List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Cavern, kav′ėrn, n. a deep hollow place in the earth.—v.t. to put in a cavern: to hollow out, in the form of a cavern.—adjs. Cav′erned, full of caverns: dwelling in a cavern; Cav′ernous, hollow: full of caverns.—adv. Cav′ernously.—adj. Caver′nūlous, full of little cavities. [Fr.,—L. caverna—cavus, hollow.]

Cavesson, kav′es-on, n. a nose-band for a horse. [Fr.,—It.—L. capitia, capitium, a head-covering.]

Cavetto, ka-vet′to, n. a hollowed moulding whose curvature is the quarter of a circle, used chiefly in cornices. [It.; dim. of cavo—L. cavus, hollow.]

Caviare, Caviar, kav-i-är′, or kav-i-ār′ (originally four syllables), n. an article of food made from the salted roes of the sturgeon, &c.: (fig.) something whose flavour is too fine for the vulgar taste. [Prob. the 16th-cent. It. caviale; the Turk, khāvyār is prob. borrowed.]

Cavicorn, kav′i-korn, adj. hollow-horned, as a ruminant.—n. one of the Cavicor′nia, a family contrasted with the solid-horned ruminants, or deer (Cervidæ). [L. cavus, hollow, cornu, a horn.]

Cavie, kāv′i, n. a hen-coop or cage. [Dut. kevie; Ger. käfig.]

Cavil, kav′il, v.t. to make empty, trifling objections: to use false arguments:—pr.p. cav′illing; pa.p. cav′illed.—n. a frivolous objection.—ns. Cavillā′tion, Cav′illing; Cav′iller. [O. Fr. caviller—L. cavillāri, to practise jesting—cavilla, jesting.]

Cavity, kav′it-i, n. a hollow place: hollowness: an opening.—adj. Cav′itied. [L. cavitas, -tatem—cavus, hollow.]

Cavo-rilievo, kä′vō-rē-lyā′vō, n. a kind of relief in which the highest surface is level with the plane of the original stone, which is left round the outlines of the design.—Also Intaglio-rilievo and Cœlanaglyphic sculpture. [It. cavo, hollow, rilievo, relief. See Cave and Relief.]

Cavort, kav-ort′, v.i. (U.S. slang) to curvet, bound. [Explained as a corr. of Curvet.]

Cavy, kāv′i, n. a genus of Rodents, best known by the domesticated species, the common guinea-pig. [Cabiai, the native name in French Guiana.]

Caw, kaw, v.i. to cry as a crow.—n. the cry of a crow—also Kaw.—n. Caw′ing. [From the sound.]

Cawk, kawk, n. a miner's familiar name for heavy spar. [Prov. Eng. cauk, Chalk.]

Cawker. Same as Calker.

Caxon, kak′son, n. a kind of wig formerly worn. [Origin obscure.]

Caxton, kaks′ton, n. a book printed by William Caxton (1422-91), the first English printer: a kind of printing-type in imitation of Caxton's.

Cay, kā, n. a low islet, the same as Key. [Sp. cayo.]

Cayenne, kā-en′, Cayenne-pepper, kā-en′-pep′ėr, n. a very pungent red pepper, made from several species of capsicum.—adj. Cayenned′, seasoned with cayenne. [Usually referred to Cayenne in French Guiana; but there is little doubt the word is Brazilian.]

Cayman, kā′man, n. a local name loosely applied to various species of alligator—to that of the Mississippi, and more frequently to others found in tropical or subtropical America. [Sp. caiman, most prob. Carib.]

Cazique, a form of Cacique.

Cease, sēs, v.i. to give over: to stop: to be at an end (with from).—v.t. to put an end to.—n. (Shak.) extinction.—adj. Cease′less, without ceasing: incessant.—adv. Cease′lessly.—n. Ceas′ing.—Without cease, continually. [Fr. cesser—L. cessāre, to give over—cedĕre, to yield, give up.]

Cebadilla. See Cevadilla.

Cebus, sē′bus, n. a genus of South American monkeys—Cebidæ (seb′i-dē) is sometimes applied to all the broad-nosed New-World monkeys (Platyrrhini) with prehensile tails, in contrast to the Pithecidæ. [Gr. kēbos.]

Cecidomyia, ses-i-dom-ī′ya, n. a genus of dipterous (two-winged) insects in the Tipularia (gnat and mosquito) division. [Gr. kēkis, -idos, juice.]

Cecils, sē′silz, n.pl. minced meat, bread crumbs, onions, &c., made up into balls and fried.

Cecity, sē′si-ti, n. blindness. [L. cæcitas—cæcus, blind.]

Cedar, sē′dar, n. a large evergreen tree remarkable for the durability and fragrance of its wood; applied also to many more or less similar trees, as the Barbadoes cedar, properly a juniper, and the Bastard Barbadoes cedar, properly a Cedrela (used for canoes, cigar-boxes, blacklead pencils).—adj. made of cedar.—adjs. Cē′dared, covered with cedars; Cē′darn (Milton), pertaining to or made of cedar; Cē′drine, belonging to the cedar-tree; Cē′dry, obsolete form of Cē′dary, having the colour or properties of cedar. [L.—Gr. kedros.]

Cede, sēd, v.t. to yield or give up to another.—v.i. to give way. [L. cedĕre, cessum, to yield, give up.]

Cedilla, se-dil′la, n. a mark placed under the letter c (thus ç), esp. in French, to show that it is to have its soft sound of s, where one would expect the hard, as before a, o, u. [Sp. (Fr. cédille, It. zediglia), all from zēta, the Greek name of z.]

Cedrate, sē′drāt, n. the citron. [Fr.,—L. citrus.]

Cedrela, sed′rē-la, n. a tropical genus of Meliaceæ, allied to mahogany, whose wood is popularly called cedar.—adj. Cedrelā′ceous. [Gr. kedrelatē—kedros, cedar, elatē, the silver fir.]

Cedula, sed′ū-lä, n. a South American promissory-note or mortgage-bond on lands. [Sp. Cf. Schedule.]

Cee-spring, C-spring, sē′-spring, n. a spring supporting the frame of a carriage, in the shape of a C.

Ceil, Ciel, sēl, v.t. to overlay the inner roof of a room, generally to plaster it: to wainscot.—n. Ceil′ing, the inner roof of a room. [Prob. conn. with Fr. ciel, It. cielo, Low L. cælum, a canopy.]

Celadon, sel′a-don, n. a pale-green colour. [Fr.]

Celandine, sel′an-dīn, n. swallow-wort, the popular name (and corruption) of Chelidonium majus, a perennial papaveraceous (poppy) herb, so named because it was supposed to flower when the swallows appeared, and to perish when they departed. [O. Fr. celidoine—Gr. chelidonion—chelidōn, a swallow.]

Celebrate, sel′e-brāt, v.t. to make famous: to distinguish by solemn ceremonies, as a festival or an event: to perform with proper rites and ceremonies, as mass, the eucharist, marriage, &c.: to publish the praises of.—n. Cel′ebrant, one who celebrates: the principal officiant at the holy communion.—adj. Cel′ebrated, distinguished: famous.—ns. Celebrā′tion, act of celebrating any solemn ceremony, as the eucharist (high, if with music, &c.; low, if without): an extolling; Celebrāt′or, one who celebrates; Celeb′rity, the condition of being celebrated: fame: notoriety: a person of distinction or fame. [L. celebrāre, -ātum—celeber, frequented.]

Celerity, sel-er′it-i, n. quickness: rapidity of motion. [Fr.,—L. celeritas—celer, quick.]

Celery, sel′er-i, n. a kitchen vegetable cultivated for its long blanched succulent stalks. [Fr. céleri—L. and Gr. selīnon, parsley.]

Celestial, sel-est′yal, adj. heavenly: dwelling in heaven: in the visible heavens.—n. an inhabitant of heaven.—adv. Celest′ially.—The Celestial Empire, a name for China. [Through Fr. from L. cœlestis—cœlum, heaven.]

Celestine, sel′es-tīn, or sel-es′tin, n. one of an order of monks following the rule of St Benedict, wearing a white garment with black hood and scapulary, founded about 1254 by Peter da Murrone, who became Pope Celestine V. in 1294, and resigned after five years—'the great refusal' of Dante.

Celestine, sel′es-tin, n. a mineral, native sulphate of strontia.—Also Cel′estite. [From its sky-blue colour.]

Celiac, sē′li-ak, adj. Same as Cœliac.

Celibacy, sel′i-bas-i, or se-lib′as-i, n. a single life: an unmarried state.—adjs. Celibatā′rian, favouring celibacy; Cel′ibate, living single.—n. one unmarried, or not allowed to marry. [L. cœlebs, single.]

Cell, sel, n. a small room in a prison, monastery, &c.: a cave: a small shut cavity: the grave: a unit-mass of living matter, whether rounded off by itself, as in the simplest plants or animals, and in the youngest stage of all organisms, or associated with other cells to form a higher unity.—adjs. Celled, having cells, cellular; Cellif′erous, having or producing cells; Cell′ular, Cell′ulated, consisting of or containing cells.—n. Cell′ule, a little cell.—adj. Cellulif′erous, having or producing little cells.—n. Cell′uloid, a hard elastic compound used for ivory, obtained by hydraulic pressure from pyroxylin, mixed with camphor, &c.—adj. Cell′ulose, containing cells.—n. the substance of which the permanent cell-membranes of plants are composed. [O. Fr. celle—L. cella, conn. with celāre, to cover.]

Cella, sel′a, n. the body of the temple, as distinguished from the portico, &c.

Cellar, sel′ar, n. any underground room or vault: a cell underground, where stores are kept, esp. wine, &c.—v.t. to store in a cellar.—ns. Cell′arage, space for cellars: cellars: charge for storing in cellars; Cell′arer, Cell′arist, one who has charge of the cellar: an officer in a monastery who has the charge of procuring and keeping the provisions; Cell′aret, an ornamental case for holding bottles; Cell′arman, one who has the care of a cellar.—adj. Cell′arous (Dickens), belonging to a cellar: excavated: sunken. [O. Fr. celier—L. cellarium—cella.]

Cello, chel′o, for Violoncello; sometimes written 'Cello.—Cellist, 'Cellist, for Violoncellist.

Cellulares, sel-ū-lā′rez, n.pl. a name sometimes applied to the Cryptogamia—properly only to the mosses and lower cryptogams.

Celt, selt, n. a cutting instrument of stone or bronze found in ancient barrows. [Founded on Celte, perh. a misreading for certe ('surely'), in the Vulgate, Job, xix. 24, there being apparently no such Latin word as celtes, a chisel.]

Celt, selt, n. one of the Celts, an Aryan race, now represented by the Bretons, the Welsh, the Irish, and the Scottish Highlanders—also Kelt.—adj. Celt′ic.—ns. Celt′icism, a Celtic idiom or custom; Celtomā′nia. [L. Celtæ; Gr. Keltoi or Keltai.]

Cement, se-ment′, n. anything that makes two bodies stick together: mortar: a bond of union.—v.t. to unite with cement: to join firmly.—n. Cementā′tion, the act of cementing: the process by which iron is turned into steel, glass into porcelain, &c.—done by surrounding them with a cement or powder and exposing them to heat.—adjs. Cement′atory, Cementi′tious, having the quality of cementing or uniting firmly. [O. Fr. ciment—L. cæmentum, chip of stone used to fill up in building a wall, cædimentum—cædĕre, to cut.]

Cemetery, sem′e-tėr-i, n. a burying-ground. [Low L. cæmeterium—Gr. koimētērion.]

Cenacle, sen′a-kl, n. a supper-room, esp. that in which the Last Supper was eaten by Jesus and His disciples. [Fr. cénacle—L. cenaculum.]

Cenobite. Same as Cœnobite.

Cenotaph, sen′ō-taf, n. a sepulchral monument to one who is buried elsewhere. [Fr.,—L.—Gr. kenotaphion—kenos, empty, and taphos, a tomb.]

Cenozoic, sē-no-zō′ik, adj. Same as Cainozoic.

Cense, sens, v.t. to burn incense before: (obs.) to think.—n. (obs.) a public rate or tax: rank, condition. [See Census.]

Censer, sens′ėr, n. a pan in which incense is burned. [O. Fr. censier, encensier (mod. encensoir)—Low L. incensorium—L. incendĕre, incensum, to burn.]

Censor, sen′sor, n. in ancient Rome, an officer who kept account of the property of the citizens, imposed taxes, and watched over their morals: an officer who examines books or newspapers before they are printed: one who censures or blames.—adjs. Censō′rial, belonging to a censor, or to the correction of public morals; Censō′rious, expressing censure: fault-finding—also Censō′rian.—adv. Censō′riously.—ns. Censō′riousness; Cen′sorship, office of censor: time during which he holds office.—Censorship of the press, a regulation of certain governments, by which books and newspapers must be examined by officers, whose approval is necessary to their publication. [L.,—censēre, to weigh, to estimate.]

Censure, sen′shūr, n. an unfavourable judgment: blame: reproof: (obs.) criticism, judgment generally.—v.t. to blame: to condemn as wrong.—adj. Cen′surable, deserving of censure: blamable.—n. Cen′surableness.—adv. Cen′surably. [L. censūra, an opinion, a severe judgment—censēre, to estimate or judge.]

Census, sen′sus, n. an official enumeration of the inhabitants of a country, and of statistics relating to them.—adj. Cen′sual, relating to or containing a census. [L. census, a register.]

Cent, sent, n. a hundred: an American coin—the hundredth part of a dollar.—ns. Cent′age, rate by the hundred; Cent′al, a weight of 100 lb. proposed for general adoption, legalised in 1878.—Per cent., by the hundred. [L. centum, a hundred.]

Centaur, sen′tawr, n. a fabulous monster, half-man, half-horse.—adj. Centau′rian. [L.,—Gr. kentauros; ety. dub.]

Centaury, sen′taw-ri, n. an annual with pink or rose-coloured flowers, possessing the tonic and other medicinal virtues of gentian, esteemed in medicine since the days of Galen.

Centenary, sen′tin-ar-i (also sometimes sen-tēn′ar-i and even sen-ten′ar-i), n. a hundred: a century or hundred years.—adj. pertaining to a hundred.—ns. Centenā′rian, one a hundred years old; Centenā′rianism; Centenier (sen′ten-ēr), a centurion: a police-officer in Jersey. [L.,—centeni, a hundred each—centum.]

Centennial, sen-ten′i-al, adj. happening once in a hundred years.—n. a hundredth anniversary. [Coined from L. centum, and annus, a year.]

Center. See Centre.

Centering, sen′tėr-ing, n. (archit.) the framework upon which an arch or vault of stone, brick, or iron is supported during its construction.

Centesimal, sen-tes′i-mal, adj. hundredth.—adv. Centes′imally. [L. centesimus—centum.]

Centifolious, sen-ti-fō′li-us, adj. hundred-leaved.

Centigrade, sen′ti-grād, adj. having a hundred degrees: divided into a hundred degrees, as the centigrade thermometer constructed by Celsius (1701-44), in which freezing-point is zero and boiling-point is 100° (for its relation to the Fahrenheit scale, see Thermometer). [L. centum, and gradus, a step, a degree.]

Centigramme, sen′ti-gram, n. in the Metric System, the hundredth part of a gramme, or .1543248 of a gr. troy. [Fr.,—L. centum, a hundred, and Gramme.]

Centilitre, sen′ti-lē-tr, n. the hundredth part of a litre, a little more than 6⁄10ths of a cubic inch. [Fr.,—L. centum, a hundred, and Litre.]

Centime, sen-tēm′, n. the hundredth part of anything, esp. a French coin, the hundredth part of a franc. [Fr.,—L. centum, a hundred.]

Centimetre, sen′ti-mē-tr, n. a lineal measure, the hundredth part of a metre—0.3937 inches. [Fr.,—L. centum, a hundred, metrum, Gr. metron, a measure.]

Centinel. Same as Sentinel.

Centipede, sen′ti-pēd, n. a general name for the members of one of the orders of the class Myriapoda, being segmented animals bearing jointed appendages, having a well-defined head furnished with feelers and jaws, and breathing by means of air-tubes or tracheæ. [L. centum, and pes, pedis, a foot.]

Centner, sent′ner, n. a common name on the Continent for a hundredweight.

Cento, sen′to, n. a name applied to literary trivialities in the form of poems manufactured by putting together distinct verses or passages of one author, or of several authors, so as to make a new meaning: a composition formed by joining scraps from other authors: expressing contempt, a mere string of commonplace phrases and quotations:—pl. usually Cen′tos.—ns. Cen′toist; Cen′tonism, Cen′toism. [L. cento, Gr. kentrōn, patchwork.]

Centre, Center, sen′tėr, n. the middle point of anything, esp. a circle or sphere: the middle: the point toward which all things move or are drawn: the chief leader of an organisation—head-centre: the men of moderate political opinions in the French Chamber, sitting right in front of the president, with extreme men on the right and on the left—further subdivisions are Right-centre and Left-centre: the Ultramontane party in Germany.—v.t. to place on or collect to a centre.—v.i. to be placed in the middle:—pr.p. cen′tring, cen′tering; pa.p. cen′tred, cen′tered.—adj. Cen′tral, belonging to the centre, principal, dominant: belonging to a nerve-centre, of affections caused by injury to the brain or spinal cord.—ns. Centralisā′tion, Cen′tralism, the tendency to administer by the sovereign or central government matters which would be otherwise under local management.—v.t. Cen′tralise, to draw to a centre.—n. Central′ity, central position.—advs. Cen′trally, Cen′trically.—ns. Cen′tre-bit, a joiner's tool, turning on a centre, for boring circular holes—one of the chief tools of the burglar; Cen′tre-board, a shifting keel, fitted to drop below and in line with the keel proper in order to increase or diminish the draught of a boat—much used in United States racing yachts; Cen′tre-piece, an ornament for the middle of a table, ceiling, &c.—adjs. Cen′tric, Cen′trical, relating to, placed in, or containing the centre.—ns. Cen′tricalness, Centric′ity; Cen′trum, the body of a vertebra.—Central fire, said of a cartridge in which the fulminate is placed in the centre of the base, as opposed to rim fire; Central forces, forces whose action is to cause a moving body to tend towards a fixed point called the centre of force.—Centre of attraction, the point to which bodies tend by the force of gravity; Centre of buoyancy, or displacement, the point in an immersed body at which the resultant vertical pressure may be supposed to act; Centre of gravity, a certain point, invariably situated with regard to the body, through which the resultant of the attracting forces between the earth and its several molecules always passes; Centre of inertia, or mass, the centre of a set of parallel forces acting on all the particles of a body, each force being proportional to the mass of the particle on which it acts; Centre of oscillation, the point in a body occupied by that particle which is accelerated and retarded to an equal amount, and which therefore moves as if it were a single pendulum unconnected with the rest of the body; Centre of percussion, the point in which the direction of a blow, given to a body, intersects the plane in which the fixed axis and the centre of inertia lie, making the body begin to rotate about a fixed axis, without causing any pressure on the axis; Centre of pressure, the point at which the direction of a single force, which is equivalent to the fluid pressure on the plane surface, meets the surface. [Fr.,—L. centrum—Gr. kentron, a sharp point.]

Centrifugal, sen-trif′ū-gal, adj. relating to the force directed towards the centre of curvature constantly required to keep a body moving in a curve instead of in its natural straight line: (bot.) applied to an inflorescence when the development proceeds from the apex towards the base of the axis or leaf, as opposed to centripetal, when it is from the base upwards towards the apex.—n. Cen′trifuge, a centrifugal machine. [L. centrum, and fug-ĕre, to flee from.]

Centripetal, sen-trip′et-al, adj. of a force impelling a body towards some point as a centre. [L. centrum, and pet-ĕre, to seek.]

Centrobaric, sen-tro-bar′ik, adj. relating to the centre of gravity. [L. centrum, and Gr. baros, weight.]

Centrode, sen′trōd, n. a locus traced out by the successive positions of an instantaneous centre of pure rotation.

Centumvir, sen-tum′vir, n. one of the Roman judges chosen annually for civil suits, originally 105 in number (three from each of the thirty-five tribes):—pl. Centum′virī.—n. Centum′virate. [L. centum, a hundred, and vir, a man.]

Centuple, sen′tū-pl, adj. hundredfold.—v.t. Centū′plicate, to multiply a hundred times.—n. Centuplicā′tion. [L. centuplex—centum, and plicāre, to fold.]

Century, sen′tū-ri, n. a hundred, or something consisting of a hundred in number, as sonnets, &c.: a hundred years.—adj. Centū′rial.—ns. Centū′riātor, the centuriators of Magdeburg were a group of Reformed divines who in the 16th century compiled a church history in 13 vols., each volume covering a century; Centū′rion, among the Romans, the commander of a hundred men.—Century plant (see Agave). [L. centuria—centum.]

Ceorl, churl, n. before the Norman Conquest an ordinary freeman not of noble birth. [A.S.]

Cephalaspis, sef-a-las′pis, n. a genus of fossil Ganoid fishes found in the Upper Silurian and Devonian measures. [Gr. kephalē, the head, aspis, a shield.]

Cephalic, se-fal′ik, adj. belonging to the head—also Cephalis′tic.—ns. Cephalag′ra, gout in the head; Cephalal′gia, Ceph′algy, headache.—adjs. Cephalal′gic; Ceph′alate, having a head, as a mollusc.—n. Cephalī′tis, inflammation of the brain.—adjs. Ceph′aloid, in the form of the head: spherical.—ns. Ceph′alo-thō′rax, the anterior division of the body in arthropods; Cephalot′omy, the dissection of the head.—adj. Ceph′alous, having a head. [Gr. kephalikos—kephalē, the head.]

Cephalopoda, sef-al-op′od-a, n.pl. the highest class of molluscs, usually large animals, exclusively marine, with well-developed head region, but having the ventral surface grown round the mouth and split up into arms bearing suckers—more commonly cuttlefish.—adj. Ceph′alopod. [Gr. kephalē, the head, pous, podos, the foot.]

Cephaloptera, sef-a-lop′tėr-a, n. a name formerly used for a genus of rays. [Gr. kephalē, the head, ptera, wings.]

Ceramic, se-ram′ik, adj. pertaining to pottery. [Gr. keramos, potter's earth.]

Cerasine, ser′a-sin, n. the insoluble portion of the gum which exudes from the cherry, &c. [L. cerasus, Gr. kerasos, the cherry-tree.]

Cerastes, se-ras′tēz, n. a genus of poisonous snakes having a horny process over each eye. [L.; Gr. kerastēs—keras, a horn.]

Cerate, sē′rāt, n. a compound of wax with other oily or medicinal substances in such proportions as to form a stiff ointment.—adj. Cē′rated.—n. Cero′mancy, divination from figures produced by melted wax when dropped into water. [L. cerāre, cerātum, to cover with wax, cera, wax.]

Ceratitis, ser-a-tī′tis, n. inflammation of the cornea.—Also Keratī′tis.

Ceratode, ser′a-tōd, n. the horny skeletal substance of sponges—also Cer′atose.—adjs. Cerat′odous, Cer′atose.

Ceratoid, ser′a-toid, adj. horny.

Ceraunic, se-raw′nik, adj. pertaining to, or produced by, thunder.—ns. Cerau′nite, a belemnite; Cerau′noscope, an apparatus for imitating thunder and lightning in ancient mysteries. [Gr. keraunos, a thunderbolt.]

Cerberus, ser′bėr-us, n. (myth.) the monster that guarded the entrance to Hades, a dog with three, according to some a hundred, heads.—adj. Cerbē′rian. [L.—Gr. Kerberos.]

Cercaria, ser-kā′ri-a, n. the technical name applied to an embryonic form of many flukes.—adj. Cercā′rian. [Gr. kerkos, a tail.]

Cere, sēr, v.t. to cover with wax.—n. the bare waxlike patch at the base of the upper part of the beak in birds.—adj. Cerā′ceous, of or like wax.—ns. Cerā′go, a wax-like substance (bee-bread) used by bees as food; Cere′cloth, Cere′ment, a cloth dipped in melted wax in which to wrap a dead body: a winding-sheet or grave-clothes generally.—adjs. Cē′reous, waxy; Cē′ric.—ns. Cē′rin, Cē′rine, the portion of wax which dissolves in boiling alcohol: a waxy substance obtained by boiling grated cork in alcohol; Cē′rograph, a writing on wax: an encaustic painting.—adjs. Cerograph′ic, -al.—ns. Cerog′raphist; Cerog′raphy, the art of writing or engraving on wax.—adj. Ceroplas′tic, modelled or moulded in wax.—n. the art of modelling in wax.—n. Cer′osine, a wax-like substance produced on the surface of certain species of sugar-cane. [L. cera, cog. with Gr. kēros, wax; Gr. graphein, to write, plassein, to mould.]

Cereal. See Ceres.

Cerebrum, ser′e-brum, n. the front and larger part of the brain.—adjs. Cerebell′ar, Cerebell′ous.—n. Cerebell′um, the hinder and lower part of the brain.—adj. Cer′ebral, pertaining to the cerebrum.—ns. Cer′ebralism, the theory that all mental operations originate in the cerebrum; Cer′ebralist.—v.i. Cer′ebrate, to show brain action.—n. Cerebrā′tion, action of the brain, conscious or unconscious, marked by molecular changes in the cerebrum.—adjs. Cer′ebric, cerebral; Cereb′riform, brain-shaped.—ns. Cer′ebrin, a name given to several nitrogenous non-phosphorised substances obtained from the brain; Cerebrī′tis, inflammation of the cerebrum.—adj. Cer′ebro-spīn′al, relating to the brain and spinal cord together.—Cerebral hemispheres, the two great divisions of the cerebrum. [L. cerebrum, the brain; prob. cog. with Gr. kara, the head, kranion, the cranium.]

Ceremony, ser′e-mo-ni, n. a sacred rite: the outward form, religious or otherwise: any empty form without inwardness: pomp or state; a portent or omen.—adj. Ceremō′nial, relating to ceremony.—n. outward form: a system of ceremonies.—n. Ceremō′nialism, adherence to outward form.—adv. Ceremō′nially.—adj. Ceremō′nious, full of ceremony: particular in observing forms: precise.—adv. Ceremō′niously.—n. Ceremōniousness.—Master of ceremonies, the person who directs the form and order of the ceremonies to be observed on some public occasion. [Fr.—L. cærimonia, sanctity.]

Ceres, sē′rēz, n. the Roman name for the Greek Demētēr, goddess of tillage and corn.—adj. Cē′real, relating to corn or edible grain.—n.pl. Cē′reals, the grains used as food, such as wheat, barley, &c. [L. prob. from root of creāre, to create.]

Cereus, sē′ri-us, n. a large genus of cactuses, including some of the most imposing forms. [L., 'waxen.']

Cerge, sėrj, n. a large wax-candle burned before the altar.—Also Cierge, Serge. [O. Fr.,—L. cereus—cera, wax.]

Cerinthian, ser-in′thi-an, adj. pertaining to Cerinthus, one of the earliest heretics in the Christian Church, against whose crude Gnosticism the Gospel of John was written, according to Irenæus.

Ceriph. Same as Serif.

Cerise, ser-ēz′, n. and adj. a light and clear red colour. [Fr., 'cherry.']

Cerium, sē′ri-um, n. a rare metal found in the mineral Cē′rite, which is its hydrated silicate. [Named from the plant Ceres.]

Cern, sėrn (Shak.). Concern.

Ceromancy. See Cerate.

Ceroon. See Seroon.

Ceroplastic. See Cere.

Certain, sėr′tān, or sėr′tin, adj. sure: not to be doubted: resolved: fixed: regular: inevitable: some: one.—advs. Cer′tainly, (Scot.) Cer′ty, Cer′tie.—ns. Cer′titude, Cer′tainty.—'A certain person,' implying some degree of contempt; A lady of a certain age, of an age best not stated accurately—at least no longer young.—For certain, assuredly.—Moral certainty, a conviction so justifiable that one is morally entitled to act on it. [O. Fr.,—L. certus—cern-ĕre, to decide.]

Certes, sėr′tēz, adv. certainly: in sooth. [Fr.]

Certificate, sėr-tif′i-kāt, n. a written declaration of some fact: a testimonial of character or definite statement of qualifications.—v.t. to give a certificate.—ns. Certificā′tion; Certif′icatory, a certificate—also adj.—n. Cer′tifier, one who certifies.—v.t. Cer′tify, to make known as certain: to inform: to declare in writing:—pr.p. cer′tifying; pa.p. cer′tified. [Fr. certificat—L. certificāre, certus, and facĕre, to make.]

Certiorari, sėr-shi-o-rā′ri, n. the writ by which, since the abolition of imprisonment for debt and the consequent disuse of the better-known writ, habeas corpus, causes are removed from inferior courts of record into the High Court of Justice. [Low L., 'be informed of'—certior, comp. of certus, certain.]

Cerulean, se-rū′le-an, adj. sky-blue: dark-blue; sea-green.—adj. Cerū′leous. [L. cæruleus.]

Cerulein, sėr-ū′lē-in, n. a coal-tar colour chiefly used in dyeing cotton fabrics, producing fast olive-green shades.

Cerumen, se-rū′men, n. the yellow waxy matter secreted in the ear.—adj. Cerū′minous. [L. cera, wax.]

Ceruse, sē′rōōs, or ser-ūs′, n. white-lead, the native carbonate of lead.—n. Cē′rusite. [Fr.,—L. cerussa, conn. with cera, wax.]

Cervical, sėr′vi-kal, adj. belonging to the neck. [Fr.,—L. cervix, cervicis, the neck.]

Cervine, sėr′vīn, adj. relating to deer. [L. cervinus, cervus, a stag.]

Cesarean. See Cæsarean.

Cesarevitch. See Czar.

Cespitose, ses′pi-tōs, adj. turfy: growing in tufts.—Also Ces′pitous. [L. cespes, cespitis, turf.]

Cess, ses, n. a tax, a local rate.—v.t. to impose a tax.—Out of all cesse (Shak.), excessively, immoderately. [Shortened from Assess.]

Cessation, ses-ā′shun, n. a ceasing or stopping: a rest: a pause. [Fr.,—L. cessation-em. See Cease.]

Cesse, ses, v.i. (Spens.). Same as Cease.

Cession, sesh′un, n. a yielding up.—n. Ces′sionary, one to whom an assignment has been legally made.—Cessio bonōrum (Scots law), before 1880 a debtor's surrender of his estate to his creditors in return for a judicial protection from imprisonment in respect of his debts. [Fr.—L. cession-em. See Cede.]

Cesspool, ses′pōōl, n. a pool or hollow in which filthy water collects. [Acc. to Skeat, from Celt. soss-pool, a pool into which foul messes flow. Cf. Scot. soss, a mixed dirty mess.]

Cestoid, ses′toid, n. one of a family of flat worms of internal parasitic habit, having a long strap-like body divided into numerous segments: a tapeworm.—Also Cestoid′ean. [L. cestus, Gr. kestos, a girdle, a strap, and eidos, form.]

Cestracion, ses-trā′si-on, n. a generic name for the hammer-headed sharks. [Formed from Gr. kestra, a weapon.]

Cestui, sest′wē, n. any person who—in such phrases as Cestui que trust, a person entitled to the benefit of a trust, a beneficiary in Scots law phraseology. [O. Fr.]

Cestus, ses′tus, n. the girdle of Venus, which had power to awaken love: an ancient boxing-glove loaded with lead or iron. [L.—Gr. kestos, a girdle.]

Cesura. See Cæsura.

Cesure, sē′zūr, n. a breaking off: (Spens.) a cæsura.

Cetacea, se-tā′shi-a, n.pl. an order of mammals of aquatic habit and fish-like form, including the Toothed whales, or Odontoceti, and the Baleen whales, or Mystacoceti. To the former belong the Sperm whales, the Bottlenose, the genus Platanista and its allies, and the great family of Dolphins; to the latter, the Right Whale (Balæna), the Humpbacks, and the Rorquals.—n. Cetā′cean.—adj. Cetā′ceous.—n. Cetol′ogy, that part of zoology which treats of whales. [L.,—Gr. kētos, any sea-monster.]

Ceteosaurus, set-e-o-saw′rus, n. a large dinosaurian reptile belonging to the Jurassic system. [Gr. kētos, whale, sauros, lizard.]

Cevadilla, sev-a-dil′a, n. the dark acrid seeds of a Mexican bulbous plant of the lily family, yielding veratrin, formerly used as an anthelmintic: the plant itself.—Also Cebadill′a. [Sp.,—L. cibāre, to feed, cibus, food.]

Ceylonese, sē-lon-ēz′, adj. of or belonging to Ceylon.—n. a native of Ceylon.

Chablis, shab′lē, n. a celebrated white Burgundy wine made at Chablis, near Auxerre, in France.

Chabouk, tschä′bōōk, n. a Persian horsewhip. [Pers.]

Chace. See Chase (1).

Chack, chak, n. a snack or slight hasty meal. [Imit.]

Chacma, chak′ma, n. a South African baboon.

Chaco. Same as Shako.

Chaconne, shak-on′, n. an old dance, with slow movement, the music, a series of variations on a ground bass, mostly eight bars in length, appearing in sonatas as well as ballets. [Fr.,—Sp. chacona—Basque chucun, pretty.]

Chad, shad, n. a kind of fish. [See Shad.]

Chætodon, kē′to-don, n. a typical genus of a family of bony fishes, known as Squamipennes. [Gr. chaitē, hair, odous, odont-, tooth.]

Chætopod, kē′to-pod, n. a class of worms including familiar types like the Earthworm, the Fisherman's Lobworm, and the Sea-mouse—often included under the title of Annelids or ringed worms. [Gr. chaitē, hair, and pous, pod-, foot.]

Chafe, chāf, v.t. to make hot by rubbing: to fret or wear by rubbing: to cause to fret or rage (with against, at).—v.i. to fret or rage.—n. heat caused by rubbing: rage: passion.—ns. Chaf′er (obs.), a chafing-dish, a saucepan; Chaf′ing-dish, a dish or vessel in which anything is made hot: a kind of portable grate; Chaf′ing-gear, mats, spun-yarn, battens, &c., put upon the rigging and spars of a ship to prevent their being chafed. [Fr. chauffer—L. calefacĕre—calēre, to be hot, and facĕre, to make.]

Chafer, chāf′ėr, n. a kind of beetle, the cockchafer. [A.S. cefer; cog. with Dut. kever, Ger. käfer.]

Chaff, chaf, n. a general name for the husks of corn or other grain as threshed or winnowed: refuse, or worthless matter: light banter, badinage.—v.t. to banter, or tease, by some raillery.—ns. Chaff′-cut′ter, Chaff′-en′gine, a machine for cutting straw or hay into chaff.—n. and p.adj. Chaff′ing.—adv. Chaff′ingly.—adjs. Chaff′less; Chaff′y. [A.S. ceaf; cf. Dut. kaf.]

Chaffer, chaf′ėr, v.t. to buy.—v.i. to bargain: to haggle about the price.—ns. Chaff′erer, a haggler about the price; Chaff′ery, buying and selling: (Spens.) haggling. [M. E. chapfare, a bargain, from A.S. ceap, price, faru, way.]

Chaffinch, chaf′insh, n. a little song-bird of the finch family. [Said to delight in chaff. See Finch.]

Chaffron. See Chamfrain.

Chaft, chaft, n. (Scot. and Northern English) the jaw. [Ice. kjaptr; cf. Sw. käft, Dan. kieft.]

Chagan, kag-än′, n. an early form of Khan.

Chagrin, sha-grēn′, n. that which wears or gnaws the mind: vexation: annoyance.—v.t. to vex or annoy.—p.adj. Chagrined′. [Fr. chagrin, shagreen, rough skin, ill-humour.]

Chain, chān, n. a series of links or rings passing through one another: a number of things coming after each other: anything that binds: a connected course or train of events: in surveying, often called Gunter's chain, a measure of 100 links, 66 feet long (10 sq. chains make an acre): (pl.) fetters, bonds, confinement generally.—v.t. to fasten: to fetter: to restrain: (Shak.) to embrace.—ns. Chain′-arm′our, chain-mail; Chain′-bolt, a large bolt used to secure the chain-plates to the ship's side; Chain′-bridge, a bridge suspended on chains: a suspension-bridge; Chain′-cā′ble, a cable composed of iron links.—p.adj. Chained, bound or fastened, as with a chain: fitted with a chain.—n. Chain′-gang, a gang of convicts chained together.—adj. Chain′less, without chains: Piece of Chain-mail. unfettered.—ns. Chain′let, a small chain; Chain′-mail, mail or armour made of iron links connected together, much used in Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries; Chain′-mould′ing, moulding in the form of a chain; Chain′-pier, a pier supported by chains like a chain-bridge.—n.pl. Chain′-plates, on shipboard, iron plates bolted below the channels to serve as attachments for the dead-eyes, through which the standing rigging or shrouds and back-stays are rove and secured.—ns. Chain′-pump, a pump consisting of buckets or plates fastened to an endless iron chain, and used for raising water; Chain′-rule, an arithmetical rule, so called from the terms of the problem being stated as equations, and connected, as if by a chain, so as to obtain by one operation the same result as would be obtained by a number of different operations in simple proportion: the rule for solving problems by compound proportion; Chain′-shot, two bullets or half-bullets fastened together by a chain, used formerly in naval engagements to destroy rigging, now replaced by case-shot and shrapnel-shell; Chain′-stitch, a peculiar kind of stitch resembling the links of a chain; Chain′-work, work consisting of threads, cords, &c., wrought with open spaces like the links of a chain: network. [Fr. chaine—L. catēna.]

Chair, chār, n. a movable seat for one, with a back to it: a covered vehicle for one person, as a sedan-chair: the seat or office of one in authority, as a judge, a bishop, or the person presiding over any meeting—hence 'to take the chair' = to assume the place of president; 'to address the chair' = to direct one's speech to the chairman; 'to support the chair' = to uphold the authority of the chairman—often, when endangered in a public meeting, asserted by cries of 'Chair!': the seat from which a professor delivers his lectures, the office or function of a professor—'socialists of the chair' = mere doctrinaire or theoretical advocates of socialism: cast-iron supports for rails under the permanent way in a railway, held by wooden wedges, and spiked on to transverse wooden sleepers.—v.t. to place in a seat of authority: to carry publicly in triumph.—n. Chair′-bed, a kind of chair capable of being turned into a bed.—n.pl. Chair′-days (Shak.), used figuratively to denote the evening of life.—ns. Chair′man, the man who takes the chair, or presides at an assembly or meeting: one who carries a sedan or Bath chair; Chair′manship; Chair′-or′gan, a corruption of choir-organ (q.v.); Chair′woman. [Fr. chaire—L.—Gr. kathedra.]

Chaise, shāz, n. a light open carriage for one or more persons: a travelling carriage (see Post-chaise).—adj. Chaise′less.—n. Chaise-longue, a couch. [Fr., a Parisian pronunciation of chaire. See Chair.]

Chal, chal, n. fellow: person:—fem. Chai. [Gipsy.]

Chalcedony, kal-sed′ō-ni, or kal′-, n. a beautiful mineral of the quartz family, consisting of quartz with some admixture of opal—it is generally translucent, has a somewhat waxy lustre, and is in colour generally white or bluish-white.—adj. Chalcedon′ic.—n. Chalced′onyx, an agate formed of a white opaque chalcedony alternating with a grayish translucent chalcedony. [Prob. from Chalcedon, in Asia Minor.]

Chalcography, kal-kog′ra-fi, n. the art of engraving on copper or brass.—ns. Chalcog′rapher, Chalcog′raphist. [Gr. chalkos, copper, graphein, to write.]

Chaldaic, kal-dā′ik, Chaldee, kal′dē, adj. relating to Chaldea.—n. the language of the Chaldeans.—n. Chal′dāism, a Chaldaic idiom.—adj. Chaldē′an, Chaldaic.—n. a native of Chaldea.

Chalder, chawl′dėr, n. an old Scotch dry measure, containing 16 bolls. [Prob. a form of Chaldron.]

Chaldron, chawl′drun, n. an old coal-measure, holding 36 heaped bushels (= 25½ cwt.). [Fr. chaudron. See Cauldron.]

Chalet, sha-lā′, n. a summer hut used by Swiss herdsmen among the Alps: a urinal. [Fr.]

Chalice, chal′is, n. a cup or bowl: a communion-cup.—adj. Chal′iced, cup-like. [Fr. calice—L. calix, calicis; Gr. kylix, a cup. Calyx is a different word, but from the same root.]

Chalk, chawk, n. the well-known white substance, a carbonate of lime.—v.t. to rub or manure with chalk.—v.i. to mark with chalk: in a tavern, to write the score with chalk.—ns. Chalk′iness; Chalk′-pit, a pit in which chalk is dug; Chalk′-stone, a stone or piece of chalk: (pl.) the white concretions formed round the joints in chronic gout.—adj. Chalk′y.—Chalk for cheese, a small price for a good article.—Chalking the door, in Scotland, a form of warning tenants to remove from burghal tenements.—Chalk out, to trace out, as with chalk, to plan.—By a long chalk, by a considerable distance, referring to the habit of scoring with chalk. [A.S. cealc, like Fr. chaux, is from L. calx, limestone.]

Challenge, chal′enj, v.t. to call on one to settle a matter by fighting or by any kind of contest: to claim as one's own: to accuse; to object to.—n. a summons to a contest of any kind, but esp. a duel: a calling of any one or anything in question: exception to a juror: the demand of a sentry.—adj. Chall′engeable, that may be challenged.—n. Chall′enger, one who challenges to a combat of any kind: a claimant: one who objects, calls in question. [O. Fr. chalenge, a dispute, a claim—L. calumnia, a false accusation—calvi, calvĕre, to deceive.]

Challis, shal′is, or shal′i, n. a fine fabric of silk and worsted used for ladies' dresses. [Fr.]

Chalumeau, shal-ū-mō′, n. a musical instrument: a shepherd's pipe. [Fr.,—O. Fr. chalemel—Low L. calamellus, dim. of calamus, a pipe, a reed.]

Chalybean, ka-lib′ē-an, adj. (Milton) forged by the Chalybes: well tempered.—adj. Chalyb′eāte, containing iron.—n. a water or other liquor containing iron. [Gr. chalyps, chalybos, steel, so called from the Chalybes, a nation in Pontus famous for steel.]

Chalybite, kal′i-bīt, n. native iron protocarbonate—siderite.

Cham, kam, n. an obsolete form of Khan.

Chamade, sham′ad, n. a signal inviting a parley. [Fr.]

Chamber, chām′bėr, n. an apartment: the place where an assembly meets: an assembly or body of men met for some purpose, as a chamber of commerce: a hall of justice: a compartment: a cavity: the back end of the bore of a gun.—v.t. to put in a chamber: to confine.—v.i. to be wanton.—ns. Cham′ber-coun′cil (Shak.), a private or secret council; Cham′ber-coun′sel, -coun′sellor, a counsel who gives his advice privately, but does not plead in court.—adj. Cham′bered.—ns. Cham′berer, a man of intrigue: (Shak.) a gallant; Cham′ber-fell′ow, one occupying the same chamber.—n.pl. Cham′ber-hang′ings (Shak.), the hangings or tapestry of a chamber.—ns. Cham′bering (B.), lewd behaviour; Cham′ber-lye (Shak.), urine; Cham′ber-maid, a female servant who has the care of bedrooms; Cham′ber-pot, a necessary bedroom vessel—often merely Cham′ber; Cham′ber-prac′tice, the business of a chamber-counsellor (q.v.). [Fr. chambre—L. camera—Gr. kamara, a vault, a room.]