Chapter 354

Christian court , the English ecclesiastical courts in the aggregate, or any one of them. -- Court breeding , education acquired at court. -- Court card . Same as Coat card . -- Court circular , one or more paragraphs of news respecting the sovereign and the royal family, together with the proceedings or movements of the court generally, supplied to the newspapers by an officer specially charged with such duty. [Eng.] Edwards . -- Court day , a day on which a court sits to administer justice. -- Court dress , the dress prescribed for appearance at the court of a sovereign. -- Court fool , a buffoon or jester, formerly kept by princes and nobles for their amusement. -- Court guide , a directory of the names and adresses of the nobility and gentry in a town. -- Court hand , the hand or manner of writing used in records and judicial proceedings. Shak . -- Court lands (Eng. Law) , lands kept in demesne, -- that is, for the use of the lord and his family. -- Court marshal , one who acts as marshal for a court. -- Court party , a party attached to the court. -- Court rolls , the records of a court. See Roll . -- Court in banc , ∨ Court in bank , The full court sitting at its regular terms for the hearing of arguments upon questions of law, as distinguished from a sitting at nisi prius . -- Court of Arches , audience , etc. See under Arches , Audience , etc. -- Court of Chancery . See Chancery , n. -- Court of Common pleas . (Law) See Common pleas , under Common . -- Court of Equity . See under Equity , and Chancery . -- Court of Inquiry (Mil.) , a court appointed to inquire into and report on some military matter, as the conduct of an officer. -- Court of St. James , the usual designation of the British Court; -- so called from the old palace of St. James, which is used for the royal receptions, levees, and drawing-rooms. -- The court of the Lord , the temple at Jerusalem; hence, a church, or Christian house of worship. -- General Court , the legislature of a State; -- so called from having had, in the colonial days, judical power; as, the General Court of Massachusetts. [U.S.] -- To pay one's court , to seek to gain favor by attentions. "Alcibiades was assiduous in paying his court to Tissaphernes." Jowett . -- To put out of court , to refuse further judicial hearing.

Court <Xpage=335>

Court , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Courted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Courting .] 1. To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try to ingratiate one's self with.

By one person, hovever, Portland was still assiduously courted . Macualay.

2. To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to woo.

If either of you both love Katharina . . . leave shall you have to court her at your pleasure. Shak.

3. To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek.

They might almost seem to have courted the crown of martyrdem. Prescott.

Guilt and misery . . . court privacy and silitude. De Quincey.

4. To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.

A well-worn pathway courted us To one green wicket in a privet hedge. Tennyson.

Court <Xpage=335>

Court , v. i. 1. To play the lover; to woo; as, to go courting .

Court-baron <Xpage=335>

Court"-bar`on (-b?r`?n) , n. (Law) An inferior court of civil jurisdiction, attached to a manor, and held by the steward; a baron's court; -- now fallen into disuse.

Courtbred <Xpage=335>

Court"bred` (-br?d`) , a. Bred, or educated, at court; polished; courtly.

Court-craft <Xpage=335>

Court"-craft` (k?rt"kr?ft`) , n. The artifices, intrigues, and plottings, at courts.

Court-cupboard <Xpage=335>

Court"-cup`board (-k?b`b?rd) , n. A movable sideboard or buffet, on which plate and other articles of luxury were displayed on special ocasions. [Obs.]

A way with the joint stools, remove the court-cupboard , look to the plate. Shak.

Courteous <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*ous (k?r"t?-?s; 277) , a. [OE. cortais , corteis , cortois , rarely corteous , OF. corties , corteis , F. courtois . See Court .] Of courtlike manners; pertaining to, or exxpressive of, courtesy; characterized by courtesy; civil; obliging; well bred; polite; affable; complaisant.

A patient and courteous bearing. Prescott.

His behavior toward his people is grave and courteous . Fuller.

Courteously <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*ous*ly , adv. In a courteous manner.

Courteousness <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*ous*ness , n. The quality of being courteous; politeness; courtesy.

Courtepy <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*py (k??r"t?-p?) , n. [D. kort short + pije a coarse cloth.] A short coat of coarse cloth. [Obs.]

Full threadbare was his overeste courtepy . Chaucer.

Courter <Xpage=335>

Court"er (k?rt"?r) , n. One who courts; one who plays the lover, or who solicits in marriage; one who flatters and cajoles.

Sherwood.

Courtesan <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*san (k?r"t?-z?n; 277) , n. [F. courtisane , fr. courtisan courtier, It. cortigiano ; or directly fr. It. cortigiana , or Sp. cortesana . See Court .] A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a harlot.

Lasciviously decked like a courtesan . Sir H. Wotton.

Courtesanship <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*san*ship , n. Harlotry.

Courtesy <Xpage=335>

Cour"te*sy (k?r"t?-s?) , n. ; pl. Courtesies (-s<?/z) . [OE. cortaisie , corteisie , courtesie , OF. curteisie , cortoisie , OF. curteisie , cortoisie , F. courtoisie , fr. curteis , corteis . See Courteous .] 1. Politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness.

And trust thy honest-offered courtesy , With oft is sooner found in lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry walls And courts of princes, where it first was named, And yet is most pretended. Milton.

Pardon me, Messer Claudio, if once more I use the ancient courtesies of speech. Longfellow.

2. An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor performed with politeness.

My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. Shak.

3. Favor or indulgence, as distinguished from right; as, a title given one by courtesy .

Courtesy title , a title assumed by a person, or popularly conceded to him, to which he has no valid claim; as, the courtesy title of Lord prefixed to the names of the younger sons of noblemen.

Syn. -- Politiness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability; courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. See Politeness .

Courtesy <Xpage=335>

Courte"sy (k?rt"s?) , n. [See the preceding word.] An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women, consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with bending of the kness. [Written also curtsy .]

The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony proceeds as usual. Golgsmith.

Courtesy <Xpage=335>

Courte"sy , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Courtesied (-s?d) ;; p. pr. & vb. n. Courtesyng .] To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp. (with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of the knes.

Courtesy <Xpage=335>

Courte"sy , v. t. To treat with civility. [Obs.]

Courtehouse <Xpage=335>

Courte"house` (k?rt"hous`) , n. 1. A house in which established courts are held, or a house appropriated to courts and public meetings. [U.S.]

2. A county town; -- so called in Virginia and some others of the Southern States.

Providence, the county town of Fairfax, is unknown by that name, and passes as Fairfax Court House . Barlett.

Courtier <Xpage=335>

Court"ier (k?rt"y?r) , n. [From Court .] 1. One who is in attendance at the court of a prince; one who has an appointment at court.

You know I am no courtier , nor versed in state affairs. Bacon.

This courtier got a frigate, and that a company. Macualay.

2. One who courts or solicits favor; one who flatters.

There was not among all our princes a greater courtier of the people than Richard III. Suckling.

Courtiery <Xpage=335>

Court"ier*y (-?) , n. The manners of a courtier; courtliness. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Court-leet <Xpage=335>

Court"-leet` (-l?t`) , n. (Eng. Law) A court of record held once a year, in a particular hundred, lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet.

Blackstone.

Courtlike <Xpage=335>

Court"like` (-l?k`) , a. After the manner of a court; elegant; polite; courtly.

Courtliness <Xpage=335>

Court"li*ness (-l?-n?s) , n. [From Courtly .] The quality of being courtly; elegance or dignity of manners.

Courtling <Xpage=335>

Court"ling (-l?ng) , n. [ Court + -ling .] A sycophantic courtier.

B. Jonson.

Courtly <Xpage=335>

Court"ly (-l?) , a. [From Court .] 1. Relating or belonging to a court.

2. Elegant; polite; courtlike; flattering.

In courtly company or at my beads. Shak.

3. Disposed to favor the great; favoring the policy or party of the court; obsequious.

Macualay.

Courtly <Xpage=335>

Court"ly , adv. In the manner of courts; politely; gracefully; elegantly.

They can produce nothing so courtly writ. Dryden

Court-martial <Xpage=335>

Court`-mar"tial (k?rt`m?r"sh a l) , n. ; pl. Courts-martial (k<?/rts`-) . A court consisting of military or naval officers, for the trial of one belonging to the army or navy, or of offenses against military or naval law.

Court-martial <Xpage=335>

Court`-mar"tial , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Court-martialed (-sh a ld) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Court-martialing .] To subject to trial by a court-martial.

Court-plaster <Xpage=335>

Court"-plas`ter (k?rt"pl?s`t?r) , n. Sticking plaster made by coating taffeta or silk on one side with some adhesive substance, commonly a mixture of isinglass and glycerin.

Courtship <Xpage=335>

Court"ship (k?rt"sh?p) , n. 1. The act of paying court, with the intent to solicit a favor.

Swift.

2. The act of wooing in love; solicitation of woman to marriage.

This method of courtship , [by which] both sides are prepared for all the matrimonial adventures that are to follow. Goldsmith.

3. Courtliness; elegance of manners; courtesy. [Obs.]

Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state. Shak.

4. Court policy; the character of a courtier; artifice of a court; court-craft; finesse. [Obs.]

She [the Queen] being composed of courtship and Popery. Fuller.

Court tennis <Xpage=335>

Court" ten"nis (k?rt" t?n"n?s) . See under Tennis .

Courtyard <Xpage=335>

Court"yard (k?rt"y?rd`) , n. A court or inclosure attached to a house.

Couscous <Xpage=335>

Cous"cous` (k??s"k??s`) , n. A kind of food used by the natives of Western Africa, made of millet flour with flesh, and leaves of the baobab; -- called also lalo .

Couscousou <Xpage=335>

Cous`cou*sou" (k??s`k??-s??") , n. A favorite dish in Barbary. See Couscous .

Cousin <Xpage=335>

Cous"in (k?z"'n) , n. [F. cousin , LL. cosinus , cusinus , contr. from L. consobrinus the child of a mother's sister, cousin; con- + sobrinus a cousin by the mother's side, a form derived fr. soror (for sosor ) sister. See Sister , and cf. Cozen , Coz .] 1. One collaterally related more remotely than a brother or sister; especially, the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.

&hand; The children of brothers and sisters are usually denominated first cousins , or cousins-german . In the second generation, they are called second cousins . See Cater-cousin , and Quater-cousin .

Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, A cousin-german to great Priam's seed. Shak.

2. A title formerly given by a king to a nobleman, particularly to those of the council. In English writs, etc., issued by the crown, it signifies any earl.

My noble lords and cousins , all, good morrow. Shak.

Cousin <Xpage=335>

Cous"in , n. Allied; akin. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Cousinage <Xpage=335>

Cous"in*age (-?j) , n. [F. cousinage , OF., also, cosinage . Cf. Cosinage , Cozenage .] Relationship; kinship. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

Cousin-german <Xpage=335>

Cous"in-ger"man (-j?r"m a n) , n. [ Cousin + german closely akin.] A first cousin. See Note under Cousin , 1.

Cousinhood <Xpage=335>

Cous"in*hood (-h??d) , n. The state or condition of a cousin; also, the collective body of cousins; kinsfolk.

Cousinly <Xpage=335>

Cous"in*ly , a. Like or becoming a cousin.

Cousinry <Xpage=335>

Cous"in*ry (k?z"'n-r?) , n. A body or collection of cousins; the whole number of persons who stand in the relation of cousins to a given person or persons.

Cousinship <Xpage=335>

Cous"in*ship , n. The relationship of cousins; state of being cousins; cousinhood.

G. Eliot.

Coussinet <Xpage=335>

Cous"si*net` (k??s"s?-n?t`) , n. [F., dim. of coussin cushion . See Cushionet .] (Arch.) (a) A stone placed on the impost of a pier for receiving the first stone of an arch. (b) That part of the Ionic capital between the abacus and quarter round, which forms the volute.

Gwilt.

Couteau <Xpage=335>

Cou*teau" (k??-t?") , n. [F.] A knife; a dagger.

Couth <Xpage=335>

Couth (k??th) , imp. & p. p. of Can . [See Can , and cf. Uncouth .] Could; was able; knew or known; understood. [Obs.]

Above all other one Daniel He loveth, for he couth well Divine, that none other couth ; To him were all thing couth , As he had it of God's grace. Gower.

Couvade <Xpage=335>

Cou`vade" (k??`v?d") , n. [F., fr. couver . See Covey .] A custom, among certain barbarous tribes, that when a woman gives birth to a child her husband takes to his bed, as if ill.

The world-wide custom of the couvade , where at childbirth the husband undergoes medical treatment, in many cases being put to bed for days. Tylor.

Covariant <Xpage=335>

Co*va"ri*ant (k?-v?"r?-a]/>nt) , n. (Higher Alg.) A function involving the coefficients and the variables of a quantic, and such that when the quantic is lineally transformed the same function of the new variables and coefficients shall be equal to the old function multiplied by a factor. An invariant is a like function involving only the coefficients of the quantic.

Cove <Xpage=335>

Cove (k?v) , n. [AS. cofa room; akin to G. koben pigsty, orig., hut, Icel kofi hut, and perh. to E. cobalt .]

1. A retired nook; especially, a small, sheltered inlet, creek, or bay; a recess in the shore.

Vessels which were in readiness for him within secret coves and nooks. Holland.

2. A strip of prairie extending into woodland; also, a recess in the side of a mountain. [U.S.]

3. (Arch.) (a) A concave molding. (b) A member, whose section is a concave curve, used especially with regard to an inner roof or ceiling, as around a skylight.

Cove <Xpage=335>

Cove , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Coved (k?vd) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Coving .] (Arch.) To arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in the form of a cove.

The mosques and other buildings of the Arabians are rounded into domes and coved roofs. H. Swinburne.

Coved ceiling , a ceiling, the part of which next the wail is constructed in a cove. -- Coved vault , a vault composed of four coves meeting in a central point, and therefore the reverse of a groined vault.

Cove <Xpage=335>

Cove , v. t. [CF. F. couver , It. covare . See Covey .] To brood, cover, over, or sit over, as birds their eggs. [Obs.]

Not being able to cove or sit upon them [eggs], she [the female tortoise] bestoweth them in the gravel. Holland.

Cove <Xpage=335>

Cove , n. [A gypsy word, covo that man, covi that woman.] A boy or man of any age or station. [Slang]

There's a gentry cove here. Wit's Recreations (1654).

Now, look to it, coves , that all the beef and drink Be not filched from us. Mrs. Browning.

Covelline k-vlln, Covellite <Xpage=335>

Co*vel"line (k?-v?l"l?n) , Co*vel"lite (-l?t) , n. [After Covelli , the discoverer.] (Min.) A native sulphide of copper, occuring in masses of a dark blue color; -- hence called indigo copper .

Covenable <Xpage=335>

Cov"e*na*ble (k?v"?-n?-b'l) , a. [OF. covenable , F. convenable . See Covenant .] Fit; proper; suitable. [Obs.] "A covenable day."

Wyclif (Mark vi. 21).

<page="336"> Page 336

Covenably <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*na*bly (k?v"?-n?-bly) , adv. Fitly; suitably. [Obs.] "Well and covenably ."

Chaucer.

Covenant <Xpage=336>

Cov"e*nant (k?v"?-n a nt) , n. [OF. covenant , fr. F. & OF. convenir to agree, L. convenire . See Convene .]

1. A mutual agreement of two or more persons or parties, or one of the stipulations in such an agreement.

Then Jonathan and David made a covenant . 1 Sam. xviiii. 3.

Let there be covenants drawn between us. Shak.

If we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Shak.

2. (Eccl. Hist.) An agreement made by the Scottish Parliament in 1638, and by the English Parliament in 1643, to preserve the reformed religion in Scotland, and to extirpate popery and prelacy; -- usually called the "Solemn League and Covenant."

He [Wharton] was born in the days of the Covenant , and was the heir of a covenanted house. Macualay.

3. (Theol.) The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith, etc.

I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant , to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen. xvii. 7.