Weather

Weather, weth′ėr, n. state of the air as to heat or cold, dryness, wetness, cloudiness, &c.—v.t. to affect by exposing to the air: to sail to the windward of: to gain or pass, as a promontory or cape: to hold out stoutly against difficulties.—v.i. to become discoloured by exposure.—adj. (naut.) toward the wind, windward.—adjs. Weath′er-beat′en, distressed or seasoned by the weather; Weath′er-bit′ten, worn or defaced by exposure to the winds.—n. Weath′er-board, the windward side of a ship: a plank in the port of a laid-up vessel placed so as to keep off rain, without preventing air to circulate.—v.t. to fit with such planks.—n. Weath′er-board′ing, thin boards placed overlapping to keep out rain: exterior covering of a wall or roof.—adj. Weath′er-bound, delayed by bad weather.—ns. Weath′er-box, -house, a toy constructed on the principle of a barometer, consisting of a house with the figures of a man and wife who come out alternately as the weather is respectively bad or good; Weath′er-cloth, a tarpaulin protecting boats, hammocks, &c.; Weath′ercock, a vane (often in the form of a cock) to show the direction of the wind: anything turning easily and often.—v.t. to act as a weathercock for.—p.adj. Weath′er-driv′en, driven by winds or storms.—adj. Weath′ered (archit.), made slightly sloping, so as to throw off water: (geol.) having the surface altered in colour, form, texture, or composition by the action of the elements.—n. Weath′er-eye, the eye considered as the means by which one forecasts the weather.—v.t. Weath′er-fend (Shak.), to defend from the weather, to shelter.—ns. Weath′er-gage, the position of a ship to the windward of another: advantage of position; Weath′er-glass, a glass or instrument that indicates the changes of the weather: a barometer; Weath′er-gleam (prov.), a bright aspect of the sky at the horizon; Weath′er-helm, a keeping of the helm somewhat a-weather when a vessel shows a tendency to come into the wind while sailing; Weath′ering (archit.), a slight inclination given to the top of a cornice or moulding, to prevent water from lodging on it: (geol.) the action of the elements in altering the form, colour, texture, or composition of rocks.—adj. Weath′erly (naut.), making little leeway when close-hauled.—n. Weath′er-map, a map indicating meteorological conditions over a large tract of country.—adj. Weath′ermost, farthest to windward.—n. Weath′er-notā′tion, a system of abbreviation for meteorological phenomena.—adj. Weath′er-proof, proof against rough weather.—ns. Weath′er-proph′et, one who foretells weather: a device for foretelling the weather; Weath′er-roll, the lurch of a vessel to windward when in the trough of the sea; Weath′er-ser′vice, an institution for superintending and utilising observed meteorological phenomena; Weath′er-side, the windward side; Weath′er-sign, a phenomenon indicating change of weather: any prognostic; Weath′er-stain, discolouration produced by exposure; Weath′er-stā′tion, a station where phenomena of weather are observed; Weath′er-strip, a thin piece of some material used to keep out wind and cold; Weath′er-sym′bol, a conventional sign indicating some meteorological phenomenon.—adjs. Weath′er-wise, wise or skilful in foreseeing the changes or state of the weather; Weath′er-worn, worn by exposure to the weather.—Weather anchor, the anchor lying to windward; Weather a point, to gain an advantage or accomplish a purpose against opposition; Weather out (obs.), to hold out against till the end.—Keep one's weather eye open, to be on one's guard, to have one's wits in readiness; Make fair weather (Shak.), to conciliate: to flatter; Stress of weather, violent and especially unfavourable winds, force of tempests. [A.S. weder; Ice. vedhr, Ger. wetter.]