITURECel"si*ture, n. Etym: [L. celstudo, from celsus high: cf. celsitude.]
Defn: Height; altitude. [Obs.]
CELSIUSCel"si*us, n.
Defn: The Celsius thermometer or scale, so called from Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer, who invented it. It is the same as the centigrade thermometer or scale.
CELT Celt, n. Etym: [L. Celtae, Gr. Celtiad one that dwells in a covert, an inhabitant of the wood, a Celt, fr. celt covert, shelter, celu to hide.]
Defn: One of an ancient race of people, who formerly inhabited a great part of Central and Western Europe, and whose descendants at the present day occupy Ireland, Wales, the Highlands of Scotland, and the northern shores of France. [Written also Kelt. The letter C was pronounced hard in Celtic languages.]
CELTCelt, n. Etym: [LL. celts a chisel.] (Archæol.)
Defn: A weapon or implement of stone or metal, found in the tumuli, or barrows, of the early Celtic nations.
CELTIBERIANCelt`i*be"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Celtiber, Celtibericus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ancient Celtiberia (a district in Spain lying between the Ebro and the Tagus) or its inhabitants the Celtiberi (Celts of the river Iberus). — n.
Defn: An inhabitant of Celtiberia.
CELTICCelt"ic, a. Etym: [L. Celticus, Gr. Celt.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Celts; as, Celtic people, tribes, literature, tongue. [Written also Keltic.]
CELTICCelt"ic, n.
Defn: The language of the Celts.
Note: The remains of the old Celtic language are found in the Gaelic, the Erse or Irish the Manx, and the Welsh and its cognate dialects Cornish and Bas Breton.
CELTICISMCelt"i*cism, n.
Defn: A custom of the Celts, or an idiom of their language. Warton.
CELTICIZECelt"i*cize`, v. t.
Defn: To render Celtic; to assimilate to the Celts.
CELTIUMCel"ti*um, n. [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed new element of the rare-earth group, accompanying lutecium and scandium in the gadolinite earths. Symbol, Ct (no period).
CEMBALOCem"ba*lo, n. Etym: [It. See Cymbal.]
Defn: An old mname for the harpsichord.
CEMENT Ce*ment", n. Etym: [OF. cement, ciment, F. ciment, fr. L. caementum a rough, unhewn stone, pieces or chips of marble, from which mortar was made, contr. fr. caedimentum, fr. caedere to cut, prob. akin to scindere to cleave, and to E. shed, v. t.]
1. Any substance used for making bodies adhere to each other, as mortar, glue, etc.
2. A kind of calcined limestone, or a calcined mixture of clay and lime, for making mortar which will harden under water.
3. The powder used in cementation. See Cementation, n.., 2.
4. Bond of union; that which unites firmly, as persons in friendship, or men in society. "The cement of our love."
5. (Anat.)
Defn: The layer of bone investing the root and neck of a tooth; — called also cementum. Hydraulic cement. See under Hydraulic.
CEMENTCe*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cemented; p. pr. & vb. n. Cementing.]Etym: [Cf. F. cimenter. See Cement, n.]
1. To unite or cause to adhere by means of a cement. Bp. Burnet.
2. To unite firmly or closely. Shak.
3. To overlay or coat with cement; as, to cement a cellar bottom.
CEMENTCe*ment", v. i.
Defn: To become cemented or firmly united; to cohere. S. Sharp.
CEMENTALCe*ment"al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cement, as of a tooth; as, cemental tubes.R. Owen.
CEMENTATIONCem`en*ta"tion, n.
1. The act or process of cementing.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A process which consists in surrounding a solid body with the powder of other substances, and heating the whole to a degree not sufficient to cause fusion, the physical properties of the body being changed by chemical combination with powder; thus iron becomes steel by cementation with charcoal, and green glass becomes porcelain by cementation with sand.
CEMENTATORYCe*ment"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Having the quality of cementating or uniting firmly.
CEMENTERCe*ment"er, n.
Defn: A person or thing that cements.
CEMENTITIOUS Cem`en*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. caementitius pertaining to quarry stones. See Cement, n. ]
Defn: Of the nature of cement. [R.] Forsyth.
CEMENT STEELCe*ment" steel.
Defn: Steel produced by cementation; blister steel.
CEMETERIALCem`e*te"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cemetery. "Cemeterial cells." [R.] Sir T.Browne.
CEMETERYCem"e*ter*y, n.; pl. Cemeteries (. Etym: [L. cemeterium, Gr.
Defn: A place or ground set apart for the burial of the dead; a graveyard; a churchyard; a necropolis.
CENANTHYCe*nan"thy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The absence or suppression of the essential organs (stamens and pistil) in a flower.
CENATIONCe*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. cenatio.]
Defn: Meal-taking; dining or supping. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CENATORY Cen"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. cenatorius, fr. cenare to dine, sup, fr. cena, coena, dinner, supper.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [R.]The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment. Sir T.Browne.
CENOBITECen"o*bite, n. Etym: [L. coenobita, fr. Gr. cénobite.]
Defn: One of a religious order, dwelling in a convent, or a community, in opposition to an anchoret, or hermit, who lives in solitude. Gibbon.
CENOBITIC; CENOBITICALCen`o*bit"ic, Cen`o*bit"ic*al a. Etym: [Cf. F. cénobitique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cenobite.
CENOBITISMCen"o*bi*tism, n.
Defn: The state of being a cenobite; the belief or practice of a cenobite. Milman.
CENOGAMYCe*nog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The state of a communty which permits promiseuous sexual intercourse among its members, as in certain societies practicing communism.
CENOTAPHCen"o*taph, n. Etym: [Gr. cénotaphe.]
Defn: An empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person who is buried elsewhere. Dryden. A cenotaph in Westminster Abbey. Macaulay.
CENOTAPHYCen"o*taph`y, n.
Defn: A cenotaph. [R.]Lord Cobham honored him with a cenotaphy. Macaulay.
CENOZOICCe`no*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Belonging to the most recent division of geological time, including the tertiary, or Age of mammals, and the Quaternary, or Age of man. [Written also cænozoic, cainozoic, kainozoic.] See Geology.
Note: This word is used by many authors as synonymous with Tertiary, the Quaternary Age not being included.
CENSECense, n. Etym: [OF. cense, F. cens, L. census. See Census.]
1. A census; — also, a public rate or tax. [Obs.] Howell. Bacon.
2. Condition; rank. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CENSECense, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Censed; p. pr. & vb. n. Censing.] Etym:[Abbrev. from incense.]
Defn: To perfume with odors from burning gums and spices.The Salii sing and cense his altars round. Dryden.
CENSECense, v. i.
Defn: To burn or scatter incense.
CENSERCen"ser, n. Etym: [For incenser, fr. OF. encensier, F. encensoir, fr.LL. incensarium, incensorium, fr. L. incensum incense. See Incense,and cf. Incensory.]
Defn: A vessel for perfumes; esp. one in which incense is burned.
Note: The ecclesiastical censer is usually cup-shaped, has a cover pierced with holes, and is hung by chains. The censer bearer swings it to quicken the combustion. Her thoughts are like the fume of frankincense Which from a golden censer forth doth rise. Spenser.
CENSORCen"sor, n. Etym: [L. censor, fr. censere to value, tax.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: One of two magistrates of Rome who took a register of the number and property of citizens, and who also exercised the office of inspector of morals and conduct.
2. One who is empowered to examine manuscripts before they are committed to the press, and to forbid their publication if they contain anything obnoxious; — an official in some European countries.
3. One given to fault-finding; a censurer. Nor can the most circumspect attention, or steady rectitude, escape blame from censors who have no inclination to approve. Rambler.
4. A critic; a reviewer. Received with caution by the censors of the press. W. Irving.
CENSORIALCen*so"ri*al, a.
1. Belonging to a censor, or to the correction of public morals. Junius.
2. Full of censure; censorious. The censorial declamation of Juvenal. T. Warton.
CENSORIANCen*so"ri*an, a.
Defn: Censorial. [R.] Bacon.
CENSORIOUSCen*so"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. censorius pertaining to the censor. SeeCensor.]
1. Addicted to censure; apt to blame or condemn; severe in making remarks on others, or on their writings or manners. A dogmatical spirit inclines a man to be consorious of his neighbors. Watts.
2. Implying or expressing censure; as, censorious remarks.
Syn.— Fault-finding; carping; caviling; captious; severe; condemnatory;hypercritical.— Cen*so"ri*ous*ly, adv.— Cen*so"ri*ous*ness, n.
CENSORSHIPCen"sor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or power of a censor; as, to stand for a censorship.Holland.The press was not indeed at that moment under a general censorship.Macaulay.
CENSUALCen"su*al, a. Etym: [L. censualis, fr. census.]
Defn: Relating to, or containing, a census.He caused the whole realm to be described in a censual roll. Sir R.Baker.
CENSURABLECen"sur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving of censure; blamable; culpable; reprehensible; as, acensurable person, or censurable conduct.— Cen"sur*a*bleness, n.— Cen"sur*a*bly, adv.
CENSURECen"sure, n. Etym: [L. censura fr. censere: cf. F. censure. Cf.Censor.]
1. Judgment either favorable or unfavorable; opinion. [Obs.] Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Shak.
2. The act of blaming or finding fault with and condemning as wrong; reprehension; blame. Both the censure and the praise were merited. Macaulay.
3. Judicial or ecclesiastical sentence or reprimand; condemnatory judgment. Excommunication or other censure of the church. Bp. Burnet.
Syn. — Blame; reproof; condemnation; reprobation; disapproval; disapprobation; reprehension; animadversion; reprimand; reflection; dispraise; abuse.
CENSURECen"sure, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Censured; p. pr. & vb. n. Censuring.]Etym: [Cf. F. ensurer.]
1. To form or express a judgment in regard to; to estimate; to judge. [Obs.] "Should I say more, you might well censure me a flatterer." Beau. & Fl.
2. To find fault with and condemn as wrong; to blame; to express disapprobation of. I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty. Shak.
3. To condemn or reprimand by a judicial or ecclesiastical sentence. Shak.
Syn.— To blame; reprove; rebuke; condemn; reprehend; reprimand.
CENSURECen"sure, v. i.
Defn: To judge. [Obs.] Shak.
CENSURERCen"sur*er, n.
Defn: One who censures. Sha.
CENSUSCen"sus, n. Etym: [L. census, fr. censere. See Censor.]
1. (Bot. Antiq.)
Defn: A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; — usually made once in five years.
2. An official registration of the number of the people, the value of their estates, and other general statistics of a country.
Note: A general census of the United States was first taken in 1790, and one has been taken at the end of every ten years since.
CENTCent, n. Etym: [F. cent hundred, L. centum. See Hundred.]
1. A hundred; as, ten per cent, the proportion of ten parts in a hundred.
2. A United States coin, the hundredth part of a dollar, formerly made of copper, now of copper, tin, and zinc.
3. An old game at cards, supposed to be like piquet; — so called because 100 points won the game. Nares.
CENTAGECent"age, n.
Defn: Rate by the hundred; percentage.
CENTALCen"tal, n. Etym: [L. centum a hundred.]
Defn: A weight of one hundred pounds avoirdupois; — called in many parts of the United States a Hundredweight.
CENTALCen"tal, n.
Defn: Relating to a hundred. Cental system, the method of buying and selling by the cental, or hundredweight.
CENTARECen"tare`, n. Etym: [F. centiare; centi- (L. centum) + -are.]
Defn: A measure of area, the hundredth part of an are; one square meter, or about 1
CENTAURCen"taur, n. Etym: [L. centaurus, Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A fabulous being, represented as half man and half horse.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation in the southern heavens between Hydra and theSouthern Cross.
CENTAUREACen`tau*re"a, n. Etym: [NL. See Centaury.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of composite plants, related to the thistles and including the cornflower or bluebottle (Centaurea Cyanus) and the star thistle (C. Calcitrapa).
CENTAUROMACHYCen`tau*rom"a*chy, n. [Gr. ; centaur + battle.] (Ancient Art)
Defn: A fight in which centaurs take part, — a common theme for relief sculpture, as in the Parthenon metopes.
CENTAURYCen"tau*ry, n. Etym: [L. centaureum and centauria, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A gentianaceous plant not fully identified. The name is usually given to the Erytheræa Centaurium and the Chlora perfoliata of Europe, but is also extended to the whole genus Sabbatia, and even to the unrelated Centaurea.
CENTENARIANCen`te*na"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to a hundred years.— n.
Defn: A person a hundred years old.
CENTENARYCen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [L. centenarius, fr. centum a hundred.]
1. Relating to, or consisting of, a hundred.
2. Occurring once in every hundred years; centennial. "Centenary solemnities." Fuller.
CENTENARYCen"te*na*ry, n.; pl. Centenaries (.
1. The aggregate of a hundred single things; specifically, a century. "Every centenary of years." Hakewill.
2. A commemoration or celebration of an event which occurred a hudred years before.
CENTENNIALCen*ten"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + annus year.]
1. Relating to, or associated with, the commemoration of an event that happened a hundred years before; as, a centennial ode.
2. Happening once in a hundred years; as, centennial jubilee; a centennial celebration.
3. Lasting or aged a hundred years. Thet opened through long lines Of sacred ilex and centennial pines. Longfellow.
CENTENNIALCen*ten"ni*al, n.
Defn: The celebration of the hundredth anniversary of any event; a centenary. [U. S.]
CENTENNIALLYCen*ten"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Once in a hundred years.
CENTENNIAL STATECentennial State.
Defn: Colorado; — a nickname alluding to the fact that it was admitted to the Union in the centennial year, 1876.
CENTER Cen"ter, n. Etym: [F. centre, fr. L. centrum, fr. round which a circle is described, fr.
1. A point equally distant from the extremities of a line, figure, or body, or from all parts of the circumference of a circle; the middle point or place.
2. The middle or central portion of anything.
3. A principal or important point of concentration; the nucleus around which things are gathered or to which they tend; an object of attention, action, or force; as, a center of attaction.
4. The earth. [Obs.] Shak.
5. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who support the existing government. They sit in the middle of the legislative chamber, opposite the presiding officer, between the conservatives or monarchists, who sit on the right of the speaker, and the radicals or advanced republicans who occupy the seats on his left, See Right, and Left.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or arch are supported in position util the work becomes self-supporting.
7. (Mech.) (a) One of the two conical steel pins, in a lathe, etc., upon which the work is held, and about which it revolves. (b) A conical recess, or indentation, in the end of a shaft or other work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn, as in a lathe.
Note: In a lathe the live center is in the spindle of the head stock; the dead center is on the tail stock. Planer centers are stocks carrying centers, when the object to be planed must be turned on its axis. Center of an army, the body or troops ossupying the place in the line between the wings. — Center of a curve or surface (Geom.) (a) A point such that every line drawn through the point and terminated by the curve or surface is bisected at the point. (b) The fixed point of reference in polar coördinates. See Coördinates. — Center of curvature of a curve (Geom.), the center of that circle which has at any given point of the curve closer contact with the curve than has any other circle whatever. See Circle. — Center of a fleet, the division or column between the van and rear, or between the weather division and the lee. — Center of gravity (Mech.), that point of a body about which all its parts can be balanced, or which being supported, the whole body will remain at rest, though acted upon by gravity. — Center of gyration (Mech.), that point in a rotating body at which the whole mass might be concentrated (theoretically) without altering the resistance of the intertia of the body to angular acceleration or retardaton. — Center of inertia (Mech.), the center of gravity of a body or system of bodies. — Center of motion, the point which remains at rest, while all the other parts of a body move round it. — Center of oscillation, the point at which, if the whole matter of a suspended body were collected, the time of oscillation would be the same as it is in the actual form and state of the body. — Center of percussion, that point in a body moving about a fixed axis at which it may strike an obstacle without communicating a shock to the axis. — Center of pressure (Hydros.), that point in a surface pressed by a fluid, at which, if a force equal to the whole pressure and in the same line be applied in a contrary direction, it will balance or counteract the whole pressure of the fluid.
CENTER; CENTRE Cen"ter, Cen"tre v. i. [imp. & p. p. Centered or Centred (; p. pr. & vb. n. Centering or Centring.]
1. To be placed in a center; to be central.
2. To be collected to a point; to be concentrated; to rest on, or gather about, as a center. Where there is no visible truth wherein to center, error is as wide as men's fancies. Dr. H. More. Our hopes must center in ourselves alone. Dryden.
CENTER; CENTRECen"ter , Cen"tre, v. t.
1. To place or fix in the center or on a central point. Milton.
2. To collect to a point; to concentrate. Thy joys are centered all in me alome. Prior.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.
CENTERBIT; CENTREBITCen"ter*bit`, Cen"tre*bit`, n.
Defn: An instrument turning on a center, for boring holes. See Bit, n., 3.
CENTERBOARD; CENTREBOARDCen"ter*board`, Cen"tre*board,, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A movable or sliding keel formed of a broad board or slab of wood or metal which may be raised into a water-tight case amidships, when in shallow water, or may be lowered to increase the area of lateral resistance and prevent leeway when the vessel is beating to windward. It is used in vessels of all sizes along the coast of the United States
CENTERFIRE CARTRIDGECen"ter*fire` car"tridge.
Defn: See under Cartridge.
CENTERINGCen"ter*ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Center, n., 6. [Written also centring.]
CENTERPIECE; CENTREPIECECen"ter*piece`, Cen"tre*piece`, n.
Defn: An ornament to be placed in the center, as of a table, ceiling, atc.; a central article or figure.