Historical source · 1908
Thomas Davidson (editor). Read this edition’s full extracted entries and its original proposals. Publication here preserves a source; it does not endorse every claim.
Coverage: the complete A–Z main-entry clusters and dictionary Addenda. Derivative words remain within their original entry clusters. Non-dictionary appendices and standalone illustrations are excluded.
United States Publisher marks these historical texts public domain in the USA. Transformed book text excludes Gutenberg branding; source attribution is a bibliographic acknowledgment. No non-US public-domain determination is made. Rights statement ↗
Pustule, pus′tūl, n. a small pimple containing pus: anything like a pustule, on plants or animals: a small blister.—adjs. Pus′tūlar, Pus′tūlous, covered with pustules.—v.t. Pus′tūlāte, to form into pustules.—n. Pustūlā′t
English · e-38699-4610Put, pōōt, v.t. to push or thrust: to cast, throw: to drive into action: to throw suddenly, as a word: to set, lay, or deposit: to bring into any state or position: to offer: to propose: to express, state: to apply: to o
English · e-38699-4611Put, put, n. a rustic, simpleton. [Perh. W. pwt, pytiau, any short thing.]
English · e-38699-4612 · brief source recordPut, put, n. a strumpet.—ns. Pū′tāge, a law phrase for a woman's fornication; Pū′tanism, the habit of prostitution. [O. Fr. pute, a whore.]
English · e-38699-4613Put-log, put′-log, n. a cross-piece in a scaffolding, the inner end resting in a hole left in the wall.
English · e-38699-4620 · brief source recordPut-up, poot′-up, adj. speciously conceived, planned, or carried out. [Put.]
English · e-38699-4630 · brief source recordPutamen, pū-tā′men, n. the hard bony stone of some fruits—cherry, peach, &c.: the soft shell of an egg: the outer and darker portion of the lenticular nucleus of the brain. [L.,—putāre, to prune.]
English · e-38699-4614Putative, pū′tā-tiv, adj. supposed: reputed: commonly supposed to be.—n. Putā′tion, act of considering, estimation.—Putative marriage, a marriage prohibited by canon law, but entered into in good faith by at least one of
English · e-38699-4615Putchock, pōō-chok′, n. the fragrant costus-root, exported from India to China—a chief ingredient in the Chinese pastille-rod, commonly called jostick.—Also Putchuk′. [Perh. Telegu pāch'ckāku, 'green leaf;' or more prob.
English · e-38699-4616Puteal, pū′tē-al, n. a well-curb. [L.,—puteus, a well.]
English · e-38699-4617 · brief source recordPuteli, put′e-li, n. a flat-bottomed Ganges boat.
English · e-38699-4618 · brief source recordPutid, pū′tid, adj. rotten: stinking: worthless.—n. Pū′tidness. [L. putidus, putrid.]
English · e-38699-4619 · brief source recordPutois, pü-twa′, n. a brush of polecat's hair for pottery. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4621 · brief source recordPutoo, put′ōō, n. a dish made of palmyra-nut meal, scraped coco-nut, &c.
English · e-38699-4622 · brief source recordPutorius, pū-tō′ri-us, n. a large family of Mustelidæ, including weasels, stoats, polecats, ferrets, &c.
English · e-38699-4623 · brief source recordPutrefy, pū′tre-fī, v.t. to make putrid or rotten: to corrupt.—v.i. to become putrid: to rot:—pa.t. and pa.p. pū′trefied.—adjs. Pūtred′inous, having an offensive smell; Putrefā′cient (also n.), Putrefac′tive, pertaining
English · e-38699-4624Putt, put, v.i. in golf, to play with a putter.—n. a short stroke made with a putter in attempting to hole a ball.—ns. Putt′er, one who throws a stone: one who takes coal along underground roads: a short, stiff golf-club
English · e-38699-4625Putties, put′tiz, n.pl. strips of cloth wound round the legs, from ankle to knee, as leggings.
English · e-38699-4626 · brief source recordPuttock, pōōt′ok, n. (Shak.) a kite, a buzzard.
English · e-38699-4627 · brief source recordPuttoo, put′ōō, n. a cloth made in Cashmere from the longer and coarser wool of the goat.
English · e-38699-4628 · brief source recordPutty, put′i, n. an oxide of tin, or of lead and tin, used in polishing glass, &c.—jewellers' putty: a cement of whiting and linseed-oil, used in glazing windows: a fine cement of lime only—plasterers' putty.—v.t. to fix
English · e-38699-4629Puture, pū′tūr, n. the claim to food for man, horse, and dog within the bounds of a forest, &c.—Also Pul′tūre. [O. Fr. peulture.]
English · e-38699-4631Puxi, puk′si, n. the edible larvæ of various flies of the genus Ephydra, found in the alkali lakes of western North America. [Mex. Ind.]
English · e-38699-4632Puy, pwē, n. one of the small volcanic cones in Auvergne, &c. [Fr.]
English · e-38699-4633 · brief source recordPuzzel, puz′l, n. (obs.) a drab. [Fr. pucelle.]
English · e-38699-4634 · brief source recordPuzzle, puz′l, n. a difficulty to be solved: perplexity: something to try the ingenuity, as a toy or riddle.—v.t. to set a difficult question to: to pose: to perplex.—v.i. to be bewildered: to think long and carefully (w
English · e-38699-4635Puzzolana, puz-ō-lä′na, n. a loosely coherent volcanic sand found at Pozzuoli, near Naples, forming a hydraulic cement with ordinary lime.—Also Puzzolä′no, Pozzuolä′na.
English · e-38699-4636Pyæmia, Pyemia, pī-ē′mi-a, n. a disease caused by the introduction into the blood of decomposing matter, from pus, &c.—adjs. Pyæ′mic, Pyē′mic. [Gr. pyon, pus, haima, blood.]
English · e-38699-4637Pycnid, pik′nid, n. a special receptacle in ascomycetous fungi, resembling a perithecium, in which stylospores or pycnospores are produced—also Pycnid′ium.—n. Pyc′nospore, a stylospore. [Gr. pyknos, thick.]
English · e-38699-4638Pycnite, pik′nīt, n. a columnar variety of topaz.
English · e-38699-4639 · brief source recordPycnogonida, pik-nō-gon′i-da, n.pl. a division of marine arthropods, the sea-spiders.—adj. Pycnog′onoid. [Gr. pyknos, thick, gony, the knee.]
English · e-38699-4640Pycnometer, pik-nom′e-tėr, n. an instrument for determining the specific gravity of solid bodies. [Gr. pyknos, thick, metron, measure.]
English · e-38699-4641Pycnon, pik′non, n. (mus.) a small interval in Greek music, a quarter-tone: in medieval music, a semi-tone. [Gr. pyknos, thick.]
English · e-38699-4642Pycnostyle, pik′nō-stīl, adj. (archit.) noting a lower degree of intercolumniation, usually 1½ diameters. [Gr. pyknos, thick, stylos, a column.]
English · e-38699-4643Pyebald. See Piebald.
English · e-38699-4644 · brief source recordPyelitis, pī-e-lī′tis, n. inflammation of the pelvis of the kidney—also Endonephritis.—adjs. Pyelit′ic; Pyelonephrit′ic.—n. Pyelonephrī′tis, inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis. [Gr. pyelos, the pelvis, nephros,
English · e-38699-4645Pyengadu, pī-eng′ga-dōō, n. a large acacia-like tree of Burma, India, &c., with reddish-brown wood of great heaviness and hardness.—Also Pyn′kado.
English · e-38699-4646Pygal, pī′gal, adj. belonging to the rump or posteriors of an animal.—n. the posterior median or supracaudal plate of a chelonian carapace.—n. Py′garg, a kind of antelope: the osprey or sea-eagle. [Gr. pygē, the rump, ar
English · e-38699-4647Pygmy, Pigmy, pig′mi, n. one of a fabulous dwarfish race of antiquity: a dwarf: any diminutive thing: one of several pygmy races in equatorial Africa and elsewhere: one of the ancient diminutive dwellers in underground h
English · e-38699-4648Pygopus, pī′gō-pus, n. a genus of Australian lizards.
English · e-38699-4649 · brief source recordPygostyle, pī′gō-stīl, n. the vomer or ploughshare bone of a bird's tail.—adj. Py′gostyled. [Gr. pygē, the rump, stylos, a column.]
English · e-38699-4650Pyjamas, pe-jä′maz, n.pl. loose drawers or trousers tied round the waist, in India, used also by Europeans.—Also Paijä′mas, Pajä′mas. [Hind. pāëjāma, lit. 'leg-clothing.']
English · e-38699-4651Pylon, pī′lon, n. a gateway to an Egyptian temple: the mass of building through which the gateway was pierced. [Gr. pylōn—pylē, a gate.]
English · e-38699-4652Pylorus, pi-lō′rus, n. the lower opening of the stomach leading to the intestines.—adj. Pylor′ic. [L.,—Gr. pylōros—pylē, an entrance, ouros, a guardian.]
English · e-38699-4653Pyogenesis, pī-ō-jen′e-sis, n. the formation of pus.—adjs. Pyogenet′ic, Pyogen′ic, Py′oid.—ns. Pyopoiē′sis, suppuration; Pyop′tysis, expectoration of pus; Pyorrhē′a, purulent discharge; Pyō′sis, the formation of pus.
English · e-38699-4654Pyramid, pir′a-mid, n. a solid figure on a triangular, square, or polygonal base, with triangular sides meeting in a point: (pl.) 'the Pyramids,' or great monuments of Egypt: a game played on a billiard-table in which th
English · e-38699-4655Pyramidon, pi-ram′i-don, n. in organ-building a stop having wooden pipes in the form of an inverted pyramid, giving very deep notes somewhat like those of a stopped diapason.
English · e-38699-4656Pyrargyrite, pī-rar′ji-rīt, n. an ore of silver consisting of the sulphide of silver and antimony. [Gr. pyr, fire, argyros, silver.]
English · e-38699-4657Pyre, pīr, n. a pile of wood, &c., on which a dead body is burned.—adj. Pyr′al. [L.,—Gr.,—pyr, fire.]
English · e-38699-4658 · brief source recordPyrene, pī′rēn, n. a stone or putamen.—n. Pyrē′nocarp, any drupaceous fruit.—adjs. Pyrē′noid, globular, nucleiform; Pyrē′nous. [Gr. pyrēn.]
English · e-38699-4659Pyrene, pī′rēn, n. a hydrocarbon obtained from coal-tar.
English · e-38699-4660 · brief source recordPyrenean, pir-ē-nē′an, adj. of or pertaining to the Pyrenees, the range of mountains between France and Spain.—n. Pyrenē′ite, a grayish-black garnet. [L. Pyrenæi (montes), the Pyrenees.]
English · e-38699-4661Pyrenomycetes, pī-rē-nō-mī-sē′tez, n.pl. an order of ascomycetous fungi, including ergot, black-rot, &c. [Gr. pyren, a stone, mykēs, pl. mycētes, a mushroom.]
English · e-38699-4662Pyrethrum, pir-eth′rum, n. a genus of plants containing the fever-few, or golden-feather, so much used in gardens as a bordering. [L.,—Gr.,—pyr, fire.]
English · e-38699-4663Pyretic, pī-ret′ik, adj. pertaining to fever.—n. a remedy for fever.—ns. Pyretol′ogy, the science of fevers; Pyrex′ia, fever.—adjs. Pyrex′ial, Pyrex′ic. [Gr. pyrektikos—pyretos, fever—pyr, fire.]
English · e-38699-4664Pyrgoidal, pir-goi′dal, adj. tower-shaped. [Gr., pyrgos, a tower.]
English · e-38699-4665 · brief source recordPyrheliometer, pir-hē-li-om′e-tėr, n. an instrument for measuring the intensity of the sun.—adj. Pyrheliomet′ric. [Gr. pyr, fire, hēlios, sun, metron, measure.]
English · e-38699-4666Pyriform, pir′i-form, adj. pear-shaped. [L. pirum, a pear, forma, form.]
English · e-38699-4667 · brief source recordPyrite, pī′rīt, n. native iron disulphide of a pale-yellow colour and very hard—also Iron pyrites.—Copper pyrites, yellow sulphide of copper and iron. [L.,—Gr. pyrites, a flint—pyr, fire.]
English · e-38699-4668Pyritegium, pir-i-tē′ji-um, n. the curfew-bell. [Low L.]
English · e-38699-4669 · brief source recordPyrites, pir-ī′tēz, n. a term applied to a large class of mineral compounds of metals with sulphur, or with arsenic, or with both—crystalline, hard, generally brittle, and frequently yellow.—adjs. Pyritā′ceous; Pyrit′ic,
English · e-38699-4670Pyritohedron, pī-rī-tō-hē′dron, n. a pentagonal dodecahedron.—adj. Pyritohē′dral. [Gr. pyritēs, pyrites, hedra, a seat.]
English · e-38699-4671Pyro-acetic, pī′rō-a-set′ik, adj. relating to acetic acid under heat.
English · e-38699-4672 · brief source recordPyro-electricity, pī′rō-e-lek-tris′i-ti, n. that branch of electricity which deals with electrification as produced by change of temperature in certain crystallised bodies.—adj. Py′ro-elec′tric.
English · e-38699-4675Pyroballogy, pī-rō-bal′ō-ji, n. the art of throwing fire: (Sterne) the science of artillery. [Gr. pyr, fire, ballein, to throw, logia—legein, to speak.]
English · e-38699-4673Pyroclastic, pī-rō-klas′tik, adj. formed by volcanic agencies. [Gr. pyr, fire, klastos, broken.]
English · e-38699-4674 · brief source recordPyrogallic, pī-rō-gal′ik, adj. obtained from gallic acid by the action of heat.
English · e-38699-4676 · brief source recordPyrogen, pī′rō-jen, n. any substance which causes fever when introduced into the blood.—adjs. Pyrogenet′ic, Pyrog′enous, producing fire: produced by fire; Pyrogen′ic, producing fever. [Gr. pyr, fire, root of gignesthai,
English · e-38699-4677Pyrognomic, pī-rog-nom′ik, adj. becoming incandescent when heated to a certain degree. [Gr. pyr, fire, gnōmōn, a mark.]
English · e-38699-4678 · brief source recordPyrognostic, pī-rog-nos′tik, adj. pertaining to fire or heat. [Gr. pyr, fire, gnōstikos, knowing.]
English · e-38699-4679 · brief source recordPyrography, pī-rog′ra-fi, n. the art of producing a design on wood by applying heat and pressure. [Gr. pyr, fire, graphein, to write.]
English · e-38699-4680Pyrogravure, pī-rō-grā-vūr′, n. a method of engraving on wood by a red-hot metallic point: a picture so produced.
English · e-38699-4681 · brief source recordPyrola, pī′rō-la, n. a genus of plants of the heath kind, called also Wintergreen: a single plant of this genus. [L., dim. of pirus, a pear-tree.]
English · e-38699-4682Pyrolatry, pī-rol′a-tri, n. fire-worship.—n. Pyrol′ater, a fire-worshipper. [Gr. pyr, pyros, fire, latreia, worship.]
English · e-38699-4683 · brief source recordPyroleter, pī-rol′e-tėr, n. a fire-extinguishing chemical apparatus by which carbonic acid is generated and thrown on the fire. [Gr. pyr, fire, oletēr, destroyer—ollynai, to destroy.]
English · e-38699-4684Pyroligneous, pī-rō-lig′ne-us, adj. procured by the distillation of wood—applied to a kind of acetic acid.—Also Pyrolig′nic, Pyrolig′nous.
English · e-38699-4685Pyrology, pī-rōl-ō-ji, n. the science of heat: a treatise on heat.—n. Pyrol′ogist. [Gr. pyr, pyros, fire, logos, discourse.]
English · e-38699-4686Pyrolusite, pī-rō-lū′sīt, n. native manganese dioxide.
English · e-38699-4687 · brief source recordPyromagnetic, pī-rō-mag-net′ik, adj. pertaining to magnetism as modified by the action of heat.
English · e-38699-4688 · brief source recordPyromancy, pī′rō-man-si, n. divination by fire.—adj. Pyroman′tic. [Gr. pyr, pyros, fire, manteia, divination.]
English · e-38699-4689 · brief source recordPyromania, pī-rō-mā′ni-a, n. a mania for destroying things by fire: insanity which takes this form.—n. Pyromā′niac.—adjs. Pyromā′niac, -al.
English · e-38699-4690Pyrometamorphism, pī-rō-met-a-mor′fizm, n. metamorphism due to heat, as opp. to Hydrometamorphism, that due to water.
English · e-38699-4691 · brief source recordPyrometer, pī-rom′e-tėr, n. an instrument in the form of a metallic bar for measuring the temperature of bodies under heat.—adjs. Pyromet′ric, -al.—n. Pyrom′etry, the science or art of measuring degrees of heat beyond th
English · e-38699-4692Pyromorphous, pī-rō-mor′fus, adj. assuming a crystallised form after fusion by heat. [Gr. pyr, pyros, fire, morphē, form.]
English · e-38699-4693Pyronomics, pī-rō-nom′iks, n. the science of heat.
English · e-38699-4694 · brief source recordPyrope, pī′rōp, n. a gem nearly allied to garnet, of a deep-red colour and translucent, generally occurring in roundish grains. [Gr. pyrōpos, fiery-eyed—pyr, pyros, fire, ōps, opos, the face.]
English · e-38699-4695Pyrophanous, pī-rof′a-nus, adj. made transparent by heat.—n. Py′rophāne, an opal translucent while hot by melted wax. [Gr. pyr, fire, phainein, to show.]
English · e-38699-4696Pyrophone, pī′rō-fōn, n. a musical instrument invented by Eugene Kastner (1873), in which the tones are produced by means of burning jets of hydrogen enclosed in graduated glass tubes. [Gr. pyr, fire, phōnē, sound.]
English · e-38699-4697Pyrophorus, pī-rof′ō-rus, n. a substance which takes fire on exposure to air: a genus of elaterid beetles.—n. Py′rophōre, any composition which takes fire on exposure to air or water.—adjs. Pyrophor′ic, Pyroph′orous. [Gr
English · e-38699-4698Pyrophosphoric, pī-rō-fos-for′ik, adj. formed by heating phosphoric acid.
English · e-38699-4699 · brief source recordPyrophotography, pī-rō-fō-tog′ra-fi, n. any photographic process in which heat is applied to fix the picture.
English · e-38699-4700 · brief source recordPyroscope, pī′rō-skōp, n. an instrument for measuring the intensity of radiating heat. [Gr. pyr, pyros, fire, skopein, to view.]
English · e-38699-4701Pyrosilver, pī-rō-sil′vėr, n. electroplated ware in which the silver is made to sink into the pores of the plated baser metal by the action of heat.
English · e-38699-4702Pyrosis, pī-rō′sis, n. water-brash (q.v.). [Gr.,—pyr, fire.]
English · e-38699-4703 · brief source recordPyrosoma, pī-rō-sō′ma, n. a genus of compound Tunicates, with brilliant phosphorescence, inhabiting the Mediterranean and the Atlantic—fire-flames. [Gr. pyr, fire, sōma, body.]
English · e-38699-4704Pyrostat, pī′rō-stat, n. an automatic draught-regulator for chimney-stacks, smoke-pipes, &c. [Gr. pyr, fire, statos—histanai, to stand.]
English · e-38699-4705Pyrosulphuric, pī-rō-sul-fū′rik, adj. obtained from sulphuric acid by the action of heat.
English · e-38699-4706 · brief source recordPyrotechnics, pī-rō-tek′niks, n. the art of making fireworks: the use and application of fireworks—also Py′rotechny.—adjs. Pyrotech′nic, -al, pertaining to fireworks.—n. Pyrotech′nist, a maker of fireworks: one skilled i
English · e-38699-4707Pyrotic, pī-rot′ik, adj. burning: caustic.—n. a caustic medicine. [Gr. pyrōtikos—pyr, pyros, fire.]
English · e-38699-4708 · brief source recordPyroxene, pī′rok-sēn, n. an important mineral species, occurring in monoclinic crystals.—adj. Pyroxen′ic. [Gr. pyr, fire, xenos, a guest.]
English · e-38699-4709Pyroxylic, pī-rok-sil′ik, adj. obtained by distilling wood.—ns. Pyrox′yle, Pyrox′ylin, -e, gun-cotton.—Pyroxylic spirit, a mixture of acetone, methyl-alcohol, acetate of methyl, &c., obtained by the destructive distillat
English · e-38699-4710Pyrrhic, pir′ik, n. a kind of war-dance among the ancient Greeks: a poetical foot consisting of two short syllables.—adj. pertaining to the dance or to the poetical foot.—n. Pyr′rhicist, one who dances the pyrrhic. [Gr.
English · e-38699-4711Pyrrhic, pir′ik, adj. of or pertaining to Pyrrhus, king of Epirus (318-272 B.C.).—Pyrrhic victory, a victory gained at too great a cost, in allusion to Pyrrhus's exclamation after his victory of Asculum (279), 'Another s
English · e-38699-4712Pyrrhonist, pir′rō-nist, n. one who holds the tenets of Pyrrho, a philosopher of Elis (360-270 B.C.), who taught universal scepticism: a sceptic.—adjs. Pyrrhō′nean, Pyrrhon′ic.—n. Pyr′rhonism, scepticism.
English · e-38699-4713Pyrrhous, pir′us, adj. reddish. [Gr.]
English · e-38699-4714 · brief source recordPyrus, pī′rus, n. a genus of trees and shrubs of the natural order Rosaceæ, sub-order Pomeæ. [L. pyrus, for pirus, a pear-tree.]
English · e-38699-4715Pythagorean, pi-thag-ō-rē′an, adj. pertaining to Pythagoras (c. 532 B.C.), a celebrated Greek philosopher, or to his philosophy.—n. a follower of Pythagoras.—ns. Pythag′orism, Pythagorē′anism, his doctrines.—Pythagorean
English · e-38699-4716Pythian, pith′i-an, adj. pertaining to the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo at Delphi, who delivered the oracles of the god there: noting one of the four national festivals of ancient Greece, in honour of Apollo, held eve
English · e-38699-4717Pythogenic, pī-thō-jen′ik, adj. produced by filth.—n. Pythogen′esis. [Gr. pythein, to rot, root of gignesthai, to become.]
English · e-38699-4718Pythometric, pī-thō-met′rik, adj. pertaining to the gauging of casks. [Gr. pithos, a wine-jar, metron, a measure.]
English · e-38699-4719 · brief source recordPython, pī′thon, n. a genus of serpents of the boa family, all natives of the Old World, and differing from the true boas by having the plates on the under surface of the tail double: a demon, spirit.—n. Py′thoness, the
English · e-38699-4720Pyx, piks, n. (R.C.) the sacred box in which the host is kept after consecration: the box at the British Mint containing sample coins.—v.t. to test the weight and fineness of, as the coin deposited in the pyx.—Trial of t
English · e-38699-4721Pyxidium, pik-sid′i-um, n. (bot.) a pod or seed-vessel which opens in two halves, the upper one resembling a lid. [Gr. pyxidion, dim. of pyxis.]
English · e-38699-4722Q, the seventeenth letter of our alphabet—absent from the Anglo-Saxon alphabet, in which the sound was expressed by cw; in Scotland replacing hw, now always followed by u: Roman numeral=500.
English · e-38699-4723Qua, kwä, adv. as far as. [L.]
English · e-38699-4724 · brief source recordQuab, Quob, kwob, v.i. (obs.) to tremble.
English · e-38699-4725 · brief source recordQuack, kwak, v.i. to cry like a duck: to boast: to practise as a quack.—v.t. to doctor by quackery.—n. the cry of a duck: a boastful pretender to skill which he does not possess, esp. medical skill: a mountebank.—adj. pe
English · e-38699-4726Quad, kwod, n. a quadrangle: (slang) a prison.—v.t. (slang) to put in prison.—Also Quod. [Quadrangle.]
English · e-38699-4727 · brief source recordQuad, kwod, n. (print.) an abbreviation of quadrat.—v.t. to fill with quadrats.
English · e-38699-4728 · brief source recordQuadra, kwod′ra, n. a frame enclosing a bas-relief:—pl. Quad′ræ (-ē). [L. quadrus, square.]
English · e-38699-4729 · brief source recordQuadragenarian, kwod-ra-jē-nā′ri-an, adj. consisting of forty: forty years old.—n. Quad′ragene, an indulgence for forty days.
English · e-38699-4730Quadragesima, kwod-ra-jes′i-ma, n. the Latin name for the whole season of Lent, with its forty days: the name commonly assigned to the first Sunday in Lent, by analogy with the three Sundays which precede Lent—Septuagesi
English · e-38699-4731Quadrangle, kwod′rang-gl, n. a square surrounded by buildings: (geom.) a plane figure having four equal sides and angles: in the jargon of palmistry, the space between the line of the heart and that of the head.—adj. Qua
English · e-38699-4732Quadrans, kwod′ranz, n. a Roman copper coin, the fourth part of the as:—pl. Quadran′tes. [L.]
English · e-38699-4733 · brief source recordQuadrant, kwod′rant, n. (geom.) the fourth part of a circle, or an arc of 90°: an instrument used in astronomy for the determination of angular measurements: an instrument of navigation for measuring the altitude of the
English · e-38699-4734Quadrat, kwod′rat, n. a piece of type-metal lower than the letters, used in spacing between words and filling out blank lines (commonly Quad)—distinguished as en ( [Image: En quadrat] ), em ( [Image: Em quadrat] ), two-e
English · e-38699-4735Quadrate, kwod′rāt, adj. squared: having four equal sides and four right angles: divisible into four equal parts: (fig.) balanced: exact: suited.—n. a square or quadrate figure: the quadrate bone, that between the lower
English · e-38699-4736Quadrel, kwod′rel, n. a square stone, brick, or tile: a square piece of turf.
English · e-38699-4737 · brief source recordQuadrennial, kwod-ren′yal, adj. comprising four years: once in four years.—adv. Quadrenn′ially.—ns. Quadrenn′iate, Quadrenn′ium, Quadrienn′ium, a period of four years. [L. quadrennis—quatuor, four, annus, a year.]
English · e-38699-4738Quadric, kwod′rik, adj. (alg.) of the second degree, quadratic—esp. in solid geometry and where there are more than two variables.—n. Quad′ricone, a quadric cone.
English · e-38699-4739Quadricentennial, kwod-ri-sen-ten′i-al, adj. pertaining to a period of 400 years.—n. the 400th anniversary of an event or its celebration.
English · e-38699-4740Quadriceps, kwod′ri-seps, n. the great muscle which extends the leg upon the thigh.—adj. Quadricip′ital. [L. quatuor, four, caput, head.]
English · e-38699-4741Quadricorn, kwod′ri-korn, adj. and n. having four horns, antennæ, &c.—Also Quadricorn′ous.
English · e-38699-4742 · brief source recordQuadricycle, kwod′ri-sī-kl, n. a four-wheeled vehicle propelled by the feet. [L. quatuor, four, Low L. cyclus—Gr. kyklos, a circle.]
English · e-38699-4743Quadridentate, kwod-ri-den′tāt, adj. having four teeth. Quadridigitate, kwod-ri-dij′i-tāt, adj. having four digits: quadrisulcate.
English · e-38699-4744Quadrifid, kwod′ri-fid, adj. four-cleft.
English · e-38699-4745 · brief source recordQuadrifoliate, kwod-ri-fō′li-āt, adj. four-leaved.
English · e-38699-4746 · brief source recordQuadriform, kwod′ri-form, adj. fourfold in form, arrangement, &c.
English · e-38699-4747 · brief source recordQuadriga, kwod-rī′ga, n. in Greek and Roman times a two-wheeled car drawn by four horses abreast:—pl. Quadrī′gæ. [L., a contr. of quadrijugæ—quatuor, four, jugum, a yoke.]
English · e-38699-4748Quadrigeminous, kwod-ri-jem′i-nus, adj. fourfold, having four similar parts.—Also Quadrigem′inal, Quadrigem′ināte.
English · e-38699-4749 · brief source recordQuadrigenarious, kwod-ri-jē-nā′ri-us, adj. consisting of four hundred.
English · e-38699-4750 · brief source recordQuadrijugate, kwod-ri-jōō′gāt, adj. (bot.) pinnate with four pairs of leaflets.—Also Quadriju′gous.
English · e-38699-4751 · brief source recordQuadrilateral, kwod-ri-lat′ėr-al, adj. having four sides.—n. (geom.) a plane figure having four sides: the four fortresses—Mantua, Verona, Peschiera, and Legnago—which form the points of a quadrilateral.—n. Quadrilat′era
English · e-38699-4752Quadriliteral, kwod-ri-lit′ėr-al, adj. of four letters.—n. a word or a root having four letters. [L. quatuor, four, litera, a letter.]
English · e-38699-4753Quadrille, kwa-dril′, n. a square dance for four couples, consisting of five movements: music for such square dances: a game played by four with forty cards.—v.i. to play at quadrille: to dance quadrilles. [Fr.,—Sp. cuad
English · e-38699-4754Quadrillion, kwod-ril′yun, n. a million raised to the fourth power, represented by a unit with twenty-four ciphers. [Coined from L. quater, four times, on the model of million.]
English · e-38699-4755Quadrilobate, kwod-ri-lō′bāt, adj. having four lobes or lobules.—Also Quad′rilobed.
English · e-38699-4756 · brief source recordQuadrilocular, kwod-ri-lok′ū-lar, adj. having four cells, cavities, or compartments.
English · e-38699-4757 · brief source recordQuadrimanous, kwod-rim′a-nus, adj. Same as Quadrumanous.
English · e-38699-4758 · brief source recordQuadrinomial, kwod-ri-nō′mi-al, adj. (alg.) consisting of four divisions or terms.—n. an expression of four terms. [L. quatuor, four, Gr. nomē, a division—nemein, to distribute.]
English · e-38699-4759Quadripartite, kwod-ri-par′tīt, adj. divided into four parts: (bot.) deeply cleft into four parts, as a leaf: (archit.) divided, as a vault, into four compartments.—n. a treatise divided into four parts.—adv. Quadripar′t
English · e-38699-4760Quadripennate, kwod-ri-pen′āt, adj. and n. having four wings.
English · e-38699-4761 · brief source recordQuadriphyllous, kwod-ri-fil′us, adj. having four leaves.
English · e-38699-4762 · brief source recordQuadrireme, kwod′ri-rēm, n. a galley with four benches of oars. [L. quadriremis—quatuor, four, remus, an oar.]
English · e-38699-4763 · brief source recordQuadrisection, kwod-ri-sek′shun, n. a division into four equal parts. [L. quatuor, four, secāre, sectum, to cut.]
English · e-38699-4764 · brief source recordQuadrisyllable, kwod-ri-sil′a-bl n. a word consisting of four syllables.—adjs. Quadrisyllab′ic, -al. [L. quatuor, four, syllaba, a syllable.]
English · e-38699-4765Quadrivalvular, kwod-ri-val′vū-lar, adj. having four valves or valvular parts.—Also Quad′rivalve.
English · e-38699-4766 · brief source recordQuadrivium, kwod-riv′i-um, n. the Pythagorean name for the four branches of mathematics—arithmetic, music, geometry, astronomy—when preceded by the trivium of grammar, logic, and rhetoric—together making up the seven lib
English · e-38699-4767Quadroon, kwod-rōōn′, n. the offspring of a mulatto and a white person, one 'quarter-blooded.'—Also Quarteroon′. [Sp. cuarteron—cuarto, a fourth.]
English · e-38699-4768Quadrumane, kwod′rōō-mān, n. one of the Quadru′mana, an order of mammalia having four hands, or four feet, with an opposable thumb—also Quad′ruman.—adj. Quadru′manous, having four hands. [L. quatuor, four, manus, a hand.
English · e-38699-4769Quadruped, kwod′rōō-ped, n. a four-footed animal.—adjs. Quad′ruped, -al, having four feet.—n. Quad′rupedism, the state of being a quadruped. [L. quatuor, four, pes, pedis, a foot.]
English · e-38699-4770Quadruple, kwod′rōō-pl, adj. fourfold.—n. four times the quantity or number.—v.t. to increase fourfold.—v.i. to become four times as many.—n. Quad′ruplet, any combination of four things—also Quart′et: one of four born at
English · e-38699-4771Quæsitum, kwē-sī′tum, n. something sought or required:—pl. Quæsī′ta. [L. neut. of quæsitus, pa.p. of quærĕre, to seek.]
English · e-38699-4772 · brief source recordQuæstor, kwēs′tor, n. a magistrate with charge of the Roman public funds—originally who investigated cases of murder and executed sentence: in the Middle Ages an officer who announced indulgences: a treasurer—also Ques′t
English · e-38699-4773Quaff, kwaf, v.t. to drink in large draughts.—v.i. to drink largely.—n. Quaff′er. [Quach, quaich,—Gael. and Ir. cuach, a bowl.]
English · e-38699-4774Quag, kwag, n. a quagmire (q.v.).—adj. Quagg′y, spongy, boggy.
English · e-38699-4775 · brief source recordQuagga, kwag′a, n. one of the three species of striped wild horses, or more properly wild asses, peculiar to Africa, of which the zebra is the type. [Hottentot.]
English · e-38699-4776Quagmire, kwag′mīr, n. wet, boggy ground that yields under the feet.—v.t. to entangle, as in a quagmire.—adj. Quag′miry. [Quake and mire.]
English · e-38699-4777Quahog, kwa-hog′, n. the common round clam of the North American Atlantic coast.—Also Quahaug′. [Amer. Ind. poquauhock.]
English · e-38699-4778Quaid, kwād, adj. (Spens.) quelled, crushed.
English · e-38699-4779 · brief source recordQuaigh, kwāh, n. (Scot.) a kind of drinking-cup, usually made of wood. [Gael. cuach, a cup.]
English · e-38699-4780 · brief source recordQuail, kwāl, v.i. to cower: to fail in spirit: (Shak.) to slacken.—v.t. to subdue: to terrify.—n. Quail′ing (Shak.), act of one who quails: a failing in courage. [A.S. cwelan, to die; Ger. quälen, to suffer.]
English · e-38699-4781Quail, kwāl, n. a small gallinaceous bird, related to the partridge family: (Shak.) a whore.—ns. Quail′-call, -pipe, a call for alluring quails into a net. [O. Fr. quaille—Low L. quaquila—Old Dut. quakele; cf. Low Ger. q
English · e-38699-4782Quaint, kwānt, adj. unusual: odd: whimsical: (obs.) prim, affectedly nice: fine: (Shak.) clever.—adv. Quaint′ly.—n. Quaint′ness. [O. Fr. coint—L. cognitus, known. Some confusion with L. comptus, neat, is probable.]
English · e-38699-4783Quake, kwāk, v.i. to tremble, esp. with cold or fear: to tremble from want of firmness.—v.t. to cause to tremble:—pr.p. quā′king; pa.t. and pa.p. quāked.—n. a shake: a shudder.—ns. Quā′kiness; Quā′king; Quā′king-grass, a
English · e-38699-4784Quaker, kwā′kėr, n. one of the Society of Friends, a religious sect founded by George Fox (1624-90): a dummy cannon: a collector's name for certain noctuoid moths.—n. Quā′ker-bird, the sooty albatross.—n.pl. Quā′ker-butt
English · e-38699-4785Qualify, kwol′i-fī, v.t. to render capable or suitable: to furnish with legal power: to limit by modifications: to soften: to abate: to reduce the strength of: to vary: (Scots law) to prove, confirm.—v.i. to take the nec
English · e-38699-4786Quality, kwol′i-ti, n. that which makes a thing what it is: property: peculiar power: acquisition: character: rank: superior birth or character: (logic) the character of a proposition as affirmative or negative: (Shak.)
English · e-38699-4787Qualm, kwäm, n. a sudden attack of illness: a sensation of nausea: a scruple, as of conscience.—adj. Qualm′ish, affected with qualm, or a disposition to vomit, or with slight sickness: uneasy.—adv. Qualm′ishly.—n. Qualm′
English · e-38699-4788Quamash, kwa-mash′, n. camass.
English · e-38699-4789 · brief source recordQuandang, kwan′dang, n. a small Australian tree, with edible fruit, the native peach. [Austr.]
English · e-38699-4790 · brief source recordQuandary, kwon-dā′ri, or kwon′da-ri, n. a state of difficulty or uncertainty: a hard plight. [Prob. M. E. wandreth, peril—Ice. vandrætdi, trouble.]
English · e-38699-4791Quannet, kwan′et, n. a file for scraping zinc plates: a kind of file used in comb-making.
English · e-38699-4792 · brief source recordQuant, kwant, n. a pushing or jumping pole, with a flat cap at the end, used in marshes.
English · e-38699-4793 · brief source recordQuantic, kwon′tik, n. (math.) a rational integral homogeneous function of two or more variables.—adj. Quan′tical. [L. quantus, how great.]
English · e-38699-4794Quantify, kwon′ti-fī, v.t. to determine with respect to quantity: to fix or express the quantity of.—n. Quantificā′tion, the art, process, or form by which anything is quantified.—Quantification of the predicate, a phras
English · e-38699-4795Quantity, kwon′ti-ti, n. the amount of anything: bulk: size: a determinate amount: a sum or bulk: a large portion: (logic) the extent of a conception: (gram.) the measure of a syllable: (mus.) the relative duration of a
English · e-38699-4796Quantum, kwon′tum, n. quantity: amount:—pl. Quan′ta.—Quantum sufficit—as much as is sufficient. [L. quantum, neut. of quantus, how great.]
English · e-38699-4797Quaquaversal, kwä-kwä-ver′sal, adj. (geol.) inclining outward in all directions from a centre: facing all ways.—adv. Quaquaver′sally. [L. quaqua, wheresoever, vertĕre, versum, to turn.]
English · e-38699-4798Quarantine, kwor′an-tēn, n. a forced abstinence from communication with the shore which ships are compelled to undergo when they are last from some port where certain infectious diseases are raging—the time originally fo
English · e-38699-4799Quarl, kwärl, n. a segment of fireclay used in making covers for retorts, &c.
English · e-38699-4800 · brief source recordQuarl, kwärl, n. a medusa or jelly-fish.
English · e-38699-4801 · brief source recordQuarrel, kwor′el, n. a square of glass placed diagonally: a lozenge or diamond: a diamond pane of glass: a small square tile: a square-headed arrow for a cross-bow: a graver, glaziers' diamond, or other tool having a sev
English · e-38699-4802Quarrel, kwor′el, n. an angry dispute: a breach of friendship: (Shak.) a cause of complaint: a brawl: (Shak.) a quarreller.—v.i. to cavil, find fault: to dispute violently: to fight: to disagree.—v.t. (Scot.) to find fau
English · e-38699-4803Quarrender, kwor′en-dėr, n. (prov.) a kind of apple.
English · e-38699-4804 · brief source recordQuarry, kwor′i, n. an excavation from which stone is taken for building, &c., by cutting, blasting, &c.—v.t. to dig from a quarry:—pa.t. and pa.p. quarr′ied.—adj. Quarr′iable, capable of being quarried.—ns. Quarr′ier, Qu
English · e-38699-4805Quarry, kwor′i, n. the entrails of the game given to the dogs after the chase: the object of the chase: the game a hawk is pursuing or has killed: a heap of dead game. [O. Fr. curee, cuiree—cuir, the skin—L. corium, hide
English · e-38699-4806Quarry, kwor′i, n. a small square tile.—adj. Quarr′ied, paved with such. [O. Fr. quarre—L. quadratus, square.]
English · e-38699-4807 · brief source recordQuart, Quarte, kärt, n. a sequence of four cards: one of the eight thrusts and parries in fencing.—Quart and tierce, practice between fencers. [Fr. quarte.]
English · e-38699-4808Quart, kwort, or kwawrt, n. the fourth part of a gallon, or two pints: a vessel containing two pints: (Spens.) a quarter: the peck or quarter of a bushel: (mus.) the interval of a fourth.—n. Quartā′tion, the parting of g
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