Chapter 261

2. One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater.

Airy wonders, which cheats interpret. Johnson

3. (Bot.) A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; -- called also chess . See Chess .

4. (Law) The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active distortion of the truth.

&hand; When cheats are effected by deceitful or illegal symbols or tokens which may affect the public at large and against which common prudence could not have guarded, they are indictable at common law.

Wharton.

Syn. -- Deception; imposture; fraud; delusion; artifice; trick; swindle; deceit; guile; finesse; stratagem.

Cheat <Xpage=244>

Cheat , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cheated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheating .] [See CHeat , n. , Escheat .] 1. To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle.

I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of this island. Shak.

2. To beguile.

Sir W. Scott.

To cheat winter of its dreariness. W. Irving.

Syn. -- To trick; cozen; gull; chouse; fool; outwit; circumvent; beguile; mislead; dupe; swindle; defraud; overreach; delude; hoodwink; deceive; bamboozle.

Cheat <Xpage=244>

Cheat , v. i. To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards .

Cheat <Xpage=244>

Cheat , n. [Perh. from OF. chet\'82 goods, chattels.] Wheat, or bread made from wheat. [Obs.]

Drayton.

Their purest cheat , Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste. Chapman.

Cheatable <Xpage=244>

Cheat"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being cheated.

Cheatableness <Xpage=244>

Cheat"a*ble*ness , n. Capability of being cheated.

Cheater <Xpage=244>

Cheat"er (?) , n. 1. One who cheats.

2. An escheator. [R.]

Shak.

Chebacco <Xpage=244>

Che*bac"co (?) , n. [From Chebacco , the former name of Essex, a town in Massachusetts where such vessels were built.] (Naut.) A narrow-sterned boat formerly much used in the Newfoundland fisheries; -- called also pinkstern and chebec .

Bartlett.

Chebec <Xpage=244>

Che"bec (?) , n. (Naut.) See Chebacco .

Chebec <Xpage=244>

Che*bec" (?) , n. [Named from its note.] (Zo\'94l.) A small American bird ( Empidonax minimus ); the least flycatcher.

Check <Xpage=244>

Check (?) , n. [OE. chek , OF. eschec , F. \'82chec , a stop, hindrance, orig. check in the game of chess, pl. \'82checs chess, through AR., fr. Pers. sh\'beh king. See Shah , and cf. Checkmate , Chess , Checker .] 1. (Chess) A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is said to be in check , and must be made safe at the next move.

2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check .

Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity. Addison.

No check , no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth.

3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard, restraint, or rebuff.

Useful check upon the administration of government. Washington.

A man whom no check could abash. Macaulay.

4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented, or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a railroad.

5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein stated. See Bank check , below.

6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having such a figure.

7. (Falconry) The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other birds.

8. Small chick or crack.

Bank check , a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer. -- Check book , a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. -- Check hook , a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a checkrein is looped. -- Check list , a list or catalogue by which things may be verified, or on which they may be checked. -- Check nut (Mech.) , a secondary nut, screwing down upon the primary nut to secure it. Knight . -- Check valve (Mech.) , a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler to prevent the return of the feed water. -- To take check , to take offense. [Obs.] Dryden .

Syn. -- Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand; censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil; counterbalance; ticket; draft.

Check <Xpage=244>

Check , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Checked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. checking .] 1. (Chess) To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king, in check; to put in check.

2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to repress; to curb.

So many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and oppression. Burke.

3. To verify, to guard, to make secure, by means of a mark, token, or other check; to distinguish by a check; to put a mark against (an item) after comparing with an original or a counterpart in order to secure accuracy; as, to check an account; to check baggage.

4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove.

The good king, his master, will check him for it. Shak.

5. (Naut.) To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.

6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks timber .

Syn. -- To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede; obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff.

Check <Xpage=244>

Check (?) , v. i. To make a stop; to pause; -- with at .

The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking ever after. Locke.

2. To clash or interfere. [R.]

Bacon.

3. To act as a curb or restraint.

It [his presence] checks too strong upon me. Dryden.

4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small checks, as varnish, paint, etc.

5. (Falconry) To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other birds.

And like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his eye. Shak.

Check <Xpage=244>

Check , a. Checkered; designed in checks.

Checkage <Xpage=244>

Check"age (?) , n. 1. The act of checking; as, the checkage of a name or of an item in a list .

2. The items, or the amount, to which attention is called by a check or checks.

Checker <Xpage=244>

Check"er , n. [From Check , v. t. ] One who checks.

Checker <Xpage=244>

Check"er (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Checkered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkering .] [From OF. eschequier a chessboard, F. \'82chiquier . See Check , n. , and cf. 3d Checker .] 1. To mark with small squares like a checkerboard, as by crossing stripes of different colors.

2. To variegate or diversify with different qualities, color, scenes, or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosterity and adversity.

Our minds are, as it were, checkered with truth and falsehood. Addison.

Checker <Xpage=244>

Check"er , n. [OF. eschequier . See Checker , v. t. ]

1. A piece in the game of draughts or checkers.

2. A pattern in checks; a single check.

3. Checkerwork.

&hand; This word is also written chequer .

Checkerberry <Xpage=244>

Check"er*ber`ry (?) , n. ; pl. Checkerberries (#) . (Bot.) A spicy plant and its bright red berry; the wintergreen ( Gaultheria procumbens ). Also incorrectly applied to the partridge berry ( Mitchella repens ).

Checkerboard <Xpage=244>

Check"er*board (?) , n. A board with sixty-four squares of alternate color, used for playing checkers or draughts.

Chackered <Xpage=244>

Chack"ered (?) , a. 1. Marked with alternate squares or checks of different color or material.

Dancing in the checkered shade. Milton.

2. Diversified or variegated in a marked manner, as in appearance, character, circumstances, etc.

This checkered narrative. Macaulay.

Checkers <Xpage=244>

Check"ers (?) , n. pl. [See Checher , v. ] A game, called also daughts , played on a checkerboard by two persons, each having twelve men (counters or checkers) which are moved diagonally. The game is ended when either of the players has lost all his men, or can not move them.

Checkerwork <Xpage=244>

Check"er*work` (?) , n. 1. Work consisting of or showing checkers varied alternately as to colors or materials.

2. Any aggregate of varied vicissitudes.

How strange a checkerwork of Providence is the life of man. De Foe.

Checklaton <Xpage=244>

Check"la*ton (?) , n. 1. Ciclatoun. [Obs.]

2. Gilded leather. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Checkless <Xpage=244>

Check"less , a. That can not be checked or restrained.

Checkmate <Xpage=244>

Check"mate , n. [F. \'82chec et mat, fr. Per. sh\'beh m\'bet ceckmate, lit., the king is dead, fr. Ar. m\'beta he died, is dead. The king, when made prisoner, or checkmated, is assumed to be dead, and the game is finished. See Chess .] 1. The position in the game of chess when a king is in check and cannot be released, -- which ends the game.

2. A complete check; utter defeat or overthrow.

Checkmate <Xpage=244>

Check"mate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Checkmated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkmating .] 1. (Chess) To check (an adversary's king) in such a manner that escape in impossible; to defeat (an adversary) by putting his king in check from which there is no escape.

2. To defeat completely; to terminate; to thwart.

To checkmate and control my just demands. Ford.

Checkrein <Xpage=244>

Check"rein` (?) , n. 1. A short rein looped over the check hook to prevent a horse from lowering his head; -- called also a bearing rein .

2. A branch rein connecting the driving rein of one horse of a span or pair with the bit of the other horse.

Checkroll <Xpage=244>

Check"roll` (?) , n. A list of servants in a household; -- called also chequer roll .

Checkstring <Xpage=244>

Check"string` (?) , n. A cord by which a person in a carriage or horse car may signal to the driver.

Checkwork <Xpage=244>

Check"work (?) , n. Anything made so as to form alternate squares lke those of a checkerboard.

Checky <Xpage=244>

Check"y (?) , a. (Her.) Divided into small alternating squares of two tinctures; -- said of the field or of an armorial bearing. [Written also checquy , cheguy .]

Cheddar <Xpage=244>

Ched"dar (?) , a. Of or pertaining to, or made at, Cheddar , in England; as, Cheddar cheese .

Cheek <Xpage=244>

Cheek (?) , n. [OE. cheke , cheoke , AS. c\'82ace , c\'82oce ; cf. Goth. kukjan to kiss, D. kaak cheek; perh. akin to E. chew , jaw .] 1. The side of the face below the eye.

2. The cheek bone. [Obs.]

Caucer.

3. pl. (Mech.) Those pieces of a machine, or of any timber, or stone work, which form corresponding sides, or which are similar and in pair; as, the cheeks (jaws) of a vise; the cheeks of a gun carriage, etc.

4. pl. The branches of a bridle bit.

Knight.

5. (Founding) A section of a flask, so made that it can be moved laterally, to permit the removal of the pattern from the mold; the middle part of a flask.

6. Cool confidence; assurance; impudence. [Slang]

Cheek of beef . See Illust . of Beef . -- Cheek bone (Anat.) the bone of the side of the fase; esp., the malar bone. -- Cheek by jowl , side by side; very intimate. -- Cheek pouch (Zo\'94l.) , a sacklike dilation of the cheeks of certain monkeys and rodents, used for holding food. -- Cheeks of a block , the two sides of the shell of a tackle block. -- Cheeks of a mast , the projection on each side of a mast, upon which the trestletrees rest. -- Cheek tooth (Anat.) , a hinder or molar tooth. -- Butment cheek . See under Butment .

Cheek <Xpage=244>

Cheek (?) , v. t. To be impudent or saucy to. [Slang.]

Cheeked <Xpage=244>

Cheeked (?) , a. Having a cheek; -- used in composition. "Rose- cheeked Adonis."

Shak.

Cheeky <Xpage=244>

Cheek"y , a Brazen-faced; impudent; bold. [Slang.]

Cheep <Xpage=244>

Cheep (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Cheeped (?) .] [Cf. Chirp ] . To chirp, as a young bird.

Cheep <Xpage=244>

Cheep , v. t. To give expression to in a chirping tone.

Cheep and twitter twenty million loves. Tennyson.

Cheep <Xpage=244>

Cheep , n. A chirp, peep, or squeak, as of a young bird or mousse.

Cheer <Xpage=244>

Cheer (?) , n. [OE. chere face, welcome, cheer, OF. chiere , F. ch\'8are , fr. LL. cara face, Gr. <?/ head; akin to Skr. <?/iras , L. cerebrum brain, G. hirn , and E. cranium .] 1. The face; the countenance or its expression. [Obs.] "Sweat of thy cheer ."

Wyclif.

2. Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart.

Be of good cheer . Matt. ix. 2.

The parents . . . fled away with heavy cheer . Holland.

3. Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation.

I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. Shak.

1. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good cheer .

5. A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy enthusiasm, applause, favor, etc.

Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street. Tennyson.

Whzt cheer ? Now do you fare? What is there that is cheering?

Cheer <Xpage=244>

Cheer , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cheered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. cheering .] 1. To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; -- often with up .

Cowpe.

2. To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.

The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered . Dryden.

3. To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers; as, to cheer hounds in a chase .

To cheer ship , to salute a passing ship by cheers of sailors stationed in the rigging.

Syn. -- To gladden; encourage; inspirit; comfort; console; enliven; refresh; exhilarate; animate; applaud.

Cheer <Xpage=244>

Cheer , v. i. 1. To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually with up .

At sight of thee my gloomy soul cheers up. A. Philips.

2. To be in any state or temper of mind. [Obs.]

How cheer'st thou, Jessica? Shak.

3. To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc.

And even the ranks of Tusculum Could scare forbear to cheer . Macaulay.

Cheerer <Xpage=244>

Cheer"er (?) , n. One who cheers; one who, or that which, gladdens. "Thou cheerer of our days." Wotton . "Prime cheerer , light." Thomson .

Cheerful <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ful (?) , a. Having or showing good spirits or joy; cheering; cheery; contented; happy; joyful; lively; animated; willing.

To entertain a cheerful disposition. Shak.

The cheerful birds of sundry kind Do chant sweet music. Spenser.

A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay.

This general applause and cheerful shout. Shak.

Syn. -- Lively; animated; gay; joyful; lightsome; gleeful; blithe; airy; sprightly; jocund; jolly; joyous; vivacious; buoyant; sunny; happy; hopeful.

Cheerfully <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ful*ly , adv. In a cheerful manner, gladly.

Cheerfulness <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ful*ness , n. Good spirits; a state of moderate joy or gayety; alacrity.

Cheerily <Xpage=244>

Cheer"i*ly (?) , adv. In a cheery manner.

Cheeriness <Xpage=244>

Cheer"i*ness , n. The state of being cheery.

Cheeringly <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ing*ly (?) , adv. In a manner to cheer or encourage.

Cheerisness <Xpage=244>

Cheer"is*ness , n. Cheerfulness. [Obs.]

There is no Christian duty that is not to be seasoned and set off with cheerishness . Milton.

Cheerless <Xpage=244>

Cheer"less , a. Without joy, gladness, or comfort.

-- Cheer"less*ly , adv. -- Cheer"less*ness , n.

My cheerful day is turned to cheerles night. Spenser.

Syn. -- Gloomy; sad; comfortless; dispiriting; dicsconsolate; dejected; melancholy; forlorn.

Cheerly <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ly (?) , a. Gay; cheerful. [Obs.]

Shak.

Cheerly <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ly , adv. Cheerily. [Archaic]

Tennyson.

Cheerry <Xpage=244>

Cheer"ry (?) , a. Cheerful; lively; gay; bright; pleasant; as, a cheery person .

His cheery little study, where the sunshine glimmered so pleasantly. Hawthorne.

<page="245"> Page 245

Cheese <Xpage=245>

Cheese (?) , n. [OE. chese , AS. c\'c7se , fr. L. caseus , LL. casius . Cf. Casein .] 1. The curd of milk, coagulated usually with rennet, separated from the whey, and pressed into a solid mass in a hoop or mold.

2. A mass of pomace, or ground apples, pressed togehter in the form of a cheese.

3. The flat, circuliar, mucilaginous fruit of the dwarf mallow ( Malva rotundifolia ). [Colloq.]

4. A low courtesy; -- so called on account of the cheese form assumed by a woman's dress when she stoops after extending the skirts by a rapid gyration.

De Quincey. Thackeray.