List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Coleorhiza, kol-ē-ō-rī′za, n. the root-sheath in endogens. [Gr. koleos, sheath, rhiza, root.]

Colibri, kol′ib-rē, n. a kind of humming-bird. [Sp. and Fr. colibri, said to be the Carib. name.]

Colic, kol′ik, n. a disease attended with severe pain and flatulent distension of the abdomen, without diarrhœa.—adj. Col′icky, suffering or causing colic.—n. Colī′tis (see Colonitis under Colon). [Fr.,—L.,—Gr. kolikos—kolon, the large intestine.]

Colin, kol′in, the American quail or partridge. [Ety. dub.]

Coliseum. See Colosseum.

Coll, kol, v.t. (Spens.) to embrace or fondle by taking round the neck.—n. Coll′ing, embracing. [Fr. col—L. collum, the neck.]

Collaborator, kol-ab′ō-rā-tor, Collaborateur, kol-ab′ō-ra-tār, n. an associate or assistant in labour, particularly literary or scientific.—n. Collaborā′tion. [Coined from L. col, with, and laborāre, -ātum, to labour.]

Collapse, kol-aps′, n. a falling away or breaking down: any sudden or complete breakdown or prostration.—v.i. to fall together, to contract: to fall or break down: to go to ruin: to lose heart.—adj. Collaps′ible, capable of collapsing. [L. collapsus—col, together, and labi, lapsus, to slide or fall.]

Collar, kol′ar, n. something worn round the neck: the part of a garment at the neck: a band round a dog's neck: that part of a horse's harness worn round the neck, to which the traces are attached: a ring: a band.—v.t. to seize by the collar: to put a collar on: to capture.—ns. Coll′ar-beam, a horizontal piece of timber connecting or bracing two opposite rafters, to prevent sagging; Coll′ar-bone, in man and most mammals the only bone directly connecting the upper extremity with the skeleton of the trunk.—p.adj. Coll′ared, having, or ornamented with, a collar: rolled up and bound with a string, as a piece of meat having the bones removed: captured.—ns. Coll′arette, a small collar; Coll′ar-work, hard work against the collar: drudgery. [O. Fr. colier—L. collāre—collum, the neck.]

Collard, kol′ard, n. cole-wort. [See Cole.]

Collate, kol-āt′, v.t. to bring together for comparison: to examine and compare, as books, and esp. old manuscripts: to place in or confer a benefice upon: to place in order, as the sheets of a book for binding.—adj. Collā′table.—ns. Collā′tion, act of collating: a bringing together for examination and comparison: presentation to a benefice: a repast between meals, from the habit of reading the collationes or lives of the Fathers during meals in monasteries.—adj. Collā′tive, having the power of conferring: of livings where the bishop and patron are one and the same person.—n. Collā′tor, one who collates or compares: one who bestows or presents. [L. conferre, collatum—con, together, ferre, to bring.]

Collateral, kol-at′ėr-al, adj. side by side: running parallel or together; corresponding; descended from the same ancestor, but not directly, as the children of brothers.—n. a collateral relation: a contemporary: a rival.—adv. Collat′erally. [L. col, and latus, lateris, a side.]

Colleague, kol′ēg, n. one associated with others in some employment—not of partners in business.—n. Coll′eagueship. [Fr. collègue—L. collega—col, together, and legĕre, to choose.]

Colleague, kol′ēg, v.i. to join or unite: to conspire:—pr.p. colleaguing (kol-ēg′ing); pa.p. colleagued (kol-ēgd′). [From O. Fr. colliguer, to join in alliance—L. colligāre, to bind together.]

Collect, kol-ekt′, v.t. to assemble or bring together: to infer: to put one's thoughts in order.—v.i. to run together: to accumulate.—ns. Col′lect, a short form of prayer, peculiar to the liturgies of the Western Church, consisting of a single sentence, conveying one main petition; Collectā′nea, a selection of passages from various authors: a miscellany.—adj. Collect′ed, gathered together: having one's senses gathered together: cool: firm—adv. Collect′edly.—ns. Collect′edness, self-possession: coolness; Collec′tion, act of collecting: collecting of money at a religious or public meeting: the money collected: a number of anything: an assemblage: a book of selections: composure: an examination at the end of the terms in certain colleges.—adj. Collect′ive, considered as forming one mass or sum: congregated: common: (Milt.) inferential: (gram.) expressing a number or multitude.—adv. Collect′ively.—ns. Collect′ivism, the economic theory of socialism, that industry should be carried on with a collective capital; Collect′ivist, a socialist—also adj.; Collect′or, one who collects, as tickets, money, &c.; Collect′orate, Collect′orship. [L. colligĕre, collectum, from col, together, and legĕre, to gather.]

Colleen, kol′ēn, n. a girl. [Irish cailín.]

College, kol′ej, n. an incorporation, company, or society of persons joined together generally for literary or scientific purposes, and often possessing peculiar or exclusive privileges: a member of the body known as the university: (U.S.) often used as the equivalent of university: a seminary of learning: a literary, political, or religious institution: the edifice appropriated to a college.—n. Coll′eger, inmate of a college: one of the seventy foundationers at Eton College.—adj. Collē′gial, pertaining to a college.—ns. Collē′gian, a member or inhabitant of a college: (slang) inmate of a prison; Collē′gianer, a member of a college, a student.—adj. Collē′giate, pertaining to or resembling a college: containing a college, as a town; instituted like a college: corporate.—n. inmate of a prison, &c.—College of Arms, Heralds' College, a collegiate body incorporated in 1483, presided over by the Earl Marshal, and including Garter, principal King-of-arms, Clarenceux, and Norroy, besides six heralds and four pursuivants: College of Justice, in Scotland, a great forensic society, composed of judges, advocates, writers to the signet, and solicitors.—Collegiate church, Collegial church, a church so called from having a college or chapter, consisting of a dean or provost and canons, attached to it (in Scotland, a church occupied by two or more pastors of equal rank—also Collegiate charge). [Fr. collège—L. collegium, from col, and legĕre, to gather.]

Collet, kol′et, n. a ring or collar: the part of a ring which contains the stone. [Fr.,—L. collum.]

Collide, kol-īd′, v.i. to dash together: to clash.—p.adjs. Collid′ed, Collid′ing.—ns. Colli′sion, state of being struck together: conflict: opposition: clashing; Colli′sion-mat; a mat for covering a hole in a ship's side caused by a collision. [L. collidĕre, collisum—col, together, lædĕre, to strike.]

Collie, Colly, kol′i, n. a shepherd's dog. [Ety. dub.]

Collier, kol′yėr, n. one who works in a coal-mine: a ship that carries coal: a sailor in such a ship.—n. Coll′iery, a coal-mine.

Colligate, kol′i-gāt, v.t. to bind together. [L. colligāre, -ātum—col, together, ligāre, to bind.]

Collimation, kol-li-mā′shun, n. the adjustment of the line of sight of a telescope.—v.t. Col′limāte.—n. Collimā′tor, a subsidiary telescope used to detect errors in collimation, when adjusting for transit observations. [L. collimāre for collineāre, to bring into line with—col, together, linea, a line.]

Collinear, ko-lin′e-ar, adj. in the same straight line.

Collieshangie, kol-i-shang′i, n. (Scot.) noisy wrangling or fighting. [Ety. dub.; but perh. from collie, a dog, and shangie, something attached to his tail.]

Collingual, ko-ling′gwal, adj. speaking the same tongue.

Colliquate, kol′i-kwāt, v.t. to melt.—adjs. Colliq′uable, Coll′iquant, melting, wasting; Colliq′uative, profuse in flow. [L. com-, together, liquāre, -ātum, to make melt.]

Collocate, kol′ō-kāt, v.t. to place together: to set: to arrange.—n. Collocā′tion, act of collocating: disposition in place: arrangement. [L. collocāre, -ātum, col, together, locāre, to place.]

Collocutor, Collocutory. See Colloquy.

Collodion, kol-ō′di-on, n. a gluey solution of gun-cotton in alcohol and ether, used in surgery and photography. [Gr. kollōdēs—kolla, glue, eidos, form, appearance.]

Collogue, ko-log′, v.i. to simulate belief: to conspire: to converse confidentially.—v.t. to coax; to flatter. [Prob. from L. colloqui, to speak together.]

Colloid, kol′oid, n. a name given by Graham, in contradistinction to crystalloids, to any soluble substance, which, when exposed to dialysis, does not pass through the porous membrane.—adj. Colloid′al. [Gr. kolla, glue, and eidos, form.]

Collop, kol′op, n. a slice of meat, fried or otherwise: (Shak.) a child.—Collop Monday, the day before Shrove Tuesday, when collops-and-eggs was eaten.—Minced collops (Scot.), minced meat.

Colloquy, kol′o-kwi, n. a speaking together: mutual discourse: conversation.—v.i. (rare) to converse.—n. Colloc′ūtor.—adj. Colloc′ūtory.—v.i. Colloque′, to hold colloquy.—adj. Collō′quial, pertaining to or used in common conversation.—ns. Collō′quialism, a form of expression used in familiar talk; Collō′quialist.—adv. Collō′quially.—v.i. Coll′oquise, to converse.—n. Coll′oquist, a speaker in a colloquy. [L. colloquium, col, together, loqui, to speak.]

Collotype, kol′o-tīp, n. a photographic process much used for book illustrations and advertising purposes. [Gr. kolla, glue, and Type.]

Colluctation, kol-uk-tā′shun, n. strife: opposition. [L. colluctāri—col-, luctāri, to wrestle.]

Collude, kol-ūd′, v.i. to play into each other's hand: to act in concert, esp. in a fraud.—ns. Collud′er; Collū′sion, act of colluding: a secret agreement to deceive: deceit.—adj. Collū′sive, fraudulently concerted: deceitful.—adv. Collū′sively. [L. colludĕre, collusum, from col, and ludĕre, to play.]

Colluvies, ko-lū′vi-ēs., n. filth: a rabble. [L. 'washings'—colluĕre, to wash thoroughly.]

Colly, kol′li, v.t. to begrime with coal-dust: (Shak.) to darken.—p.adj. Col′lied. [See Coal.]

Collyrium, ko-lir′i-um, n. a term for various kinds of eye-salve or eye-wash. [L.,—Gr. kollyrion, eye-salve, dim. of kollyra, a roll of bread.]

Colocynth, kol′ō-sinth, n. the dried and powdered pulp of a kind of cucumber, much used as a purgative. [L.,—Gr. kolokynthis.]

Cologne-earth, ko-lōn′-ėrth, n. a brown earth prepared from lignite, found originally near Cologne, a German city on the Rhine.—Cologne water, or Eau de Cologne, a perfumed spirit first made at Cologne in 1709 by Jean Farina.

Colon, kō′lon, n. the mark (:) used to indicate a distinct member or clause of a sentence. [Gr. kōlon, a limb, member.]

Colon, kō′lon, n. that portion of the large intestine which extends from the cæcum to the rectum, which is the terminal portion of the intestinal canal.—n. Colonī′tis, inflammation of the colon. [L.,—Gr. kolon, the large intestine.]

Colonel, kur′nėl, n. an officer who has command of a regiment;—ns. Col′onelcy, his office or rank; Col′onelling, playing the colonel; Col′onelship, colonelcy: quality of a colonel. [Fr. and Sp. coronel; a corr. of It. colonello, the leader of a colonna, or column—L. columna.]

Colonnade, kol-on-ād′, n. a range of columns placed at regular intervals: a similar row, as of trees. [Fr.,—L. columna.]

Colony, kol′on-i, n. a name somewhat vaguely applied to the foreign dependencies of a state (a Roman colony was a military settlement planted in subject territory; a Greek colony consisted of a band of emigrants impelled to seek a new home, and connected with their mother-city by no stronger tie than that of sentiment): a body of persons who form a fixed settlement in another country: the settlement so formed: the place they inhabit.—adj. Colōn′ial, pertaining to a colony.—n. an inhabitant of a colony, a colonist.—ns. Colōn′ialism, a trait of colonial life or speech; Colonisā′tion, act or practice of colonising: state of being colonised.—v.t. Col′onise, to plant or establish a colony in: to form into a colony.—v.i. to settle.—n. Col′onist, an inhabitant of a colony.—Colonial animals, organisms which cannot be fairly regarded as unities, but consist of numerous individuals united in a common life; Colonial system, the theory that the settlements abroad were to be treated as proprietary domains exploited for the benefit of the mother-country. [L. colonia—colonus, a husbandman—colĕre, to till.]

Colophon, kol′o-fon, n. in early printing, the inscription at the end of a book with name, date, &c. [L. colophon—Gr. kolophōn, the finish.]

Colophony, kol-of′o-ni, n. the dark-coloured resin got from the distillation of turpentine with water. [Gr., from Colophon, in Asia Minor.]

Coloquintida, kol-o-kwin′ti-da, n. the colocynth.

Colossus, kol-os′us, n. a gigantic statue, esp. that of Apollo astride the entrance of the harbour of Rhodes.—adjs. Coloss′al, like a colossus: gigantic; Coloss′alwise, astride (Shak.).—ns. Colossē′um, Colisē′um, Vespasian's amphitheatre at Rome, which was the largest in the world. [L.,—Gr. kolossos.]

Colostrum, ko-los′trum, n. the first milk of a mammal after parturition.—n. Colostrā′tion, a disease of infants due to colostrum.—adjs. Colos′tric, Colos′trous. [L.]

Colour, kul′ur, n. a property of light which causes bodies to have different appearances to the eye: the hue or appearance which bodies present to the eye: appearance of blood in the face: appearance: pretext: tint: paint: false show: kind: (pl.) a flag, ensign, or standard: paints.—v.t. to put colour on: to stain: to paint: to set in a fair light: to exaggerate: to misrepresent.—v.i. to show colour: to blush.—adjs. Colorif′ic, containing or producing colours; Col′ourable, having a fair appearance: designed to conceal.—adv. Col′ourably.—n. Colourā′tion.—adj. Col′our-blind, unable to distinguish between colours.—n. Col′our-blind′ness.—adjs. Col′oured, having colour: (Spens.) having a specious appearance, deceitful: of the complexion, other than white.—ns. Col′ouring, any substance used to give colour: manner of applying colours: specious appearance; Col′ourist, one who colours or paints: one who excels in colouring.—adj. Col′ourless, without colour: transparent: neutral.—ns. Col′ourman, one who prepares and sells colours; Col′our-ser′geant, the sergeant who guards the colours of a regiment.—adj. Col′oury, having much colour.—Colour a pipe, to cause a tobacco-pipe, esp. a meerschaum, to take on a brown or black colour, by smoking.—A person of colour, a person of negro blood.—Change colour, to turn pale: to blush; Come off with flying colours, to do something with great éclat; Come out in one's true colours, to appear in one's real character; Desert one's colours, to abandon one's post or duty; Fast colour, a colour which does not fade when washed; Fight under false colours, to put forward a false pretence as a cover for one's actions; Give colour, to give plausibility: Hang out false colours, to put up another's flag, to pretend to belong to another party than one really does; High colour, pronounced redness of complexion; Lose colour, to lose one's good looks; Nail one's colours to the mast, to commit one's self to some party or plan of action; Off colour, faded: past one's best; Paint in bright colours, to embellish: to exaggerate; Primary colours, the three colours, red, green, and violet, from which the others, called Secondary colours, can be obtained; Show one's colours, to show what are one's inclinations, opinions, or character; Stick to one's colours, to adhere to one's party or opinions; Under colour of, under the pretext of; Without colour, without disguise: colourless: without individuality. [Fr.,—L. color; akin to celāre, to cover, to conceal.]

Colporteur, kol′pōrt-ār, or kol′pōrt-ėr, n. a peddler, esp. one selling tracts and religious books.—n. Col′portāge, the distribution of books by colporteurs. [Fr. colporteur, from col—L. collum, the neck, and porter—L. portāre, to carry.]

Colt, kōlt, n. a young horse: an awkward fellow: an inexperienced youth: (B.) a young camel or ass: (naut.) a rope's end.—v.i. (Spens.) to frisk like a colt.—v.t. (Shak.) to cheat: to give the rope's end, to beat.—adj. Colt′ish, like a colt: frisky: wanton.—ns. Colt's′-foot, a composite plant with large soft leaves once used for asthma and coughing; Colt's′-tooth, one of a horse's first set of teeth; (Shak.) love of youthful pleasures: wantonness. [A.S. colt; Sw. kult, a young boar, a stout boy.]

Colter, Coulter, kōltėr, n. the fore-iron of a plough. [A.S. culter—L. culter, a knife.]

Coluber, kol′ub-ėr, n. a genus of non-venomous snakes, of almost world-wide distribution.—n. Colub′riad (Cowper).—adj. Col′ubrine. [L. coluber, a snake.]

Columbian, kō-lum′bi-an, adj. pertaining to Columbia, a name of America.—ns. Colum′bate, a salt or compound of columbic acid with a base; Colum′bite, the native ore of columbium; Colum′bium, a metallic element now called niobium. [Columbia, America, from Columbus (1447-1506), its discoverer.]

Columbine, kol′um-bīn, adj. of or like a dove: dove-coloured.—n. a genus of plants (Aquilegia) having five coloured sepals, which soon fall off, and five petals, each terminating below in a horn-shaped spur or nectary: in pantomimes, the sweetheart of Harlequin (q.v.).—ns. Columbā′rium, a dovecot or pigeon-house: one of the niches or pigeon-holes in a particular kind of sepulchral chamber in which the urns containing the ashes of dead bodies burned were deposited; Col′umbary, a pigeon-house or dovecot. [L. columba, a dove.]

Columel, Columella. See Column.

Column, kol′um, n. a long, round body, used to support or adorn a building: any upright body or mass like a column: a body of troops drawn up in deep files: a perpendicular row of lines in a book.—ns. Col′ūmel, a small column; Colūmel′la, the central axis of a spiral univalve; the auditory ossicle of the amphibian ear: the central axis of the spore-case of mosses: in the opening of fruits, what remains in the centre after the carpels have split away.—adjs. Colum′nal, Colum′nar, formed in columns.—n. Columna′rity.—adjs. Col′umned, Colum′niāted, Colum′nated, having columns.—n. Colum′niātion. [L. columen, columna, akin to celsus, high; Gr. kolōnē, a hill.]

Colure, kō-lūr′, n. (astron.) one of two great circles supposed to intersect each other at right angles in the poles of the equator. [Gr. kolourus—kolos, docked, oura, tail.]

Colza, kol′za, n. a kind of cabbage whose seeds yield oil for lamps. [Dut. koolzaad, cabbage-seed.]

Coma, kō′ma, n. deep sleep: stupor.—adj. Com′atose, affected with coma: drowsy. [Gr. kōma.]

Coma, kō′ma, n. (bot.) a tuft or bunch of hairy-like appendages as on some seeds: the leafy branches forming the head of a tree: (astron.) the nebulous envelope surrounding the nucleus of a comet. [L.—Gr. komē, hair of the head.]

Comarb, kō′märb, n. the head of one of the families composing an old Irish sept: the successor in an ecclesiastical office, abbot, vicar, &c.—Better Cō′arb. [Ir. comharba, successor.]

Comart, kō′märt, n. (Shak.) an agreement.

Comate, kō′māt, n. (Shak.) a mate or companion.

Comb, kōm, n. a toothed instrument for separating and cleaning hair, wool, flax, &c.: the crest of a cock: the top or crest of a wave or of a hill: an aggregation of cells for honey.—v.t. to separate, arrange, or clean by means of a comb: to dress with a comb: (Shak.) to beat.—v.i. to break with a white foam, as the top of a wave.—adj. Combed.—n. Comb′er, one who or that which combs wool, &c.—n.pl. Comb′ings, hairs combed off.—adjs. Comb′less (Shak.), without a comb; Comb′wise; Comb′y.—n. Crop′-comb, a semicircular comb worn by girls.—Comb off, to remove. [A.S. camb.]

Comb, Combe. See Coomb.

Combat, kom′bat, or kum′bat, v.i. to contend or struggle.—v.t. to beat against: to contest: to oppose: to debate.—n. a struggle: a fight.—adjs. Com′batable, capable of being combated; Com′batant, disposed to combat.—n. one who combats; Com′bative, inclined to quarrel.—n. Com′bativeness.—Combatant officer, one who takes part in the action, as opposed to the medical officers, &c., who are Non-combatant. [Fr. combattre, to fight—com, with, and battre, to beat. See Beat.]

Comber, kom′bēr, n. a name applied to the gaper, a sea-perch, and to a species of wrasse.

Combine, kom-bīn′, v.t. to join two together: to unite intimately.—v.i. to come into close union: to co-operate: (chem.) to unite and form a new compound.—n. a trading syndicate, a trust.—adj. Com′binate, combined: betrothed.—ns. Combinā′tion, the act of combining: union of individual things: persons united for a purpose; Combinā′tion-room, the college-parlour at Cambridge, for the fellows of a college after dinner, a common-room.—n.pl. Combinā′tions, a women's and children's garment consisting of chemise and drawers combined.—adjs. Com′binātive; Combī′natory; Combined′; Combin′ing. [L. combināre, to join—com, together, and bini, two and two.]

Combrous (obs.) = Cum′brous.

Comburgess, kom-bur′jes, n. a fellow-burgess.

Combust, kom-bust′, adj. burned by the sun: in conjunction with the sun, or apparently very near it, so as to be obscured by its light, said of a planet when it is not more than 8½° from the sun.—n. that which is burned.—v.t. to burn up.—adj. Combust′ible, liable to take fire and burn: excitable.—n. anything that will take fire and burn.—ns. Combust′ibleness, Combustibil′ity, quality of being combustible; Combus′tion, a burning: the action of fire on combustible substances: confusion, turmoil: the scientific term for all kinds of consumption through the influence of heat.—adjs. Combust′ious (Shak.), combustible, inflammable: turbulent; Combust′ive, disposed to take fire.—Spontaneous combustion, burning caused by heat generated in the substance itself. [L. comburĕre, combustum, to consume—com, inten., urĕre, to burn.]

Come, kum (Shak.), a shortening of Become.

Come, kum, v.i. to move toward this place (the opposite of go): to draw near: to arrive at a certain state or condition: to issue: to happen: (Shak.) to yield; to become: to turn out:—pr.p. com′ing; pa.t. came; pa.p. come.—n. Com′ing.—adj. Come′-at-able, accessible; Come about, to happen; Come across, to meet; Come and go, to have freedom of action (n. passage to and fro); Come at, to reach; Come by, to come near: to pass: to obtain; Come down, to descend: to be reduced (n. a fall); Come down upon, to be severe with; Come down with, to pay down; Come high, or low, to cost much, or little; Come home, to return to one's house: to touch one's interest or feelings closely (with to): (naut.) to drag or slip through the ground—of an anchor; Come in, to enter: to give in, to yield: (fencing) to get within the opponent's guard (Shak.); Come in for, to have reason to expect or to have a share; Come it strong (coll.), to do or say too much; Come of, to descend from: become of; Come off, to come away: to turn out: to escape (n. a conclusion: an evasion of duty); Come out, to result: to be published: to become evident: to enter society; Come out with, to let be known: to tell; Come over (Shak.), surpass: to befall: (slang) to overreach; Come o' will, something that comes of its own accord: an illegitimate child; Come round, to come by a circuitous path: to happen in due course: to change: to recover from a faint; Come short, to fail; Come short of, to fail to accomplish; Come to, to obtain: to amount to: to recover consciousness or sanity; Come to grief, to meet with disaster or ill-fortune; Come to pass, to happen; Come true, to be found to have been true; Come under, to be included under; Come upon, to attack: to affect; to hold answerable: to meet; Come up with, to overtake: reach.—All comers, any one that likes. [A.S. cuman; Ger. kommen, to come.]

Co-meddle, kō-med′l, v.t. to mix: (Shak.) to temper.

Comedo, kom′e-do, n. a small, black-tipped, worm-like mass which is found on the face of some persons. [L. comedĕre, to eat up.]

Comedy, kom′e-di, n. a dramatic piece of a pleasant or humorous character, originally accompanied with dancing and singing.—ns. Comē′dian, one who acts or writes comedies: an actor:—fem. Comédienne′; Comēdiet′ta, a short comic piece. [L.,—Gr. kōmōdia, kōmos, revel, ōdē, song.]

Comely, kum′li, adj. pleasing: graceful: handsome.—adv. in a comely manner.—n. Come′liness. [A.S. cymlic—cyme, suitable, líc, like.]

Comestibles, kom-est′i-blz, n.pl. eatables. [Fr.,—L. comedĕre, to eat up.]

Comet, kom′et, n. a heavenly body with an eccentric orbit, having a definite point or nucleus, a nebulous light surrounding the nucleus, and a luminous tail preceding or following the nucleus.—adjs. Com′etary, Comet′ic.—ns. Com′et-find′er, a telescope of low power used to search for comets; Cometog′raphy; Cometol′ogy. [Gr. komētēs, long-haired—komē, the hair.]

Comfit, kum′fit, n. a sweetmeat made of fruit and sugar, &c. [A doublet of Confect; from Fr. confit, confiture—L. conficĕre, to make up.]

Comfort, kum′furt, v.t. to relieve from pain or distress: to soothe: to cheer, revive.—n. relief: encouragement: ease: quiet enjoyment: freedom from annoyance: whatever gives ease, enjoyment, &c.: a subject of satisfaction.—adj. Com′fortable, imparting or enjoying comfort.—adv. Com′fortably.—n. Com′forter, one who administers comfort: (B.) the Holy Spirit: a long, narrow woollen tippet.—adj. Com′fortless, without comfort.—n. Com′fortlessness.—Job's comforter, one who, while pretending to comfort, only aggravates the distress. [O. Fr. conforter—L. con, and fortis, strong.]

Comfrey, kum′fri, n. a genus of Boraginaceæ, somewhat coarse perennial herbs. [O. Fr. confirie.]

Comic, kom′ik, adj. relating to comedy: raising mirth: droll.—n. (coll.) an amusing person: (coll.) a comic paper.—adj. Com′ical, funny: queer: ludicrous.—ns. Comical′ity, Com′icalness.—adv. Com′ically.—n. Comique (kō-mēk′), a comic actor or singer. [See Comedy.]

Comitatus, kom-i-tā′tus, n. a prince's escort: a county or shire. [L.]

Comitia, ko-mish′i-a, n. the assemblies of the Romans for electing magistrates, passing laws, &c. [L.,—com, together, īre, ītum, to go.]

Comity, kom′i-ti, n. courteousness: civility.—Comity of nations (comitas gentium), the international courtesy by which effect is given to the laws of one state within the territory of another state. [L. comitas—comis, courteous.]

Comma, kom′a, n. (Shak.) a short part of a sentence: in punctuation, the point (,) which marks the smallest division of a sentence: (fig.) a brief interval.—Inverted commas, marks of quotation ("..", '..'). [L.,—Gr. komma, a section of a sentence, from koptein, to cut off.]

Command, kom-mand′, v.t. to order: to bid: to exercise supreme authority over: (Shak.) to demand: to cause to act: (Shak.) to exact: to have within sight, influence, or control.—v.i. to have chief authority: to govern.—n. an order: authority: message: the ability to overlook or influence: the thing commanded.—ns. Commandant′, an officer who has the command of a place or of a body of troops, Commandant′ship.—v.t. Commandeer′, to compel to military service.—ns. Command′er, one who commands: an officer in the navy next in rank under a captain; Command′er-in-chief, the highest staff appointment in the British army: the officer in supreme command of an army, or of the entire forces of the state; Command′ership; Command′ery, the district under a commander, specially used in connection with the Templars, the Hospitallers, and other religious orders.—adj. Command′ing, fitted to impress or control.—adv. Command′ingly.—n. Command′ment, a command: a precept.—Commander of the Faithful, a title of the caliphs.—At Command, available for use; On command, under orders.—Ten Commandments, the ten Mosaic laws: (slang) the ten finger-nails, used by women in fighting. [Fr. commander—L. commendāre—com, and mandāre, to entrust.]

Commeasure, kom-mezh′ūr, v.t. to equal in measure: to coincide with.—n. Commeas′urable (same as Commen′surable).

Commemorate, kom-em′o-rāt, v.t. to call to remembrance by a solemn or public act: to celebrate: to preserve the memory of.—adj. Commem′orable.—n. Commemorā′tion, preserving the memory of some person or thing by a solemn ceremony: the specification of individual saints in the prayers for the dead: the great festival of the Oxford academic year, usually taking place on the third Wednesday after Trinity Sunday.—adjs. Commem′orative, Commem′oratory, tending or serving to commemorate.—n. Commem′orator. [L. commemoratus, pa.p. of commemorāre, to remember—com, inten., and memor, mindful.]

Commence, kom-ens′, v.i. to begin: to originate: to take rise.—v.t. to begin: to originate: to enter upon: to take a university degree—e.g. 'to commence M.A.'—n. Commence′ment, the beginning: at certain universities the act of taking the degrees: the ceremony when these are conferred. [O. Fr. comencer—L. com, and initiāre, to begin—in, into, and īre, to go.]

Commend, kom-end′, v.t. to give into the charge of: to recommend as worthy: to praise: to adorn, set off.—n. (Shak.) praise.—adj. Commend′able, worthy of being commended or praised.—n. Commend′ableness.—adv. Commend′ably.—ns. Commend′am, a manner of holding an ecclesiastical benefice till a proper pastor was provided for it—it was provisionally commended to the care of a clerk, and was said to be held in commendam; Commendā′tion, the act of commending: praise: declaration of esteem: esp. the act of commending the dying or dead to the favour and mercy of God; Com′mendātor, one who holds a benefice in commendam.—adj. Commend′atory, commending: containing praise or commendation: presenting to favourable notice or reception.—Commend me to, remember me kindly to: give me by preference. [L. commendāre—com, and mandāre, to trust.]

Commensal, ko-men′sal, adj. eating at the same table.—n. a messmate.—n. Commen′salism, the intimate but never parasitic association of two organisms, for the benefit of one, or very often of both. [L. com, together, mensa, a table.]

Commensurable, kom-en′sū-ra-bl, adj. having a common measure.—ns. Commensurabil′ity, Commen′surableness.—adv. Commen′surably.—adj. Commen′surāte, of the same measure with: equal in measure or extent: in proportion with.—adv. Commen′surātely.—ns. Commen′surāteness, Commensurā′tion. [L. com, with, and mensura, a measure—metīri, mensus, to measure.]

Comment, kom′ent, n. a note conveying an illustration or explanation: a remark, observation, criticism.—v.i. (or kom-ent′) to make critical or explanatory notes: to annotate: (Shak.) to meditate.—ns. Comm′entary, a comment: a remark: a book consisting of a regular series of comments or notes on another book; Commentā′tion, annotation; Comm′entātor, Comm′enter (or Comment′er), Comm′entor (or Comment′or).—adj. Commentatō′rial, pertaining to the making of commentaries. [Fr.,—L. commentāri—com, and L. mens, the mind.]

Commerce, kom′ėrs, n. interchange of merchandise on a large scale between nations or individuals: extended trade or traffic: intercourse: fellowship.—v.i. Commerce′, to trade: to have communication with.—adj. Commer′cial, pertaining to commerce: mercantile.—n. commercial traveller.—ns. Commer′cialism; Commer′cialist; Commer′ciality.—adv. Commer′cially.—Commercial room, a room in a hotel set apart for commercial travellers; Commercial traveller, a person who transacts business as the accredited travelling representative of a trading house to other trading houses. [Fr.,—L. commercium—com, with, merx, mercis, merchandise.]

Commerge, ko-mėrj′, v.i. to coincide, agree.

Comminate, kom′in-āt, v.t. to threaten.—n. Comminā′tion, threatening, denunciation: a recital of God's threatenings made on Ash-Wednesday and at other times in the English Church.—adjs. Comm′inative, Comm′inatory, threatening punishment. [L.,—com, inten., and mināri, to threaten.]

Commingle, kom-ing′gl, v.t. to mingle or mix with.—adj. Commin′gled. [L. com, together, and Mingle.]

Comminute, kom′in-ūt, v.t. to reduce to minute particles: to pulverise.—n. Comminū′tion.—Comminuted fracture, the breaking of a bone in several places: a compound fracture. [L. comminuĕre, -ūtum, to break into pieces—com, and minuĕre, to make small—root minus, less.]

Commiserate, kom-iz′ėr-āt, v.t. to feel for the miseries of another: to pity: to condole with.—adj. Commis′erable, requiring commiseration: pitiable.—n. Commiserā′tion, concern for the sufferings of others: pity.—adj. Commis′erative, feeling or expressing sympathetic sorrow.—n. Commis′erātor. [L. com, with, miserāri, to deplore—miser, wretched.]

Commissary, kom′is-ar-i, n. one to whom any charge is committed: a deputy: (Scots law) the judge in a commissary court: a higher officer of police: (eccles.) an officer representing a bishop, and performing his duties in distant parts of the diocese: an officer who furnishes provisions, &c., to an army.—adj. Commissā′rial, pertaining to a commissary.—ns. Commissā′riat, the department charged with the furnishing of provisions, as for an army: the supply of provisions: the office of a commissary; Comm′issary-gen′eral, the head of the department for supplying provisions, &c., to an army; Comm′issaryship.—Commissary Court, a supreme court established in Edinburgh in 1563, with jurisdiction in questions of marriage—its powers conjoined with those of the Court of Session in 1836. [Low L. commissarius—L. committĕre, commissum.]

Commission, kom-ish′un, n. act of committing: that which is committed: a writing conferring certain powers: authority: the percentage paid in a transaction to an active agent who usually incurs some pecuniary and always some moral responsibility: a body of persons appointed to perform certain duties: a warrant from the head of the state for holding various military offices, whether combatant or non-combatant.—v.t. to give a commission to: to empower: to send: to appoint.—ns. Commis′sion-ag′ent, Commis′sion-mer′chant, a person employed to sell goods delivered to him by another (his principal), for a certain percentage—his commission or factorage; Commissionaire′, a messenger, or light porter: one employed about public places and hotels to undertake light commissions.—adj. Commis′sioned.—ns. Commis′sioner, one who holds a commission to perform some business: a member of a commission; Commis′sionership.—Commissioned officer, one appointed by commission—in the navy, the officers from the lieutenant; in the army, from the ensign upwards. [From Commit.]

Commissure, kom′mis-sūr, n. a joint: place where two bodies meet and unite: (anat.) a term applied to nervous connections between adjacent parts of the nervous system.—adj. Commis′sural. [L., commissura, a joining, from root of Commit.]

Commit, kom-it′, v.t. to give in charge or trust: to consign: to do: to endanger: to involve: to pledge:—pr.p. commit′ting; pa.p. commit′ted.—ns. Commit′ment, act of committing: an order for sending to prison: imprisonment; Commit′tal, commitment: a pledge, actual or implied; Commit′tee, a portion, generally consisting of not less than three members, selected from a more numerous body, to whom some special act to be performed, or investigation to be made, is committed; Commit′teeship.—Commit one's self, to compromise one's self: to pledge one's self wittingly or unwittingly to a certain course; Commit to memory, to learn by heart. [L. committĕre—com, with, mittĕre, to send.]

Commix, kom-iks′, v.t. to mix together.—v.i. to mix.—ns. Commix′tion, Commix′ture, act of mixing together: the state of being mixed: the compound formed by mixing: the rite of putting a piece of the host into the chalice, emblematic of the reunion of body and soul at the Resurrection.

Commodious, kom-ō′di-us, adj. suitable or convenient: roomy, spacious: (Shak.) serviceable: comfortable.—n. Commode′, a small sideboard: a large, high head-dress formerly worn by ladies: a box for holding a chamber utensil: a night-stool.—adv. Commō′diously.—ns. Commō′diousness; Commod′ity, convenience: (Shak.) profit: (Shak.) parcel: an article of traffic: (pl.) goods, produce. [L. commodus—com, with, modus, measure.]

Commodore, kom′o-dōr, n. in the royal navy, a rank intermediate between an admiral and a captain: the leading ship in a fleet of merchantmen: the president of a yacht-club, also his vessel at a regatta. [Perh. from Dut. kommandeur.]

Common, kom′un, adj. belonging equally to more than one: public: general: usual: frequent: ordinary: easy to be had: of little value: vulgar: of low degree.—n. (Shak.) the commonalty: a tract of open land, used in common by the inhabitants of a town, parish, &c.—v.i. (Shak.) to share.—adj. Common′able, held in common.—ns. Comm′onage, right of pasturing on a common: the right of using anything in common: a common; Comm′onalty, the general body of the people without any distinction of rank or authority; Comm′oner, one of the common people, as opposed to the nobles: a member of the House of Commons: at Oxford, a student who pays for his commons.—adv. Comm′only.—ns. Comm′onness; Comm′onplace, a common topic or subject: a platitude: a memorandum: a note.—adj. common: hackneyed.—v.i. to make notes: to put in a commonplace-book.—n. Comm′onplace-book, a note or memorandum book.—n.pl. Comm′ons, the common people: their representatives—i.e. the lower House of Parliament or House of Commons: common land: food at a common table: at Oxford, rations served at a fixed rate from the college buttery: food in general, rations.—n. Comm′on-sense, average understanding: good sense or practical sagacity: the opinion of a community: the universally admitted impressions of mankind.—Common Bench, Common Pleas, one of the divisions of the High Court of Justice; Common forms, the ordinary clauses which are of frequent occurrence in identical terms in writs and deeds; Common law, in England, the ancient customary law of the land; Common Prayer (Book of), the liturgy of the Church of England; Common-riding, the Scotch equivalent of Beating the Bounds (see Beat); Common room, in schools, colleges, &c., a room to which the members have common access.—In common, together: equally with others.—Make common cause with, to cast in one's lot with: to have the same interests and aims with.—Philosophy of common-sense, that school of philosophy which takes the universally admitted impressions of mankind as corresponding to the facts of things without any further scrutiny.—Short commons, scant fare, insufficient supply of rations.—The common, that which is common or usual; The common good, the interest of the community at large: the corporate property of a burgh in Scotland; The common people, the people in general. [Fr. commun—L. communis, prob. from com, together, and munis, serving, obliging.]

Commonweal, kom′un-wēl, Commonwealth, kom′un-welth, n. the common or public good: the government in a free state: the public or whole body of the people: a form of government in which the power rests with the people, esp. that in England after the overthrow of Charles I. [See Wealth.]

Commove, kom-mōōv′, v.t. to put in motion: to agitate: to disturb, excite.—n. Commō′tion, a violent motion or moving: excited or tumultuous action, physical or mental: agitation: tumult. [L. com, inten., and movēre, motum, to move.]

Commune, kom′ūn, n. a corporation: in France, a territorial division governed by a mayor.—The Commune at Paris in 1871 was a revolt against the national government, the principle of the revolt being that each city or district should be ruled independently by its own commune or local government.—adj. Commū′nal (also Comm′unal).—ns. Communalisā′tion; Commū′nalism; Commū′nalist. [Fr. commune. See Common.]

Commune, kom-ūn′, v.i. to converse or talk together: to have intercourse: to receive Holy Communion.—ns. Comm′une, converse: talk; Commun′ing, conversing: communion. [O. Fr. comuner, to share—comun, common.]

Communicate, kom-ū′ni-kāt, v.t. to give a share of, impart: to reveal: to bestow.—v.i. to have something in common with another: to have communication: to have intercourse: to partake of Holy Communion.—ns. Communicabil′ity, Commū′nicableness, the state of being communicable.—adj. Commū′nicable, that may be communicated: affable.—adv. Commū′nicably.—ns. Commū′nicant, one who partakes of Holy Communion; Communicā′tion, act of communicating: that which is communicated: intercourse: correspondence: a means of communicating, a connecting passage or channel.—adj. Commū′nicative, inclined to communicate or give information: unreserved.—adv. Commū′nicatively.—n. Commū′nicativeness, the quality of being communicative.—adj. Commū′nicatory, imparting knowledge. [L. communicāre, -ātum, from communis.]

Communion, kom-ūn′yun, n. act of communing: mutual intercourse: fellowship: common possession: interchange of transactions: union in religious service: the body of people who so unite.—n. Commun′ionist, a communicant.—The Communion, Holy Communion, the celebration of the Lord's Supper. [L. communion-em, from communis.]

Communism, kom′ū-nizm, n. a theory or condition of things according to which private property should be abolished, and all things held in common.—n. Comm′unist, one who holds such principles.—adj. Communist′ic, pertaining to communism.