The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 588
2. Excessive excitement of the passions in consequence of strong emotion; a condition of great excitement; as, this quarrel has set my blood in a fever .
An envious fever Of pale and bloodless emulation. Shak.
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Shak.
Brain fever , Continued fever , etc. See under Brain , Continued , etc. -- Fever and ague , a form of fever recurring in paroxysms which are preceded by chills. It is of malarial origin. -- Fever blister (Med.) , a blister or vesicle often found about the mouth in febrile states; a variety of herpes. -- Fever bush (Bot.) , the wild allspice or spice bush. See Spicewood . -- Fever powder . Same as Jame's powder . -- Fever root (Bot.) , an American herb of the genus Triosteum ( T. perfoliatum ); -- called also feverwort amd horse gentian . -- Fever sore , a carious ulcer or necrosis. Miner.
Fever <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fevered (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fevering .] To put into a fever; to affect with fever; as, a fevered lip . [R.]
The white hand of a lady fever thee. Shak.
Feveret <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*et (?) , n. A slight fever. [Obs.]
Ayliffe.
Feverfew <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*few (?) , n. [AS. feferfuge , fr. L. febrifugia . See fever , Fugitive , and cf. Febrifuge .] (Bot.) A perennial plant ( Pyrethrum, ∨ Chrysanthemum, Parthenium ) allied to camomile, having finely divided leaves and white blossoms; -- so named from its supposed febrifugal qualities.
Feverish <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*ish , a. 1. Having a fever; suffering from, or affected with, a moderate degree of fever; showing increased heat and thirst; as, the patient is feverish .
2. Indicating, or pertaining to, fever; characteristic of a fever; as, feverish symptoms .
3. Hot; sultry. "The feverish north."
Dryden.
4. Disordered as by fever; excited; restless; as, the feverish condition of the commercial world .
Strive to keep up a frail and feverish bing. Milton.
-- Fe"ver*ish*ly , adv. -- Fe"ver*ish*ness , n.
Feverous <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*ous (?) , a. [Cf.F. fi\'82vreux .] 1. Affected with fever or ague; feverish.
His heart, love's feverous citadel. Keats.
2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fever; as, a feverous pulse .
All maladies . . . all feverous kinds. Milton.
3. Having the tendency to produce fever; as, a feverous disposition of the year . [R.]
Bacon.
Feverously <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*ous*ly , adv. Feverishly. [Obs.]
Donne.
Feverwort <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*wort` (?) , n. See Fever root , under Fever .
Fevery <Xpage=555>
Fe"ver*y (?) , a. Feverish. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
Few <Xpage=555>
Few (?) , a. [ Compar. Fewer (?) ; superl. Fewest .] [OE. fewe , feawe , AS. fe\'a0 , pl. fe\'a0we ; akin to OS. f\'beh , OHG. f \'b5 <?/ fao , Icel. f\'ber , Sw. f\'86 , pl., Dan. faa , pl., Goth. faus , L. paucus , cf. Gr. <?/. Cf. Paucity .] Not many; small, limited, or confined in number; -- indicating a small portion of units or individuals constituing a whole; often, by ellipsis of a noun, a few people. "Are not my days few ?"
Job x. 20.
Few know and fewer care. Proverb.
&hand; Few is often used partitively; as, few of them.
A few , a small number. -- In few , in a few words; briefly.
Shak.
- No few , not few; more than a few; many.
Cowper.
- The few , the minority; -- opposed to the many or the majority .
Fewel <Xpage=555>
Fe"wel (?) , n. [See Fuel .] Fuel. [Obs.]
Hooker.
Fewmet <Xpage=555>
Few"met (?) , n. See Fumet . [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
Fewness <Xpage=555>
Few"ness , n. 1. The state of being few; smallness of number; paucity.
Shak.
2. Brevity; conciseness. [Obs.]
Shak.
Fey <Xpage=555>
Fey (?) , a. [AS. f<?/ga , Icel. feigr , OHG. feigi .] Fated; doomed. [Old Eng. & Scot.]
Fey <Xpage=555>
Fey (?) , n. [See Fay faith.] Faith. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Fey <Xpage=555>
Fey (?) , v. t. [Cf. Feague .] To cleanse; to clean out. [Obs.]
Tusser.
Feyne <Xpage=555>
Feyne (?) , v. t. To feign. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Feyre <Xpage=555>
Feyre (?) , n. A fair or market. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Fez <Xpage=555>
Fez (?) , n. [F., fr. the town of Fez in Morocco.] A felt or cloth cap, usually red and having a tassel, -- a variety of the tarboosh. See Tarboosh .
B. Taylor.
Fiacre <Xpage=555>
Fia"cre (?) , n. [F.] A kind of French hackney coach.
Fiance <Xpage=555>
Fi"ance (?) , v. t. [F. fiancer . See Affiance .] To betroth; to affiance. [Obs.]
Harmar.
Fianc\'82 <Xpage=555>
Fi`an`c\'82" (?) , n. [F.] A betrothed man.
Fianc\'82e <Xpage=555>
Fi`an`c\'82e" (?) , n. [F.] A betrothed woman.
Fiants <Xpage=555>
Fi"ants (?) , n. [F. fiente dung.] The dung of the fox, wolf, boar, or badger.
Fiar <Xpage=555>
Fi"ar (? ∨ ?) , n. [See Feuar .] 1. (Scots Law) One in whom the property of an estate is vested, subject to the estate of a life renter.
I am fiar of the lands; she a life renter. Sir W. Scott.
2. pl. The price of grain, as legally fixed, in the counties of Scotland, for the current year.
Fiasco <Xpage=555>
Fi*as"co (?) , n. ; pl. Fiascoes (#) . [It.] A complete or ridiculous failure, esp. of a musical performance, or of any pretentious undertaking.
Fiat <Xpage=555>
Fi"at (?) , n. [L., let it be done, 3d pers. sing., subj. pres., fr. fieri , used as pass. of facere to make. Cf. Be .] 1. An authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual decree.
His fiat laid the corner stone. Willis.
2. (Eng. Law) (a) A warrant of a judge for certain processes. (b) An authority for certain proceedings given by the Lord Chancellor's signature.
Fiat money , irredeemable paper currency, not resting on a specie basis, but deriving its purchasing power from the declaratory fiat of the government issuing it.
Fiaunt <Xpage=555>
Fi*aunt" (?) , n. Commission; fiat; order; decree. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Fib <Xpage=555>
Fib (?) , n. [Prob. fr. fable ; cf. Prov. E. fibble-fabble nonsense.] A falsehood; a lie; -- used euphemistically.
They are very serious; they don't tell fibs . H. James.
Fib <Xpage=555>
Fib , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Fibbed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Fibbing (?) .] To speak falsely. [Colloq.]
Fib <Xpage=555>
Fib , v. t. To tell a fib to. [R.]
De Quincey.
Fibber <Xpage=555>
Fib"ber (?) , n. One who tells fibs.
Fiber, Fibre <Xpage=555>
Fi"ber , Fi"bre , (<?/) , n. [F. fibre , L. fibra .] 1. One of the delicate, threadlike portions of which the tissues of plants and animals are in part constituted; as, the fiber of flax or of muscle .
2. Any fine, slender thread, or threadlike substance; as, a fiber of spun glass ; especially, one of the slender rootlets of a plant.
3. Sinew; strength; toughness; as, a man of real fiber .
Yet had no fibers in him, nor no force. Chapman.
4. A general name for the raw material, such as cotton, flax, hemp, etc., used in textile manufactures.
Fiber gun , a kind of steam gun for converting, wood, straw, etc., into fiber. The material is shut up in the gun with steam, air, or gas at a very high pressure which is afterward relieved suddenly by letting a lid at the muzzle fly open, when the rapid expansion separates the fibers. -- Fiber plants (Bot.) , plants capable of yielding fiber useful in the arts, as hemp, flax, ramie, agave, etc.
Fibered, Fibred <Xpage=555>
Fi"bered , Fi"bred (?) , a. Having fibers; made up of fibers.
Fiber-faced, Fibre-faced <Xpage=555>
Fi"ber-faced` , Fi"bre-faced` (?) , a. Having a visible fiber embodied in the surface of; -- applied esp. to a kind of paper for checks, drafts, etc.
Fiberless, Fibreless <Xpage=555>
Fi"ber*less , Fi"bre*less , a. Having no fibers; destitute of fibers or fiber.
Fibriform <Xpage=555>
Fi"bri*form (? ∨ ?) , a. [L. fibra a fiber + -form .] (Biol.) Having the form of a fiber or fibers; resembling a fiber.
Fibril <Xpage=555>
Fi"bril (?) , n. [F. fibrille , dim. of fibre , L. fibra .] A small fiber; the branch of a fiber; a very slender thread; a fibrilla.
Cheyne.
Fibrilla <Xpage=555>
Fi*bril"la (?) , n. ; pl. Fibrill\'92 (#) . [NL. See Fibril .] A minute thread of fiber, as one of the fibrous elements of a muscular fiber; a fibril.
Fibrillar <Xpage=555>
Fi"bril*lar (?) , a. Of or pertaining to fibrils or fibers; as, fibrillar twitchings .
Fibrillary <Xpage=555>
Fi"bril*la*ry (? ∨ ?) , a. Of of pertaining to fibrils.
Fibrillated <Xpage=555>
Fi"bril*la`ted (? ∨ ?) , a. Furnished with fibrils; fringed.
Fibrillation <Xpage=555>
Fi`bril*la"tion (?) , n. The state of being reduced to fibers.
Carpenter.
Fibrillose <Xpage=555>
Fi*bril"lose (? ∨ ?) , a. Covered with hairlike appendages, as the under surface of some lichens; also, composed of little strings or fibers; as, fibrillose appendages .
<page="556"> Page 556
Fibrillous <Xpage=556>
Fi*bril"lous (? ∨ ?) , a. [Cf. F. fibraleux .] Pertaining to, or composed of, fibers.
Fibrin <Xpage=556>
Fi"brin (?) , n. [Cf. F. fibrine . See Fiber .] (Physiol. Chem.) 1. A white, albuminous, fibrous substance, formed in the coagulation of the blood either by decomposition of fibrinogen, or from the union of fibrinogen and paraglobulin which exist separately in the blood. It is insoluble in water, but is readily digestible in gastric and pancreatic juice.
2. The white, albuminous mass remaining after washing lean beef or other meat with water until all coloring matter is removed; the fibrous portion of the muscle tissue; flesh fibrin.
3. An albuminous body, resembling animal fibrin in composition, found in cereal grains and similar seeds; vegetable fibrin.
Fibrin factors (Physiol.) , the albuminous bodies, paraglobulin and fibrinigen in the blood, which, by the action of the fibrin ferment, are changed into fibrin, in coagulation. -- Fibrin ferment (Physiol. Chem.) , a ferment which makes its appearance in the blood shortly after it is shed, and is supposed to be the active agent in causing coagulation of the blood, with formation of fibrin.
Fibrination <Xpage=556>
Fi`bri*na"tion (?) , n. (Med.) The state of acquiring or having an excess of fibrin.
Fibrine <Xpage=556>
Fi"brine (?) , a. Belonging to the fibers of plants.
Fibrinogen <Xpage=556>
Fi*brin"o*gen (?) , n. [ Fibrin + -gen .] (Physiol. Chem.) An albuminous substance existing in the blood, and in other animal fluids, which either alone or with fibrinoplastin or paraglobulin forms fibrin, and thus causes coagulation.
Fibrinogenous <Xpage=556>
Fi`bri*nog"e*nous (?) , a. (Physiol. Chem.) Possessed of properties similar to fibrinogen; capable of forming fibrin.
Fibrinoplastic <Xpage=556>
Fi`bri*no*plas"tic (?) , a. (Physiol.Chem.) Like fibrinoplastin; capable of forming fibrin when brought in contact with fibrinogen.
Fibrinoplastin <Xpage=556>
Fi`bri*no*plas"tin (?) , n. [ Fibrin + Gr. <?/ to form, mold.] (Physiol.Chem.) An albuminous substance, existing in the blood, which in combination with fibrinogen forms fibrin; -- called also paraglobulin .
Fibrinous <Xpage=556>
Fi"bri*nous (? ∨ ?; 277) , a. Having, or partaking of the properties of, fibrin; as, fibrious exudation .
Fibrocartilage <Xpage=556>
Fi`bro*car"ti*lage (?) , n. [L. fibra a fiber + E. cartilage .] (Anat.) A kind of cartilage with a fibrous matrix and approaching fibrous connective tissue in structure. -- Fi`bro*car`ti*lag"i*nous (#) , a.
Fibrochondrosteal <Xpage=556>
Fi`bro*chon*dros"te*al (?) , a. [L. fibra a fiber + gr. <?/ cartilage + <?/ bone.] (Anat.) Partly fibrous, partly cartilaginous, and partly osseous.
St. George Mivart.
Fibroid <Xpage=556>
Fi"broid (?) , a. [L. fibra a fiber + -oid .] (Med.) Resembling or forming fibrous tissue; made up of fibers; as, fibroid tumors . -- n. A fibroid tumor; a fibroma.
Fibroid degeneration , a form of degeneration in which organs or tissues are converted into fibroid tissue. -- Fibroid phthists , a form of pulmonary consumption associated with the formation of fibrous tissue in the lungs, and the gradual atrophy of the lungs, from the pressure due to the contraction of this tissue.
Fibroin <Xpage=556>
Fi"bro*in (? ∨ ?) , n. [L. fibra a fiber.] (Chem.) A variety of gelatin; the chief ingredient of raw silk, extracted as a white amorphous mass.
Fibrolite <Xpage=556>
Fi"bro*lite (? ∨ ?) , n. [L. fibra a fiber + -lite : cf. F. fibrolithe .] (Min.) A silicate of alumina, of fibrous or columnar structure. It is like andalusite in composition; -- called also sillimanite , and bucholizite .
Fibroma <Xpage=556>
Fi*bro"ma (?) , n. [NL. See Fiber , and -oma .] (Med.) A tumor consisting mainly of fibrous tissue, or of same modification of such tissue.
Fibrospongi\'91 <Xpage=556>
Fi`bro*spon"gi*\'91 (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. L. fibra a fiber + spongia a sponge.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of sponges having a fibrous skeleton, including the commercial sponges.
Fibrous <Xpage=556>
Fi"brous (?) , a. [Cf. F. fibreux .] Containing, or consisting of, fibers; as, the fibrous coat of the cocoanut; the fibrous roots of grasses. -- Fi"brous*ness , n.
Fibrovascular <Xpage=556>
Fi`bro*vas"cu*lar (?) , a. [L. fibra a fiber + E. vascular .] (Bot.) Containing woody fiber and ducts, as the stems of all flowering plants and ferns; -- opposed to cellular .
Fibster <Xpage=556>
Fib"ster (?) , n. One who tells fibs. [Jocular]
Fibula <Xpage=556>
Fib"u*la (?) , n. ; pl. Fibul\'92 (#) . [L., clasp, buckle.] 1. A brooch, clasp, or buckle.
Mere fibul\'91 , without a robe to clasp. Wordsworth.
2. (Anat.) The outer and usually the smaller of the two bones of the leg, or hind limb, below the knee.
3. (Surg.) A needle for sewing up wounds.
Fibu-lar <Xpage=556>
Fib"u-lar (?) , a. Pertaining to the fibula.
Fibulare <Xpage=556>
Fib`u*la"re (?) , n. ; pl. Fibularia (#) . [NL. See Fibula .] (Anat.) The bone or cartilage of the tarsus, which articulates with the fibula, and corresponds to the calcaneum in man and most mammals.
Fice <Xpage=556>
Fice (?) , n. A small dog; -- written also fise , fyce , fiste , etc. [Southern U.S.]
Fich\'82 <Xpage=556>
Fi*ch\'82 (?) , a. (Her.) See Fitch\'90 .
Ficttelite <Xpage=556>
Fict"tel*ite (?) , n. (Min.) A white crystallized mineral resin from the Fichtelgebirge, Bavaria.
Fichu <Xpage=556>
Fich"u (?) , n. [F., neckerchief.] A light cape, usually of lace, worn by women, to cover the neck and throat, and extending to the shoulders.
Fickle <Xpage=556>
Fic"kle (?) , a. [OE. fikel untrustworthy, deceitful, AS. ficol , fr. fic , gefic , fraud, deceit; cf. f\'becen deceit, OS. f<?/kn , OHG. feichan , Icel. feikn portent. Cf. Fidget .] Not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable mind; not firm in opinion or purpose; inconstant; capricious; as, Fortune's fickle wheel .
Shak.
They know how fickle common lovers are. Dryden.
Syn. -- Wavering; irresolute; unsettled; vacillating; unstable; inconsonant; unsteady; variable; mutable; changeful; capricious; veering; shifting.
Fickleness <Xpage=556>
Fic"kle*ness (?) , n. The quality of being fickle; instability; inconsonancy.
Shak.
Fickly <Xpage=556>
Fic"kly (?) , adv. In a fickle manner. [Obs.]
Pepys.
Fico <Xpage=556>
Fi"co (?) , n. ; pl. Ficoes (#) . [It., a fig, fr. L. ficus . See Fig .] A fig; an insignificant trifle, no more than the snap of one's thumb; a sign of contempt made by the fingers, expressing. A fig for you .
Steal! foh, a fico for the phrase. Shak.
Fictile <Xpage=556>
Fic"tile (?) , a. [L. fictilis . See Fiction .] Molded, or capable of being molded, into form by art; relating to pottery or to molding in any soft material.
Fictile earth is more fragile than crude earth. Bacon.
The earliest specimens of Italian fictile art. C. Wordsworth.
Fictile ware , ware made of any material which is molded or shaped while soft; hence, pottery of any sort.
-- Fic"tile*ness , n. -- Fic*til"i*ty (#) , n.
Fiction <Xpage=556>