List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Construe, kon′strōō, or kon-strōō′, v.t. to exhibit the arrangement in another language: to translate: to explain: to interpret: to infer.—v.i. to admit of grammatical analysis.—Con′ster, an old form. [L. construĕre, constructum, to pile together.]

Constuprate, kon′stū-prāt, v.t. (obs.) to deflower.—n. Constuprā′tion.

Consubsist, kon-sub-sist′, v.i. to subsist together.

Consubstantial, kon-sub-stan′shal, adj. of the same substance, nature, or essence, esp. of the Trinity.—ns. Consubstan′tialism, the doctrine of consubstantiation; Consubstan′tialist, one who believes in consubstantiation; Consubstantial′ity.—adv. Consubstan′tially, with sameness of substance.—v.t. Consubstan′tiāte, to unite in one common substance or nature.—v.i. to become so united.—adj. united in one common substance.—ns. Consubstantiā′tion (theol.), the Lutheran doctrine of the actual, substantial presence of the body and blood of Christ co-existing in and with the bread and wine used at the Lord's Supper; Consubstantiā′tionist. [L. con, with, and Substantial.]

Consuetude, kon′swe-tūd, n. custom: familiarity.—adj. Consuetū′dinary, customary.—n. an unwritten law established by usage, derived by immemorial custom from antiquity: a ritual of customary devotions. [L. consuetudo, custom.]

Consul, kon′sul, n. one of the two chief-magistrates in the Roman republic: one commissioned to reside in a foreign country as an agent for, or representative of, a government.—n. Con′sulage, duty paid to a consul for protection of goods.—adj. Con′sular, pertaining to a consul.—n. a man of consular rank.—ns. Con′sulate, the office, residence, or jurisdiction of a consul; Con′sulship, the office, or term of office, of a consul. [L.]

Consult, kon-sult′, v.t. to ask advice of: to decide or act in favour of: to look up to for information or advice: to discuss: to consider: to take measures for the advantage of any one.—v.i. to consider in company: to take counsel.—n. (kon-sult′, or kon′sult) the act of consulting: a meeting for consultation: a council: a meeting for conspiracy or intrigue.—ns. Consul′ta, a meeting of council; Consultā′tion, deliberation, or a meeting for such, esp. of physicians or lawyers.—adj. Consult′ative, of or pertaining to consultation, esp. of bodies taking part in a consultation without voting on the decision.—ns. Consultee′, the person consulted; Consult′er, one who consults.—adjs. Consult′ing, of a physician or lawyer who gives advice; Consult′ive, pertaining to consultation; Consult′ory, Consult′atory. [L. consult-āre, inten. of consul-ĕre, to consult.]

Consume, kon-sūm′, v.t. to destroy by wasting, fire, evaporation, &c.: to use up: to devour: to waste or spend: to exhaust.—v.i. to waste away.—adj. Consum′able.—adv. Consum′edly, exceedingly—originally a fantastic variant of confoundedly, and prob. influenced in meaning by consummately.—ns. Consum′er, as opposed to producer, he who uses an article produced; Consum′ing, wasting or destroying. [L. consum-ĕre, to destroy—con, sig. completeness, sum-ĕre, sumptum, to take.]

Consummate, kon′sum-āt, or kon-sum′āt, v.t. to raise to the highest point: to perfect or finish: to make marriage legally complete by sexual intercourse.—adj. complete, supreme, perfect of its kind.—adv. Consumm′ately, perfectly.—n. Consummā′tion, act of completing: perfection: conclusion of life or of the universe: the subsequent intercourse which makes a marriage legally valid.—adj. Consumm′ative.—n. Con′summator.—adj. Consumm′atory. [L. consummare, to perfect—con, with, and summus, highest, perfect.]

Consumption, kon-sum′shun, n. the act of using up or consuming—the converse of production—also Consumpt′; pulmonary consumption, a more or less rapidly advancing process of lung destruction, with progressive emaciation—phthisis, tuberculosis.—adj. Consump′tive, wasting away: inclined to the disease consumption.—adv. Consump′tively.—ns. Consump′tiveness, a tendency to consumption; Consumptiv′ity. [See Consume.]

Consute, kon′sūt, adj. (entom.) marked as if with stitches, as the wing-covers of some beetles.—adj. Consū′tile (obs.), stitched together. [L. consuĕre, -sutum, to sew together.]

Contabescent, kon-tab-es′ent, adj. wasting away, atrophied.—n. Contabes′cence. [L. contabescentem—contabescĕre, to waste away.]

Contabulate, kon-tab′ū-lāt, v.t. to floor with boards.—n. Contabulā′tion. [L., con, with, tabula, a board.]

Contact, kon′takt, n. touching or close union: meeting: (math.) coincidence, as of two curves, in two or more successive points.—adj. Contact′ual, pertaining to contact.—Be in contact (with), to be touching anything; Make contact, to complete an electrical current. [L. conting-ĕre, contactum, to touch—con, wholly, tangĕre, to touch.]

Contadina, kon-ta-dē′na, n. an Italian peasant woman:—pl. Contadi′ne (-ne), Contadi′nas. [It.]

Contagion, kon-tā′jun, n. transmission of a disease from the sick to the healthy, either by direct contact of a part affected with the disease, or through the medium of the excretions or exhalations of the body.—n. Contā′gionist, one who believes that certain diseases are contagious.—adj. Contā′gious, that may be communicated by contact.—adv. Contā′giously.—ns. Contā′giousness; Contā′gium, the supposed morbific matter by means of which disease spreads.—Contagious Diseases Acts, a series of laws passed in 1865 and succeeding years for the better regulation of prostitutes in certain seaport and military towns. [L. contagion-em—con, together, tangĕre, to touch.]

Contain, kon-tān′, v.t. to comprise, to include: (B.) to restrain, esp. the sexual appetite.—adj. Contain′able, that may be contained.—ns. Contain′ant, Contain′er. [Through Fr. from L. continēre—con, together, tenēre, to hold.]

Contaminate, kon-tam′i-nāt, v.t. to defile by touching or mixing with: to pollute: to corrupt: to infect.—adj. Contam′inable.—n. Contaminā′tion, pollution.—adj. Contam′inative. [L. contamināre, -ātum—contamen (for contagmen), pollution. See Contact.]

Contango, kon-tang′go, n. a percentage paid by the buyer to the seller of stock for keeping back its delivery to the next settling-day, continuation—opp. to Backwardation. [From Continue.]

Conteck, kon′tek, n. (Spens.). Same as Contest. [O. Fr. contek, prob. conn. with contekier, to touch.]

Contemn, kon-tem′, v.t. to despise: to neglect, to disregard.—n. Contem′ner. [Fr.,—L. contemnĕre, -temptum, to value little—con, inten., temnĕre, to slight.]

Contemper, kon-temp′ėr, v.t. to blend together, to qualify by mixture: to adapt to anything.—ns. Contemperā′tion (obs.), Contem′perature. [L. contemperāre.]

Contemplate, kon′tem-plāt, or kon-tem′plāt, v.t. to consider or look at attentively: to meditate on or study: to intend.—v.i. to think seriously: to meditate (with on, upon).—adj. Contemp′lable.—ns. Contem′plant, Contemp′latist; Contemplā′tion, continued study of a particular subject: a meditation written, or a subject for such.—adj. and n. Contem′plative, given to contemplation.—adv. Contem′platively.—ns. Contem′plativeness; Con′templātor, one who contemplates: a student. [L. contemplāri, -ātus, to mark out carefully a templum or place for auguries—con, sig. completeness, and templum. See Consider and Temple.]

Contemporaneous, kon-tem-po-rā′ne-us, adj. living, happening, or being at the same time.—n. Contemporanē′ity (geol.), does not imply that two systems were precisely synchronous, but merely that each occupies the same relative position in the succession of systems.—adv. Contemporā′neously.—ns. Contemporā′neousness; Contem′porariness.—adj. Contem′porary, contemporaneous, occupying the same period (with).—n. one who lives at the same time: a rival newspaper or magazine.—v.t. Contem′porise, to make contemporary in mind. [L. con, together, and temporaneus—tempus, time.]

Contempt, kon-tempt′, n. scorn: disgrace: (law) disregard of the rules or an offence against the dignity of a court (with of, for).—ns. Contemptibil′ity, Contempt′ibleness.—adj. Contempt′ible, despicable.—adv. Contempt′ibly.—adj. Contempt′uous, haughty, scornful.—adv. Contempt′uously.—n. Contempt′uousness. [See Contemn.]

Contend, kon-tend′, v.i. to strive: to struggle in emulation or in opposition: to dispute or debate (with against, for, with, about): to urge one's course.—ns. Contend′ent, Contend′er, one who contends.—p.adj. Contend′ing, striving.—n. Conten′tion, a violent straining after any object: strife: debate.—adj. Conten′tious, quarrelsome.—adv. Conten′tiously.—n. Conten′tiousness. [L. contendĕre, -tentum—con, with, tendĕre, to stretch.]

Contenement, kon-ten′ē-ment, n. land connected with a tenement.

Content, kon-tent′, or kon′tent, n. that which is contained: the capacity or extent of anything: the substance: (pl.) the things contained: the list of subjects treated of in a book. [See Contain.]

Content, kon-tent′, adj. having the desires limited by present enjoyment: satisfied.—n. satisfaction—often 'heart's content.'—interj. = I am content, agreed!—the formula of assent in the House of Lords.—v.t. to make content: to satisfy the mind: to make quiet: to please.—n. Contentā′tion (obs.).—adj. Content′ed, content.—adv. Content′edly.—ns. Content′edness, Content′ment.—adj. Content′less, without content: discontented. [Fr.,—L. contentus, contained, hence satisfied—con, and tenēre, to hold.]

Conterminous, kon-tėr′min-us, adj. having a common boundary: coincident with: co-extensive with in time, substance, &c.—Also Conter′minable, Conter′minal, Conter′minant, Conter′minate. [L. conterminus, neighbouring—con, together, and terminus, a boundary.]

Contest, kon-test′, v.t. to call in question or make the subject of dispute: to strive for.—n. Con′test, a struggle for superiority: strife: debate.—adj. Contest′able.—ns. Contest′ant, one who contests; Contestā′tion, the act of contesting: contest: strife: emulation.—p.adj. Contest′ed.—adv. Contest′ingly, by contest.—Contested election, an election for a member of parliament or the like, where more than one competitor offer themselves. [Fr.,—L. contestāri, to call to witness—con, and testāri, to be a witness—testis, a witness.]

Context, kon′tekst, n. the parts of a discourse or treatise which precede and follow a special passage and fix its true meaning.—adj. Context′ual—adv. Context′ually.—n. Context′ure, the interweaving of parts into a whole: the structure or system of anything: any interwoven fabric: the composition of a writing.—v.t. (Carlyle) to weave. [L. contextus, contexĕre—con, together, texĕre, textum, to weave.]

Conticent, kon′tis-ent, adj. (Thackeray) silent. [L. conticent-em, con, and tacēre, to be silent.]

Contignation, kon-tig-nā′shun, n. joining together: any structure so joined: a framework or stage. [L. contignation-em—contignāre—con, tignum, wood.]

Contiguous, kon-tig′ū-us, adj. touching, adjoining: near.—ns. Contigū′ity, Contig′uousness.—adv. Contig′uously. [L. contiguus—contingĕre, to touch on all sides—con, wholly, tangĕre, to touch.]

Continent, kon′ti-nent, n. a large extent of land not broken up by seas: the mainland of Europe: one of the great divisions of the land surface of the globe.—adj. restraining the indulgence of pleasure, esp. sexual: temperate: virtuous.—ns. Con′tinence, Con′tinency, the restraint imposed by a person upon his desires and passions: self-restraint in sexual indulgence, often absolute: chastity.—adj. Continent′al, characteristic of a continent, as of climate, &c.: pertaining to the European continent, or to the colonies of North America at the period of independence.—n. Continent′alism, anything peculiar to the usage of the Continent.—adv. Con′tinently.—Continental system, the name given to Napoleon's plan for shutting out England from all commercial connection with Europe. [L. continentem—continēre, to contain—con, together, tenĕre, to hold.]

Contingent, kon-tin′jent, adj. dependent on something else: liable but not certain to happen: accidental.—n. an event which is liable but not certain to occur: a share or proportion, esp. of soldiers.—ns. Contin′gence, Contin′gency.—adv. Contin′gently. [L. contingent-em—con, tangĕre, to touch.]

Continue, kon-tin′ū, v.t. to draw out or prolong: to extend or increase in any way: to unite without break: to persist in.—v.i. to remain in the same place or state: to last or endure: to persevere.—adjs. Contin′uable, that may be continued; Contin′ual, without interruption: unceasing.—adv. Contin′ually.—n. Contin′uance, duration: uninterrupted succession: stay.—adjs. Contin′uant; Contin′uāte, close united: (Shak.) unbroken.—ns. Continuā′tion, constant succession: extension; Continuā′tion-day, the same as Contango-day, that on which contangoes are fixed.—adj. Contin′uātive, continuing.—n. Contin′uātor, one who continues or keeps up a series or succession.—adj. Contin′ued, uninterrupted: unceasing: extended.—adv. Contin′uedly.—ns. Contin′uedness; Contin′uer, one who continues, or has the power of persevering; Continū′ity, state of being continuous: uninterrupted connection.—adj. Contin′uous, joined together without interruption.—adv. Contin′uously.—ns. Contin′uousness; Contin′ūum, a continuous thing:—pl. Contin′ua. [Fr.,—L. continuāre—continuus, joined, connected, from continēre.]

Contline, kont′līn, n. in the stowage of casks the space between them: the spiral intervals formed between the strands of a rope, by their being twisted together. [Prob. cant.]

Conto, kont′o, n. a Portuguese money of account, a million reis = £220.

Contorniate, kon-tor′ni-āt, n. a coin or medal with a deep groove round the disc.—adj. having this.

Contorno, kon-tor′no, n. contour or outline. [It.]

Contort, kon-tort′, v.t. to twist or turn violently: to writhe.—adj. Contort′ed, twisted: folded or twisted back upon itself, as some parts of plants.—ns. Contor′tion, a violent twisting; Contor′tionist, a gymnast who practises contorted postures: one who twists words and phrases.—adj. Contort′ive, expressing contortion. [L. con, inten., and torquēre, tortum, to twist.]

Contour, kon′tōōr, or kon-tōōr′, n. the outline: the line which bounds the figure of any object.—v.t. to mark with contour lines.—Contour lines, lines drawn in a map through points all at the same height above sea-level—usually on the British Ordnance Survey maps at intervals of 50 feet. [Fr. con, and tour, a turning—L. tornus—Gr. tornos, a lathe.]

Contra, kon′tra, adv. and prep. against, opposite: in front of: to the contrary: a doublet of Counter- (mus.), signifying an octave lower than the typical form, as in contrabass, &c. See Appendix.

Contraband, kon′tra-band, adj. contrary to law: prohibited.—n. illegal traffic: prohibition: prohibited goods.—ns. Con′trabandism, trafficking in contraband goods; Con′trabandist, a smuggler.—Contraband of war, a name applied to certain commodities, as military stores, and even coal in an age of war steamers, not to be supplied by neutral to belligerent powers. [Sp. contrabanda—It. contrabbando—L. contra, against, L. L. bandum, ban.]

Contrabass, kon′tra-bās, n. the double-bass viol, giving the lower octave to the bass in the orchestra.—adj. applied to other instruments taking a similar part.—Also Contrabas′so and Count′erbase.

Contract, kon-trakt′, v.t. to draw together: to lessen: to shorten: to acquire: to incur: to bargain for: to betroth.—v.i. to shrink: to become less.—n. Con′tract, an agreement on fixed terms: a bond: a betrothment: the writing containing an agreement.—adj. Contract′ed, drawn together: narrow: mean.—adv. Contract′edly.—ns. Contract′edness; Contractibil′ity, Contract′ibleness.—adjs. Contract′ible, capable of being contracted; Contract′ile, tending or having power to contract.—ns. Contractil′ity; Contrac′tion, act of contracting: a word shortened by rejecting a part of it: a symbol for shortening in palæography, &c.—adj. Contract′ive, tending to contract.—n. Contract′or, one of the parties to a bargain or agreement: one who engages to execute work or furnish supplies at a fixed rate.—adj. Contract′ual.—Contract one's self out of, to get rid of some general obligation by making a special contract; Contract work, work done for a fixed sum estimated beforehand and paid down for the whole job. [L. contractus—con, together, trahĕre, to draw.]

Contra-dance. See Country-dance.

Contradict, kon-tra-dikt′, v.t. to oppose by words: to assert the contrary: to deny: to be contrary to in character.—adj. Contradict′able.—n. Contradic′tion, act of contradicting: a speaking against: denial: inconsistency.—adj. Contradic′tious.—advs. Contradic′tiously (rare), Contradic′torily.—adjs. Contradict′ive, Contradict′ory, affirming the contrary: inconsistent.—n. Contradict′oriness, the quality of being contradictory, [L. contradicĕre, -dictum.]

Contradistinction, kon-tra-dis-tingk′shun, n. distinction by contrast.—adj. Contradistinct′ive, distinguishing by opposite qualities.—v.t. Contradistin′guish, to mark the difference between two things by contrasting their different qualities.

Contrafissure, kon′tra-fish-ūr, n. (surg.) a fracture or contusion of the skull at a place opposite that on which the blow was received.

Contrahent, kon′tra-hent, adj. entering into a contract.—n. a contracting party. [L. contrahent-em—contrahĕre.]

Contra-indicate, kon′tra-in′di-kāt, v.t. of a disease, to show symptoms adverse to a particular treatment.—ns. Con′tra-in′dicant, Con′tra-indicā′tion.

Contraire, kon-trār, adj. an obsolete form of Contrary.

Contralateral, kon-tra-lat′e-ral, adj. occurring on the opposite side.

Contralto, kon-tral′tō, n. the deepest or lowest species of musical voice in boys, in eunuchs, and best of all in women. [See Alto and Counter (1).]

Contraplex, kon′tra-pleks, adj. (teleg.) having two currents or messages passing in opposite directions at the same time.

Contraposition, kon′tra-po-zish′un, n. opposition, contrast: (logic) an immediate inference, which consists in denying the original subject of the contradictory of the original predicate.—adj. Con′tra-pos′itive.

Contraption, kon-trap′shun, n. (U.S.) a contrivance.

Contrapuntal. See Counterpoint.

Contra-rotation, kon′tra-rō-tā′shun, n. rotation in a contrary direction.

Contrary, kon′tra-ri, adj. opposite: contradictory—Contra′riant (rare).—n. a thing that is contrary or of opposite qualities.—n.pl. Con′traries, things opposite in quality: (logic) propositions which destroy each other.—n. Contrarī′ety, opposition: inconsistency.—adv. Con′trarily.—n. Con′trariness.—adj. Contrā′rious, showing contrariety: repugnant: opposite.—advs. Contrā′riously, contrarily; Con′trariwise, on the contrary way or side: on the other hand. [L. contrarius—contra, against.]

Contrast, kon-trast′, v.i. to stand in opposition to.—v.t. to set in opposition, in order to show superiority or give effect.—n. Con′trast, opposition or unlikeness in things compared: exhibition of differences.—adj. Contrast′ive. [Fr. contraster—L. contra, opposite to, stāre, to stand.]

Contrate, kon′trāt, adj. having cogs or teeth arranged in a manner contrary to the usual one, or projecting parallel to the axis.

Contra-tenor. Same as Counter-tenor (q.v. under Counter, 1).

Contravallation, kon-tra-val-ā′shun, n. a fortification built by besiegers about the place invested. [L. contra, opposite, vallāre, ātum, to fortify.]

Contravene, kon-tra-vēn′, v.t. to oppose.—n. Contraven′tion, act of contravening: opposition: obstruction. [L. contra, against, venīre, to come.]

Contrayerva, kon-tra-yėr′va, n. a stimulating and tonic aromatic root of tropical America. [Sp. contrayerba—L. contra, against, herba, a herb.]

Contretemps, kon-tr-tang′, n. something happening inopportunely or at the wrong time, anything embarrassing, a hitch. [Fr. contre—L. contra, against, and Fr. temps—L. tempus, time.]

Contribute, kon-trib′ūt, v.t. to give along with others: to give for a common purpose: to furnish an article to a newspaper, &c.: to pay a share.—v.i. to give or bear a part.—adj. Contrib′utary, paying a share, contributable, subject to contribution.—n. Contribū′tion, a collection: a levy or charge imposed upon a people: anything furnished to a common stock: a written composition supplied to a jointly written book, newspaper, &c.—adjs. Contrib′utive, Contrib′utory, giving a share: helping.—n. Contrib′utor. [L. con, with, tribuĕre, -utum, to give.]

Contrist, kon-trist′, v.t. (obs.) to sadden.—n. Contristā′tion. [Fr.,—L. contristāre—con, inten., and tristis, sad.]

Contrite, kon′trīt, adj. broken-hearted for sin: penitent.—adv. Con′tritely.—ns. Con′triteness; Contri′tion, deep sorrow for sin: remorse. [L. contritus—conter-ĕre—con, wholly, ter-ĕre, to bruise.]

Contriturate, kon-trit′ū-rāt, v.t. to pulverise together.

Contrive, kon-trīv′, v.t. to plan: to invent: to bring about or effect: to plot.—adj. Contriv′able, that may be contrived.—ns. Contriv′ance, Contrive′ment, act of contriving: the thing contrived: invention: design: artifice; Contriv′er, a schemer, a manager. [O. Fr. controver—con-, trover, to find—L. turbāre, to disturb.]

Contrive, kon-triv′, v.t. (obs.) to spend, as time. [L. conter-ĕre, contritum, perf. contrīvi, to wear out.]

Control, kon-trōl′, n. restraint: authority: command.—v.t. to check: to restrain: to govern:—pr.p. contrōl′ling; pa.p. contrōlled′.—Formerly Comptroll′, Countrol′, Controul′.—adj. Control′lable, capable of, or subject to, control.—ns. Control′ler, Comptrol′ler, one who checks the accounts of others by a counter-roll; Control′lership; Control′ment, act or power of controlling: state of being controlled: control. [Fr. contrôle, from contre-rôle, a duplicate register—L. contra, against, rotulus, a roll.]

Controvert, kon′tro-vėrt, v.t. to oppose: to argue against: to refute.—adj. Controver′sial, relating to controversy.—n. Controver′sialist, one given to controversy.—adv. Controver′sially.—ns. Con′troversy, a debate: contest: resistance.—adj. Controvert′ible.—adv. Controvert′ibly.—n. Con′trovertist. [L. contra, against, and vert-ĕre, to turn.]

Contumacious, kon-tū-mā′shus, adj. opposing lawful authority with contempt: obstinate: stubborn.—adv. Contumā′ciously.—ns. Contumā′ciousness; Con-tumac′ity; Con′tumacy, obstinate disobedience or resistance. [L. contumax, -acis, insolent, from con, and tum-ēre, to swell, or temn-ĕre, to despise.]

Contumely, kon′tū-mel-i, n. rudeness: insolence: reproach.—adj. Contumē′lious, haughtily reproachful: insolent.—adv. Contumē′liously.—n. Contumē′liousness. [L. contumelia, which is prob. from the same source as contumacy.]

Contund, kon-tund′, v.t. to bruise or pound.—v.t. Contūse′, to beat or bruise: to crush.—n. Contū′sion, act of bruising; state of being bruised; a bruise.—adj. Contū′sive, apt to bruise. [L. contundĕre, contusum—con, and tundĕre, to bruise.]

Conundrum, kon-un′drum, n. a sort of riddle containing some odd or fanciful resemblance between things quite unlike: any puzzling question. [Ety. dub.]

Convalesce, kon-val-es′, v.i. to regain health.—ns. Convales′cence, Convales′cency, gradual recovery of health and strength.—adj. Convales′cent, gradually recovering health.—n. one recovering health. [L. con, and valesc-ĕre—val-ēre, to be strong.]

Convallaria, kon-va-lā′ri-a, n. a genus of Liliaceæ, its only species the Lily-of-the-valley. [L. convallis, a sheltered valley.]

Convection, kon-vek′shun, n. the process of transmission of heat or electricity through liquids or gases by means of currents.—adj. Convec′tive, occasioned by convection. [L.,—con, and vehĕre, to carry.]

Convenance, kong′ve-nangs, n. what is suitable or proper: (pl.) the conventional usages or social proprieties. [Fr.]

Convene, kon-vēn′, v.i. to come together: to assemble.—v.t. to call together.—adj. Convē′nable.—n. Conven′er, one who convenes a meeting: the chairman of a committee. [Fr.,—L. conven-īre, from con, together, and venīre, to come.]

Convenient, kon-vēn′yent, adj. suitable: handy: commodious.—adj. Conven′able (obs.), fitting.—ns. Conven′ience, Conven′iency, suitableness: an advantage: any particular domestic accommodation, as a closet, &c.—adv. Conven′iently. [L. convenīre.]

Convent, kon′vent, n. an association of persons secluded from the world and devoted to a religious life: the house in which they live, a monastery or nunnery.—adj. Convent′ual, belonging to a convent.—n. a monk or nun; a member of one of the two divisions of the Franciscans, following a mitigated rule—the other being the Observants. [Through Fr. from L. convent-um, convenīre, to come together.]

Conventicle, kon-vent′i-kl, n. applied in contempt to a meeting for worship of dissenters from the Established Church, applied esp. to the field-preachings of the Presbyterian ministers in the persecutions under Charles II. and James II.: any private, clandestine, or irregular meeting.—v.i. to hold such.—n. Conven′ticler. [L. conventiculum, a secret meeting of monks, dim. of conventus.]

Convention, kon-ven′shun, n. an assembly, esp. of representatives or delegates for some common object: any extraordinary assembly called upon any special occasion: any temporary treaty: an agreement: established usage: fashion.—adj. Conven′tional, formed by convention: growing out of tacit agreement or custom: customary: not spontaneous.—v.t. Conven′tionalise.—ns. Conventionalism, that which is established by tacit agreement, as a mode of speech, &c.; Conven′tionalist, one who adheres to a convention, or is swayed by conventionalism; Conventional′ity, state of being conventional: that which is established by use or custom.—adv. Conven′tionally.—adj. Conven′tionary, acting under contract.—ns. Conven′tioner, Conven′tionist. [Fr.,—L. convention-em. See Convene.]

Converge, kon-vėrj′, v.i. to tend to one point.—ns. Conver′gence, Conver′gency, act or quality of tending to one point.—adjs. Conver′gent, Conver′ging, tending to one point. [L. con, together, and vergĕre, to bend, to incline.]

Conversazione, kon-vėr-sat-se-ō′ne, n. a meeting for conversation, particularly on literary subjects:—pl. Conversaziō′ni (-nē). [It.]

Converse, kon-vėrs′, v.i. to have intercourse: to talk familiarly.—n. Con′verse, familiar intercourse: conversation.—adj. Convers′able, disposed to converse: sociable.—adv. Convers′ably.—ns. Con′versance, Con′versancy, state of being conversant: familiarity.—adj. Con′versant, acquainted by study: familiar; (B.) walking or associating with.—n. Conversā′tion, intercourse: talk: familiar discourse; (B.) behaviour or deportment.—adj. Conversā′tional.—ns. Conversā′tionalist, Conversā′tionist, one who excels in conversation; Conversā′tionism, a colloquialism.—adj. Conver′sative, ready to talk. [Fr.,—L. conversāri, to live with—con, inten., and versāre, to turn much—vertĕre, to turn.]

Convert, kon-vert′, v.t. to change or turn from one thing, condition, or religion to another: to change from an irreligious to a holy life: to alter one thing into another: to apply to a particular purpose.—n. Con′vert, one converted: one who has become religious, or who has changed his religion.—adj. Con′verse, reversed in order or relation.—n. that which is the opposite of another: a proposition converted or turned about—i.e. one in which the subject and predicate have changed places.—adv. Con′versely.—ns. Conver′sion, change from one thing, state, or religion to another: (theol.) the conscious change of heart impelling the repentant sinner to a new life: appropriation to a special purpose: (logic) act of interchanging the terms of a proposition; Con′vertend, the proposition to be converted; Convert′er, one who converts: a vessel in which materials are changed from one condition to another; Convertibil′ity, Convert′ibleness.—adjs. Convert′ible, Conver′sive (obs.), that may be converted: equivalent.—adv. Convert′ibly.—n. Con′vertite, a convert, a reformed woman. [L. convertĕre, conversum—con, and vertĕre, to turn.]

Convex, kon′veks, adj. rising into a round form on the outside, the reverse of concave.—n. the vault of heaven, &c.—adj. Convexed′, made convex.—adv. Convex′edly.—ns. Convex′ity, Con′vexness, roundness of form on the outside.—adv. Con′vexly.—adjs. Convex′o-con′cave, convex on one side, and concave on the other; Convex′o-con′vex, convex on both sides. [L. convexus—conveh-ĕre—con, together, and vehĕre, to carry.]

Convey, kon-vā′, v.t. to carry: to transmit: to impart: to steal: to communicate, as ideas: to make over in law.—adj. Convey′able.—ns. Convey′al; Convey′ance, the means of conveying: a vehicle of any kind: (law) the act of transferring property: the writing which transfers it; Convey′ancer, one whose business is the preparation of deeds for the transference of property; Convey′ancing, the business of a conveyancer; Convey′er. [O. Fr. conveier—L. con, along with, and O. Fr. veie—L. via, a way.]

Convicinity, kon-vi-sin′i-ti, n. neighbourhood.

Convict, kon-vikt′, v.t. to prove guilty: to pronounce guilty.—n. Con′vict, one convicted or found guilty of crime, esp. one who has been condemned to penal servitude.—ns. Convic′tion, act of convincing: strong belief: a proving guilty: (theol.) the condition of being consciously convicted of sin; Con′victism, the convict system.—adj. Convict′ive, able to convince or convict.—Carry conviction, to bear irresistibly the stamp or proof of truth; Under conviction, in such a state of awakened consciousness. [From root of Convince.]

Convince, kon-vins′, v.t. to subdue the mind by evidence: to satisfy as to truth or error: (B.) to convict: to refute.—n. Convince′ment.—adjs. Convinc′ible; Convinc′ing, producing conviction.—adv. Convinc′ingly. [L. convincĕre, con, sig. completeness, and vincĕre, victum, to conquer.]

Convivial, kon-viv′i-al, adj. feasting in company: relating to a feast: social: jovial.—v.i. Convive′ (Shak.), to feast together.—n. a companion at table.—ns. Conviv′ialist, a convivial fellow; Convivial′ity.—adv. Conviv′ially. [L.,—convivium, a living together, a feast—con, together, and vivĕre, to live.]

Convoke, kon-vōk′, v.t. to call together: to assemble—also Con′vocāte.—n. Convocā′tion, act of convoking: a provincial synod of clergy, the ancient ecclesiastical council of the archbishop, esp. those of the provinces of Canterbury and York in the Church of England: the great legislative assembly of the university at Oxford and elsewhere.—adj. Convocā′tional.—n. Convocā′tionist. [L. convocāre—con, together, and vocāre, -ātum, to call.]

Convolve, kon-volv′, v.t. to roll together, or one part on another.—adjs. Con′volute, -d, rolled together, or one part on another.—n. Convolū′tion, a twisting: a fold. [L. con, together, volvĕre, -utum, to roll.]

Convolvulus, kon-vol′vū-lus, n. a genus of twining or trailing plants, called also Bindweed. [L.,—convolvĕre.]

Convoy, kon-voy′, v.t. to accompany for protection.—n. Con′voy, the act of convoying: protection: that which convoys or is convoyed, esp. a ship or ships of war guarding a fleet of merchant-vessels, also the ships so protected: an honourable escort: a supply of stores, &c., under escort. [Fr. convoyer. See Convey.]

Convulse, kon-vuls′, v.t. to agitate violently: to affect by spasms.—adj. Convul′sible, subject to convulsion.—n. Convul′sion, any involuntary contraction of the voluntary muscles of the body, esp. such seizures in which the body is thrown into violent spasmodic contractions, the sensibility and voluntary motion being for a time suspended: any violent disturbance.—adjs. Convul′sional, Convul′sionary, pertaining to convulsions.—n.pl. Convul′sionaries, a fanatical sect of Jansenists who sprang up in France about 1730.—adj. Convuls′ive, attended with convulsions: spasmodic.—adv. Convuls′ively.—n. Convuls′iveness. [L. con, inten., and vellĕre, vulsum, to pluck, to pull.]

Cony, Coney, kō′ni, or kun′i, n. a rabbit: (B.) translation of Heb. shâphân, the Hyrax syriacus, or rock-badger: (obs.) an equivocal term of endearment for a woman.—n. Cō′ny-burr′ow, a rabbit-warren.—v.t. Cō′ny-catch (Shak.), to cheat.—ns. Cōny-catch′er, a cheat; Cō′ny-wool, rabbits' fur. [Prob. through O. Fr. connil, from L. cuniculus, a rabbit.]

Conyza, kō-nī′za, n. a genus of strong-smelling herbaceous composite plants—applied formerly to the fleabanes. [Gr.]

Coo, kōō, v.i. to make a sound as a dove: to caress fondly, usually in phrase, 'to bill and coo:'—pr.p. cōō′ing; pa.p. cōōed.—n. the sound emitted by doves.—adv. Coo′ingly. [From the sound.]

Cooee, kōō′ē, Cooey, koo′i, n. the signal-call of the native Australians in the bush.—v.i. to make such.

Coof, küf, n. (Scot.) a stupid fellow. [Prob. M. E. cofe, the modern Cove, a fellow.]

Cook, kook, v.t. to prepare food: to manipulate for any purpose, or falsify, as accounts, &c.: to concoct.—n. one whose business is to cook.—ns. Cook′ery, the art or practice of cooking; Cook′ery-book, a book of receipts for cooking dishes.—n.pl. Cook′ing-app′les, &c., apples, &c., sold specially for cooking.—ns. Cook′ing-range, a stove adapted for cooking several things at once; Cook′-room, a room in which food is cooked; Cook′-shop, an eating-house.—To cook one's goose (slang), to finish off, to kill. [A.S. cóc, a cook (Ger. koch), borrowed from L. coquus.]

Cook, kook, v.i. to make the sound of the cuckoo.

Cook, kook, v.i. (Scot.) to appear and disappear by turns.

Cookie, kook′i, n. a kind of sweet cake used at tea.—n. Cookie-shine, a tea-party. [Dut. koekje, a cake.]

Cool, kōōl, adj. slightly cold: free from excitement: calm: not zealous, ardent, or cordial: indifferent: impudent: colloquially of a large sum of money, as 'a cool thousand.'—v.t. to make cool: to allay or moderate, as heat, excitement, passion, &c.—v.i. to grow cool.—n. that which is cool: coolness.—n. Cool′er, anything that cools: a vessel in which something is cooled—e.g. 'a butter-cooler.'—adjs. Cool′-head′ed, not easily excited: capable of acting with composure; Cool′ish, somewhat cool; Cool′ly (Spens.), cool.—adv. in a cool manner: indifferently: impudently.—ns. Cool′ness, moderate cold: indifference: want of zeal; Cool′-tank′ard, a cooling drink of wine and water, with lemon-juice, spices, and borage: a local name of borage; Coolth (dial.), coolness. [A.S. cól; Ger. kühl. See Cold and Chill.]

Coolie, Cooly, kōōl′i, n. an Indian or Chinese labourer who has emigrated under contract to a foreign land: a European's name for a hired native labourer in India and China. [Prob. Kuli, a tribe of Guzerat; or orig. Tamil, cf. kūli, hire.]

Coom, kōōm, n. matter that gathers at the naves of wheels: soot that gathers at the mouth of an oven: coal-dust. [Prob. conn. with Ger. kahm, mould gathered on liquids.]

Coom, kōōm, n. (Scot.) the wooden centering on which a bridge is built: anything arched or vaulted.—adj. Coom′-ceiled, said of a garret with the inside ceiling sloping from the wall. [Origin obscure.]

Coomb, Comb, kōōm, n. a deep little wooded valley: a hollow on the flank of a hill. [A.S. cumb, a hollow.]

Coomb, Comb, kōōm, n. a measure of capacity = 4 bushels. [A.S. cumb, a measure.]

Coon, kōōn, n. the raccoon: a sly fellow.—A gone coon, one whose case is hopeless. [U.S.]

Coontie, Coonty, kōōn′ti, n. the arrowroot plant of Florida.

Coop, kōōp, n. a tub, cask, or barrel: a box or cage for fowls or small animals.—v.t. to confine in a coop: to shut up or confine.—n. Coop′er, one who makes tubs, casks, &c.: a mixture of stout and porter.—v.t. to repair (tubs, &c.): to prepare, patch up.—ns. Coop′erage, the work or workshop of a cooper: the sum paid for a cooper's work; Coop′ering; Coop′ery, the business of a cooper. [A.S. cýpe, a basket; cf. Ger. kufe.]

Cooper, kōōp′ėr, n. a floating grog-shop.—v.i. to supply fishing-boats at sea with liquor. [See Coper.]

Co-operate, kō-op′ėr-āt, v.i. to work together.—n. Co-operā′tion, joint operation; the association of a number of persons for the cheaper purchasing of goods, or for carrying on some branch of industry.—adjs. Co-op′erātive, Co-op′erant, working together.—n. Co-op′erātor.—Co-operating grace (theol.), the R.C., Arminian, and Socinian doctrine that the human will co-operates with the divine in the matter of saving grace. [Co-, together, and Operate.]

Co-opt, kō-opt′, v.t. to elect into any body by the votes of its members.—ns. Co-optā′tion, Co-op′tion.—adj. Co-op′tative. [L. cooptāre, -ātum—co-, together, optāre, to choose.]

Co-ordinate, kō-or′di-nāt, adj. holding the same order or rank.—v.t. to make co-ordinate.—n. a co-ordinate element: each of a system of two or more magnitudes used to define the position of a point, line, or plane, by reference to a fixed system of lines, points, &c.—n. Co-or′dinance, a joint ordinance.—adv. Co-or′dinately.—ns. Co-or′dinateness, the state of being co-ordinate: equality of rank, &c.; Co-ordinā′tion, state of being co-ordinate.—adj. Co-or′dinative, indicating co-ordination.

Coost, küst, a Scotch form of Cast.

Coot, kōōt, n. a short-tailed water-fowl, with a characteristic white spot—an extension of the bill—on the forehead; hence called bald, as in phrase, 'bald as a coot.' [M. E. cote; cf. Dut. koet.]

Coot, küt, n. (Scot.) the ankle.—adj. Coot′ie, having legs clad with feathers. [Scot.; cf. Dut. koot; Flem. keute.]

Cop, kop, n. a conical ball of thread on a spindle—also Cop′pin: (obs.) a top or head of anything.—adj. Copped, rising to a cop or head. [A.S. cop, copp.]

Cop, kop, v.t. (slang) to capture.—ns. Cop, Cop′per (slang), a policeman.

Copaiba, ko-pā′ba, n. a balsam obtained from an American tree, much used in medicine.—Also Copai′va. [Sp.,—Braz.]

Copal, kō′pal, n. a resinous substance used in varnishes. [Sp.,—Mex. copalli, resins generally.]

Copartner, kō-pärt′ner, n. a joint partner.—ns. Copart′nership, Copart′nery, Copar′cener, Copar′cenary. [L. co-, together, and Partner.]

Copatain, kop′a-tān, adj. (Shak.) of a hat, high-crowned like a sugar-loaf.

Copatriot. A form of Compatriot.

Cope, kōp, n. a covering: a cap or hood: anything spread overhead: a coping: an ecclesiastical vestment worn over the alb or surplice in processions, at solemn lauds and vespers, but not by the celebrant at mass, semicircular, without sleeves and with a hood, fastened across the breast with a clasp or morse, the straight edge usually ornamented with a broad orphrey.—v.t. to cover with a cope.—ns. Cope′-stone, Cop′ing-stone, the stone which copes or tops a wall; Cop′ing, the covering course of masonry of a wall. [From root of Cap.]

Cope, kōp, v.t. to barter or exchange. [Cf. Dut. koopen.]

Cope, kōp, v.i. to contend.—v.t. to vie with, esp. on equal terms or successfully: to match.—n. Copes′mate (Shak.), a companion. [Fr. couper—L. colaphus, a blow with the fist.]

Copeck, Kopeck, kō′pek, n. a Russian copper coin, worth from ¼ to ⅓ of a penny English. [Russ.]

Coper, kōp′ėr, n. a ship employed in surreptitiously supplying strong drink to deep-sea fishermen—often spelt Cooper.—v.i. to supply liquor in such a way. [Dut. kooper—koopen, to trade; cf. Ger. kaufen, to buy; A.S. ceápan.]

Copernican, ko-pėr′ni-kan, adj. relating to Copernicus, the famous Prussian astronomer (1473-1543), or to his system.

Cophosis, kō-fō′sis, n. total deafness. [Gr.,—kōphos, deaf.]

Cophouse, kop′hows, n. a tool-house.

Copier. See Copy.

Copious, kō′pi-us, adj. plentiful: overflowing: not concise.—adv. Cō′piously.—n. Cō′piousness. [L. copiosus—copia, plenty—co-, inten., and ops, opis, wealth.]

Copland, kop′land, n. a piece of ground terminating in a cop or acute angle.

Copopsia, kō-pop′si-a, n. fatigue of sight. [Gr. kōphos, dull, opsis, sight.]

Co-portion, kō-por′shun, n. (Spens.) equal portion or share.

Copos, kop′os, n. a morbid lassitude. [Gr.]

Copper, kop′ėr, n. a moderately hard metal of a fine red colour, perhaps the first metal employed by man: money made of copper—e.g. 'a copper' = a penny or halfpenny: a vessel made of copper.—adj. made of copper: copper-coloured.—v.t. to cover with copper.—adj. Copp′er-bott′omed, having the bottom covered with copper, as a ship—n. Copp′er-cap′tain, one who styles himself captain without grounds.—adjs. Copp′er-faced, faced with copper, as type; Copp′er-fas′tened, fastened with copper bolts.—ns. Copp′er-head, a United States snake: (U.S.) a northern sympathiser with the South in the Civil War; Copp′ering, the act of sheathing with copper: a covering of copper.—adjs. Copp′erish, Copp′ery, Cū′preous, containing or like copper.—ns. Copp′er-nick′el, arsenical nickel, niccolite; Copp′er-nose, a red nose caused by intemperance; Copp′erplate, a plate of polished copper on which something has been engraved: an impression taken from the plate; Copp′er-pyrī′tes, a double sulphide of copper and iron of yellow hue; Copp′er-smith, a smith who works in copper; Copp′er-work, a place where copper is wrought or manufactured; Copp′erworm, the ship-worm.—Hot coppers, parched tongue and throat after a bout of drinking. [Low L. cuper—L. cuprum, a contr. of cyprium aes, 'Cyprian brass,' because found in Cyprus.]

Copperas, kop′ėr-as, n. sulphate of iron, used in dyeing black, or making ink. [Fr. couperose (It. copparosa)—L. cupri rosa, rose of copper—so Diez.]

Coppice, kop′is, Copse, kops, n. a wood of small growth for periodical cutting.—n. Copse′wood.—adj. Cop′sy. [O. Fr. copeiz, wood newly cut—Low L. colpāre, to cut—L. colaphus, a blow with the fist.]

Coppin. See Cop (1).

Copple, kop′l, n. (obs.) a crest on a bird's head.—n. Copp′le-crown.—adj. Copp′le-crowned.

Copple-stone, an obsolete form of Cobble-stone.

Copra, kop′ra, n. the dried kernel of the coco-nut, yielding coco-nut oil. [Port., from Malay.]

Co-presence, ko-prez′ens, n. presence together.—adj. Co-pres′ent.

Coprolite, kop′ro-līt, n. fossilised excrement of animals in Palæozoic, Mesozoic, and Tertiary strata.—adj. Coprolit′ic. [Gr. kopros, dung, lithos, a stone.]