15. (Far.)
Defn: A soft of plaster or ointment.
16. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing. See Bearing, n., 8.
17. Etym: [Cf. Charre.]
Defn: Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; — called also charre.
18. Weight; import; value. Many suchlike "as's" of great charge. Shak. Back charge. See under Back, a. — Bursting charge. (a (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc. (b (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of a charge of coarse powder in blasting. — Charge and discharge (Equity Practice), the old mode or form of taking an account before a master in chancery. — Charge sheet, the paper on which are entered at a police station all arrests and accusations. — To sound the charge, to give the signal for an attack.
Syn. — Care; custody; trust; management; office; expense; cost; price; assault; attack; onset; injunction; command; order; mandate; instruction; accusation; indictment.
CHARGEABLECharge"a*ble, a.
1. That may be charged, laid, imposed, or imputes; as, a duty chargeable on iron; a fault chargeable on a man.
2. Subject to be charge or accused; liable or responsible; as, revenues chargeable with a claim; a man chargeable with murder.
3. Serving to create expense; costly; burdensome. That we might not be chargeable to any of you. 2. Thess. iii. 8. For the sculptures, which are elegant, were very chargeable. Evelyn.
CHARGEABLENESSCharge"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chargeable or expensive. [Obs.]Whitelocke.
CHARGEABLYCharge"a*bly, adv.
Defn: At great cost; expensively. [Obs.]
CHARGEANTChar"geant, a. Etym: [F. chargeant, fr. charger to load.]
Defn: Burdensome; troublesome. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES Char`gé" d'af`faires", n.; pl. Chargés d'affaires. Etym: [F., "charged with affairs."]
Defn: A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade, accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary.
CHARGEFULCharge"ful, a.
Defn: Costly; expensive. [Obs.]The fineness of the gold and chargeful fashion. Shak.
CHARGEHOUSECharge"house`, n.
Defn: A schoolhouse. [Obs.]
CHARGELESSCharge"less, a.
Defn: Free from, or with little, charge.
CHARGEOUSChar"geous, a.
Defn: Burdensome. [Obs.]I was chargeous to no man. Wyclif, (2 Cor. xi. 9).
CHARGERChar"ger, n.
1. One who, or that which charges.
2. An instrument for measuring or inserting a charge.
3. A large dish. [Obs.] Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8.
4. A horse for battle or parade. Macaulay. And furious every charger neighed. Campbell.
CHARGESHIPChar*ge"ship, n.
Defn: The office of a chargé d'affaires.
CHARILYChar"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chary manner; carefully; cautiously; frugally.
CHARINESSChar"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chary.
CHARIOTChar"i*ot, n. Etym: [F. Chariot, from char car. See Car.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A two-wheeled car or vehicle for war, racing, stateprocessions, etc.First moved the chariots, after whom the foot. Cowper.
2. A four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage, having one seat. Shak.
CHARIOTChar"i*ot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charioted; p. pr. & vb. n.Charioting.]
Defn: To convey in a chariot. Milton.
CHARIOTEEChar`i*ot*ee", n.
Defn: A light, covered, four-wheeled pleasure carriage with two seats.
CHARIOTEERChar`i*ot*eer", n.
1. One who drives a chariot.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation. See Auriga, and Wagones.
CHARISMCha"rism, n. Etym: [Gr. .] (Eccl.)
Defn: A miraculously given power, as of healing, speaking foreign languages without instruction, etc., attributed to some of the early Christians.
CHARISMATICChar`is*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a charism.
CHARITABLEChar"i*ta*ble, a.Etym: [F. See Charity.]
1. Full of love and good will; benevolent; kind. Be thy intents wicked or charitable, . . . . . . I will speak to thee. Shak.
2. Liberal in judging of others; disposed to look on the best side, and to avoid harsh judgment.
3. Liberal in benefactions to the poor; giving freely; generous; beneficent. What charitable men afford to beggars. Shak.
4. Of or pertaining to charity; springing from, or intended for, charity; relating to almsgiving; elemosynary; as, a charitable institution.
5. Dictated by kindness; favorable; lenient. By a charitable construction it may be a sermon. L. Andrews.
Syn. — Kind; beneficent; benevolent; generous; lenient; forgiving; helpful; liberal; favorable; indulgent.
CHARITABLENESSChar"i*ta*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being charitable; the exercise of charity.
CHARITABLYChar"i*ta*bly, adv.
Defn: In a charitable manner.
CHARITYChar"i*ty, n.; pl. Charities. Etym: [F. charité fr. L. caritasdearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly, loved; asin toSkr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf.Caress.]
1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.
Defn: Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1. Cor. xiii. 13. They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose hearts the great charities . . . lie dead. Ruskin. With malice towards none, with charity for all. Lincoln.
2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition which inclines men to put the best construction on the words and actions of others. The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable. Buckminster.
3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity. The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans, spake like a Christian. Dryden.
4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for their relief; alms; any act of kindness. She did ill then to refuse her a charity. L'Estrange.
5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support such an institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.
6. pl. (Law)
Defn: Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief of the poor or friendless, education, religious culture, and public institutions. The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the feet of man like flowers. Wordsworth. Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick; — a popular designation. There are various orders of the Sisters of Charity.
Syn. — Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness; beneficence; liberality; almsgiving.
CHARIVARICha*ri`va*ri", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A mock serenade of discordant noises, made with kettles, tin horns, etc., designed to annoy and insult.
Note: It was at first performed before the house of any person of advanced age who married a second time.
CHARKChark, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. charcoal.]
Defn: Charcoal; a cinder. [Obs.] DeFoe.
CHARKChark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charked.]
Defn: To burn to a coal; to char. [Obs.]
CHARLATAN Char"la*tan, n. Etym: [F. charlatan, fr. It. ciarlatano, fr. ciarlare to chartter, prate; of imitative origin; cf. It. zirlare to whistle like a thrush.]
Defn: One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable pretensions; a quack; an impostor; an empiric; a mountebank.
CHARLATANIC; CHARLATANICALChar`la*tan"ic, Char`la*tan"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or like a charlatan; making undue pretension; empirical; pretentious; quackish. — Char`la*tan"ic*al*ly, adv.
CHARLATANISMChar"la*tan*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. charlatanisme.]
Defn: Charlatanry.
CHARLATANRYChar"la*tan*ry, n. Etym: [F. charlatanrie, from It. ciarlataneria.See Charlatan.]
Defn: Undue pretensions to skill; quackery; wheedling; empiricism.
CHARLES'S WAINCharles's Wain. Etym: [Charles + wain; cf. AS. Carles w (for wægn),Sw. karlvagnen, Dan. karlsvogn. See Churl, and Wain.] (Astron.)
Defn: The group of seven stars, commonly called the Dipper, in the constellation Ursa Major, or Great Bear. See Ursa major, under Ursa.
Note: The name is sometimes also applied to the Constellation.
CHARLIEChar"lie, n.
1. A familiar nickname or substitute for Charles.
2. A night watchman; — an old name.
3. A short, pointed beard, like that worn by Charles I.
4. As a proper name, a fox; — so called in fables and familiar literature.
CHARLOCK Char"lock, n. Etym: [AS. cerlic; the latter part perh. fr. AS. leác leek. Cf. Hemlock.] (Bot.)
Defn: A cruciferous plant (Brassica sinapistrum) with yellow flowers; wild mustard. It is troublesome in grain fields. Called also chardock, chardlock, chedlock, and kedlock. Jointed charlock, White charlock, a troublesome weed (Raphanus Raphanistrum) with straw- colored, whitish, or purplish flowers, and jointed pods: wild radish.
CHARLOTTEChar"lotte, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of pie or pudding made by lining a dish with slices of bread, and filling it with bread soaked in milk, and baked. Charlotte Russe (, or Charlotte à la russe Etym: [F., lit., Russian charlotte] (Cookery), a dish composed of custard or whipped cream, inclosed in sponge cake.
CHARM Charm, n. Etym: [F. charme, fr. L. carmen song, verse, incantation, for casmen, akin to Skr. çasman, çasa, a laudatory song, from a root signifying to praise, to sing.]
1. A melody; a song. [Obs.] With charm of earliest birds. Milton. Free liberty to chant our charms at will. Spenser.
2. A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of magic; a magical combination of words, characters, etc.; an incantation. My high charms work. Shak.
3. That which exerts an irresistible power to please and attract; that which fascinates; any alluring quality. Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Pope. The charm of beauty's powerful glance. Milton.
4. Anything worn for its supposed efficacy to the wearer in averting ill or securing good fortune.
5. Any small decorative object worn on the person, as a seal, a key, a silver whistle, or the like. Bunches of charms are often worn at the watch chain.
Syn. - Spell; incantation; conjuration; enchantment; fascination; attraction.
CHARMCharm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Charming.] Etym:[Cf. F. charmer. See Charm, n.]
1. To make music upon; to tune. [Obs. & R.] Here we our slender pipes may safely charm. Spenser.
2. To subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural influence; to affect by magic. No witchcraft charm thee! Shak.
3. To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives pleasure; to allay; to soothe. Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope.
4. To attract irresistibly; to delight exceedingly; to enchant; to fascinate. They, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear. Milton.
5. To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or supernatural influences; as, a charmed life. I, in my own woe charmed, Could not find death. Shak.
Syn. - To fascinate; enchant; enrapture; captivate; bewitch; allure; subdue; delight; entice; transport.
CHARMCharm, v. i.
1. To use magic arts or occult power; to make use of charms. The voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. Ps. lviii. 5.
2. To act as, or produce the effect of, a charm; to please greatly; to be fascinating.
3. To make a musical sound. [Obs.] Milton.
CHARMELChar"mel, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: A fruitful field. Libanus shall be turned into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed as a forest. Isa. xxix. 17 (Douay version).
CHARMERCharm"er, n.
1. One who charms, or has power to charm; one who uses the power of enchantment; a magician. Deut. xviii. 11.
2. One who delights and attracts the affections.
CHARMERESSCharm"er*ess, n.
Defn: An enchantress. Chaucer.
CHARMFULCharm"ful, a.
Defn: Abounding with charms. "His charmful lyre." Cowley.
CHARMINGCharm"ing, a.
Defn: Pleasing the mind or senses in a high degree; delighting; fascinating; attractive. How charming is divine philosophy. Milton.
Syn. - Enchanting; bewitching; captivating; enrapturing; alluring;fascinating; delightful; pleasurable; graceful; lovely; amiable;pleasing; winning.— Charm"ing*ly, adv.— Charm"ing*ness, n.
CHARMLESSCharm"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of charms. Swift.
CHARNECO; CHARNICOChar"ne*co, Char"ni*co, n.
Defn: A sort of sweet wine. [Obs.] Shak.
CHARNELChar"nel, a. Etym: [F. charnel carnal, fleshly, fr. L. carnalis. SeeCarnal.]
Defn: Containing the bodies of the dead. "Charnel vaults." Milton. Charnel house, a tomb, vault, cemetery, or other place where the bones of the dead are deposited; originally, a place for the bones thrown up when digging new graves in old burial grounds.
CHARNELChar"nel, n.
Defn: A charnel house; a grave; a cemetery.In their proud charnel of Thermopylæ. Byron.
CHARONCha"ron, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Cless. Myth.)
Defn: The son of Erebus and Nox, whose office it was to ferry the souls of the dead over the Styx, a river of the infernal regions. Shak.
CHARPIE Char"pie, n. Etym: [F., properly fem. p. p. of OF. charpir, carpir, to pluck, fr. L. carpere. Cf. Carpet.] (Med.)
Defn: Straight threads obtained by unraveling old linen cloth; — used for surgical dressings.
CHARQUIChar"qui, n. Etym: [Sp. A term used in South America, CentralAmerica, and the Western United States.]
Defn: Jerked beef; beef cut into long strips and dried in the wind and sun. Darwin.
CHARRCharr, n.
Defn: See 1st Char.
CHARRASChar"ras, n.
Defn: The gum resin of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Same asChurrus. Balfour.
CHARRECharre, n. Etym: [LL. charrus a certain weight.]
Defn: See Charge, n., 17.
CHARRYChar"ry, a. Etym: [See 6th Char.]
Defn: Pertaining to charcoal, or partaking of its qualities.
CHART Chart, n. Etym: [A doublet of card: cf. F. charte charter, carte card. See Card, and cf. Charter.]
1. A sheet of paper, pasteboard, or the like, on which information is exhibited, esp. when the information is arranged in tabular form; as, an historical chart.
2. A map; esp., a hydrographic or marine map; a map on which is projected a portion of water and the land which it surrounds, or by which it is surrounded, intended especially for the use of seamen; as, the United States Coast Survey charts; the English Admiralty charts.
3. A written deed; a charter. Globular chart, a chart constructed on a globular projection. See under Globular. — Heliographic chart, a map of the sun with its spots. — Mercator's chart, a chart constructed on the principle of Mercator's projection. See Projection. — Plane chart, a representation of some part of the superficies of the globe, in which its spherical form is disregarded, the meridians being drawn parallel to each other, and the parallels of latitude at equal distances. — Selenographic chart, a map representing the surface of the moon. — Topographic chart, a minute delineation of a limited place or region.
CHARTChart, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charted.]
Defn: To lay down in a chart; to map; to delineate; as, to chart a coast.
CHARTA Char"ta, n. Etym: [L., leaf of paper. See Chart.] (Law) (a) Material on which instruments, books, etc., are written; parchment or paper. (b) A charter or deed; a writing by which a grant is made. See Magna Charta.
CHARTACEOUSChar*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. chartaceus. See Charta.]
Defn: Resembling paper or parchment; of paper-like texture; papery.
CHARTECharte, n. Etym: [F. See Chart.]
Defn: The constitution, or fundamental law, of the French monarchy, as established on the restoration of Louis XVIII., in 1814.
CHARTER Char"ter, n. Etym: [OF. chartre, F. chartre, charte, fr. L. chartula a little paper, dim. of charta. See Chart, Card.]
1. A written evidence in due form of things done or granted, contracts made, etc., between man and man; a deed, or conveyance. [Archaic]
2. An instrument in writing, from the sovereign power of a state or country, executed in due form, bestowing rights, franchises, or privileges. The king [John, a.d. 1215], with a facility somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. This famous deed, commonly called the "Great Charter," either granted or secured very important liberties and privileges to every order of men in the kingdom. Hume.
3. An act of a legislative body creating a municipal or other corporation and defining its powers and privileges. Also, an instrument in writing from the constituted authorities of an order or society (as the Freemasons), creating a lodge and defining its powers.
4. A special privilege, immunity, or exemption. My mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise me, grieves me. Shak.
5. (Com.)
Defn: The letting or hiring a vessel by special contract, or the contract or instrument whereby a vessel is hired or let; as, a ship is offered for sale or charter. See Charter party, below. Charter land (O. Eng. Law), land held by charter, or in socage; bookland. — Charter member, one of the original members of a society or corporation, esp. one named in a charter, or taking part in the first proceedings under it. — Charter party Etym: [F. chartre partie, or charte partie, a divided charter; from the practice of cutting the instrument of contract in two, and giving one part to each of the contractors] (Com.), a mercantile lease of a vessel; a specific contract by which the owners of a vessel let the entire vessel, or some principal part of the vessel, to another person, to be used by the latter in transportation for his own account, either under their charge or his. — People's Charter (Eng. Hist.), the document which embodied the demands made by the Chartists, so called, upon the English government in 1838.
CHARTERChar"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chartered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chartering.]
1. To establish by charter.
2. To hire or let by charter, as a ship. See Charter party, under Charter, n.
CHARTEREDChar"tered, a.
1. Granted or established by charter; having, or existing under, a charter; having a privilege by charter. The sufficiency of chartered rights. Palfrey. The air, a chartered libertine. Shak.
2. Hired or let by charter, as a ship.
CHARTERERChar"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who charters; esp. one who hires a ship for a voyage.
CHARTERHOUSEChar"ter*house`, n.
Defn: A well known public school and charitable foundation in the building once used as a Carthusian monastery (Chartreuse) in London.
CHARTERISTChar"ter*ist, n.
Defn: Same as Chartist.
CHARTISMChart"ism, n. Etym: [F. charte charter. Cf. Charte, Chart.]
Defn: The principles of a political party in England (1838-48), which contended for universal suffrage, the vote by ballot, annual parliaments, equal electoral districts, and other radical reforms, as set forth in a document called the People's Charter.
CHARTISTChart"ist, n.
Defn: A supporter or partisan of chartism. [Eng.]
CHARTLESSChart"less, a.
1. Without a chart; having no guide.
2. Not mapped; uncharted; vague. Barlow.
CHARTOGRAPHER; CHARTOGRAPHIC; CHARTOGRAPHY Char*tog"ra*pher, n., Char`to*graph"ic (, a., Char*tog"ra*phy (, n., etc.
Defn: Same as Cartographer, Cartographic, Cartography, etc.
CHARTOMANCYChar"to*man`cy, n. Etym: [L. charta paper + -mancy. Cf. Cartomancy.]
Defn: Divination by written paper or by cards.
CHARTOMETERChar*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Chart + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring charts or maps.
CHARTREUSEChar`treuse", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A Carthusian monastery; esp. La Grande Chartreuse, mother house of the order, in the mountains near Grenoble, France.
2. An alcoholic cordial, distilled from aromatic herbs; — made at La Grande Chartreuse.
CHARTREUXChar`treux", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A Carthusian.
CHARTULARYChar"tu*la*ry, n.
Defn: See Cartulary.
CHARWOMANChar"wom`an, n.; pl. Charwomen. Etym: [See Char a chore.]
Defn: A woman hired for odd work or for single days.
CHARYChar"y, a. Etym: [AS. cearig careful, fr. cearu care. See Care.]
Defn: Careful; wary; cautious; not rash, reckless, or spendthrift;saving; frugal.His rising reputation made him more chary of his fame. Jeffrey.
CHARYBDISCha*ryb"dis, n. Etym: [L., Gr.
Defn: A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast. It is personified as a female monster. See Scylla.
CHASABLEChas"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being chased; fit for hunting. Gower.
CHASEChase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chased; p. pr. & vb. n. Chasing.] Etym:[OF. chacier, F. chasser, fr. (assumed) LL. captiare, fr. L. captareto strive to seize. See Catch.]
1. To pursue for the purpose of killing or taking, as an enemy, orgame; to hunt.We are those which chased you from the field. Shak.Philologists, who chase A panting syllable through time and place.Cowper.
2. To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to drive by following; to cause to fly; — often with away or off; as, to chase the hens away. Chased by their brother's endless malice from prince to prince and from place to place. Knolles.
3. To pursue eagerly, as hunters pursue game. Chasing each other merrily. Tennyson.
CHASEChase, v. i.
Defn: To give chase; to hunt; as, to chase around after a doctor.[Colloq.]
CHASEChase, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See Chase, v.]
1. Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing, as of an enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any object greatly desired; the act or habit of hunting; a hunt. "This mad chase of fame." Dryden. You see this chase is hotly followed. Shak.
2. That which is pursued or hunted. Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt this deer to death. Shak.
3. An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is private properly, thus differing from a forest, which is not private property, and from a park, which is inclosed. Sometimes written chace. [Eng.]
4. (Court Tennis)
Defn: A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the dedans the adversary must drive his ball in order to gain a point. Chase gun (Naut.), a cannon placed at the bow or stern of an armed vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in defending the vessel when pursued. — Chase port (Naut.), a porthole from which a chase gun is fired. — Stern chase (Naut.), a chase in which the pursuing vessel follows directly in the wake of the vessel pursued.
CHASEChase, n. Etym: [F. cháse, fr. L. capsa box, case. See Case a box.](Print.)
1. A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are imposed.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The part of a cannon from the reënforce or the trunnions to the swell of the muzzle. See Cannon.
3. A groove, or channel, as in the face of a wall; a trench, as for the reception of drain tile.
4. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A kind of joint by which an overlap joint is changed to a flush joint, by means of a gradually deepening rabbet, as at the ends of clinker-built boats.
CHASEChase, v. t. Etym: [A contraction of enchase.]
1. To ornament (a surface of metal) by embossing, cutting away parts, and the like.
2. To cut, so as to make a screw thread.
CHASERChas"er, n.
1. One who or that which chases; a pursuer; a driver; a hunter.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Same as Chase gun, esp. in terms bow chaser and stern chaser.See under Bow, Stern.
CHASERChas"er, n.
1. One who chases or engraves. See 5th Chase, and Enchase.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A tool with several points, used for cutting or finishing screw threads, either external or internal, on work revolving in a lathe.
CHASIBLEChas"i*ble, n.
Defn: See Chasuble.
CHASINGChas"ing, n.
Defn: The art of ornamenting metal by means of chasing tools; also, a piece of ornamental work produced in this way.
CHASMChasm, n. Etym: [L. chasma, Gr. Chaos.]
1. A deep opening made by disruption, as a breach in the earth or a rock; a yawning abyss; a cleft; a fissure. That deep, romantic chasm which slanted down the green hill. Coleridge.
2. A void space; a gap or break, as in ranks of men. Memory . . . fills up the chasms of thought. Addison.
CHASMEDChasmed, a.
Defn: Having gaps or a chasm. [R.]
CHASMYChas"my, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chasm; abounding in chasms. Carlyle.They cross the chasmy torrent's foam-lit bed. Wordsworth.
CHASSEChas`se", n. Etym: [F., fr. chassé, p. p. of chasser to chase.]
Defn: A movement in dancing, as across or to the right or left.
CHASSEChas`se", v. i. (Dancing)
Defn: To make the movement called chassé; as, all chassé; chassé to the right or left.
CHASSE-CAFEChasse`-ca`fé", n. [F., fr. chasser to chase + café coffee.]
Defn: See Chasse, n., above.
CHASSELASChas"se*las, n. Etym: [F., from the village of Chasselas.]
Defn: A white grape, esteemed for the table.
CHASSE-MAREEChasse`-ma`rée", n. [F., fr. chasser to chase + marée tide.] (Naut.)
Defn: A French coasting lugger.
CHASSEPOTChasse`pot", n. Etym: [From the French inventor, A. A. Chassepot.](Mil.)
Defn: A kind of breechloading, center-fire rifle, or improved needle gun.
CHASSEURChas`seur", n. Etym: [F., a huntsman. See Chase to pursue.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: One of a body of light troops, cavalry or infantry, trained for rapid movements.
2. An attendant upon persons of rank or wealth, wearing a plume and sword. The great chasseur who had announced her arrival. W. Irving.
CHASSISChas"sis, n. Etym: [F. ch.] (Mil.)
Defn: A traversing base frame, or movable railway, along which the carriage of a barbette or casemate gum moves backward and forward. [See Gun carriage.]
CHASTChast, v. t.
Defn: to chasten. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHASTE Chaste, a. Etym: [F. chaste, from L. castus pure, chaste; cf. Gr. to purify.]
1. Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent. "As chaste as Diana." Shak. Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced. Milton.
2. Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind; chaste eyes.
3. Pure in design and expression; correct; free from barbarisms or vulgarisms; refined; simple; as, a chaste style in composition or art. That great model of chaste, lofty, and eloquence, the Book of Common Prayer. Macaulay.
4. Unmarried. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.— Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless.Chaste tree. Same as Agnus castus.
CHASTELYChaste"ly, adv.
Defn: In a chaste manner; with purity.
CHASTEN Chas"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chastened; p. pr. & vb. n. Chastening.] Etym: [OE. chastien, OF. Chastier, F. Ch, fr. L. castigare to punish, chastise; castus pure + agere to lead, drive. See Chaste, Act, and cf. Castigate, Chastise.]
1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon the purpose of reclaiming; to discipline; as, to chasten a son with a rod. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6.
2. To purify from errors or faults; to refine. They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind, and excite to noble actions. Layard.
Syn. — To chastise; punish; correct; discipline; castigate; afflict; subdue; purify. To Chasten, Punish, Chastise. To chasten is to subject to affliction or trouble, in order to produce a general change for the better in life or character. To punish is to inflict penalty for violation of law, disobedience to authority, or intentional wrongdoing. To chastise is to punish a particular offense, as with stripes, especially with the hope that suffering or disgrace may prevent a repetition of faults.
CHASTENEDChas"tened, a.
Defn: Corrected; disciplined; refined; purified; toned down. Sir. W.Scott.Of such a finished chastened purity. Tennyson.
CHASTENERChas"ten*er, n.
Defn: One who chastens.
CHASTENESSChaste"ness, n.
1. Chastity; purity.
2. (Literature & Art)
Defn: Freedom from all that is meretricious, gaundy, or affected; as, chasteness of design.
CHASTISABLEChas*tis"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable or deserving of chastisement; punishable. Sherwood.
CHASTISEChas*tise", v. t. [imp & p. p. Chastised; p. pr. & vb. n.Chastising.] Etym: [OE. chastisen; chastien + ending -isen + modern -ise, ize, L. izare, G. Chasten.]
1. To inflict pain upon, by means of stripes, or in any other manner, for the purpose of punishment or reformation; to punish, as with stripes. How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. Shak. I am glad to see the vanity or envy of the canting chemists thus discovered and chastised. Boyle.
2. To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free from faults or excesses. The gay, social sense, by decency chastised. Thomson.
Syn.— See Chasten.
CHASTISEMENTChas"tise*ment, n. Etym: [From Chastise.]
Defn: The act of chastising; pain inflicted for punishment andcorrection; discipline; punishment.Shall I so much dishonor my fair stars, On equal terms to give himchastesement! Shak.I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more. Job xxxiv. 31.
CHASTISERChas*tis"er, n.
Defn: One who chastises; a punisher; a corrector. Jer. Taylor.The chastiser of the rich. Burke.
CHASTITYChas"ti*ty, n. Etym: [F. chasteté, fr. L. castitas, fr. castus. SeeChaste.]
1. The state of being chaste; purity of body; freedom from unlawful sexual intercourse. She . . . hath preserved her spotless chastity. T. Carew.
2. Moral purity. So dear to heaven is saintly chastity, That, when a soul is found sicerely so A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.
3. The unmarried life; celibacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (Literature & Art)
Defn: Chasteness.
CHASUBLE Chas"u*ble, n. Etym: [F. chasuble, LL. casubula, cassibula, casula, a hooded garment, covering the person like a little house; cf. It. casupola, casipola, cottage, dim of L. casa cottage.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The outer vestment worn by the priest in saying Mass, consisting, in the Roman Catholic Church, of a broad, flat, back piece, and a narrower front piece, the two connected over the shoulders only. The back has usually a large cross, the front an upright bar or pillar, designed to be emblematical of Christ's sufferings. In the Greek Church the chasuble is a large round mantle. [Written also chasible, and chesible.]
CHATChat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chatting.] Etym:[From Chatter. *22.]
Defn: To talk in a light and familiar manner; to converse without form or ceremony; to gossip. Shak. To chat a while on their adventures. Dryden.
Syn.— To talk; chatter; gossip; converse.
CHATChat, v. t.
Defn: To talk of. [Obs.]
CHATChat, n.
1. Light, familiar talk; conversation; gossip. Snuff, or fan, supply each pause of chat, With singing, laughing, ogling, and all that. Pope.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the genus Icteria, allied to the warblers, in America. The best known species are the yelow-breasted chat (I. viridis), and the long chat (I. longicauda). In Europe the name is given to several birds of the family Saxicolidæ, as the stonechat, and whinchat. Bush chat. (Zoöl.) See under Bush.
CHATChat, n.
1. A twig, cone, or little branch. See Chit.
2. pl. (Mining)
Defn: Small stones with ore. Chat potatoes, small potatoes, such as are given to swine. [Local.]
CHATEAUCha`teau", n.; pl. Chateux. Etym: [F. château a castle. See Castle.]
1. A castle or a fortress in France.
2. A manor house or residence of the lord of the manor; a gentleman's country seat; also, particularly, a royal residence; as, the chateau of the Louvre; the chateau of the Luxembourg.
Note: The distinctive, French term for a fortified caste of the middle ages is château-fort. Chateau en Espagne ( Etym: [F.], a castle in Spain, that is, a castle in the air, Spain being the region of romance.
CHATELAINE Chat"e*laine, n. Etym: [F. châtelaine the wife of a castellan, the mistress of a chateau, a chatelaine chain.]
Defn: An ornamental hook, or brooch worn by a lady at her waist, and having a short chain or chains attached for a watch, keys, trinkets, etc. Also used adjectively; as, a chatelaine chain.
CHATELETChat"e*let, n. Etym: [F. châtelet, dim. of château. See Castle.]
Defn: A little castle.
CHATELLANYChat"el*la*ny, n. Etym: [F. châtellenie.]
Defn: Same as Castellany.
CHATICha`ti", n. Etym: [Cf. F. chat cat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South American species of tiger cat (Felis mitis).
CHATOYANT Cha*toy"ant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of chatoyer to be chatoyant, fr. chat cat.] (Min.)
Defn: Having a changeable, varying luster, or color, like that of a changeable silk, or oa a cat's eye in the dark.
CHATOYANTCha*toy"ant, n. (Min.)
Defn: A hard stone, as the cat's-eye, which presents on a polished surface, and in the interior, an undulating or wary light.
CHATOYMENTCha*toy"ment, n. Etym: [F. chatoiement. See Chatoyant.]
Defn: Changeableness of color, as in a mineral; play of colors.Cleaceland.
CHATTELChat"tel, n. Etym: [OF. chatel; another form of catel. See Cattle.](Law)
Defn: Any item of movable or immovable property except the freehold, or the things which are parcel of it. It is a more extensive term than goods or effects.
Note: Chattels are personal or real: personal are such as are movable, as goods, plate, money; real are such rights in land as are less than a freehold, as leases, mortgages, growing corn, etc. Chattel mortgage (Law), a mortgage on personal property, as distinguished from one on real property.
CHATTELISMChat"tel*ism, n.
Defn: The act or condition of holding chattels; the state of being a chattel.
CHATTERChat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chattering.]Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Chat, v. i. Chitter.]
1. To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are inarticulate and indistinct. The jaw makes answer, as the magpie chatters. Wordsworth.
2. To talk idly, carelessly, or with undue rapidity; to jabber; to prate. To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue. Shak.
3. To make a noise by rapid collisions. With chattering teeth, and bristling hair upright. Dryden.
CHATTERChat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly.Begin his witless note apace to chatter. Spenser.
CHATTERChat"ter, n.
1. Sounds like those of a magpie or monkey; idle talk; rapid, thoughtless talk; jabber; prattle. Your words are but idle and empty chatter. Longfellow.
2. Noise made by collision of the teeth, as in shivering.
CHATTERATIONChat*ter*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or habit of chattering. [Colloq.]
CHATTERERChat"ter*er, n.
1. A prater; an idle talker.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the family Ampelidæ — so called from its monotonous note. The Bohemion chatterer (Ampelis garrulus) inhabits the arctic regions of both continents. In America the cedar bird is a more common species. See Bohemian chatterer, and Cedar bird.
CHATTERINGChat"ter*ing, n.
Defn: The act or habit of talking idly or rapidly, or of making inarticulate sounds; the sounds so made; noise made by the collision of the teeth; chatter.
CHATTER MARK Chat"ter mark`. (a) (Mach.) One of the fine undulations or ripples which are formed on the surface of work by a cutting tool which chatters. (b) (Geol.) A short crack on a rock surface planed smooth by a glacier.
CHATTINESSChat"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chatty, or of talking easily and pleasantly.
CHATTYChat"ty, a.
Defn: Given to light, familiar talk; talkative. Lady M. W. Montagu.
CHATTYChat"ty, n. Etym: [Tamil shati.]
Defn: A porous earthen pot used in India for cooling water, etc.
CHATWOODChat"wood`, n. Etym: [Chat a little stick + wood.]
Defn: Little sticks; twigs for burning; fuel. Johnson.
CHAUD-MEDLEYChaud"-med`ley, n. Etym: [F. chaude mêlée; chaud hot + mêler(Formerly sometimes spelt medler) to mingle.] (Law)
Defn: The killing of a person in an affray, in the heat of blood, and while under the influence of passion, thus distinguished from chance- medley or killing in self-defense, or in a casual affray. Burrill.
CHAUDRONChau"dron, n.
Defn: See Chawdron. [Obs.]
CHAUFFER Chauf"fer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chauffoir a kind of stone, fr. chauffer to heat. See Chafe.] (Chem.)
Defn: A table stove or small furnace, usually a cylindrical box of sheet iron, with a grate at the bottem, and an open top.
CHAUFFEURChauf`feur", n. [F., lit., stoker.]
1. [pl.] (F. Hist.)
Defn: Brigands in bands, who, about 1793, pillaged, burned, and killed in parts of France; — so called because they used to burn the feet of their victims to extort money.
2. One who manages the running of an automobile; esp., the paid operator of a motor vehicle.
CHAUFFEUSEChauf`feuse", n. [F., fem. of chauffeur.]
Defn: A woman chauffeur.
CHAULDRONChaul"dron, n.
Defn: See Chawdron. [Obs.]
CHAUNChaun, n.
Defn: A gap. [Obs.] Colgrave.
CHAUNChaun, v. t. & i.
Defn: To open; to yawn. [Obs.]O, chaun thy breast. Marston.
CHAUNTChaunt, n. & v.
Defn: See Chant.
CHAUNTERChaunt"er, n.
1. A street seller of ballads and other broadsides. [Slang, Eng.]
2. A deceitful, tricky dealer or horse jockey. [Colloq.] He was a horse chaunter; he's a leg now. Dickens.
3. The flute of a bagpipe. See Chanter, n., 3.
CHAUNTERIEChaunt"er*ie, n.
Defn: See Chantry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHAUSCha"us, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: a lynxlike animal of Asia and Africa (Lynx Lybicus).
CHAUSSESChausses, n. pl. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The garment for the legs and feet and for the body below the waist, worn in Europe throughout the Middle Ages; applied also to the armor for the same parts, when fixible, as of chain mail.
CHAUSSUREChaus`sure", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A foot covering of any kind.
CHAUTAUQUA SYSTEM OF EDUCATIONChau*tau"qua sys"tem of education.
Defn: The system of home study established in connection with the summer schools assembled at Chautauqua, N. Y., by the Methodist Episcopal bishop, J. H. Vincent.
CHAUVINISM Chau"vin*ism, n. Etym: [F. chauvinisme, from Chauvin, a character represented as making grotesque and threatening displays of his attachment to his fallen chief, Napoleon I., in 1815.]
Defn: Blind and absurd devotion to a fallen leader or an obsoletecause; hence, absurdly vainglorious or exaggerated patriotism.— Chau"vin*ist, n.— Chau`vin*is"tic (, a.
Note: To have a generous belief in the greatness of one's country is not chauvinism. It is the character of the latter quality to be wildly extravagant, to be fretful and childish and silly, to resent a doubt as an insult, and to offend by its very frankness. Prof. H. Tuttle.
CHAVENDERChav"en*der, n. Etym: [Cf. Cheven.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chub. Walton.
CHAWChaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chawing.] Etym:[See Chew.]
1. To grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food in eating; to chew, as the cud; to champ, as the bit. The trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped, Chawing the foamy bit, there fiercely stood. Surrey.
2. To ruminate in thought; to consider; to keep the mind working upon; to brood over. Dryden.
Note: A word formerly in good use, but now regarded as vulgar.
CHAWChaw, n. Etym: [See Chaw, v. t.]
1. As much as is put in the mouth at once; a chew; a quid. [Law]
2. Etym: [Cf. Jaw.]
Defn: The jaw. [Obs.] Spenser. Chaw bacon, a rustic; a bumpkin; a lout. (Law) — Chaw tooth, a grinder. (Law)
CHAWDRON Chaw"dron, n. Etym: [OF. chaudun, caudun, caldun; cf. G. kaldaunen guts, bowels, LL. calduna intestine, W. coluddyn gut, dim. of coludd bowels.]
Defn: Entrails. [Obs.] [Written also chaudron, chauldron.] Shak.
CHAY ROOTChay" root`. Etym: [Tamil shaya.]
Defn: The root of the Oldenlandia umbellata, native in India, which yieds a durable red dyestuff. [Written also choy root.]
CHAZY EPOCHCha*zy" ep"och. (Geol.)
Defn: An epoch at the close of the Canadian period of the AmericanLower Silurian system; — so named from a township in Clinton Co.,New York. See the Diagram under Geology.
CHEAPCheap, n. Etym: [AS. ceáp bargain, sale, price; akin to D. Kooppurchase, G. Kauf, ICel. kaup bargain. Cf. Cheapen, Chapman, Chaffer,Cope, v. i.]
Defn: A bargain; a purchase; cheapness. [Obs.] The sack that thou hast drunk me would have bought me lights as good cheap at the dearest chandler's in Europe. Shak.
CHEAP Cheap, a. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. "good cheap": a good purchase or bargain; cf. F. bon marché, à bon marché. See Cheap, n., Cheapen.]
1. Having a low price in market; of small cost or price, as compared with the usual price or the real value. Where there are a great sellers to a few buyers, there the thing to be sold will be cheap. Locke.
2. Of comparatively small value; common; mean. You grow cheap in every subject's eye. Dryden. Dog cheap, very cheap, — a phrase formed probably by the catachrestical transposition of good cheap. [Colloq.]
CHEAPCheap, adv.
Defn: Cheaply. Milton.
CHEAPCheap, v. i.
Defn: To buy; to bargain. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHEAPENCheap"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheapened; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheapening.]Etym: [OE. cheapien, chepen, to trade, buy, sell, AS. ceápian; akinto D. koopen to buy, G. kaufen, Icel. kaupa, Goth. kaupon to trade.Cf. Chap to bargain.]
1. To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for. [Obsoles.] Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy. Swift.
2. Etym: [Cf. Cheap, a.]
Defn: To beat down the price of; to lessen the value of; todepreciate. Pope.My proffered love has cheapened me. Dryden.
CHEAPENERCheap"en*er, n.
Defn: One who cheapens.
CHEAP-JACK; CHEAP-JOHNCheap"-jack`, Cheap"-john`, n.
Defn: A seller of low-priced or second goods; a hawker.
CHEAPLYCheap"ly, adv.
Defn: At a small price; at a low value; in a common or inferior manner.
CHEAPNESSCheap"ness, n.
Defn: Lowness in price, considering the usual price, or real value.
CHEARChear, n. & v. [Obs.]
Defn: See Cheer.
CHEAT Cheat, n. Etym: [rob. an abbrevation of escheat, lands or tenements that fall to a lord or to the state by forfeiture, or by the death of the tenant without heirs; the meaning being explained by the frauds, real or supposed, that were resorted to in procuring escheats. See Escheat.]
1. An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture. When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Dryden.
2. One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater. Airy wonders, which cheats interpret. Johnson
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; — called also chess. See Chess.
4. (Law)
Defn: The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth.
Note: When cheats are effected by deceitful or illegal symbols or tokens which may affect the public at large and against which common prudence could not have guarded, they are indictable at common law. Wharton.
Syn. — Deception; imposture; fraud; delusion; artifice; trick; swindle; deceit; guile; finesse; stratagem.
CHEATCheat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheating.] Etym:[See CHeat, n., Escheat.]
1. To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle. I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island. Shak.
2. To beguile. Sir W. Scott. To cheat winter of its dreariness. W. Irving.
Syn. — To trick; cozen; gull; chouse; fool; outwit; circumvent; beguile; mislead; dupe; swindle; defraud; overreach; delude; hoodwink; deceive; bamboozle.
CHEATCheat, v. i.
Defn: To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards.
CHEATCheat, n. Etym: [Perh. from OF. cheté goods, chattels.]
Defn: Wheat, or bread made from wheat. [Obs.] Drayton.Their purest cheat, Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste.Chapman.
CHEATABLECheat"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being cheated.
CHEATABLENESSCheat"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Capability of being cheated.
CHEATERCheat"er, n.
1. One who cheats.
2. An escheator. [R.] Shak.
CHEBACCO Che*bac"co, n. Etym: [From Chebacco, the former name of Essex, a town in Massachusetts where such vessels were built.] (Naut.)
Defn: A narrow-sterned boat formerly much used in the Newfoundland fisheries; — called also pinkstern and chebec. Bartlett.
CHEBECChe"bec, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Chebacco.
CHEBECChe*bec", n. Etym: [Named from its note.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small American bird (Empidonax minimus); the least flycatcher.
CHECKCheck, n. Etym: [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. échec, a stop, hindrance,orig. check in the game of chess, pl. échecs chess, through AR., fr.Pers. shah king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.]
1. (Chess)
Defn: A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.
2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check. Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity. Addison. No check, no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth.
3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard,restraint, or rebuff.Useful check upon the administration of government. Washington.A man whom no check could abash. Macaulay.
4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad.
5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check, below.
6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.
7. (Falconry)
Defn: The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.
8. Small chick or crack. Bank check, a written order on a banker orbroker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer.— Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank.— Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which acheckrein is looped.— Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified,or on which they may be checked.— Check nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon theprimary nut to secure it. Knight.— Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler toprevent the return of the feed water.— To take check, to take offense. [Obs.] Dryden.
Syn. — Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.
CHECKCheck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checked; p. pr. & vb. n. checking.]
1. (Chess)
Defn: To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check.
2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb. So many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression. Burke.
3. To verify, to guard, to make secure, by means of a mark, token, or other check; to distinguish by a check; to put a mark against (an item) after comparing with an original or a counterpart in order to secure accuracy; as, to check an account; to check baggage.
4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove. The good king, his master, will check him for it. Shak.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber.
Syn. — To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff.
CHECKCheck, v. i.
Defn: To make a stop; to pause; — with at. The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.
2. To clash or interfere. [R.] Bacon.
3. To act as a curb or restraint. It [his presence] checks too strong upon me. Dryden.
4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
5. (Falconry)
Defn: To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after otherbirds.And like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before hiseye. Shak.
CHECKCheck, a.
Defn: Checkered; designed in checks.
CHECKAGECheck"age, n.
1. The act of checking; as, the checkage of a name or of an item in a list.
2. The items, or the amount, to which attention is called by a check or checks.
CHECKERCheck"er, n. Etym: [From Check, v. t.]
Defn: One who checks.
CHECKERCheck"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checkered; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkering.]Etym: [From OF. eschequier a chessboard, F. échiquier. See Check, n.,and cf. 3d Checker.]
1. To mark with small squares like a checkerboard, as by crossing stripes of different colors.
2. To variegate or diversify with different qualities, color, scenes, or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosterity and adversity. Our minds are, as it were, checkered with truth and falsehood. Addison.
CHECKERCheck"er, n. Etym: [OF. eschequier. See Checker, v. t.]
1. A piece in the game of draughts or checkers.
2. A pattern in checks; a single check.
3. Checkerwork.
Note: This word is also written chequer.
CHECKERBERRYCheck"er*ber`ry, n.; pl. Checkerberries. (Bot.)
Defn: A spicy plant and its bright red berry; the wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens). Also incorrectly applied to the partridge berry (Mitchella repens).