Chapter 250

&hand; Century , in the reckoning of time, although often used in a general way of any series of hundred consecutive years (as, a century of temperance work), usually signifies a division of the Christian era, consisting of a period of one hundred years ending with the hundredth year from which it is named; as, the first century ( a . d . 1-100 inclusive); the seventh century ( a . d . 601-700); the eighteenth century ( a . d . 1701-1800). With words or phrases connecting it with some other system of chronology it is used of similar division of those eras; as, the first century of Rome (A.U.C. 1-100).

3. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) A division of the Roman people formed according to their property, for the purpose of voting for civil officers. (b) One of sixty companies into which a legion of the army was divided. It was Commanded by a centurion.

Century plant (Bot.) , the Agave Americana , formerly supposed to flower but once in a century; -- hence the name. See Agave . -- The Magdeburg Centuries , an ecclesiastical history of the first thirteen centuries, arranged in thirteen volumes, compiled in the 16th century by Protestant scholars at Magdeburg.

Cepevorous <Xpage=233>

Ce*pev"o*rous (?) , a. [L. cepa an onion + varare to devour.] Feeding upon onions. [R.]

Sterling.

Cephalad <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lad (?) , adv. [Gr. <?/ head + L. ad toward.] (Zo\'94l.) Forwards; towards the head or anterior extremity of the body; opposed to caudad .

Cephalalgia, Cephalalgy <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lal"gi*a (?) , Ceph"a*lal`gy (?) , n. [L. cephalalgia , Gr. <?/; <?/ + <?/ pain: cf. F. c\'82phalalgie .] (Med.) Pain in the head; headache.

Cephalalgic <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lal"gic (?) , a. [L. cephalalgicus , Gr. <?/.] (Med.) Relating to, or affected with, headache. -- n. A remedy for the headache.

Cephalanthium <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lan"thi*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ + <?/ flower.] (Bot.) Same as Anthodium .

Cephalaspis <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*las"pis (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ head + <?/ a shield.] (Paleon.) A genus of fossil ganoid fishes found in the old red sandstone or Devonian formation. The head is large, and protected by a broad shield-shaped helmet prolonged behind into two lateral points.

Cephalata <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*la"ta (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ head.] (Zo\'94l.) A large division of Mollusca, including all except the bivalves; -- so called because the head is distinctly developed. See Illustration in Appendix.

Cephalate <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*late (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having a head.

Cephalic <Xpage=233>

Ce*phal"ic (?) , a. [L. cephalicus , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ head: cf. F. c\'82phalique .] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the head. See the Note under Anterior .

Cephalic index (Anat.) , the ratio of the breadth of the cranium to the length, which is taken as the standard, and equal to 100; the breadth index. -- Cephalic vein , a large vein running from the back of the head alond the arm; -- so named because the ancients used to open it for disorders of the head.

Dunglison.

Cephalic <Xpage=233>

Ce*pha"lic , n. A medicine for headache, or other disorder in the head.

Cephalitis <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*li"tis (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ head + -itis .] (Med.) Same as Phrenitis .

Cephalization <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*li*za"tion (?) , n. Domination of the head in animal life as expressed in the physical structure; localization of important organs or parts in or near the head, in animal development.

Dana.

Cephalo <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo (?) . [Gr. <?/ head.] A combining form denoting the head , of the head , connected with the head ; as, cephalo some, cephalo pod .

Cephalocercal <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lo*cer"cal (?) , a. [ Cephalo- + Gr. <?/ tail.] (Zo\'94l.) Relating to the long axis of the body.

Cephaloid <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*loid (?) , a. [ Cephalo- + -oid .] Shaped like the head.

Craing.

Cephalology <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lol"o*gy (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + -logy .] The science which treats of the head.

Cephalomere <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*mere (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + -mere .] (Zo\'94l.) One of the somites (arthromeres) which make up the head of arthropods.

Packard.

Cephalometer <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lom"e*ter (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + -meter .] (Med.) An instrument measuring the dimensions of the head of a fetus during delivery.

Cephalon <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lon (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The head.

Cephalophora <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*loph"o*ra (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ head + <?/ to bear.] (Zo\'94l.) The cephalata.

Cephalopod, Cephalopode <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*pod (?) , Ceph"a*lo*pode (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) One of the Cephalopoda.

Cephalopoda <Xpage=233>

Ceph"`a*lop"o*da (?) , n. pl. [NL., gr. Gr. <?/ head + -poda : cf. F. c\'82phalopode .] (Zo\'94l.) The highest class of Mollusca.

&hand; They have, around the front of the head, a group of elongated muscular arms, which are usually furnished with prehensile suckers or hooks, The head is highly developed, with large, well organized eyes and ears, and usually with a cartilaginous brain case. The higher forms, as the cuttlefishes, squids, and octopi, swim rapidly by ejecting a jet of water from the tubular siphon beneath the head. They have a pair of powerful horny jaws shaped like a parrot's beak, and a bag of inklike fluid which they can eject from the siphon, thus clouding the water in order to escape from their enemies. They are divided into two orders, the Dibranchiata, having two gills and eight or ten sucker-bearing arms, and the Tetrabranchiata, with four gills and numerous arms without suckers. The latter are all extinct except the Nautilus . See Octopus , Squid , Nautilus .

Cephalopodic, Cephalopodous <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lo*pod"ic (?) , Ceph`a*lop"o*dous (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Belonging to, or resembling, the cephalopods.

Cephaloptera <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lop"te*ra (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ head + <?/ wing.] (Zo\'94l.) One of the generic names of the gigantic ray ( Manta birostris ), known as devilfish and sea devil . It is common on the coasts of South Carolina, Florida, and farther south. Some of them grow to enormous size, becoming twenty feet of more across the body, and weighing more than a ton.

Cephalosome <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*some (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + -some body.] (Zo\'94l.) The anterior region or head of insects and other arthropods.

Packard.

Cephalostyle <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*style (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + Gr. <?/ a pillar.] (Anat.) The anterior end of the notochord and its bony sheath in the base of cartilaginous crania.

Cephalothorax <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lo*tho"rax (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + thorax .] (Zo\'94l.) The anterior portion of any one of the Arachnida and higher Crustacea, consisting of the united head and thorax.

Cephalotome <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*tome (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + Gr. <?/ to cut.] (Med.) An instrument for cutting into the fetal head, to facilitate delivery.

Cephalotomy <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lot"o*my (?) , n. 1. Dissection or opening of the head.

2. (Med.) Craniotomy; -- usually applied to bisection of the fetal head with a saw.

Cephalotribe <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*tribe (?) , n. [ Cephalo- + Gr. to rub, grind.] An obstetrical instrument for performing cephalotripsy.

Cephalotripsy <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lo*trip`sy (?) , n. [See Cephalotribe .] (Med.) The act or operation of crushing the head of a fetus in the womb in order to effect delivery.

Cephalotrocha <Xpage=233>

Ceph`a*lot"ro*cha (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ head + <?/ wheel.] (Zo\'94l.) A kind of annelid larva with a circle of cilia around the head.

Cephalous <Xpage=233>

Ceph"a*lous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ head.] (Zo\'94l.) Having a head; -- applied chiefly to the Cephalata, a division of mollusks.

Cepheus <Xpage=233>

Ce"pheus (?) , n. (Astron.) A northern constellation near the pole. Its head, which is in the Milky Way, is marked by a triangle formed by three stars of the fourth magnitude. See Cassiopeia .

Ceraceous <Xpage=233>

Ce*ra"ceous (?) , a. [L. cera wax.] Having the texture and color of new wax; like wax; waxy.

Cerago <Xpage=233>

Ce*ra"go (?) , n. [L. cera wax.] Beebread.

Ceramic <Xpage=233>

Ce*ram"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ earthenware. Cf. Keramic .] Of or pertaining to pottery; relating to the art of making earthenware; as, ceramic products; ceramic ornaments for ceilings.

Ceramics <Xpage=233>

Ce*ram"ics (?) , n. [See Ceramic .] 1. The art of making things of baked clay; as pottery, tiles, etc.

2. pl. Work formed of clay in whole or in part, and baked; as, vases, urns, etc.

Knight.

Cerargyrite <Xpage=233>

Ce*rar"gy*rite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ horn + <?/ silver.] (Min.) Native silver chloride, a mineral of a white to pale yellow or gray color, darkening on exposure to the light. It may be cut by a knife, like lead or horn (hence called horn silver ).

Cerasin <Xpage=233>

Cer"a*sin (?) , n. (Chem.) A white amorphous substance, the insoluble part of cherry gum; -- called also meta-arabinic acid .

2. (Chem.) A gummy mucilaginous substance; -- called also bassorin , tragacanthin , etc.

Cerasinous <Xpage=233>

Ce*ras"i*nous (?) , a. 1. Pertaining to, or containing, cerasin.

2. Of a cherry color.

Cerastes <Xpage=233>

Ce*ras"tes (?) , n. [L., a horned serpent, fr. Gr. <?/ horned, fr. <?/ horn.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of poisonous African serpents, with a horny scale over each eye; the horned viper.

Cerate <Xpage=233>

Ce"rate (?) , n. [L. ceratum , ceratm, fr. cera wax.] (Med.) An unctuous preparation for external application, of a consistence intermediate between that of an ointment and a plaster, so that it can be spread upon cloth without the use of heat, but does not melt when applied to the skin.

&hand; Cerate consists essentially of wax (for which resin or spermaceti is sometimes substituted) mixed with oil, lard, and various medicinal ingredients. The cerate (formerly called simple cerate ) of the United States Pharmacopoeia is a mixture of three parts of white wax and seven parts of lard.

Cerated <Xpage=233>

Ce"ra*ted (?) , p. a. [L. ceratus , p. p. of cerare to wax, fr. cera wax.] Covered with wax.

Ceratine <Xpage=233>

Cer"a*tine (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ the fallacy called "the horns." fr. <?/ a horn.] (Lagic.) Sophistical.

Ceratobranchia <Xpage=233>

Cer`a*to*bran"chi*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/, horn + <?/, n. pl. , gills.] (Zo\'94l.) A group of nudibranchiate Mollusca having on the back papilliform or branched organs serving as gills.

Ceratobranchial <Xpage=233>

Cer`a*to*bran"chi*al (?) , a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the bone, or cartilage, below the epibranchial in a branchial arch. -- n. A ceratobranchial bone, or cartilage.

Ceratodus <Xpage=233>

Ce*rat"o*dus (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, horn + <?/ tooth.] (Zo\'94l.) A genus of ganoid fishes, of the order Dipnoi, first known as Mesozoic fossil fishes; but recently two living species have been discovered in Australian rivers. They have lungs so well developed that they can leave the water and breathe in air. In Australia they are called salmon and baramunda . See Dipnoi , and Archipterygium .

Ceratohyal <Xpage=233>

Cer`a*to*hy"al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ horn + the letter Y.] (Anat.) Pertaining to the bone, or carts, large, below the epihyal in the hyoid arch. -- n. A ceratohyal bone, or cartilage, which, in man, forms one of the small horns of the hyoid.

Ceratosaurus <Xpage=233>

Cer`a*to*sau"rus (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ a horn + <?/ lizard.] (Paleon.) A carnivorous American Jurassic dinosaur allied to the European Megalosaurus. The animal was nearly twenty feet in length, and the skull bears a bony horn core on the united nasal bones. See Illustration in Appendix.

Ceratospongi\'91 <Xpage=233>

Cer`a*to*spon"gi*\'91 (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, <?/ horn + <?/ sponge.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of sponges in which the skeleton consists of horny fibers. It includes all the commercial sponges.

Ceraunics <Xpage=233>

Ce*rau"nics (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ thunder and lightning.] That branch of physics which treats of heat and electricity.

R. Park.

Ceraunoscope <Xpage=233>

Ce*rau"no*scope (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ thunder and lightning + -scope .] An instrument or apparatus employed in the ancient mysteries to imitate thunder and lightning.

T. Moore.

<page="234"> Page 234

Cerberean <Xpage=234>

Cer*be"re*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to, or resembling, Cerberus. [Written also Cerberian .]

With wide Cerberean mouth. Milton.

Cerberus <Xpage=234>

Cer"be*rus (?) , n. [L. Cerberus (in sense 1), gr. <?/.]

1. (Class. Myth.) A monster, in the shape, of a three-headed dog, guarding the entrance into the infernal regions, Hence: Any vigilant custodian or guardian, esp. if surly.

2. (Zo\'94l.) A genus of East Indian serpents, allied to the pythons; the bokadam.

Cercal <Xpage=234>

Cer"cal (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ tail.] (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the tail.

Cercaria <Xpage=234>

Cer*ca"ri*a (?) , n. ; pl. Cercarle (<?/) [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ tail.] (Zo\'94l.) The larval form of a trematode worm having the shape of a tadpole, with its body terminated by a tail-like appendage.

Cercarian <Xpage=234>

Cer*ca"ri*an (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of, like, or pertaining to, the Cercari\'91. -- n. One of the Cercari\'91.

Cercopod <Xpage=234>

Cer"co*pod (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ tail + -pod .] (Zo\'94l.) One of the jointed antenniform appendage of the posterior somites of cartain insects.

Packard.

Cercus <Xpage=234>

Cer"cus (?) , n. ; pl. Cerci (<?/) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ tail.] (Zo\'94l.) See Cercopod .

Cere <Xpage=234>

Cere (?) , n. [L. cera wax: cf. F. cire .] (Zo\'94l.) The soft naked sheath at the base of the beak of birds of prey, parrots, and some other birds. See Beak .

Cere <Xpage=234>

Cere , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cering .] [L. cerare , fr. cera wax: cf. F. cirer .] To wax; to cover or close with wax.

Wiseman.

Cereal <Xpage=234>

Ce"re*al (?) , a. [L. Cerealis pert. to Ceres, and hence, to agriculture. See Ceres .] Of or pertaining to the grasses which are cultivated for their edible seeds (as wheat, maize, rice, etc.), or to their seeds or grain.

Cereal <Xpage=234>

Ce"re*al n. Any grass cultivated for its edible grain, or the grain itself; -- usually in the plural.

Cerealia <Xpage=234>

Ce`re*a"li*a (?) , n. pl. [L. See Cereal .]

1. (Antiq.) Public festivals in honor of Ceres.

2. The cereals.

Crabb.

Cerealin <Xpage=234>

Ce"re*a*lin (?) , n. (Chem.) A nitrogenous substance closely resembling diastase, obtained from bran, and possessing the power of converting starch into dextrin, sugar, and lactic acid.

Watts.

Cerebel <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*bel , n. The cerebellum.

Derham.

Cerebellar, Cerebellous <Xpage=234>

Cer`e*bel"lar (?) , Cer`e*bel"lous (?) , a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the cerebellum.

Cerebellum <Xpage=234>

Cer`e*bel"lum (?) , n. ; pl. E. Cerebellums (<?/) , L. Cerebella (<?/) . [L., dim. of cerebrum brain.] (Anat.) The large lobe of the hind brain in front of and above the medulla; the little brain. It controls combined muscular action. See Brain .

Cerebral <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*bral (?) , a. [L. cerebrum brain; akin to Gr. <?/ head: cf. F. c\'82r\'82bral . See Cheer .] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the cerebrum.

Cerebral apoplexy . See under Apoplexy .

Cerebral <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*bral , n. [A false translation of the Skr. m\'d4rdhanya , lit., head-sounds.] One of a class of lingual consonants in the East Indian languages. See Lingual , n.

&hand; Prof. W. D. Whitney calls these letters linguals , and this is their usual designation in the United States.

Cerebralism <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*bral*ism (?) , n. (Philos.) The doctrine or theory that psychical phenomena are functions or products of the brain only.

Cerebralist <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*bral*ist , n. One who accepts cerebralism.

Cerebrate <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*brate (?) , v. i. (Physiol.) To exhibit mental activity; to have the brain in action.

Cerebration <Xpage=234>

Cer`e*bra"tion (?) , n. Action of the brain, whether conscious or unconscious.

Cerebric <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*bric (?) , a. Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the brain.

Cerebric acid (Physiol. Chem.) , a name formerly sometimes given to cerebrin.

Cerebricity <Xpage=234>

Cer`e*bric"i*ty (?) , n. Brain power. [R.]

Cerebriform <Xpage=234>

Ce*reb"ri*form (?) , a. [ Cerebrum + -form .] Like the brain in form or substance.

Cerebrifugal <Xpage=234>

Cer`e*brif"u*gal (?) , a. [ Cerebrum + L. fugere to flee.] (Physiol.) Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the brain to the spinal cord, and so transfer cerebral impulses (centrifugal impressions) outwards.

Cerebrin <Xpage=234>

Cer"e*brin (?) , n. [From Cerebrum .] (Physiol. Chem.) A nonphosphorized, nitrogenous substance, obtained from brain and nerve tissue by extraction with boiling alcohol. It is uncertain whether it exists as such in nerve tissue, or is a product of the decomposition of some more complex substance.

Cerebripetal <Xpage=234>