Chapter 679

Gov"ern*al (?) , Gov"ern*ail (<?/) , n. [Cf. F. gouvernail helm, rudder, L. gubernaculum .] Management; mastery. [Obs.]

Chaucer. Spenser.

Governance <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*ance (?) , n. [F. gouvernance.] Exercise of authority; control; government; arrangement.

Chaucer. J. H. Newman.

Governante <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*ante" (?) , n. [F. gouvernante . See Govern .] A governess.

Sir W. Scott.

Governess <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*ess (?) , n. [Cf. OF. governeresse . See Governor .] A female governor; a woman invested with authority to control and direct; especially, one intrusted with the care and instruction of children, -- usually in their homes.

Governing <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*ing , a. 1. Holding the superiority; prevalent; controlling; as, a governing wind; a governing party in a state.

Jay.

2. (Gram.) Requiring a particular case.

Government <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*ment (?) , n. [F. gouvernement . See Govern .] 1. The act of governing; the exercise of authority; the administration of laws; control; direction; regulation; as, civil, church, or family government .

2. The mode of governing; the system of polity in a state; the established form of law.

That free government which we have so dearly purchased, free commonwealth. Milton.

3. The right or power of governing; authority.

I here resign my goverment to thee. Shak.

4. The person or persons authorized to administer the laws; the ruling powe; the administratian.

When we, in England, speak of the government , we generally understand the ministers of the crown for the time being. Mozley & W.

5. The body politic governed by one authority; a state; as, the governments of Europe .

6. Management of the limbs or body.

Shak.

7. (Gram.) The influence of a word in regard to construction, requiring that another word should be in a particular case.

Governmental <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*men"tal (?) , a. [Cf. F. gouveernemental .] Pertaining to government; made by government; as, governmental duties .

Governor <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*or (?) , n. [OE. governor , governour , OF. governeor , F. gouverneur , fr. L. gubernator steersman, ruler, governor. See Govern .] 1. One who governs; especially, one who is invested with the supreme executive authority in a State; a chief ruler or magistrate; as, the governor of Pennsylvania . "The governor of the town."

Shak.

2. One who has the care or guardianship of a young man; a tutor; a guardian.

3. (Naut.) A pilot; a steersman. [R.]

4. (Mach.) A contrivance applied to steam engines, water wheels, and other machinery, to maintain nearly uniform speed when the resistances and motive force are variable.

&hand; The illustration shows a form of governor commonly used for steam engines, in wich a heavy sleeve ( a ) sliding on a rapidly revolving spindle ( b ), driven by the engine, is raised or lowered, when the speed varies, by the changing centrifugal force of two balls ( c c ) to which it is connected by links ( d d ), the balls being attached to arms ( e e ) which are jointed to the top of the spindle. The sleeve is connected with the throttle valve or cut-off through a lever ( f ), and its motion produces a greater supply of steam when the engine runs too slowly and a less supply when too fast.

Governor cut-off (Steam Engine) , a variable cut-off gear in which the governor acts in such a way as to cause the steam to be cut off from entering the cylinder at points of the stroke dependent upon the engine's speed. -- Hydraulic governor (Mach.) , a governor which is operated by the action of a liquid in flowing; a cataract.

Governor general <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*or gen"er*al (?) . A governor who has lieutenant or deputy governors under him; as, the governor general of Canada, of India .

Governorship <Xpage=641>

Gov"ern*or*ship , n. The office of a governor.

Gowan <Xpage=641>

Gow"an (?) , n. [Scot., fr. Gael. gugan bud, flower, daisy.] 1. The daisy, or mountain daisy. [Scot.]

And pu'd the gowans fine. Burns.

2. (Min.) Decomposed granite.

Gowany <Xpage=641>

Gow"an*y (?) , a. Having, abounding in, or decked with, daisies. [Scot.]

Sweeter than gowany glens or new-mown hay. Ramsay.

Gowd <Xpage=641>

Gowd (?) , n. [Cf. Gold .] Gold; wealth. [Scot.]

The man's the gowd for a' that. Burns.

Gowden <Xpage=641>

Gowd"en (?) , a. Golden. [Scot.]

Gowdie <Xpage=641>

Gow"die (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Dragont . [Scot.]

Gowdnook <Xpage=641>

Gowd"nook" (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The saury pike; -- called also gofnick.

Gowk <Xpage=641>

Gowk (?) , v. t. [See Gawk .] To make a, booby of one); to stupefy. [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

Gowk <Xpage=641>

Gowk , n. [See Gawk .] (Zo\'94l.) 1. The European cuckoo; -- called also gawky.

2. A simpleton; a gawk or gawky.

Gowl <Xpage=641>

Gowl (?) , v. i. [OE. gaulen , goulen . Cf. Yawl , v. i. ] To howl. [Obs.]

Wyclif.

Gown <Xpage=641>

Gown (?) , n. [OE. goune , prob. from W. gwn gown, loose robe, akin to Ir. gunn , Gael. g\'97n ; cf. OF. gone , prob. of the same origin.] 1. A loose, flowing upper garment ; especially: (a) The ordinary outer dress of a woman; as, a calico or silk gown . (b) The official robe of certain professional men and scholars, as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.; hence, the dress of peace; the dress of civil officers, in distinction from military .

He Mars deposed, and arms to gowns made yield. Dryden.

(c) A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown .

2. Any sort of dress or garb.

He comes . . . in the gown of humility. Shak.

Gowned <Xpage=641>

Gowned (?) , p. a. Dressed in a gown; clad.

Gowned in pure white, that fitted to the shape. Tennyson.

Gownsman, Gownman <Xpage=641>

Gowns"man (?) , Gown"man (<?/) , n. ; pl. -men (-men) . One whose professional habit is a gown, as a divine or lawyer, and particularly a member of an English university; hence, a civilian, in distinction from a soldier.

Gozzard <Xpage=641>

Goz"zard (?) , n. See Gosherd . [Prov. Eng.]

Graafian <Xpage=641>

Graaf"i*an (?) , a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or discovered by, Regnier de Graaf, a Dutch physician.

Graafian follicles or vesicles, small cavities in which the ova are developed in the ovaries of mammals, and by the bursting of which they are discharged.

Graal <Xpage=641>

Graal (?) , n. See Grail., a dish.

Grab <Xpage=641>

Grab (?) , n. [Ar. & Hind. ghur<?/b crow, raven, a kind of Arab ship.] (Naut.) A vessel used on the Malabar coast, having two or three masts.

Grab <Xpage=641>

Grab (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Grabbed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Grabbing .] [Akin to Sw. grabba to grasp. Cf. Grabble , Grapple , Grasp .] To gripe suddenly; to seize; to snatch; to clutch.

Grab <Xpage=641>

Grab , n. 1. A sudden grasp or seizure.

2. An instrument for clutching objects for the purpose of raising them; -- specially applied to devices for withdrawing drills, etc., from artesian and other wells that are drilled, bored, or driven.

Grab hag , at fairs, a bag or box holding small articles which are to be drawn, without being seen, on payment of a small sum. [Colloq.] -- Grab game , a theft committed by grabbing or snatching a purse or other piece of property. [Colloq.]

Grabber <Xpage=641>

Grab"ber (?) , n. One who seizes or grabs.

Grabble <Xpage=641>

Grab"ble (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Grabbled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Grabbling (<?/) .] [Freq. of grab ; cf. D. grabbelen .] 1. To grope; to feel with the hands.

He puts his hands into his pockets, and keeps a grabbling and fumbling. Selden.

2. To lie prostrate on the belly; to sprawl on the ground; to grovel.

Ainsworth.

Grace <Xpage=641>

Grace (?) , n. [F. gr\'83ce , L. gratia , from gratus beloved, dear, agreeable; perh. akin to Gr. <?/ to rejoice, <?/ favor, grace, Skr. hary to desire, and E. yearn. Cf. Grateful , Gratis .] 1. The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.

To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee. Milton.

2. (Theol.) The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.

And if by grace , then is it no more of works. Rom. xi. 6.

My grace is sufficicnt for thee. 2 Cor. xii. 9.

Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20.

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. Rom. v.2

3. (Law) (a) The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon. (b) The same prerogative when exercised in the form of equitable relief through chancery.

4. Fortune; luck; -- used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

5. Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.

He is complete in feature and in mind. With all good grace to grace a gentleman. Shak.

I have formerly given the general character of Mr. Addison's style and manner as natural and unaffected, easy and polite, and full of those graces which a flowery imagination diffuses over writing. Blair.

<page="642"> Page 642

6. Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.

Grace in women gains the affections sooner, and secures them longer, than any thing else. Hazlitt.

I shall answer and thank you again For the gift and the grace of the gift. Longfellow.

7. pl. (Myth.) Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, love, and social intercourse.

The Graces love to weave the rose. Moore.

The Loves delighted, and the Graces played. Prior.

8. The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.

How fares your Grace ! Shak.

9. (Commonly pl.) Thanks. [Obs.]

Yielding graces and thankings to their lord Melibeus. Chaucer.

10. A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.

11. pl. (Mus.) Ornamental notes or short passages, either introduced by the performer, or indicated by the composer, in which case the notation signs are called grace notes , appeggiaturas , turns , etc.

12. (Eng. Universities) An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree.

Walton.

13. pl. A play designed to promote or display grace of motion. It consists in throwing a small hoop from one player to another, by means of two sticks in the hands of each. Called also grace hoop or hoops .

Act of grace . See under Act . -- Day of grace (Theol.) , the time of probation, when the offer of divine forgiveness is made and may be accepted.

That day of grace fleets fast away. I. Watts.

-- Days of grace (Com.) , the days immediately following the day when a bill or note becomes due, which days are allowed to the debtor or payer to make payment in. In Great Britain and the United States, the days of grace are three , but in some countries more, the usages of merchants being different. -- Good graces , favor; friendship. -- Grace cup . (a) A cup or vessel in which a health is drunk after grace. (b) A health drunk after grace has been said.

The grace cup follows to his sovereign's health. Hing.

-- Grace drink , a drink taken on rising from the table; a grace cup.

To [Queen Margaret, of Scotland] . . . we owe the custom of the grace drink , she having established it as a rule at her table, that whosoever staid till grace was said was rewarded with a bumper. Encyc. Brit.

-- Grace hoop , a hoop used in playing graces. See Grace , n. , 13. -- Grace note (Mus.) , an appoggiatura. See Appoggiatura , and def. 11 above. -- Grace stroke , a finishing stoke or touch; a coup de grace. -- Means of grace , means of securing knowledge of God, or favor with God, as the preaching of the gospel, etc. -- To do grace , to reflect credit upon.

Content to do the profession some grace . Shak.

-- To say grace , to render thanks before or after a meal. -- With a good grace , in a fit and proper manner grace fully; graciously. -- With a bad grace , in a forced, reluctant, or perfunctory manner; ungraciously.

What might have been done with a good grace would at least be done with a bad grace. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Elegance; comeliness; charm; favor; kindness; mercy. -- Grace , Mercy . These words, though often interchanged, have each a distinctive and peculiar meaning. Grace , in the strict sense of the term, is spontaneous favor to the guilty or undeserving; mercy is kindness or compassion to the suffering or condemned. It was the grace of God that opened a way for the exercise of mercy toward men. See Elegance .

Grace <Xpage=642>

Grace (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Graced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Gracing (?) .] 1. To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.

Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line. Pope.

We are graced with wreaths of victory. Shak.

2. To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.

He might, at his pleasure, grace or disgrace whom he would in court. Knolles.

3. To supply with heavenly grace.

Bp. Hall.

4. (Mus.) To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.

Graced <Xpage=642>

Graced (?) , a. Endowed with grace; beautiful; full of graces; honorable.

Shak.

Graceful <Xpage=642>

Grace"ful (?) , a. Displaying grace or beauty in form or action; elegant; easy; agreeable in appearance; as, a graceful walk, deportment, speaker, air, act, speech .

High o'er the rest in arms the graceful Turnus rode. Dryden.

-- Grace"ful*ly , adv. Grace"ful*ness , n.

Graceless <Xpage=642>

Grace"less , a. 1. Wanting in grace or excellence; departed from, or deprived of, divine grace; hence, depraved; corrupt. "In a graceless age."

Milton.

2. Unfortunate. Cf. Grace , n. , 4. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

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

Gracile, Gracillent <Xpage=642>

Grac"ile (?) , Grac"il*lent (?) a. [L. gracilis , gracilentus .] Slender; thin. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Gracility <Xpage=642>

Gra*cil"i*ty (?) , n. [L. gracilitas; cf. F. gracilit\'82 .] State of being gracilent; slenderness. Milman . "Youthful gracility ."

W. D. Howells.

Gracious <Xpage=642>

Gra"cious (?) , a. [F. gracieux , L. gratiosus . See Grace .] 1. Abounding in grace or mercy; manifesting love,. or bestowing mercy; characterized by grace; beneficent; merciful; disposed to show kindness or favor; condescending; as, his most gracious majesty .

A god ready to pardon, gracious and merciful. Neh. ix. 17.

So hallowed and so gracious in the time. Shak.

2. Abounding in beauty, loveliness, or amiability; graceful; excellent.

Since the birth of Cain, the first male child, . . . There was not such a gracious creature born. Shak.

3. Produced by divine grace; influenced or controlled by the divine influence; as, gracious affections .

Syn. -- Favorable; kind; benevolent; friendly; beneficent; benignant; merciful.

Graciously <Xpage=642>

Gra"cious*ly (?) , adv. 1. In a gracious manner; courteously; benignantly.

Dryden.

2. Fortunately; luckily. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Graciousness <Xpage=642>

Gra"cious*ness , n. Quality of being gracious.

Grackle <Xpage=642>

Grac"kle (?) , n. [Cf. L. graculus jackdaw.] (Zo\'94l.) (a) One of several American blackbirds, of the family Icterid\'91 ; as, the rusty grackle ( Scolecophagus Carolinus ); the boat-tailed grackle (see Boat-tail); the purple grackle ( Quiscalus quiscula , or Q. versicolor ). See Crow blackbird , under Crow . (b) An Asiatic bird of the genus Gracula . See Myna .

Gradate <Xpage=642>

Gra"date (?) , v. t. [See Grade .] 1. To grade or arrange (parts in a whole, colors in painting, etc.), so that they shall harmonize.

2. (Chem.) To bring to a certain strength or grade of concentration; as, to gradate a saline solution .

Gradation <Xpage=642>

Gra*da"tion (?) , n. , [L. gradatio : cf. F. gradation . See Grade .] 1. The act of progressing by regular steps or orderly arrangement; the state of being graded or arranged in ranks; as, the gradation of castes .

2. The act or process of bringing to a certain grade.

3. Any degree or relative position in an order or series.

The several gradations of the intelligent universe. I. Taylor.

4. (Fine Arts) A gradual passing from one tint to another or from a darker to a lighter shade, as in painting or drawing.

6. (Mus.) A diatonic ascending or descending succession of chords.

Gradation <Xpage=642>

Gra*da"tion , v. t. To form with gradations. [R.]