The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 1702
Taunt (?) , a. [Cf. OF. tant so great, F. tant so much, L. tantus of such size, so great, so much.] (Naut.) Very high or tall; as, a ship with taunt masts .
Totten.
Taunt <Xpage=1477>
Taunt (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Taunted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Taunting .] [Earlier, to tease; probably fr. OF. tanter to tempt, to try, for tenter . See Tempt .] To reproach with severe or insulting words; to revile; to upbraid; to jeer at; to flout.
When I had at my pleasure taunted her. Shak.
Syn. -- To deride; ridicule; mock; jeer; flout; revile. See Deride .
Taunt <Xpage=1477>
Taunt , n. Upbraiding language; bitter or sarcastic reproach; insulting invective.
With scoffs, and scorns, and contemelious taunts . Shak.
With sacrilegious taunt and impious jest. Prior.
Taunter <Xpage=1477>
Taunt"er (?) , n. One who taunts.
Taunting <Xpage=1477>
Taunt"ing , a. & n. from Taunt , v .
Every kind of insolent and taunting reflection. Burke.
Tauntingly <Xpage=1477>
Taunt"ing*ly , adv. In a taunting manner.
Tauntress <Xpage=1477>
Taunt"ress (?) , n. A woman who taunts.
Taur <Xpage=1477>
Taur (?) , n. [L. Taurus .] The constellation Taurus. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Tauricornous <Xpage=1477>
Tau`ri*cor"nous (?) , a. [L. tauricornis ; taurus a bull + cornu a horn.] (Zo\'94l.) Having horns like those of a bull.
Sir T. Browne.
Tauridor <Xpage=1477>
Tau`ri*dor" (?) , n. [See Toreador .] A bull<?/fighter; a toreador.
Sir W. Scott.
Tauriform <Xpage=1477>
Tau"ri*form (?) , a. [L. tauriformis ; taurus a bull + -form : cf. F. tauriforme .] Having the form of a bull.
Taurine <Xpage=1477>
Tau"rine (?) , a. [L. taurinus , fr. taurus a bull. See Taurus .] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the genus Taurus, or cattle.
Taurine <Xpage=1477>
Tau"rine (?) , n. [So named because it was discovered in the bile of the ox. See Taurus .] (Physiol. Chem.) A body occurring in small quantity in the juices of muscle, in the lungs, and elsewhere, but especially in the bile, where it is found as a component part of taurocholic acid, from which it can be prepared by decomposition of the acid. It crystallizes in colorless, regular six-sided prisms, and is especially characterized by containing both nitrogen and sulphur, being chemically amido-isethionic acid, C<?/H<?/NSO<?/.
Taurocholate <Xpage=1477>
Tau`ro*cho"late (?) , n. (Physiol. Chem.) A salt of taurocholic acid; as, sodium taurocholate , which occurs in human bile .
Taurocholic <Xpage=1477>
Tau`ro*chol"ic (?) , a. [ Taur ine + cholic .] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a conjugate acid (called taurocholic acid ) composed of taurine and cholic acid, present abundantly in human bile and in that of carnivora. It is exceedingly deliquescent, and hence appears generally as a thick, gummy mass, easily soluble in water and alcohol. It has a bitter taste.
Taurocol, Taurocolla <Xpage=1477>
Tau"ro*col (?) , Tau`ro*col"la (?) , n. [NL. taurocolla , fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ a bull + <?/ glue: cf. F. taurocolle .] Glue made from a bull's hide.
Tauromachian <Xpage=1477>
Tau`ro*ma"chi*an (?) , a. [See Tauromachy .] Of or pertaining to bullfights. -- n. A bullfighter.
Tauromachy <Xpage=1477>
Tau*rom"a*chy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/ bull + <?/ fight.] Bullfighting.
Taurus <Xpage=1477>
Tau"rus (?) , n. [L., akin to Gr. <?/, and E. steer . See Steer a young ox.] 1. (Astron.) (a) The Bull; the second in order of the twelve signs of the zodiac, which the sun enters about the 20th of April; -- marked thus [&taurus;] in almanacs. (b) A zodiacal constellation, containing the well-known clusters called the Pleiades and the Hyades, in the latter of which is situated the remarkably bright Aldebaran.
2. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of ruminants comprising the common domestic cattle.
Taurylic <Xpage=1477>
Tau*ryl"ic (?) , a. [L. taurus a bull + E. phen ylic .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid found of a urine of neat cattle, and probably identical with cresol .
Taut <Xpage=1477>
Taut (?) , a. [Dan. t\'91t ; akin to E. tight . See Tight .] 1. (Naut.) Tight; stretched; not slack; -- said esp. of a rope that is tightly strained.
2. Sung; close; firm; secure.
Taut hand (Naut.) , a sailor's term for an officer who is severe in discipline.
Tautegorical <Xpage=1477>
Tau`te*gor"ic*al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + <?/ to speak. Cf. Allegory .] Expressing the same thing with different words; -- opposed to allegorical . [R.]
Coleridge.
Tautochrone <Xpage=1477>
Tau"to*chrone (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + <?/ time: cf. F. tautochrone .] (Math.) A curved line, such that a heavy body, descending along it by the action of gravity, will always arrive at the lowest point in the same time, wherever in the curve it may begin to fall; as, an inverted cycloid with its base horizontal is a tautochrone .
Tautochronous <Xpage=1477>
Tau*toch"ro*nous (?) , a. (Math.) Occupying the same time; pertaining to, or having the properties of, a tautochrone.
Tautog <Xpage=1477>
Tau*tog" (?) , n. [The pl. of taut , the American Indian name, translated by Roger Williams sheep's heads , and written by him tauta\'a3og .] (Zo\'94l.) An edible labroid fish ( Haitula onitis , or Tautoga onitis ) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. When adult it is nearly black, more or less irregularly barred, with greenish gray. Called also blackfish , oyster fish , salt-water chub , and moll . [Written also tautaug .]
Tautologic <Xpage=1477>
Tau`to*log"ic (?) , a. Tautological.
Tautological <Xpage=1477>
Tau`to*log"ic*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. tautologique .] Involving tautology; having the same signification; as, tautological expression . -- Tau`to*log"ic*al*ly , adv.
Tautological echo , an echo that repeats the same sound or syllable many times.
Tautologist <Xpage=1477>
Tau*tol"o*gist (?) , n. One who uses tautological words or phrases.
Tautologize <Xpage=1477>
Tau*tol"o*gize (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Tautologized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Tautologizing (?) .] To repeat the same thing in different words.
Tautologous <Xpage=1477>
Tau*tol"o*gous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + <?/ to speak.] Repeating the same thing in different words; tautological. [R.]
Tooke.
Tautology <Xpage=1477>
Tau*tol"o*gy (?) , n. [L. tautologia , Gr. <?/: cf. F. tautologie .] (Rhet.) A repetition of the same meaning in different words; needless repetition of an idea in different words or phrases; a representation of anything as the cause, condition, or consequence of itself, as in the following lines: --
The dawn is overcast, the morning lowers, And heavily in clouds brings on the day. Addison.
Syn. -- Repetition. -- Tautology , Repetition . There may be frequent repetitions (as in legal instruments) which are warranted either by necessity or convenience; but tautology is always a fault, being a sameness of expression which adds nothing to the sense or the sound.
Tautomeric <Xpage=1477>
Tau`to*mer"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Relating to, or characterized by, tautomerism.
Tautomerism <Xpage=1477>
Tau*tom"er*ism (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + <?/ part.] (Chem.) The condition, quality, or relation of metameric substances, or their respective derivatives, which are more or less interchangeable, according as one form or the other is the more stable. It is a special case of metamerism; thus, the lactam and the lactim compounds exhibit tautomerism .
Tautoousian, Tautoousious <Xpage=1477>
Tau`to*ou"si*an (?) , Tau`to*ou"si*ous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + <?/ being, essence.] Having the same essence; being identically of the same nature. [R.]
Cudworth.
Tautophonical <Xpage=1477>
Tau`to*phon"ic*al (?) , a. Pertaining to, or characterized by, tautophony; repeating the same sound.
Tautophony <Xpage=1477>
Tau*toph"o*ny (?) , n. [Gr. <?/; <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + <?/ voice.] Repetition of the same sound.
Tautozonal <Xpage=1477>
Tau`to*zon"al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/, for <?/ <?/ the same + E. zonal .] (Crystallog.) Belonging to the same zone; as, tautozonal planes .
Tavern <Xpage=1477>
Tav"ern (?) , n. [OE. taverne , F. taverne , from L. taberna a hut, booth, tavern. Cf. Table , Tabernacle .] A public house where travelers and other transient guests are accomodated with rooms and meals; an inn; a hotel; especially, in modern times, a public house licensed to sell liquor in small quantities.
Taverner <Xpage=1477>
Tav"ern*er (?) , n. [F. tavernier , L. tabernarius .] One who keeps a tavern.
Chaucer. Camden.
Taverning <Xpage=1477>
Tav"ern*ing , n. A feasting at taverns. [Obs.] "The misrule of our tavernings ."
Bp. Hall.
Tavernman <Xpage=1477>
Tav"ern*man (?) , n. ; pl. Tavernmen (<?/) . The keeper of a tavern; also, a tippler. [Obs.]
Taw <Xpage=1477>
Taw (?) , n. Tow. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Taw <Xpage=1477>
Taw , v. t. [Cf. Tew to tow, Tow , v. t. ] To push; to tug; to tow. [Obs.]
Drayton.
Taw <Xpage=1477>
Taw (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Tawed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Tawing .] [OE. tawen , tewen , AS. t\'bewian to prepare; cf. D. touwen , Goth. t\'c7wa order, taujan to do, and E. tool . \'fb64. Cf. 1st Tew , Tow the coarse part of flax.] 1. To prepare or dress, as hemp, by beating; to tew; hence, to beat; to scourge. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
2. To dress and prepare, as the skins of sheep, lambs, goats, and kids, for gloves, and the like, by imbuing them with alum, salt, and other agents, for softening and bleaching them.
Taw <Xpage=1477>
Taw , n. [Cf. AS. t\'bew instrument.] 1. A large marble to be played with; also, a game at marbles.
2. A line or mark from which the players begin a game of marbles. [Colloq. U.S.]
Tawdrily <Xpage=1477>
Taw"dri*ly (?) , adv. In a tawdry manner.
Tawdriness <Xpage=1477>
Taw"dri*ness , n. Quality or state of being tawdry.
A clumsy person makes his ungracefulness more ungraceful by tawdriness of dress. Richardson.
Tawdry <Xpage=1477>
Taw"dry (?) , a. [ Compar. Tawdrier (?) ; superl. Tawdriest .] [Said to be corrupted from Saint Audrey , or Auldrey , meaning Saint Ethelreda , implying therefore, originally, bought at the fair of St. Audrey, where laces and gay toys of all sorts were sold. This fair was held in Isle Ely, and probably at other places, on the day of the saint, which was the 17th of October.] 1. Bought at the festival of St. Audrey. [Obs.]
And gird in your waist, For more fineness, with a tawdry lace. Spenser.
2. Very fine and showy in colors, without taste or elegance; having an excess of showy ornaments without grace; cheap and gaudy; as, a tawdry dress; tawdry feathers; tawdry colors. <-- tacky? -->
He rails from morning to night at essenced fops and tawdry courtiers. Spectator.
Tawdry <Xpage=1477>
Taw"dry , n. ; pl. Tawdries (<?/) . A necklace of a rural fashion, bought at St. Audrey's fair; hence, a necklace in general. [Obs.]
Of which the Naiads and the blue Nereids make Them tawdries for their necks. Drayton.
Tawer <Xpage=1477>
Taw"er (?) , n. One who taws; a dresser of white leather.
Tawery <Xpage=1477>
Taw"er*y (?) , n. A place where skins are tawed.
Tawniness <Xpage=1477>
Taw"ni*ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being tawny.
Tawny <Xpage=1477>
Taw"ny (?) , a. [ Compar. Tawnier (?) ; superl. Tawniest .] [F. tann\'82 , p.p. of tanner to tan. See Tan , v. t. & n. Cf. Tenn\'82 .] Of a dull yellowish brown color, like things tanned, or persons who are sunburnt; as, tawny Moor or Spaniard; the tawny lion . "A leopard's tawny and spotted hide."
Longfellow.
Taws <Xpage=1477>
Taws (?) , n. [See Taw to beat.] A leather lash, or other instrument of punishment, used by a schoolmaster. [Written also tawes , tawis , and tawse .] [Scot.]
Never use the taws when a gloom can do the turn. Ramsay.
Tax <Xpage=1477>
Tax (?) , n. [F. taxe , fr. taxer to tax, L. taxare to touch, sharply, to feel, handle, to censure, value, estimate, fr. tangere , tactum , to touch. See Tangent , and cf. Task , Taste .] 1. A charge, especially a pecuniary burden which is imposed by authority. Specifically: --
(a) A charge or burden laid upon persons or property for the support of a government.
A farmer of taxes is, of all creditors, proverbially the most rapacious. Macaulay.
(b) Especially, the sum laid upon specific things, as upon polls, lands, houses, income, etc.; as, a land tax ; a window tax ; a tax on carriages, and the like . Taxes are annual or perpetual , direct or indirect , etc.
(c) A sum imposed or levied upon the members of a society to defray its expenses.
2. A task exacted from one who is under control; a contribution or service, the rendering of which is imposed upon a subject.
3. A disagreeable or burdensome duty or charge; as, a heavy tax on time or health .
4. Charge; censure. [Obs.]
Clarendon.
5. A lesson to be learned; a task. [Obs.]
Johnson.
Tax cart , a spring cart subject to a low tax. [Eng.]
Syn. -- Impost; tribute; contribution; duty; toll; rate; assessment; exaction; custom; demand.
<page="1478"> Page 1478
Tax <Xpage=1478>
Tax (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Taxed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Taxing .] [Cf. F. taxer . See Tax , n. ] 1. To subject to the payment of a tax or taxes; to impose a tax upon; to lay a burden upon; especially, to exact money from for the support of government.
We are more heavily taxed by our idleness, pride, and folly than we are taxed by government. Franklin.
2. (Law) To assess, fix, or determine judicially, the amount of; as, to tax the cost of an action in court .
3. To charge; to accuse; also, to censure; -- often followed by with , rarely by of before an indirect object; as, to tax a man with pride .
I tax you, you elements, with unkindness. Shak.
Men's virtues I have commended as freely as I have taxed their crimes. Dryden.
Fear not now that men should tax thine honor. M. Arnold.
Taxability <Xpage=1478>
Tax`a*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being taxable; taxableness.
Taxable <Xpage=1478>
Tax"a*ble (?) , a. 1. Capable of being taxed; liable by law to the assessment of taxes; as, taxable estate; taxable commodities .
2. (Law) That may be legally charged by a court against the plaintiff of defendant in a suit; as, taxable costs .
-- Tax"a*ble*ness , n. -- Tax"a*bly , adv.
Taxaspidean <Xpage=1478>
Tax`as*pid"e*an (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ an arrangement + <?/, <?/, shield.] (Zo\'94l.) Having the posterior tarsal scales, or scutella, rectangular and arranged in regular rows; -- said of certain birds.
Taxation <Xpage=1478>
Tax*a"tion (?) , n. [F. taxation , L. taxatio a valuing, estimation, from L. taxare . See Tax .] 1. The act of laying a tax, or of imposing taxes, as on the subjects of a state, by government, or on the members of a corporation or company, by the proper authority; the raising of revenue; also, a system of raising revenue.
2. (Law) The act of taxing, or assessing a bill of cost.
3. Tax; sum imposed. [R.]
Daniel.
4. Charge; accusation. [Obs.]
Shak.
Taxel <Xpage=1478>
Tax"el (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The American badger.
Taxeopoda <Xpage=1478>
Tax`e*op"o*da (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ (?) + -poda .] (Paleon.) An order of extinct Mammalia found in the Tertiary formations.
Taxer <Xpage=1478>
Tax"er (?) , n. 1. One who taxes.
2. One of two officers chosen yearly to regulate the assize of bread, and to see the true gauge of weights and measures is observed. [Camb. Univ., Eng.] [Written also taxor .]
Taxgatherer <Xpage=1478>
Tax"gath`er*er (?) , n. One who collects taxes or revenues. -- Tax"gath`er*ing , n.
Taxiarch <Xpage=1478>
Tax"i*arch (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ and <?/; <?/ a division of an army, a brigade (from <?/ to arrange, array) + to rule.] (Gr. Antiq.) An Athenian military officer commanding a certain division of an army.
Milford.
Taxicorn <Xpage=1478>
Tax"i*corn (?) , n. [L. taxus a yew + cornu a horn: cf. F. taxicorne .] (Zo\'94l.) One of a family of beetles ( Taxicornes ) whose antenn\'91 are largest at the tip. Also used adjectively.
Taxidermic <Xpage=1478>
Tax`i*der"mic (?) , a. [Cf. F. taxidermique .] Of or pertaining to the art of preparing and preserving the skins of animals.
Taxidermist <Xpage=1478>
Tax"i*der`mist (?) , n. A person skilled in taxidermy.
Taxidermy <Xpage=1478>