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 ↗
Cuckoo, kook′kōō, n. a bird which cries cuckoo, remarkable for laying its eggs in the nests of other birds.—ns. Cuck′oo-bud (Shak.), name of a plant; Cuck′oo-clock, a clock in which the hours are told by a cuckoo-call; C
English · e-37683-6581Cucullate, -d, kū′kul-lāt, -ed, adj. hooded: shaped like a hood. [L. cucullatus—cucullus, a hood.]
English · e-37683-6582 · brief source recordCucumber, kū′kum-bėr, n. a creeping plant, with heart-shaped leaves, rough with bristly hairs, and large oblong fruit used as a salad and pickle—a native of southern Asia.—adj. Cucum′iform. [L. cucumis, cucumeris.]
English · e-37683-6583Cucurbit, kū′kur-bit, n. a chemical vessel used in distillation, originally shaped like a gourd.—adjs. Cucur′bital, Cucurbitā′ceous, pertaining to the Cucurbitaceæ, mostly herbaceous climbers, as the gourd, melon, &c.; C
English · e-37683-6584Cud, kud, n. the food brought from the first stomach of a ruminating animal back into the mouth and chewed again.—n. Cud′weed, the popular name for many species of plants covered with a cottony down.—Chew the cud, to med
English · e-37683-6585Cudbear, kud′bār, n. a purple or violet coloured powder prepared from a lichen, used in dyeing. [A corr. of Cuthbert—from Dr Cuthbert Gordon, who first made it an article of commerce.]
English · e-37683-6586Cuddle, kud′l, v.t. to hug: to embrace: to fondle.—v.i. to lie close and snug together.—n. a close embrace. [Perh. a freq. of M. E. couth, cosy.]
English · e-37683-6587Cuddy, kud′i, n. a small cabin or cookroom, in the fore-part of a boat or lighter: in large vessels, the officers' cabin under the poopdeck. [Origin uncertain; cf. Fr. cahute; Dut. kajuit; Ger. kajüte.]
English · e-37683-6588Cuddy, kud′i, n. the right of a lord to entertainment from his tenant: rent: (Spens.) Cuddeehih. [Corr. of Ir. cuid oidhche—cuid, a share, oidhche, night.]
English · e-37683-6589Cuddy, Cuddie, kud′i, n. a donkey: (Scot.) a stupid person. [Perh. formed from Cuthbert.]
English · e-37683-6590 · brief source recordCudgel, kud′jel, n. a heavy staff: a club.—v.t. to beat with a cudgel:—pr.p. cud′gelling; pa.p. cud′gelled.—ns. Cud′geller; Cud′gelling.—adj. Cud′gel-proof, not to be hurt by beating.—Take up the cudgels, to engage in a
English · e-37683-6591Cue, kū, n. the last words of an actor's speech serving as a hint to the next speaker: any hint: the part one has to play. [Acc. to some from Fr. queue, tail, as the ending words of the last speech; in 17th cent. written
English · e-37683-6592Cue, kū, n. a twist of hair at the back of the head: a rod used in playing billiards.—v.t. of the hair, to form in a cue. [Fr. queue—L. cauda, a tail.]
English · e-37683-6593Cuff, kuf, n. a stroke with the open hand.—v.t. to strike with the open hand: to beat. [Origin obscure; cf. Sw. kuffa, to knock.]
English · e-37683-6594Cuff, kuf, n. the end of the sleeve near the wrist: a covering for the wrist: a handcuff (q.v.). [Prob. cog. with Coif.]
English · e-37683-6595Cuff, kuf, n. Scotch form of Scruff.—Cuff of the neck. See Scruff.
English · e-37683-6596 · brief source recordCuffin, kuf′in, n. a man: a justice of the peace. [Thieves' slang.]
English · e-37683-6597 · brief source recordCufic, kūf′ik, adj. of or pertaining to Cufa, esp. applied to the kind of writing of the scholars of Cufa in Asiatic Turkey, seat of the most expert copyists of the Koran.
English · e-37683-6598Cuir-bouilli, kwēr-bōō′lyi, n. leather softened by boiling, then dried, retaining the impressions made on it.—Also Cuir-bouilly.
English · e-37683-6600Cuirass, kwi-ras′, or kū-, n. a defensive covering for the breast and back, of leather or iron fastened with straps and buckles, &c.—v.t. to furnish with such.—n. Cuirassier′, a horse-soldier armed with such. [Fr. cuiras
English · e-37683-6599Cuisine, kwe-zēn′, n. a kitchen or cooking department: cookery.—n. Cuisin′ier, a cook. [Fr. (It. cucina)—L. coquina—coquĕre, to cook.]
English · e-37683-6601Cuisse, kwis, Cuish, kwish, n. armour for the thighs, consisting of iron plates laid horizontally over each other and riveted together. [Fr. cuisse (It. coscia, the thigh)—L. coxa, the hip.]
English · e-37683-6602Cuiter, küt′ėr, v.t. (Scot.) to fondle, pamper.
English · e-37683-6603 · brief source recordCuittle, küt′l, v.t. to curry: (Scot.) to cajole.
English · e-37683-6604 · brief source recordCul-de-four, kōō-de-foor, n. (archit.) a sort of low spherical vault, oven-like.—ns. Cul-de-lampe, an ornamental design used in filling up blank spaces in a book; Cul-de-sac, a street, &c., closed at one end: a blind all
English · e-37683-6607Culch, kulch, n. (prov.) rubbish.
English · e-37683-6605 · brief source recordCuldee, kul′dē, n. one of a fraternity of monks living in Scotland in the 8th century in groups of cells. [Acc. to Reeves and Skene, the old Ir. céle dé, 'servants of God,' or 'companions of God'—Latinised by Boece into
English · e-37683-6606Culet, kū′let, n. the small flat surface at the back or bottom of a brilliant: the part of armour protecting the body behind, from the waist downwards—also Culette. [O. Fr., cul—L. culus, the rump.]
English · e-37683-6608Culex, kū′leks, n. the typical genus of Culicidæ or gnats—adj. Culic′iform, gnat-like. [L.]
English · e-37683-6609 · brief source recordCulinary, kū′lin-ar-i, adj. pertaining to the kitchen or to cookery: used in the kitchen. [L. culinarius—culina, a kitchen.]
English · e-37683-6610Cull, kul, v.t. to select, pick out.—ns. Cull′er; Cull′ing. [Fr. cueillir, to gather—L. colligĕre—col, together, legĕre, to gather. Doublet of Collect.]
English · e-37683-6611Cullender. See Colander.
English · e-37683-6612 · brief source recordCullet, kul′et, n. refuse glass.
English · e-37683-6613 · brief source recordCullion, kul′yun, n. a wretch: a cowardly fellow.—adj. Cull′ionly (Shak.), mean, base. [Fr. couillon, a poltroon (It. coglione)—L. coleus, a leather bag.]
English · e-37683-6614Cullis, kul′is, n. a gutter in a roof: a groove, as for a side-scene in a theatre. [Fr. coulisse.]
English · e-37683-6615 · brief source recordCully, kul′i, n. a mean dupe.—v.t. to deceive meanly:—pa.p. cull′ied.—ns. Cull, a dupe; Cull′yism, state of being a cully. [Prob. a contr. of Cullion.]
English · e-37683-6616Culm, kulm, n. the stalk or stem of corn or of grasses.—v.i. to form a culm.—adj. Culmif′erous, having a culm. [L. culmus, a stalk.]
English · e-37683-6617Culm, kulm, n. coal-dust: name given in some parts of England to anthracite or stone-coal.—adj. Culmif′erous, producing culm. [See Coom.]
English · e-37683-6618Culmen, kul′men, n. highest point: the median length-wise ridge of a bird's upper mandible. [L.]
English · e-37683-6619 · brief source recordCulminate, kul′min-āt, v.i. (astron.) to be vertical or at the highest point of altitude: to reach the highest point (with in).—adj. Cul′minant, at its highest point.—n. Culminā′tion, act of culminating: the top: (astron
English · e-37683-6620Culottic, kul-ot′ic, adj. wearing trousers: (Carlyle) respectable. [Fr. culotte, breeches.]
English · e-37683-6621 · brief source recordCulpable, kul′pa-bl, adj. faulty: criminal.—ns. Culpabil′ity, Cul′pableness, liability to blame.—adv. Cul′pably.—adj. Cul′patory, expressive of blame. [O. Fr. coupable—L. culpabilis—culpa, a fault.]
English · e-37683-6622Culprit, kul′prit, n. one in fault: a criminal: (Eng. law) a prisoner accused but not yet tried. [From the fusion in legal phraseology of cul. (culpable, culpabilis), and prit, prist (O. Fr. prest), ready. Not culpate—la
English · e-37683-6623Cult, kult, n. a system of religious belief, worship.—Also Cult′us. [L. cultus—colĕre, to worship.]
English · e-37683-6624 · brief source recordCulter, kul′tėr, n. obsolete form of Coulter.—adjs. Cultiros′tral, Culturos′tral; Cul′trate, -d, shaped like a pruning-knife; Cul′triform, in the form of a pruning-knife: sharp-edged.
English · e-37683-6625Cultism, kult′ism, n. a style of writing after the manner of Luis de Góngora y Argote (1561-1627), a Spanish lyric poet—estilo culto, being florid, pedantic, often obscure.—ns. Cult′ist, Cult′orist. [Sp. culte, elegant—L
English · e-37683-6626Cultivate, kul′ti-vāt, v.i. to till or produce by tillage: to prepare for crops: to devote attention to: to civilise or refine.—adjs. Cul′tivable, Cultivat′able, capable of being cultivated.—ns. Cultivā′tion, the art or
English · e-37683-6627Culture, kul′tūr, n. cultivation: the state of being cultivated: refinement the result of cultivation.—v.t. to cultivate: to improve.—adjs. Cul′turable; Cul′tural.—p.adj. Cul′tured, cultivated: well educated: refined.—ad
English · e-37683-6628Cultus. See Cult.
English · e-37683-6629 · brief source recordCulver, kul′vėr, n. a dove: a pigeon.—n. Cul′ver-key, an herb, probably the columbine, having key-shaped flowerets.—adj. Cul′vertailed, dovetailed. [A.S. culfre, prob. from L. columba.]
English · e-37683-6630Culver's physic, root, n. popular name of a kind of speedwell, the rhizome of Veronica virginica, used medicinally. [Prob. from one Dr Culver.]
English · e-37683-6632Culverin, kul′vėr-in, n. one of the earlier forms of cannon of great length, generally an 18-pounder, weighing 50 cwt.—ns. Cul′verineer; Dem′i-cul′verin, a 9-pounder, weighing 30 cwt. [Fr. coulevrine, from couleuvre, a s
English · e-37683-6631Culvert, kul′vėrt, n. an arched channel of masonry for carrying water beneath a road, railway, &c. [Perh. from Fr. couler, to flow—L. colāre.]
English · e-37683-6633Culvertage, kul′ver-tāj, n. degradation of a vassal to the position of a serf. [O. Fr. culvert, a serf.]
English · e-37683-6634 · brief source recordCumbent, kum′bent, adj. lying down; reclining. [L. cumbens, -entis, pr.p. of cumbĕre, to lie down.]
English · e-37683-6635 · brief source recordCumber, kum′bėr, v.t. to trouble or hinder with something useless: to retard, trouble.—n. encumbrance: cumbering.—adj. Cum′bered, hampered: obstructed.—ns. Cum′berer; Cum′ber-ground, a useless thing, from Luke, xiii. 7.—
English · e-37683-6636Cumbrian, kum′bri-an, adj. (geol.) of or pertaining to a system of slaty rocks best developed in Cumberland and Westmorland, now merged in the Cambrian or Silurian system.
English · e-37683-6637Cumin, Cummin, kum′in, n. an umbelliferous plant, common in Egypt, and cultivated in southern Europe and India—its seeds, resembling the caraway, valuable as carminatives. [L. cuminum—Gr. kyminon, cog. with Heb. kammôn.]
English · e-37683-6638Cummer, kum′ėr, Kimmer, kim′ėr, n. a gossip: a woman: (Scot.) a girl. [Fr. commère—L. con, with, mater, mother.]
English · e-37683-6639 · brief source recordCummerbund, kum′ėr-bund, n. a waist-belt, a sash. [Anglo-Ind.—Pers. kamarband, a loin-band.]
English · e-37683-6640 · brief source recordCumshaw, kum′shaw, n. a gift, a tip. [Pidgin-English.]
English · e-37683-6641 · brief source recordCumulate, kūm′ū-lāt, v.t. to heap together: to accumulate.—adjs. Cum′ulate, -d, heaped up.—n. Cumulā′tion (= Accumulation).—adj. Cum′ulative, increasing by successive additions.—adv. Cum′ulatively. [L. cumulāre, -ātum—cu
English · e-37683-6642Cumulus, kū′mū-lus, n. a heap; a kind of cloud common in summer, consisting of rounded heaps with a darker horizontal base.—adjs. Cū′muliform; Cū′mulose.—n. Cū′mulo-strā′tus, a cloud looking like a combination of the cum
English · e-37683-6643Cunabula, kū-nab′ul-a, n.pl. a cradle. [L.]
English · e-37683-6644 · brief source recordCunarder, kūn-ard′ėr, n. one of a certain line of steamships between England and America. [Founded by Sir Samuel Cunard (1787-1865).]
English · e-37683-6645Cunctator, kungk-tā′tor, n. one who delays or puts off.—n. Cunctā′tion, delay.—adjs. Cunctā′tious, Cunctā′tive, Cunctā′tory, inclined to delay. [L.,—cunctāri, to delay.]
English · e-37683-6646Cuneal, kū′ne-al, Cuneate, kū′ne-āt, adj. of the form of a wedge.—adjs. Cunē′iform, Cū′niform, wedge-shaped—specially applied to the old Babylonian and Assyrian writing, of which the characters have a wedge-shape. [L. cu
English · e-37683-6647Cunette. See Cuvette.
English · e-37683-6648 · brief source recordCunning, kun′ing, adj. knowing: skilful: artful: crafty.—n. knowledge: skill: faculty of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose: artifice.—adv. Cunn′ingly.—n. Cunn′ingness, quality of being cunning: artfulness, slyness.
English · e-37683-6649Cup, kup, n. a vessel used to contain liquid: a drinking-vessel: the liquid contained in a cup: that which we must receive or undergo: afflictions: blessings.—v.i. to extract blood from the body by means of cupping-glass
English · e-37683-6650Cupel, kū′pel, n. a small vessel used by goldsmiths in assaying precious metals.—v.t. to assay in a cupel.—n. Cupellā′tion, the process of assaying precious metals. [L. cupella, dim. of cupa. See Cup.]
English · e-37683-6651Cupidity, kū-pid′i-ti, n. covetousness.—n. Cū′pid, the god of love. [L. cupiditas—cupĕre, to desire.]
English · e-37683-6652 · brief source recordCupola, kū′po-la, n. a spherical vault, or concave ceiling, on the top of a building: the internal part of a dome: a dome.—v.t. to furnish with such. [It.; dim. of Low L. cupa, a cup—L. cupa, a tub.]
English · e-37683-6653Cupreous, kūp′rē-us, Cupric, kūp′rik, adj. of or containing copper.—adj. Cuprif′erous, producing copper.—n. Cū′prite, the red oxide of copper. [L. cuprum, copper, ferre, to bear.]
English · e-37683-6654Cupressus, kū-pres′us, n. the cypress genus of coniferous trees. [L.]
English · e-37683-6655 · brief source recordCupule, kū′pūl, n. (bot.) a shortened axis with a number of more or less cohering bracts enclosing the ripening fruit—also Cū′pula.—adj. Cupulif′erous, bearing cupules. [L. cupula, dim. of cupa, a tub, and ferre, to carr
English · e-37683-6656Cur, kur, n. a worthless dog, of low breed: a churlish fellow.—adj. Cur′rish.—adv. Cur′rishly.—n. Cur′rishness. [M. E. curre; cf. Old Dut. korre, Dan. kurre, to whir.]
English · e-37683-6657Curaçoa, koo-ra-sō′a, n. a liqueur so named from the island of Curaçao in the West Indies, where it was first made.—Also Curaça′o.
English · e-37683-6658Curari, koo-rä′ri, n. a poison used by South American Indians for their arrows—also Cura′ra.—n. Cura′rine, a highly poisonous alkaloid extracted from curari. [From the native name.]
English · e-37683-6659Curassow, kū-ras′ō, n. a large turkey-like South American bird.
English · e-37683-6660 · brief source recordCurate, kūr′āt, n. one who has the cure of souls: an inferior clergyman in the Church of England, assisting a rector or vicar.—ns. Cur′acy, Cur′ateship, the office, employment, or benefice of a curate. [Low L. curatus, f
English · e-37683-6661Curator, kūr-ā′tor, n. one who has the charge of anything: a superintendent: one appointed by law as guardian: a member of a board for electing university professors and the like:—fem. Curā′trix.—n. Curā′torship, the off
English · e-37683-6662Curb, kurb, v.t. to bend to one's will: to subdue: to restrain or check: to furnish with or guide by a curb.—n. that which curbs: a check or hinderance: a chain or strap attached to the bit of a bridle for restraining th
English · e-37683-6663Curch, kurch, n. a covering for the head, a kerchief.
English · e-37683-6664 · brief source recordCurculio, kur-kū′li-o, n. the fruit-weevil. [L.]
English · e-37683-6665 · brief source recordCurcuma, kur′kū-ma, n. a genus of plants yielding turmeric.—n. Cur′cumine, the colouring matter of turmeric. [Fr.,—Ar. kurkum, saffron.]
English · e-37683-6666Curd, kurd, n. milk thickened or coagulated: the cheese part of milk, as distinguished from the whey.—n. Curd′iness.—v.i. Curd′le, to turn into curd: to congeal: to thicken.—v.t. to congeal.—adj. Curd′y, like or full of
English · e-37683-6667Cure, kūr, n. care of souls or spiritual charge: care of the sick: act of healing: that which heals: a remedy, or course of remedial treatment.—v.t. to heal: to preserve, as by drying, salting, &c.:—pr.p. cūr′ing; pa.p.
English · e-37683-6668Curé, kū′rā, n. a parish priest in France.
English · e-37683-6669 · brief source recordCurfew, kur′fū, n. in feudal times the ringing of a bell at eight o'clock, as a signal to put out all fires and lights. [O. Fr. covrefeu; couvrir, to cover, feu, fire—L. focus.]
English · e-37683-6670Curia, kū′ri-a, n. one of the ten divisions of a Roman tribe: a building in which the senate met, a provincial senate: a court, legislative or judicial: the court of the papal see.—ns. Cū′rialism; Cū′rialist.—adj. Curial
English · e-37683-6671Curiet, kū′ri-et, n. (Spens.) a cuirass.
English · e-37683-6672 · brief source recordCurio, kū′ri-o, n. any article of virtu or bric-à-brac, or anything considered rare and curious.—n. Curiō′so, a collector or admirer of curios.
English · e-37683-6673Curious, kū′ri-us, adj. anxious to learn: inquisitive: showing great care or nicety: skilfully made: singular: rare.—n. Curios′ity, state or quality of being curious: inquisitiveness: that which is curious: anything rare
English · e-37683-6674Curl, kurl, v.t. to twist into ringlets: to coil.—v.i. to shrink into ringlets: to rise in undulations: to writhe: to ripple: to play at the game of curling.—n. a ringlet of hair, or what is like it: a wave, bending, or
English · e-37683-6675Curlew, kur′lū, n. one of the wading-birds, having a very long slender bill and legs, and a short tail. [O. Fr. corlieu; prob. from its cry.]
English · e-37683-6676Curmudgeon, kur-muj′un, n. an avaricious, ill-natured fellow: a miser.—adj. Curmud′geonly. [Earlier corn-mudgin; mudge, mooch; M. E. muchen—O. Fr. mucier, to hide.]
English · e-37683-6677Curmurring, kur-mur′ing, n. a rumbling sound, esp. that made in the bowels by flatulence. [Imit.]
English · e-37683-6678 · brief source recordCurr, kur, v.i. to cry like an owl, to purr like a cat, &c. [Imit.]
English · e-37683-6679 · brief source recordCurrach, -agh, kur′ach, n. a coracle. [Gael.]
English · e-37683-6680 · brief source recordCurrant, kur′ant, n. a small kind of raisin or dried grape imported from the Levant: the fruit of several species of ribes.—ns. Curr′ant-jell′y; Curr′ant-wine. [From Corinth.]
English · e-37683-6681Current, kur′ent, adj. running or flowing: passing from person to person: generally received: now passing: present.—n. a running or flowing: a stream: a portion of water or air moving in a certain direction: course.—n. C
English · e-37683-6682Curricle, kur-i′kl, n. a two-wheeled open chaise, drawn by two horses abreast: a chariot.—n. Curric′ulum, a course, esp. the course of study at a university. [L. curriculum, from currĕre.]
English · e-37683-6683Currish, Currishly, &c. See Cur.
English · e-37683-6684 · brief source recordCurry, kur′i, n. a kind of sauce or seasoning much used in India, compounded of pepper, ginger, and other spices: a stew mixed with curry-powder.—n. Curr′y-pow′der. [Tamil kari, sauce.]
English · e-37683-6685Curry, kur′i, v.t. to dress leather: to rub down and dress a horse: to beat: to scratch:—pr.p. curr′ying; pa.p. curr′ied.—ns. Curr′ier, one who curries or dresses tanned leather; Curr′y-comb, an iron instrument or comb u
English · e-37683-6686Curry, Currie, obsolete forms of Quarry.
English · e-37683-6687 · brief source recordCurse, kurs, v.t. to invoke or wish evil upon: to devote to perdition: to vex or torment.—v.i. to utter imprecations: to swear.—n. the invocation or wishing of evil or harm upon: evil invoked on another: torment: any gre
English · e-37683-6688Cursitor, kur′si-tor, n. a clerk or officer in the Court of Chancery who makes out original writs. [Low L. cursitor, from the words 'de cursu,' applied in the statute to ordinary writs.]
English · e-37683-6689Cursive, kur′siv, adj. written with a running hand, of handwriting: flowing.—adv. Cur′sively. [Low L. cursivus—L. currĕre, to run.]
English · e-37683-6690Cursorial, kur-sō′ri-al, adj. adapted for running.—n.pl. Cursō′res, an order of birds variously limited.
English · e-37683-6691 · brief source recordCursory, kur′sor-i, adj. hasty: superficial: careless.—adj. Cur′sorary (Shak.), cursory.—adv. Cur′sorily.—n. Cur′soriness. [L. currĕre, cursum, to run.]
English · e-37683-6692Curst. See Curse.
English · e-37683-6693 · brief source recordCursus, kur′sus, n. a race-course: a form of daily prayer or service; an academic curriculum. [L.]
English · e-37683-6694 · brief source recordCurt, kurt, adj. short: concise: discourteously brief or summary.—adj. Curt′āte, shortened or reduced; applied to the distance of a planet from the sun or earth reduced to the plane of the ecliptic.—n. Curtā′tion.—adv. C
English · e-37683-6695Curtail, kur-tāl′, v.t. to cut short: to cut off a part: to abridge:—pr.p. curtail′ing; pa.p. curtailed′.—ns. Curtail′ment; Curtail′-step, the rounded step at the bottom of a stair. [Old spelling curtal, O. Fr. courtault
English · e-37683-6696Curtain, kur′tin, n. drapery hung round and enclosing a bed, &c.: the part of a rampart between two bastions.—v.t. to enclose or furnish with curtains.—n. Cur′tain-lec′ture, a lecture or reproof given in bed by a wife to
English · e-37683-6697Curtal, kur′tal, n. a horse with a curt or docked tail: anything docked or cut short.—adj. docked or shortened.—n. Cur′tal-frī′ar (Scott), a friar with a short frock. [Fr. courtaud—court. See Curtail.]
English · e-37683-6698Curtal-ax, kur′tal-aks, Curt-axe, kurt′aks, n. (Spens.), a short, broad sword. [A corr. of the earlier forms coutelas, curtelas. See Cutlass.]
English · e-37683-6699Curtilage, kur′til-āj, n. a court attached to a dwelling-house. [O. Fr. courtillage. See Court.]
English · e-37683-6700 · brief source recordCurtsy, Curtsey, kurt′si, n. an obeisance, made by bending the knees, proper to women and children.—v.i. to make a curtsy. [See Courtesy.]
English · e-37683-6701Curule, kū′rōōl, adj. applied to a chair in which the higher Roman magistrates had a right to sit. [L. curulis—currus, a chariot.]
English · e-37683-6702Curve, kurv, n. anything bent: a bent or curved line: an arch.—v.t. to bend: to form into a curve.—adjs. Cur′vāte, -d, curved or bent in a regular form.—n. Curvā′tion.—adj. Cur′vative.—n. Cur′vature, a curving or bending
English · e-37683-6703Curvet, kur′vet, kur-vet′, n. a light leap of a horse in which he raises his forelegs together, next the hindlegs with a spring before the forelegs touch the ground: a leap, frolic.—v.i. (kur-vet′, kur′vet) to leap in cu
English · e-37683-6704Curvilinear, kur-vi-lin′i-ar, Curvilineal, kur-vi-lin′i-al, adj. bounded by curved lines.—n. Curvilinear′ity. [L. curvus, and linearis—linea, a line.]
English · e-37683-6705Cuscus, kus′kus, n. the grain of the African millet. Same as Couscous. [Fr. couscou.]
English · e-37683-6706 · brief source recordCuscus, kus′kus, n. the fibrous root of an Indian grass, used for making fans, &c. [Pers. khas khas.]
English · e-37683-6707 · brief source recordCushat, koosh′at, n. the ringdove or wood-pigeon. [A.S. cúscute, the former part of dub. origin, the latter derived from scéotan, to shoot.]
English · e-37683-6708Cushion, koosh′un, n. a case filled with some soft, elastic stuff, for resting on: a pillow: the 'pillow' used in making bone-lace: an engraver's pad: the rubber of an electrical machine: a pad supporting a woman's hair:
English · e-37683-6709Cusk, kusk, n. the torsk: the burbot.
English · e-37683-6710 · brief source recordCusp, kusp, n. a point: the point or horn of the moon, &c.: (archit.) a small projecting ornament common in Gothic tracery.—adjs. Cus′pidāte, -d (bot.), having a sharp end, as the canine teeth. [L. cuspis, cuspid-is, a p
English · e-37683-6711Cuspidor, kus′pi-dor, n. a spittoon.—Also Cus′pidore. [Port.,—L. conspuĕre, to spit upon.]
English · e-37683-6712 · brief source recordCuss, kus, n. (slang) a fellow: an expletive.—adj. Cuss′ed, cursed.—n. Cuss′edness, contrariness. [Obviously Curse; prob. in the personal sense with a supposed reference to Customer.]
English · e-37683-6713Custard, kus′tard, n. a composition of milk, eggs, &c., sweetened and flavoured.—ns. Cus′tard-app′le, the fruit of a West Indian tree, having an eatable pulp, like a custard; Cus′tard-coff′in (Shak.), the paste or crust
English · e-37683-6714Custody, kus′to-di, n. a watching or guarding: care: security: imprisonment.—adj. Custō′dial.—ns. Custō′dian, Cus′tode, Custō′dier, Cus′tos, one who has care, esp. of some public building. [L. custodia, from custos, cust
English · e-37683-6715Custom, kus′tum, n. what one is wont to do: usage: frequent repetition of the same act: regular trade or business: a tax on goods: (pl.) duties imposed on imports and exports.—adj. Cus′tomable, customary: common.—adv. Cu
English · e-37683-6716Custrel, kus′trėl, n. attendant on a knight: a villain. [O. Fr. coustillier, coustille, a dagger.]
English · e-37683-6717 · brief source recordCut, kut, v.t. to make an incision in: to cleave or pass through: to divide: to carve, hew, or fashion by cutting: to wound or hurt: to affect deeply: to shorten: to break off acquaintance with, to pass intentionally wit
English · e-37683-6718Cutaneous. See Cutis.
English · e-37683-6719 · brief source recordCutch, kuch, n. the commercial name for catechu, from the Indian name kut.
English · e-37683-6720 · brief source recordCutcherry, kuch′ėr-i, n. an office for public business, a court-house.—Also Cutch′ery. [Hind.]
English · e-37683-6721 · brief source recordCute, kūt, adj. an aphetic form of Acute.
English · e-37683-6722 · brief source recordCuthbert, kuth′bert, n. the apostle of Northumbria (635-687), whose name lives in (St) Cuthbert's Beads, a popular name for the perforated joints of encrinites found on Holy Island; (St) Cuthbert's duck, the eider-duck.
English · e-37683-6723Cutikins, kōō′ti-kinz, n.pl. (Scot.) spatterdashes—also Cuitikins.
English · e-37683-6724 · brief source recordCutis, kū′tis, n. the skin: the true skin, as distinguished from the cuticle.—adj. Cutān′eous, belonging to the skin.—n. Cū′ticle, the outermost or thin skin.—adj. Cutic′ular, belonging to the cuticle. [L.]
English · e-37683-6725Cutlass, kut′las, n. a short, broad sword, with one cutting edge, used in the navy. [Fr. coutelas, augmentative of couteau, knife, from L. cultellus, dim. of culter, a ploughshare, a knife.]
English · e-37683-6726Cutler, kut′lėr, n. one who makes or sells knives.—n. Cut′lery, the business of a cutler: edged or cutting instruments in general. [Fr. coutelier, coutel, knife.]
English · e-37683-6727Cutlet, kut′let, n. a slice of meat cut off for cooking, esp. of mutton or veal—generally the rib and the meat belonging to it. [Fr. côtelette, dim. of côte, from L. costa, a rib.]
English · e-37683-6728Cuttle, kut′l, n. a kind of mollusc, remarkable for its power of ejecting a black inky liquid—also Cutt′le-fish.—n. Cutt′le-bone, the internal shell or bone of the cuttle-fish, used for making tooth-powder and for polish
English · e-37683-6729Cutto, Cuttoe, kut′o, n. a large knife.
English · e-37683-6730 · brief source recordCutty, kut′i, adj. (Scot.) short, curtailed.—n. a short clay pipe: a short, dumpy girl: applied to a woman, a term of reprobation, serious or playful.—n. Cutt′y-stool, the stool of repentance in old Scotch church discipl
English · e-37683-6731Cuvette, küv-et′, n. a trench sunk along the middle of a dry ditch or moat.—Also Cunette′. [Fr.]
English · e-37683-6732 · brief source recordCy pres, sē prā, in the law of charitable trusts in England, the principle of applying the money to some object as near as possible to the one specified, when this has become impracticable. [O. Fr.]
English · e-37683-6761Cyanogen, sī-an′o-jen, n. a compound of carbon, obtained by decomposing the cyanide of mercury by heat, so called from being an essential ingredient in the formation of Prussian blue.—n. Cy′anate, a salt of cyanic acid.—
English · e-37683-6733Cyar, sī′ar, n. the internal auditory meatus.
English · e-37683-6734 · brief source recordCyathiform, sī′a-thi-form, adj. like a cup a little widened at top.
English · e-37683-6735 · brief source recordCycad, sī′kad, n. an order allied to Coniferæ, but in appearance rather resembling ferns and palms.—adj. Cycadā′ceous. [Formed from Gr. kykas, an erroneous form of koikas, koiks, the doom-palm.]
English · e-37683-6736Cyclamen, sik′lä-men, n. a genus of Primulaceæ, native to southern Europe. [Formed from Gr. kyklamis, -inos.]
English · e-37683-6737 · brief source recordCycle, sī′kl, n. a period of time in which events happen in a certain order, and which constantly repeats itself: an imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens: a series of poems, prose romances, &c., centring round a figu
English · e-37683-6738Cyclone, sī′klōn, n. a circular or rotatory storm.—adj. Cyclon′ic. [Coined from Gr. kyklōn, pr.p. of kykloein, to whirl round—kyklos.]
English · e-37683-6739Cyclopædia, Cyclopedia, sī-klō-pē′di-a, n. the circle or compass of human knowledge: a work containing information on every department, or on a particular department, of knowledge, usually arranged alphabetically.—adjs.
English · e-37683-6740Cyclops, sī′klops, n. one of a fabled race of giants who lived chiefly in Sicily, with one eye in the middle of the forehead: a genus of minute freshwater copepods with an eye in front:—pl. Cyclō′pes.—adjs. Cyclopē′an, C
English · e-37683-6741Cyclorama, sī-klo-rä′ma, n. a circular panorama painted on the inside of a cylindrical surface appearing in natural perspective. [Formed from Gr. kyklos, circle, horama, view.]
English · e-37683-6742Cyclosis, sī-klō′sis, n. circulation, as of blood.
English · e-37683-6743 · brief source recordCyclostyle, sī′klo-stīl, n. an apparatus for multiplying copies of a writing. [Formed from Gr. kyklos, circle, and Style.]
English · e-37683-6745Cyclyolostomous, sī-klos′tō-mus, adj. round-mouthed, as a lamprey.
English · e-37683-6744 · brief source recordCyder. Same as Cider.
English · e-37683-6746 · brief source recordCygnet, sig′net, n. a young swan. [Acc. to Diez, a dim. of Fr. cygne, whose old form cisne (Sp. cisne, a swan) is from Low L. cecinus, not conn. with L. cygnus, Gr. kyknos, a swan.]
English · e-37683-6747Cylinder, sil′in-dėr, n. a solid circular or roller-like body, whose ends are equal parallel circles: (mech.) applied to many cylindrical parts of machines, as any rotating cylindrical portion of a printing-press.—adjs.
English · e-37683-6748Cyma, sī′ma, n. a moulding of the cornice, an ogee.—ns. Cym′agraph, an instrument for tracing the outline of mouldings; Cymā′tium, a cyma. [Gr. kyma, a billow.]
English · e-37683-6749Cymar, si-mär′, n. a loose light dress worn by ladies. [See Chimer.]
English · e-37683-6750 · brief source recordCymbal, sim′bal, n. a hollow brass, basin-like, musical instrument, beaten together in pairs.—ns. Cym′balist, a cymbal-player; Cym′balo, the dulcimer.—adj. Cym′biform, boat-shaped. [L. cymbalum—Gr. kymbanon—kymbē, the ho
English · e-37683-6751Cyme, sīm, n. a young shoot: (bot.) term applied to all forms of inflorescence which are definite or centrifugal.—adjs. Cym′oid, Cym′ose, Cym′ous. [L. cyma—Gr. kyma, a sprout.]
English · e-37683-6752Cymophane, sī′mō-fān, n. chrysoberyl.—adj. Cymoph′anous, opalescent. [Formed from Gr. kyma, wave, phainein, to show.]
English · e-37683-6753 · brief source recordCymric, kim′rik, adj. Welsh.—n. Cym′ry, the Welsh, [W. Cymru, Wales.]
English · e-37683-6754 · brief source recordCynanche, si-nang′kē, n. a name of various diseases of the throat or windpipe, esp. quinsy. [Gr., kyōn, a dog, anchein, to throttle.]
English · e-37683-6755Cynic, -al, sin′ik, -al, adj. dog-like: surly: snarling: austere; misanthropic.—ns. Cynan′thropy, lycanthropy; Cyn′ic, one of a sect of philosophers founded by Antisthenes of Athens (born c. 444 B.C.), characterised by a
English · e-37683-6756Cynocephalus, sī-no-sef′al-us, n. the dog-faced baboon: a race of men with dogs' heads. [Gr. kyōn, kynos, dog, kephalē, head.]
English · e-37683-6757Cynosure, sin′o-shōōr, or sī′, n. the dog's tail, a constellation (Ursa minor) containing the north-star; hence anything that strongly attracts attention or admiration. [Gr. kyōn, kynos, a dog, oura, a tail.]
English · e-37683-6758Cyperus, sip-ē′rus, n. a tropical genus of Cyperaceæ.—adj. Cyperā′ceous, belonging to, or like, sedge plants. [From Gr. kypeiros, sedge.]
English · e-37683-6759Cypher. Same as Cipher.
English · e-37683-6760 · brief source recordCypress, sī′pres, n. an evergreen tree whose branches used to be carried at funerals; hence a symbol of death.—adj. Cyp′rine. [O. Fr. ciprès (Fr. cyprès)—L. cupressus—Gr. kyparissos.]
English · e-37683-6762Cyprian, sip′ri-an, adj. belonging to the island of Cyprus: lewd, licentious—Cyprus being the place where Venus was worshipped.—n. a native of Cyprus—also Cyp′riot: a lewd woman.
English · e-37683-6763Cyprus, sī′prus, n. a thin, transparent, black stuff, a kind of crape.—n. Cy′prus-lawn (Milt.). [Prob. named from the island of Cyprus.]
English · e-37683-6764Cyrenaic, sī-rin-ā′ik, adj. pertaining to Cyrene, or to the hedonism of its philosopher Aristippus, a pupil of Socrates.
English · e-37683-6765Cyrillic, sir-il′ik, adj. pertaining to the alphabet attributed to St Cyril (9th cent.), distinguished from the other Slavonic alphabet, the Glagolitic.
English · e-37683-6766Cyst, sist, n. a bag in animal bodies containing morbid matter.—adjs. Cyst′ic, Cyst′iform, Cystoid′, having the form of, or contained in, a cyst or bag.—ns. Cys′ticle, a small cyst; Cystī′tis, inflammation of the bladder
English · e-37683-6767Cytherean, sith-e-rē′an, adj. pertaining to Venus. [L. Cythereus—Cythera, an island in the Ægean Sea (now Cerigo), celebrated for the worship of Venus.]
English · e-37683-6768Cytisus, sit′i-sus, n. a group of hardy leguminous shrubby plants, with yellow, white, or purple flowers, chiefly in the warmer temperate parts of the Old World. [Gr. kytisos.]
English · e-37683-6769Cytoblast, sī′to-blast, n. the nucleus or germinal spot of a cellule, from which the organic cell is developed.—n. Cytogen′esis, cell-formation. [Gr. kytos, a vessel, blastanein, to bud.]
English · e-37683-6770Czar, Tsar, tsär, or zär, n. the emperor of Russia:—fem. Czari′na, Tsari′na.—ns. Czar′evitch, Tsar-, a son of a czar.—Cesar′evitch is the title of the eldest son, and Cesarev′na, of his wife.—ns. Czarev′na, Tsarev′na, a
English · e-37683-6771Czardas, zär′das (Hung. pron. chär′dosh), n. a Hungarian national dance, consisting of two sections—a slow movement called a lassu or lassan, and a quick step, the friss or friska.
English · e-37683-6772Czech, tshek, n. a member of the most westerly branch of the Slavic family of races, the term including the Bohemians, or Czechs proper, the Moravians, and the Slovaks: the language of the Czechs, Bohemian, closely allie
English · e-37683-6773D, the fourth letter in our alphabet, as well as in the Phœnician, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, from which last it was immediately derived—its sound the soft dental mute: (mus.) the second note in the natural scale.
English · e-37683-6774Da capo, dä kä′pō, a term in music, frequently placed at the end of a movement, indicating that the performer must return to the beginning of the music—usually written D.C. [It., 'from the beginning'—L. de, from, caput,
English · e-37683-6778Dab, dab, v.t. to strike gently with something soft or moist, to smear:—pr.p. dab′bing; pa.p. dabbed.—n. a gentle blow: a small lump of anything soft or moist: a species of flounder of light-brown colour, with small dark
English · e-37683-6775Dab, dab, n. an expert person.—n. Dab′ster (coll.). [Prob. a corr. of Adept.]
English · e-37683-6776 · brief source recordDabble, dab′l, v.t. to spatter with moisture.—v.i. to play in water with hands or feet: to do anything in a trifling way.—n. Dabb′ler, one who does things superficially.—adv. Dabb′lingly. [Freq. of Dab.]
English · e-37683-6777Dace, dās, Dare, dār, Dart, därt, n. a small river fish of the carp family, and of the same genus as the roach, chub, minnow, &c. [M. E. darce—O. Fr. dars—Low L. dardus, a dart or javelin—of Teut. origin. So called from
English · e-37683-6779Dachshund, daks′hoond, n. a badger-dog. [Ger. dachs, a badger, hund, dog.]
English · e-37683-6780 · brief source recordA historical dictionary can preserve useful evidence and superseded analyses at the same time. These records retain their source identity; no parent edge, sound law, first-use date or confidence score is generated from a sentence’s position.
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