Chapter 377

Cu*ra"tor (k?-r?"t?r) . n. [L., fr. curare to take care of, fr. cura care.] 1. One who has the care and superintendence of anything, as of a museum; a custodian; a keeper.

2. One appointed to act as guardian of the estate of a person not legally competent to manage it, or of an absentee; a trustee; a guardian.

Curatorship <Xpage=357>

Cu*ra"tor*ship , n. The office of a curator.

Curatrix <Xpage=357>

Cu*ra"trix (-tr?ks) , n. [L.] 1. A woman who cures.

2. A woman who is a guardian or custodian.

Burrill.

Curb <Xpage=357>

Curb (k?rb) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Curbed (k?rbd) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Curbing .] [F. courber to bend, curve, L. curvare , fr. curvus bent, curved; cf. Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ curved. Cf. Curve .] 1. To bend or curve [Obs.]

Crooked and curbed lines. Holland.

2. To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in check.

Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton.

Where pinching want must curb thy warm desires. Prior.

3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.

Curb <Xpage=357>

Curb , v. i. To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [Obs.]

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. Shak.

Curb <Xpage=357>

Curb , n. 1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindbrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of the horse.

He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. Drayton.

By these men , religion , that should be The curb , is made the spur of tyranny. Denham.

2. (Arch.) An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome.

3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in.

4. A curbstone.

5. (Far.) A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.

James Law.

Curb bit , a stiff bit having branches by which a leverage is obtained upon the jaws of horse. Knight . -- Curb pins (Horology) , the pins on the regulator which restrain the hairspring. -- Curb plate (Arch.) , a plate serving the purpose of a curb. -- Deck curb . See under Deck .

Curbless <Xpage=357>

Curb"less , a. Having no curb or restraint.

Curb roof <Xpage=357>

Curb" roof` (r??f`) . A roof having a double slope, or composed, on each side, of two parts which have unequal inclination; a gambrel roof.

Curbstone <Xpage=357>

Curb"stone` (k?rb"st?n`) , n. A stone <?/et along a margin as a and protection, as along the edge of a sidewalk next the roadway; an edge stone.

Curbstone broker . See under Broker .

Curch <Xpage=357>

Curch (k??rch) , n. See Courche .

Curculio <Xpage=357>

Cur*cu"li*o (k?r-r?"l?-?) , n. ; pl. Curculios (-<?/z) . [L., a grain weevil.] (Zo\'94l.) One of a large group of beetles ( Rhynchophora ) of many genera; -- called also weevils , snout beetles , billbeetles , and billbugs . Many of the species are very destructive, as the plum curculio, the corn, grain, and rice weevils, etc.

Curculionidous <Xpage=357>

Cur`cu*li*on"i*dous (k?r`-k?-l?-?n"?-d?s) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Pertaining to the Curculionide\'91 , or weevil tribe.

Curcuma <Xpage=357>

Cur"cu*ma (k?r"k?-m?) , n. [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma ; all fr. Ar. kurkum . Cf. Turmeric .] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the order Scitamine\'91 , including the turmeric plant ( Curcuma longa ).

Curcuma paper . (Chem.) See Turmeric paper , under Turmeric .

Curcumin <Xpage=357>

Cur"cu*min (-m?n) , n. (Chem.) The coloring principle of turmeric, or curcuma root, extracted as an orange yellow crystalline substance, C14H14O4 , with a green fluorescence.

&hand; It possesses acid properties and with alkalies forms brownish salts. This change in color from yellow to brown is the characteristic reaction of tumeric paper. See Turmeric paper , under Turmeric .

Curd <Xpage=357>

Curd (k?rd) , n. [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. gruth , Ir, gruth , cruth , curd, cruthaim I milk.] [Sometimes written crud .] 1. The coagulated or thickened part of milk, as distingushed from the whey, or watery part. It is eaten as food, especially when made into cheese.

Curds and cream, the flower of country fare. Dryden.

2. The coagulated part of any liquid.

3. The edible flower head of certain brassicaceous plants, as the broccoli and cauliflower.

Broccoli should be cut while the curd , as the flowering mass is termed, is entire. R. Thompson.

Cauliflowers should be cut for use while the head, or curd , is still close and compact. F. Burr.

Curd <Xpage=357>

Curd (k?rd) , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Curded ; p. pr. &\'b5 vb. n. Curding .] To cause to coagulate or thicken; to cause to congeal; to curdle.

Does it curd thy blood To say I am thy mother? Shak.

Curd <Xpage=357>

Curd , v. i. To become coagulated or thickened; to separate into curds and whey

Shak.

Curdiness <Xpage=357>

Curd"i*ness (-?-n?s) , n. The state of being curdy.

Curdle <Xpage=357>

Cur"dle (k?r"d'l) , v. i. [From Curd .] [Sometimes written crudle and cruddle .] 1. To change into curd; to coagulate; as, rennet causes milk to curdle .

Thomson.

2. To thicken; to congeal.

Then Mary could feel her heart's blood curdle cold. Southey.

Curdle <Xpage=357>

Cur"dle , v. t. [ imp. & p.p. Curdled (-d'ld) ; p.pr. & vb. n. Curdling (-dl?ng) .] 1. To change into curd; to cause to coagulate. "To curdle whites of eggs"

Boyle.

2. To congeal or thicken.

My chill blood is curdled in my veins. Dryden.

Curdless <Xpage=357>

Curd"less (k?rd"l?s) , a. Destitute of curd.

Curdy <Xpage=357>

Curd"y (k?rd"?) , a. Like curd; full of curd; coagulated. "A curdy mass."

Arbuthnot.

Cure <Xpage=357>

Cure > (k<?/r) , n. [OF, cure care, F., also, cure, healing, cure of souls, L. cura care, medical attendance, cure; perh. akin to cavere to pay heed, E. cution . Cure is not related to care .] 1. Care, heed, or attention. [Obs.]

Of study took he most cure and most heed. Chaucer.

Vicarages of great cure , but small value. Fuller.

2. Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or of a curate; hence, that which is committed to the charge of a parish priest or of a curate; a curacy; as, to resign a cure ; to obtain a cure .

The appropriator was the incumbent parson, and had the cure of the souls of the parishioners. Spelman.

3. Medical or hygienic care; remedial treatment of disease; a method of medical treatment; as, to use the water cure .

4. Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health from disease, or to soundness after injury.

Past hope! past cure ! past help. Shak.

I do cures to-day and to-morrow. Luke xii. 32.

5. Means of the removal of disease or evil; that which heals; a remedy; a restorative.

Cold, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure . Dryden.

The proper cure of such prejudices. Bp. Hurd.

Cure <Xpage=357>

Cure , v. t. [ imp.& p.p. Cured (k?rd) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Curing .] [OF. curer to take care, to heal, F., only, to cleanse, L. curare to take care, to heal, fr. cura . See Cure ,.] 1. To heal; to restore to health, soundness, or sanity; to make well; -- said of a patient.

The child was cured from that very hour. Matt. xvii. 18.

2. To subdue or remove by remedial means; to remedy; to remove; to heal; -- said of a malady.

To cure this deadly grief. Shak.

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power . . . to cure diseases. Luke ix. 1.

3. To set free from (something injurious or blameworthy), as from a bad habit.

I never knew any man cured of inattention. Swift.

4. To prepare for preservation or permanent keeping; to preserve, as by drying, salting, etc.; as, to cure beef or fish; to cure hay.

Cure <Xpage=357>

Cure , v. i. 1. To pay heed; to care; to give attention. [Obs.]

2. To restore health; to effect a cure.

Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, Is able with the change to kill and cure . Shak.

3. To become healed.

One desperate grief cures with another's languish. Shak.

Cur</ <Xpage=357>

Cu`r<?/" (k?`r?") , n. [F., fr. LL. curatus . See Curate .] A curate; a pardon.

Cureall <Xpage=357>

Cure"*all` (k?r"?l`) , n. A remedy for all diseases, o<?/ for all ills; a panacea.

Cureless <Xpage=357>

Cure"less , a. Incapable of cure; incurable.

With patience undergo A cureless ill, since fate will have it so. Dryden.

Curer <Xpage=357>

Cur"er (-?r) , n. 1. One who cures; a healer; a physician.

2. One who prepares beef, fish, etc., for preservation by drying, salting, smoking, etc.

Curette <Xpage=357>

Cu*rette" (k?-r?t") , n. [F., fr. curer to cleanse.] (Med.) A scoop or ring with either a blunt or a cutting edge, for removing substances from the walls of a cavity, as from the eye, ear, or womb.

Curfew <Xpage=357>

Cur"few (k?r"f?) , n. [OE. courfew , curfu , fr. OF. cuevrefu , covrefeu , F. couvre-feu ; covrir to cover + feu fire, fr. L. focus fireplace, hearth. See Cover , and Focus .] 1. The ringing of an evening bell, originally a signal to the inhabitants to cover fires, extinguish lights, and retire to rest, -- instituted by William the Conqueror; also, the bell itself.

He begins at curfew , and walks till the first cock. Shak.

The village curfew , as it tolled profound. Campbell.

2. A utensil for covering the fire. [Obs.]

For pans, pots, curfews , counters and the like. Bacon.

Curia <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*a (k?"r?-?) , n. ; pl. Curle (-<?/) . [L.] 1. (Rom. Antiq.) (a) One of the thirty parts into which the Roman people were divided by Romulus. (b) The place of assembly of one of these divisions. (c) The place where the meetings of the senate were held; the senate house.

2. (Middle Ages) The court of a sovereign or of a feudal lord; also; his residence or his household.

Burrill.

3. (Law) Any court of justice.

4. The Roman See in its temporal aspects, including all the machinery of administration; -- called also curia Romana .

Curialism <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*a*lism (k?"r?-?-l?z'm) , n. The wiew or doctrins of the ultramontane party in the Latin Church.

Gladstone.

Curialist <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*a*list (k?"r?-?-l?st) , n. One who belongs to the ultramontane party in the Latin Church.

Shipley.

Curialistic <Xpage=357>

Cu`ri*a*lis"tic (-l?s"t?k) , a. [L. curialis belonging to the imperial court, fr. curia , LL., also, counselors and retinue of a king.] 1. Pertaining to a court.

2. Relating or belonging to the ultramonate party in the Latin Church.

Curiality <Xpage=357>

Cu`ri*al"i*ty (-?l"?-t?) , n. [Cf. LL. curialitas courtesy, fr. curialis .] The privileges, prerogatives, or retinue of a court. [Obs.]

Bacon.

Curiet <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*et (k?"r?-?t) , n. A cuirass. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Curing <Xpage=357>

Cur"ing (k?r"?ng) , p. a. & vb. n. of Cure .

Curing house , a building in which anything is cured; especially, in the West Indies, a building in which sugar is drained and dried.

Curio <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*o (k?"r?-?) , n. ; pl. Curios (-<?/z) . [Abbreviation of curiosity .] Any curiosity or article of virtu. <-- correct spelling! -->

The busy world, which does not hunt poets as collectors hunt for curios . F. Harrison.

Curiologic <Xpage=357>

Cu`ri*o*log"ic (-?-l?j"?k) , a. [Gr. <?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/<?/ speaking literally (applied to curiologic hieroglyphics); <?/<?/<?/<?/ authoritative, proper + <?/<?/<?/ word, thought. CF. Cyriologic .] Pertaining to a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in which a thing is represented by its picture instead of by a symbol.

Curiosity <Xpage=357>

Cu`ri*os"i*ty (k?`r?-?s"?-t?) , n. ; pl. Curiosities (-t<?/z) . [OE. curiouste , curiosite , OF. curioset\'82 , curiosit\'82 , F. curiosit<?/ , fr. L. curiositas , fr. curiosus . See Currious , and cf. Curio .] 1. The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy; exactness; elaboration. [Obs.]

Bacon.

When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity . Shak.

A screen accurately cut in tapiary work . . . with great curiosity . Evelin.

2. Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of interest; inquisitiveness.

Milton.

3. That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention.

We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town. Addison.

There hath been practiced also a curiosity , to set a tree upon the north side of a wall, and, at a little hieght, to draw it through the wall, etc. Bacon.

Curioso <Xpage=357>

Cu`ri*o"so (k??`r?-?"z? &or; k?`r?-?"s?) , n. ; pl. Curiosos (-z<?/z or -s<?/z) . [It. See Curious .] A virtuoso.

Curious <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*ous (k?"r?-?s) , a. [OF. curios , curius , F. curieux , L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure .] 1. Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [Obs.]

Little curious in her clothes. Fuller.

How shall we, If he be curious , work upon his faith? Bean & <?/<?/

2. Exhibiting care or nicety; artfully constructed; elaborate; wrought with elegance or skill.

To devise curious works. Ex. xxxv. 32

His body couched in a curious bed. Shak.

3. Careful or anxious to learn; eager for knowledge; given to research or inquiry; habitually inquisitive; prying; -- sometimes with after or of .

It is a pi<?/y a gentleman so very curious after things that were elegant and beatiful should not have been as curious as to their origin, their uses, and their natural history. Woodward.

4. Exciting attention or inquiry; awakening surprise; inviting and rewarding inquisitiveness; not simple or plain; strange; rare. "A curious tale"

Shak.

A multitude of curious analogies. Mocaulay.

Many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore. E. A. Poe.

Abstruse investigations in recondite branches of learning or sciense often bring to light curious results. C. J. Smith.

Curious arts , magic. [Obs.]

Many . . . which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them. Acts xix. 19.

Syn. -- Inquisitive; prying. See Inquisitive .

Curiously <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*ous*ly , adv. In a curious manner.

Curiousness <Xpage=357>

Cu"ri*ous*ness , n. 1. Carefulness; painstaking. [Obs.]

My father's care With curiousness and cost did train me up. Massinger.

2. The state of being curious; exactness of workmanship; ingenuity of contrivance.

3. Inquisitiveness; curiosity.

Curl <Xpage=357>

Curl (k?rl) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Curled (k?rld) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Curling .] [Akin to D. krullen , Dan. kr<?/lle , dial. Sw. krulla to curl, crisp; possibly akin to E. crook . Cf. Curl , n. , Cruller .] 1. To twist or form into ringlets; to crisp, as the hair.

But curl their locks with bodkins and with braid. Cascoigne.

2. To twist or make onto coils, as a serpent's body.

Of his tortuous train, Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve. Milton.

3. To deck with, or as with, curls; to ornament.

Thicker than the snaky locks That curled Meg\'91ra. Milton.

Curling with metaphors a plain intention. Herbert.

4. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.

Seas would be pools without the brushing air To curl the waves. Dryden.

5. (Hat Making) To shape (the brim) into a curve.

Curl <Xpage=357>

Curl , v. i. 1. To contract or bend into curis or ringlets, as hair; to grow in curls or spirals, as a vine; to be crinkled or contorted; to have a curly appearance; as, leaves lie curled on the ground .

Thou seest it [hair] will not curl by nature. Shak.

2. To move in curves, spirals, or undulations; to contract in curving outlines; to bend in a curved form; to make a curl or curls. " Cirling billows."

Dryden.

Then round her slender waist he curled . Dryden.

Curling smokes from village tops are seen. Pope.

Gayly curl the waves before each dashing prow. Byron.

He smiled a king of sickly smile, and curled up on the floor. Bret Harte.

<-- p>. 358 -->

3. To play at the game called curling . [Scot.]

Curl <Xpage=357>