List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Cassimere, kas-i-mēr′, n. a twilled cloth of the finest wools.—Also Kerseymere′. [Corr. of Cashmere.]

Cassino, kas-sē′no, n. a game at cards. [See Casino.]

Cassiopeia, kas-i-ō-pē′ya, n. a constellation in the northern hemisphere, near the North Pole, named after the mother of Andromeda in Greek mythology.

Cassiterite, ka-sit′e-rīt, n. a brown native tin dioxide. [L. cassiterum—Gr. kassiteros, tin.]

Cassock, kas′ok, n. a long loose black robe or outer coat, formerly in common wear, but now worn only by clergy and choristers: a shorter garment, usually of black silk, worn under the Geneva gown by Scotch ministers.—adj. Cass′ocked. [Fr. casaque—It. casacca, prob. from L. casa, a cottage, a covering. Some explain Fr. casaque, casaquin, It. casacchino, as from Ar. kazāyand, a padded jerkin.]

Cassolette, kas′ō-let, n. a censer: a perfume-box with perforated lid. [Fr.,—Sp. cazoleta—cazo, a saucepan.]

Cassonade, kas-o-nād′, n. raw or unrefined sugar. [Fr.]

Cassowary, kas′ō-war-i, n. a genus of running birds, nearly related to the true ostrich, and nearer to the American rhea. [Malay kasuārī or kasavārī.]

Cast, kast, v.t. to throw or fling: to throw off, shed, drop: to throw down: to throw together or reckon: to mould or shape: (B.) to consider, to cast or throw up.—v.i. to warp:—pa.t. and pa.p. cast.—n. act of casting: a throw of anything, as the sounding-lead, a fishing-line: the thing thrown, esp. in angling: the distance thrown: a motion, turn, or squint, as of the eye: a chance: a mould: the form received from a mould: manner, stamp, or quality: a shade of colour, a degree of guilt, &c.: the assignment of the various parts of a play to the several actors: the company of actors to whom such have been assigned.—n. Cast′away, one cast away, an outcast.—adj. worthless, rejected.—adjs. Cast (B.), Cast′ed (Shak.), cast off.—ns. Cast′ing, act of casting or moulding: that which is cast: a mould; Cast′ing-net, a species of net for fishing; Cast′ing-vote, the voice or vote of the president of a meeting, by which he is enabled, when the other votes are equally divided, to cast the balance on the one side or the other; Cast′ing-weight, the weight which makes the balance cast or turn when exactly poised.—adj. Cast′-off, laid aside or rejected.—n. anything thrown aside.—n. Cast′-steel, steel that has been melted, cast into ingots, and rolled out into bars.—Cast about, to contrive, to look about, to search for, as game: (B.) to turn, to go round; Cast a nativity, to make an astrological calculation; Cast anchor, to moor a ship; Cast an eye, a glance, to look at; Cast a thing in one's teeth, to bring a reproach against some one; Cast away, to wreck, to waste; Cast down, to deject or depress in mind: to turn the eyes downward; Cast loose, to set loose or adrift; Cast up, to throw up, to bring up anything as a reproach.—Be cast (law), to be defeated.—The last cast, the last venture. [Scand.; as Ice. kasta, to throw.]

Castalian, kas-tā′li-an, adj. pertaining to Castalia, a fountain in Parnassus, sacred to Apollo and the Muses.

Castanet, kas′ta-net, n. a musical instrument of percussion in the form of two hollow shells of ivory or hard wood, which are bound together by a band fastening on the thumb, and struck by the fingers to produce a trilling sound in keeping with the rhythm of the music—much used in Spain as an accompaniment to dances and guitars. [Sp. castañeta—L. castanea, a chestnut.]

Caste, käst, n. a term applied chiefly to distinct classes or sections of society in India, and, in a modified sense, to social distinctions of an exclusive nature among other nations.—Lose caste, to descend in social rank. [A name given by the Portuguese to the classes of people in India; Port. casta, breed, race.—L. castus, pure, unmixed.]

Castellan, Castellated. See Castle.

Castigate, kas′tig-āt, v.t. to chastise: to correct: to punish with stripes.—ns. Castigā′tion, act of castigating: chastisement: severe punishment; Cas′tigātor, one who castigates.—adj. Cas′tigātory. [L. castigāre, -ātum, from castus, pure.]

Castilian, kas-til′yan, adj. and n. of or belonging to Castile, a native of Castile, or the language thereof, standard Spanish.—Castile soap, a hard soap made with olive-oil and soda.

Cast-iron. See Iron.

Castle, kas′l, n. a fortified house or fortress: the residence of a prince or nobleman, or a large country mansion generally: anything built in the likeness of such: a defensive tower borne on an elephant's back: a large ship, esp. of war.—v.t. to enclose or fortify with a castle.—v.i. (chess) to bring the castle or rook up to the square next the king, and move the king to the other side of the castle.—n. Cas′tellan, governor or captain of a castle.—adj. Cas′tellated, having turrets and battlements like a castle.—n. Cas′tle-build′ing, the act of building castles in the air or forming visionary projects.—adj. Cas′tled, furnished with castles.—n. Cas′tle-guard, the guard for the defence of a castle.—Castles in the air, or in Spain, groundless or visionary projects.—The Castle, Dublin Castle, the seat of the viceroy and the executive—Castle influence, &c. [A.S. castel—L. castellum, dim. of castrum, a fortified place.]

Castor, kas′tor, n. the beaver: a hat made of its fur. [L.,—Gr. kastōr; cf. Sans. kasturi, musk.]

Castor, kast′or, n. a small wheel on the legs of furniture: a small vessel with perforated top for pepper, &c.—also Cast′er. [From Cast.]

Castor-oil, kas′tor-oil, n. a medicinal oil obtained from a tropical plant, the Ricinus communis. [Ety. dub.; prob. from castor or castoreum, the unctuous substance obtained from two pear-shaped glands in the beaver, formerly much used in midwifery.]

Castral, kas′tral, adj. belonging to the camp. [L. castra.]

Castrametation, kas-tra-me-tā′shun, n. the act or art of encamping. [L. castra, a camp, metāri, -atus, to measure off—meta, a boundary.]

Castrate, kas′trāt, v.t. to deprive of the power of generation, to remove the testicles, geld, emasculate: to take from or render imperfect.—adj. Cas′trated, expurgated.—ns. Castrā′tion, gelding, expurgation; Castrato (kas-trä′tō), a male singer castrated in boyhood so as to preserve a soprano or alto voice:—pl. Castra′ti. [L. castrāre, -ātum.]

Casual, kash′ū-al, adj. accidental: unforeseen: occasional.—n. a chance or occasional visitor, labourer, pauper, &c.—n. Cas′ualism, the belief that chance governs all things.—adv. Cas′ually, in a casual manner.—n. Cas′ualty, that which falls out: an accident: a misfortune: (pl.) losses of a military force by death, desertion, &c.: an incidental charge or payment.—Casualties of superiority, in the feudal law of Scotland, such emoluments arising to the superior as depend on uncertain events—those of non-entry, relief or composition, and escheat alone remaining, but considerably modified by the Conveyancing Act of 1874.—Casualty ward, the ward in a hospital in which accidents are treated; Casual ward, a ward set apart for the use of those who are only occasionally in destitution. [L. casualis—casus. See Case.]

Casuarina, kas-ū-ar-ēn′a, n. a genus of Australian trees having thread-like, jointed, pendent branches, with small toothed sheaths at the joints, like the horse-tails—the Swamp-oak and She-oak belong to it, and its wood is the well-known Beef-wood.

Casuist, kaz′ū-ist, n. one who studies and resolves cases of conscience.—adjs. Casuist′ic, -al, relating to cases of conscience.—n. Cas′uistry, the science or doctrine of cases of conscience, or the reasoning which enables a man to decide in a particular case between apparently conflicting duties. [Fr. casuiste—L. casus. See Case.]

Casula, kas′ū-la, n. a chasuble.

Cat, kat, n. a common domestic animal kept to devour mice: a spiteful woman: a movable pent-house used for their protection by besiegers: a double tripod with six legs: a piece of wood tapering at each end, struck with the Cat-stick in the game of tip-cat, this game itself: short for the Cat-o'-nine′-tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of a whip with nine tails or lashes, with three or four knots on each, once used in the army and navy.—v.t. to raise the anchor to the cathead.—ns. Cat′amount, a common name in the United States for the cougar or puma—also called Panther, Painter, and American lion; Catamoun′tain, or Cat o' mountain, a leopard, panther, or ocelot: a wild mountaineer.—adj. ferocious, savage.—adj. Cat-and-dog, used attributively for quarrelsome.—ns. Cat′-bird, an American bird of the thrush family, so called on account of the resemblance of its note to the mewing of a cat; Cat′-call, a squeaking instrument used in theatres to express dislike of a play: a shrill whistle or cry.—v.i. to sound a cat-call.—v.t. to assail with such.—adj. Cat′-eyed, having eyes like a cat: able to see in the dark.—n. Cat′gut, a kind of cord made from the intestines of animals, and used as strings for violins, harps, guitars, &c., the cords of clock-makers, &c.: the violin or other stringed instrument: a coarse corded cloth.—adj. Cat′-hammed, with thin hams like a cat's.—ns. Cat′head, one of two strong beams of timber projecting from the bow of a ship, on each side of the bowsprit, through which the ropes pass by which the anchor is raised; Cat′-hole, one of two holes in the after part of a ship, through which hawsers may pass for steadying the ship or for heaving astern; Cat′hood, state of being a cat or having the nature of a cat; Cat′kin, a crowded spike or tuft of small unisexual flowers with reduced scale-like bracts, as in the willow, hazel, &c.; Cat′-lap, any thin or poor drink.—adj. Cat′-like, noiseless, stealthy.—ns. Cat′ling, a little cat, a kitten: the downy moss on some trees, like the fur of a cat: (Shak.) a lute-string; Cat′mint, a perennial plant resembling mint, said to be so called from the fondness cats have for it; Cat's′-crā′dle, a game played by children, two alternately taking from each other's fingers an intertwined cord, so as always to maintain a symmetrical figure; Cat's′-eye, a beautiful variety of quartz, so called from the resemblance which the reflection of light from it bears to the light that seems to emanate from the eye of a cat; Cat's-foot, a plant, called also Ground-ivy; Cat′-sil′ver, a variety of silvery mica; Cat's′-meat, horses' flesh, or the like, sold for cats by street dealers; Cat's′-paw (naut.), a light breeze: the dupe or tool of another—from the fable of the monkey who used the paws of the cat to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire; Cat's′-tail, a catkin: a genus of aquatic plants of the reed kind, the leaves of which are sometimes used for making mats, seating chairs, &c.: a kind of grass.—adj. Cat′-wit′ted, small-minded, conceited, and spiteful.—Catted and fished, said of an anchor raised to the cathead and secured to the ship's side.—Bell the cat (see Bell).—Care killed the cat, even with his proverbial nine lives.—Cheshire cats are proverbially notable for grinning, and Kilkenny cats proverbially fight till each destroys the other.—Rain cats and dogs, to pour down heavily.—See which way the cat jumps, to watch how things are going to turn before committing one's self.—Turn the cat in the pan, to change sides with dexterity.—For Gib-cat, Tabby-cat, Tom-cat, see under Gib, Tabby, &c. [A.S. cat; found also in Celt., Slav., Ar., Finn, &c.]

Cat, kat, n. an old name for a coal and timber vessel on the north-east coast of England.—adj. Cat′-rigged, having one great fore-and-aft mainsail spread by a gaff at the head and a boom at the foot, for smooth water only.

Catabolism. See Katabolism.

Catacaustic, kat-a-kaws′tik, adj. (geom.) belonging to caustic curves formed by reflection (see Caustic). [Gr. kata, against, and Caustic.]

Catachresis, kat-a-krē′sis, n. (rhet.) a figure by which a word is used in a sense different from, yet analogous to, its own: a harsh or far-fetched metaphor.—adjs. Catachres′tic, -al.—adv. Catachres′tically. [L.,—Gr. katachrēsis, misuse.]

Cataclysm, kat′a-klizm, n. a flood of water: a deluge: great revolution.—adj. Cataclys′mic. [Gr. kataklysmos—kata, downward, klyzein, to wash.]

Catacomb, kat′a-kōm, n. a subterranean excavation used as a burial-place, esp. the famous Catacombs near Rome, where many of the early Christian victims of persecution were buried: any place built with crypt-like recesses for storing books, wine, &c.—adj. Cat′acumbal. [It. catacomba—Late L. catacumbas (prob. from ad catacumbas), prob. from Gr. kata, downward, and kymbē, a hollow.]

Catacoustics, kat-a-kows′tiks, n. the part of acoustics which treats of echoes or sounds reflected. [Gr. kata, against, and Acoustics.]

Catadioptric, -al, kat-a-di-op′trik, -al, adj. pertaining to instruments by which rays of light are both reflected and refracted. [See Catoptric.]

Catadromous, kat-ad′rom-us, adj. of fishes, descending periodically for spawning to the lower parts of a river or to the sea. [Gr. kata, down, dromos, running.]

Catafalque, kat-a-falk′, n. a temporary structure of carpentry representing a tomb or cenotaph placed over the coffin during a lying-in-state: a tomb of state, a funeral car.—Also Catafal′co. [Fr.,—It. catafalco. See Balcony and Scaffold.]

Catalan, kat′al-an, adj. of or belonging to Catalonia or its language, a dialect of Provençal.—n. a native of Catalonia, or the language thereof.

Catalectic, kat-a-lek′tik, adj. incomplete: applied to a verse wanting one syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot. [Gr. katalēktikos, incomplete—katalēgein, to stop.]

Catalepsy, kat′a-lep-si, n. a state of more or less complete insensibility, with absence of the power of voluntary motion, and statue-like fixedness of the body and limbs.—adj. Catalep′tic. [Gr., from kata, down, lambanō, lēpsomai, I seize.]

Catallactic, kat-al-ak′tik, adj. pertaining to exchange.—adv. Catallac′tically.—n. Catallac′tics, political economy as the science of exchanges. [Made up from Gr. katalassein, to exchange.]

Catalogue, kat′a-log, n. a list of names, books, &c.—v.t. to put in a catalogue:—pr.p. cat′aloguing; pa.p. cat′alogued.—v.t. Cat′aloguise. [Fr.—Late L.—Gr. katalogos, from kata, down, legein, to choose.]

Catalpa, kat-al′pa, n. a genus of hardy trees native to the United States and Japan, marked by a low habit, profuse blossoms, and long cigar-like pendent pods.—The common Catalpa, known also as the Bean-tree, Catawba, Indian bean, and Cigar-tree, yields a durable wood; as also the western Catalpa or Shawnee wood. [From the native Ind. name.]

Catalysis, ka-tal′i-sis, n. (chem.) the decomposition of a compound and the recomposition of its elements, by the presence of a substance which does not itself suffer change, as in fermentation.—adj. Catalyt′ic. [Gr. katalysis—kata, down, lyein, to loosen.]

Catamaran, kat′a-mar-an′, or kat-am′ar-an, n. a raft of three pieces of wood lashed together, the middle piece being longer than the others, and serving as a keel—on this the rower squats, and works a paddle—much used in the Madras surf: an old kind of fire-ship, long superseded; an ill-natured woman. [Tamil, 'tied wood.']

Catamenia, kat-a-mē′ni-a, n. the menstrual discharge.—adj. Catamē′nial. [Gr. katamēnios—kata, again, mēn, mēnos, a month.]

Catamite, kat′a-mīt, n. a boy kept for unnatural purposes—a corruption of Ganymede (q.v.).

Catamount. See Cat.

Catapan, kat′a-pan, n. the governor of Calabria and Apulia for the Byzantine emperor. [Acc. to Littré, from Gr. katepanō tōn axiōmatōn, 'he who is placed over the dignities.']

Cataphonics, kat-a-fon′iks, n. the science of reflected sounds.—adj. Cataphon′ic. [Gr. kata, against, phonē, sound.]

Cataphract, kat′a-frakt, n. (Milton) a soldier in full armour. [Gr. kataphraktēs, a coat-of-mail—kata, inten., and phrass-ein, to enclose, protect.]

Cataphyllary, kat-a-fil′ar-i, adj. pertaining to such rudimentary scale-leaves as are found on various parts of plants, esp. underground.—n. Cataphyll′um. [Gr. kata, down, phyllon, leaf.]

Cataphysical, kat-a-fis′i-kal, adj. (rare) unnatural. [Gr. kata, down, against, physis, nature.]

Cataplasm, kat′a-plazm, n. a plaster or poultice. [Gr. kataplasma, a plaster—kata-plassein, to plaster over.]

Cataplexy, kat′a-plex-i, n. the kind of mesmeric sleep of animals under a sudden shock of terror—the state of 'shamming death.'—adj. Cataplec′tic. [Gr. kataplēssein, to strike down.]

Catapult, kat′a-pult, n. anciently an engine of war, resembling the ballista, for throwing stones, arrows, &c.: a small forked stick having an elastic string fixed to the two prongs, used by boys for throwing small stones.—adj. Catapul′tic.—n. Catapultier′. [L. catapulta—Gr. katapeltēs—kata, down, pallein, to throw.]

Cataract, kat′a-rakt, n. a great fall of water, water-spout, &c.: a waterfall or cascade: an opaque condition of the lens of the eye, painless, unaccompanied by inflammation, occasioning blindness, simply by obstructing the passage of the light. [L. cataracta—Gr. kata, down, arass-ein, to dash, to rush.]

Catarrh, kat-är′, n. a discharge of fluid from the inflammation of a mucous membrane, esp. of the nose, caused by cold in the head: the cold itself.—adjs. Catarrh′al, Catarrh′ous. [L. catarrhus—Gr. katarrhous—kata, down, rheēin, to flow.]

Catarrhine, Catarhine, kat′ar-īn, adj. pertaining to that one of the two divisions of Quadrumana, including all the Old-World monkeys, having a narrow partition between the nostrils. [Gr. kata, down, hris, hrinos, nose.]

Catasta, kat-äs′ta, n. a block on which slaves were exposed for sale: a stage or place for torture. [L.]

Catastasis, kat-as′tas-is, n. the part of the Greek drama in which the development of the action has reached its height: (rhet.) that part of a speech which states the subject to be discussed. [Gr.]

Catastrophe, kat-as′trō-fē, n. an overturning: a final event: an unfortunate conclusion: a calamity.—adj. Catastroph′ic—ns. Catas′trophism, the theory in geology that accounts for 'breaks in the succession' by the hypothesis of vast catastrophes—world-wide destruction of floras and faunas, and the sudden introduction or creation of new forms of life, after the forces of nature had sunk into repose; Catas′trophist, a holder of the foregoing, as opposed to the uniformitarian theory. [Gr., kata, down, strephein, to turn.]

Catawba, ka-taw′ba, n. a light sparkling wine, produced from a grape of the same name, first found on the banks of the Catawba River in Carolina.

Cat-bird. See Cat.

Cat-call. See Cat.

Catch, kach, v.t. to take hold of: to apprehend or understand: to seize after pursuit: to trap or ensnare: to take a disease by infection: to take up anything by sympathy or imitation.—v.i. to be contagious: to be entangled or fastened in anything;—pa.t. and pa.p. caught (kawt).—n. seizure: anything that seizes or holds: that which is caught: anything worth catching: a sudden advantage taken: a specially English form of musical composition, written generally in three or four parts, and in the canon form—originally synonymous with the round.—adj. Catch′able, that may be caught.—ns. Catch′er, one who catches; Catch′fly, a popular name of several plants belonging to the genus Silene, and of Lychnis Viscaria, whose glutinous stems often retain insects settling on them; Catch′ing, the action of the verb 'to catch:' a nervous or spasmodic twitching.—adj. infectious: captivating, attractive.—ns. Catch′ment-bās′in, a term applied to all that part of a river-basin from which rain is collected, and from which, therefore, the river is fed; Catch′penny, any worthless thing, esp. a publication, intended merely to gain money—also adj.; Catch′word, among actors, the last word of the preceding speaker—the cue: the word at the head of the page in a dictionary or encyclopædia: the first word of a page given at the bottom of the preceding page: any word or phrase taken up and repeated as the watchword or symbol of a party.—adj. Catch′y, attractive, deceptive, readily caught up, as an air, &c., fitful.—Catch at, to snatch at; Catch fire, to become ignited, to be inspired by passion or zeal; Catch hold of, to seize; Catch it, to get a scolding or the like; Catch me! an emphatic colloquial phrase implying that there is not the remotest possibility of my doing something suggested; Catch on, to comprehend: to catch the popular fancy; Catch out, to put a batsman out at cricket by catching the ball he has batted; Catch sight of, suddenly to get a glimpse of; Catch up, to overtake; Catch up, or away, to lay hold of forcibly. [From O. Fr. cachier—Late L. captiāre for captāre, inten. of capĕre, to take. See Chase.]

Catchpole, -poll, kach′pōl, n. a constable, petty officer of justice. [Through O. Fr. from Low L. cachepolus, chassipullus, one who chases fowls. See Chase and Pullet.]

Catchup, Catsup. See Ketchup.

Cate. See Cates.

Catechise, kat′e-kīz, v.t. to instruct by question and answer: to question as to belief: to examine systematically, to take to task.—adjs. Catechet′ic, -al, relating to a catechism or oral instruction in the first principles, esp. of Christianity.—adv. Catechet′ically.—ns. Catechet′ics, the art or practice of teaching by question and answer: that part of theology which treats of Catechē′sis, or primary oral instruction, as that given to catechumens; Cat′echiser; Cat′echising, an examination by questioning; Cat′echism, any compendious system of teaching drawn up in the form of question and answer; Cat′echist, one who catechises, a teacher of catechumens, a native teacher in a mission church.—adjs. Catechist′ic, -al, Catechis′mal, pertaining to a catechist or catechism. [L. catechismus, formed from Gr. katēchiz-ein, katēche-ein, to din into the ears—kata, down, ēchē, a sound.]

Catechu, kat′e-shoo, n. a substance used in tanning and dyeing, and medicinally as an astringent, obtained from the heart-wood of several East Indian trees, as the betel-nut, &c. [Tamil.]

Catechumen, kat-e-kū′men, n. one who is being taught the rudiments of Christianity: the appellation given in the early Christian Church to those converted Jews and heathens who had not yet received baptism, but were undergoing a course of training and instruction preparatory to it.—adj. Catechumen′ical.—adv. Catechumen′ically.—ns. Catechū′menship, Catechū′menism, Catechū′menate. [Gr. katēchoumenos, being taught, pr.p. pass. of katēche-ein, to teach.]

Category, kat′e-gor-i, n. what may be affirmed of a class: a class or order.—adjs. Categoremat′ic, capable of being used by itself as a term; Categor′ical, positive: absolute: without exception.—adv. Categor′ically, absolutely: without qualification: expressly.—n. Categor′icalness, the quality of being absolute and unqualified.—n.pl. Cat′egories (phil.), the highest classes under which objects of philosophy can be systematically arranged, understood as an attempt at a comprehensive classification of all that exists: in Kant's system, the root-notions of the understanding, the specific forms of the a priori or formal element in rational cognition (quantity, quality, relation, modality, &c.).—v.t. Cat′egorise, to place in a category or list: to class.—n. Categor′ist, one who categorises.—Categorical imperative, in the ethics of Kant, the absolute unconditional command of the moral law, irrespective of every ulterior end or aim—universally authoritative, belonging to the fixed law of nature—'Act from a maxim at all times fit for law universal.' [Gr. katēgoria, katēgoros, an accuser, kata, down, against, agora, assembly.]

Catelectrode, kat-ē-lek′trōd, n. a negative electrode or cathode. [Gr. kata, down, and Electrode.]

Catenary, kat-ē′nar-i, n. the curve formed by a flexible homogeneous cord (such as a chain), hanging freely between two points of support, and acted on by no other force than gravity.—adj. relating to a chain, like a chain—also Catenā′rian.—n. Catē′na, a chain or connected series, as in Catena Patrum, a chronological series of extracts from the Fathers on any doctrine of theology.—v.t. Cat′enāte to connect as in a chain.—n. Catenā′tion. [L. catenarius, pertaining to a chain—catēna, chain.]

Cater, kā′tėr, v.i. to provide food, entertainment, &c. (with for).—ns. Cā′terer; Cā′teress; Cā′tering. [Lit. to act as a cater, the word being orig. a substantive, and spelled catour, an aphetised form of acater, acatour. See Acater.]

Cateran, kat′er-an, n. a Highland reiver or freebooter, a robber or brigand generally. [Gael. ceathairne, peasantry, Ir. ceithern, a band of soldiers.]

Cater-cousin, kā′tėr-kuz′n, n. a term implying familiarity, affection, sympathy, rather than kindred. [More prob. conn. with Cater than quatre or quarter.]

Caterpillar, kat′ėr-pil-ar, n. a grub that lives upon the leaves of plants. [Prob. O. Fr. chatepeleuse, 'hairy cat;' chate, a she-cat—L. catus, peleuse, hairy—L. pilosus, pilum.]

Caterwaul, kat′ėr-wawl, n. the shriek or cry emitted by the cat when in heat.—v.i. to make such a noise, to make any discordant sound: to behave lasciviously: to quarrel like cats.—n. Cat′erwauling. [The second part is prob. imit.]

Cates, kātz, n.pl. dainty food.

Catgut. See Cat.

Catharist, kath′ar-ist, n. one professing a higher standard of purity in life and doctrine, a puritan: esp. a member of a Manichean heretical sect of the Middle Ages, which spread over the whole of southern and western Europe—confounded with the kindred sect of Paulicians, reaching the greatest numbers in southern France, where, as the Albigenses, they were ruthlessly stamped out by the Inquisition.—n. Cath′arism. [Gr. katharistai, katharizein, to purify.]

Cathartic, -al, kath-ärt′ik, -al, adj. having the power of cleansing the stomach and bowels: purgative.—v.t. Cath′arise, to render absolutely clean.—ns. Cathar′sis, evacuation of the bowels; Cathart′ic, a purgative medicine; Cathar′tin, the purgative principle of senna. [Gr. kathartikos, fit for cleansing, katharos, clean.]

Cathead. See Cat.

Cathedral, kath-ēd′ral, n. the principal church of a diocese, in which is the seat or throne of a bishop.—adj. belonging to a cathedral.—n. Cathed′ra, a bishop's seat, the episcopal dignity—ex cathedra, from the chair, officially given forth.—adjs. Cathedral′ic, Cathedralesque′, Cathed′raled, vaulted like a cathedral.—n. Cathed′ralism, the cathedral system.—adj. Cathedrat′ic, promulgated ex cathedra, authoritative. [L. cathedra—Gr. kathedra, a seat.]

Catherine-wheel, kath′e-rin-hwēl, n. (archit.) an ornamented window or compartment of a window, of a circular form, with radiating divisions of various colours: (her.) a wheel set round with teeth: a kind of firework which in burning rotates like a wheel.—Catherine pear, a small and early variety of pear.—Turn Catherine-wheels, to make a series of somersaults sideways. [From St Catherine of Alexandria, whom legend makes to suffer martyrdom in the 4th century by torture on a wheel.]

Catheter, kath′e-tėr, n. a tube to be introduced through the urethra into the bladder to draw off the urine, or for injecting air or fluids into the Eustachian tube.—ns. Cath′eterism; Cathetom′eter, an instrument for measuring small differences of level of different liquids in tubes; Cath′etus, a straight line falling perpendicularly on another straight line or surface. [Gr. kathetos, perpendicular, kathetēr, from kathienai, to send down.]

Cathisma, ka-thiz′ma, n. in Greek use, a portion of the psalter, there being altogether twenty cathismata: a troparion or short hymn used as a response. [Gr., kathizein, to sit down.]

Cathode, kath-ōd′, n. the negative pole or electrode of a galvanic battery, as opposed to anode: the surface in contact with the negative pole: the object to be coated in electroplating—adj. Cath′odal. [Gr. kathodos, a going down, kata, down, hodos, a way.]

Cat-hole. See Cat.

Catholic, kath′ol-ik, adj. universal: general, embracing the whole body of Christians: orthodox, as opposed to heterodox and sectarian—applied esp. to the Christian Church before the great schism between the East and the West: liberal, the opposite of exclusive: relating to the name claimed by its adherents for the Church of Rome as the alleged sole visible representative of the church founded by Christ and His apostles—the characteristic marks of the Catholic Church being universality, antiquity, unity: relating to the Roman Catholics.—n. an adherent of the R.C. Church.—v.t. Cathol′icise, to make Catholic.—ns. Cathol′icism, Catholic′ity, universality: liberality or breadth of view: the tenets of the R.C. Church; Cathol′icon, a universal remedy or panacea; Cathol′icos, the Patriarch of Armenia.—Catholic creditor (law of Scot.), one whose debt is secured over several or the whole subjects belonging to the debtor—e.g. over two or more heritable estates; Catholic emancipation, the relief of the Roman Catholics from certain vexatious penal regulations and restrictions, granted in 1829; Catholic or General epistles, the name given to certain epistles in the canon addressed not to particular churches or individuals, but either to the Church universal or to a large and indefinite circle of readers—originally only 1 John and 1 Peter, but, as early as the 3d century, also James, Jude, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John; Catholic king, a title given specially to the king of Spain.—Old Catholics, the title assumed by a number of Catholics who at Munich protested against the new dogma of the personal infallibility of the pope in all ex cathedrâ deliverances proclaimed by the Vatican Council in 1870—now a considerable communion or church in Germany and Switzerland. [Gr. katholicos, universal—kata, throughout, holos, the whole.]

Catiline, kat′il-īn, n. the type of a daring and reckless conspirator, from L. Sergius Catilina, whose plot to destroy Rome was foiled by Cicero, 63 B.C.—adj. Cat′ilinārian.

Catkin. See Cat.

Cat-log, kat′-log, n. (Shak.). Catalogue.

Catonian, ka-tō′ni-an, adj. resembling Cato, the Roman Censor (died 149 B.C.), or Cato Uticensis (95-46 B.C.), both remarkable for gravity of manners—hence grave, severe, unbending.

Catoptric, kat-op′trik, adj. relating to catoptrics or vision by reflection.—n.pl. Catop′trics, the part of optics which treats of reflected light. [Gr.; from katoptron, a mirror—kata, against, optesthai, to see.]

Cat's-tail. See Cat.

Cattle, kat′l, n.pl. beasts of pasture, esp. oxen, bulls, and cows: sometimes also horses, sheep, &c.—ns. Catt′leman, one who tends cattle, or who rears them on a ranch; Catt′le-plague, plague or disease among cattle, esp. that known as rinderpest or steppe murrain; Catt′le-show, an exhibition or show of cattle or other domestic animals in competition for prizes. [O. Fr. catel, chatel—Low L. captale, orig. capital, property in general, then esp. animals—L. capitalis, chief—caput, the head, beasts in early times forming the chief part of property.]

Catty, kat′i, n. the Chinese kin or pound, usually a little over 1¼ lb. avoirdupois.

Caucasian, kaw-kā′zhi-an, adj. pertaining to Mount Caucasus or the country around it.—n. the name adopted by Blumenbach for one of his main ethnological divisions of mankind, by him made to include the two great groups, the Aryan and the Semitic; used by later anthropologists for the fair type of man as opposed to the Mongolic or yellow type.

Caucus, kaw′kus, n. a private meeting of political wire-pullers to agree upon candidates to be proposed for an ensuing election, or to fix the business to be laid before a general meeting of their party: applied loosely to any influential committee in a constituency. [Ety. dub.; perh. John Smith's Algonkin word Caw-cawaassough, an adviser; perh. a corr. of 'caulkers' meetings.']

Caudal, kaw′dal, adj. pertaining to the tail: having a tail or something like one.—adj. Cau′dāte, tailed. [L. cauda.]

Caudex, kaw′deks, n. (bot.) the stem of a tree, esp. of a palm or tree-fern:—pl. Caud′ices, Caud′exes.—n. Caudicle, the stalk of the pollen-masses of certain orchids. [L.]

Caudle, kaw′dl, n. a warm drink, sweetened and spiced, given to the sick, esp. women in childbed.—v.t. to give a caudle to, to mix. [O. Fr. chaudel—L. calidus, hot.]

Caudron, kaw′dron, n. (Spens.). Same as Cauldron.

Caught, kawt, pa.t. and pa.p. of Catch.

Cauk, kawk, n. chalk: sulphate of baryta or heavy spar. [A form of Chalk.]

Cauker. See Caulk.

Caul, kawl, n. a net or covering for the head: the membrane covering the head of some infants at their birth. [O. Fr. cale, a little cap, prob. Celt.; cf. Ir. calla, a veil, hood.]

Cauld, kawld, n. (Scot.) a dam in a stream, a weir.

Cauldrife, kawld′-rīf, adj. (Scot.) cold, chilly, lifeless, without vigour.

Cauldron, Caldron, kawl′dron, n. a large kettle for boiling or heating liquids. [O. Fr. caudron—L. caldarium—calidus, hot—calēre, to be hot.]

Caulescent, kaw-les′ent, adj. (bot.) having a stem rising above the ground—also Caulif′erous.—n. Cau′licle, a rudimentary stem.—adj. Caulic′olous, growing on a stem.—n.pl. Cauliculā′ta, the black or antipatharian corals.—adj. Caulic′ulāte.—n. Caulic′ulus, one of the slender stems springing from the caules or main stalks supporting the volutes in the Corinthian capital.—adjs. Caul′iform, having the form of a stem; Caulig′enous, borne upon the stem; Caul′inary, Cau′line, belonging to a stem.—n. Cau′lis, the stem of a plant: one of the main stems at the angles of the Corinthian capital. [L. caulis, a stalk.]

Cauliflower, kaw′li-flow′ėr, n. a variety of cabbage, the eatable part of which is the deformed inflorescence or head. [Earlier cole-florye, colie-florie—Low L. cauli-flora—L. caulis, cabbage. See Cole and Flower.]

Caulk, Calk, kawk, v.t. to press oakum and untwisted rope into the seams of a ship to render it watertight.—ns. Caulk′er, one who caulks: a dram: a big lie—also Cauk′er; Caulk′ing; Caulk′ing-ī′ron, an instrument like a chisel used for pressing oakum into the seams of ships. [O. Fr. cauquer, to press—L. caclāre, to tread—calx, heel.]

Cause, kawz, n. that which produces an effect: that by or through which anything happens: motive: inducement: a legal action between contending parties: sake, advantage: that side of a question which is taken up by an individual or party: (Shak.) accusation: (Shak.) matter, affair in general.—v.t. to produce: to make to exist: to bring about: (Spens.) to give excuses.—conj. (dial.) because.—adj. Caus′al, relating to a cause or causes.—n. Causal′ity, the working of a cause: (phren.) the faculty of tracing effects to their causes.—adv. Caus′ally, according to the order of causes.—ns. Causā′tion, the act of causing: the bringing about of an effect; the relation of cause and effect; Causā′tionism, the theory of causation; Causā′tionist, a believer in the foregoing.—adj. Caus′ative, expressing causation.—n. a form of verb or noun expressing such.—adv. Caus′atively.—adj. Cause′less, having no cause or occasion.—adv. Cause′lessly.—ns. Cause′lessness; Caus′er, one who causes an effect to be produced.—Cause célèbre, a convenient French term for a specially interesting and important legal trial, criminal or civil.—Final cause, the end or object for which a thing is done, esp. the design of the universe; First cause, the original cause or creator of all.—Hour of cause (Scot.), hour or time of trial.—Secondary causes, such as are derived from a primary or first cause.—Have or Show cause, to have to give reasons for a certain line of action; Make common cause (with), to unite for a common object; Show cause (Eng. law), to argue against the confirmation of a provisional order or judgment.—For Occasional causes, see Occasionalism. [Fr.,—L. causa.]

Causerie, kōz′ri, n. a talk or gossip: a paragraph of chat about literature or art; a short and informal essay on any subject in a newspaper or magazine—as in Sainte-Beuve's famous Causeries du Lundi. [Fr.]

Causeway, kawz′wā, Causey, kawz′e, n. a raised way through a marsh: a pathway raised and paved with stone: a paved street.—v.t. to pave.—p.adjs. Cause′wayed, Caus′eyed. [Causeway is formed from Causey and Way. Causey is in M. E. causee—O. Fr. caucie—Low L. calciata—L. calx, heel.]

Caustic, kaws′tik, adj. burning: (fig.) bitter, severe, cutting: (math.) noting an envelope of rays of light proceeding from a fixed point and reflected (catacaustic) or refracted (diacaustic) by a surface or a curve.—n. a substance that exerts a corroding or disintegrating action on the skin and flesh.—adv. Caus′tically.—n. Caustic′ity, quality of being caustic.—Caustic alkali (chem.), a name given to the hydrates of potassium and sodium, called caustic potash and caustic soda respectively; Caustic ammonia, ammonia as a gas, or in solution; Caustic lime, quicklime.—Common caustic, potash; Lunar caustic, nitrate of silver in sticks for surgical use. [L.,—Gr. kaustikos—kai-ein, kaus-ein, to burn.]

Cautel, kaw′tel, n. (Shak.) craft: insidious purpose: caution: wariness: a traditionary caution or written direction about the proper manner of administering the sacraments.—adj. Cau′telous (Shak.), cautious: insidious: artful. [Fr. cautèle—L. cautela—cavēre, cautum, to guard against.]

Cauterise, kaw′tėr-īz, v.t. to burn with a caustic or a hot iron: (fig.) to sear.—ns. Cau′ter, Cau′tery, a burning with caustics or a hot iron: a burning iron or caustic used for burning tissue; Cauterisā′tion, Cau′terism. [Fr. cautériser—Low L. cauterizāre—Gr. kautēr, a hot iron—kai-ein, to burn.]

Caution, kaw′shun, n. heedfulness: security: warning: a surety: (Scot.) bail.—v.t. to warn to take care.—adj. Cau′tionary, containing caution: given as a pledge.—ns. Cau′tioner, one who cautions or advises: (Scots law) a surety; Cau′tionry, the act of giving security for another.—adj. Cau′tious, possessing or using caution: watchful: prudent.—adv. Cau′tiously.—n. Cau′tiousness.—Caution money, money paid in advance as security for good behaviour. [Fr.,—L. caution-em—cavēre, to beware.]

Cavalcade, kav-al-kād′, n. a train or procession of persons on horseback.—v.i. to go in a cavalcade. [Fr., through It. and Low L. forms from L. caballus, a horse.]

Cavalier, kav-al-ēr′, n. a knight: a Royalist in the great Civil War: a swaggering fellow: a gallant or gentleman in attendance upon a lady, as her escort or partner in a dance or the like: in military fortification, a raised work so situated as to command the neighbouring country.—adj. like a cavalier: gay: war-like: haughty, supercilious, free-and-easy.—v.i. to act as cavalier.—adj. Cavalier′ish.—n. Cavalier′ism.—adv. Cavalier′ly.—n. Cavalier′o, a cavalier.—Cavaliere-servente (It.), one who waits upon a lady, esp. a married lady, with fantastic devotion—a cicisbeo. [Fr.,—It. cavallo. See Cavalcade.]

Cavalry, kav′al-ri, n. horse-soldiers: a troop of horse or horsemen. [Fr. cavallerie—It. cavalleria—L. caballarius, horseman.]

Cavass. See Kavass.

Cavatina, kav-at-ē′na, n. a short form of operatic air, of a smooth and melodious character, differing from the ordinary aria in consisting only of one part, and frequently appearing as part of a grand scena. [It.]

Cave, kāv, n. a hollow place in the earth: a den: any small faction of seceders from a political party.—v.t. to hollow out.—v.i. to lodge in a cave.—n. Cave′-bear (Ursus spelæus), a fossil bear of the Quaternary epoch.—n.pl. Cave′-dwell′ers, prehistoric men who lived in caves.—n. Cav′ing, yielding.—To cave in, of land, to slip, to fall into a hollow: to yield to outside pressure, to give way, collapse. [Fr.,—L. cavus, hollow.]

Caveat, kā′ve-at, n. a notice or warning: a formal warning, entered in the books of a court or public office, that no step shall be taken in a particular matter without notice to the person lodging the caveat, so that he may appear and object. [L., 'let him take care'—cavēre, to take care.]

Cavendish, kav′en-dish, n. tobacco moistened and pressed into quadrangular cakes. [Possibly from the name of the original manufacturer.]