The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section A and B

Bdel"lium (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. bde`llion; cf. Heb. b'dolakh bdellium (in sense 1).] 1. An unidentified substance mentioned in the Bible (Gen. ii. 12, and Num. xi. 7), variousl...

Bal"us*ter (&?;), n. [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. balay`stion; -- so named from the similarity of form.] (Arch.) A...

Boo"ly (&?;), n.; pl. Boolies (&?;). [Ir. buachail cowherd; bo cow + giolla boy.] A company of Irish herdsmen, or a single herdsman, wandering from place to place with flocks an...

In the passive form of this verb, the best modern usage restricts the past participle born to the sense of brought forth, while borne is used in the other senses of the word. In...

Bab"bitt met`al (&?;). [From the inventor, Isaac Babbitt of Massachusetts.] A soft white alloy of variable composition (as a nine parts of tin to one of copper, or of fifty part...

Raised bread is made with yeast, salt, and sometimes a little butter or lard, and is mixed with warm milk or water to form the dough, which, after kneading, is given time to ris...

Bal"dric (&?;), n. [OE. baudric, bawdrik, through OF. (cf. F. baudrier and LL. baldringus, baldrellus), from OHG. balderich, cf. balz, palz, akin to E. belt. See Belt, n.] A bro...

Bas"set, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Basseted; p. pr. & vb. n. Basseting.] (Geol.) To incline upward so as to appear at the surface; to crop out; as, a vein of coal bassets.

But"ter*is (&?;), n. [The same word as buttress, noun, in a different application, F. bouter to push.] (Far.) A steel cutting instrument, with a long bent shank set in a handle...

2. Any one of the nine declarations (called the Beatitudes), made in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. v. 3-12), with regard to the blessedness of those who are distinguished by ce...

7. (Chem.) To cause to combine with oxygen or other active agent, with evolution of heat; to consume; to oxidize; as, a man burns a certain amount of carbon at each respiration;...

Board (brd), n. [OE. bord, AS. bord board, shipboard; akin to bred plank, Icel. borð board, side of a ship, Goth. ftu-baurd footstool, D. bord board, G. brett, bort. See def. 8....

Bounty jumper, one who, during the latter part of the Civil War, enlisted in the United States service, and deserted as soon as possible after receiving the bounty. [Collog.] --...

Bil`i*ru"bin (&?;), n. [L. bilis biel + ruber red.] (Physiol.) A reddish yellow pigment present in human bile, and in that from carnivorous and herbivorous animals; the normal b...

{ Ba*guet", Ba*guette" } (&?;), n. [F. baguette, prop. a rod&?; It. bacchetta, fr. L. baculum, baculu&?; stick, staff.] 1. (Arch.) A small molding, like the astragal, but smalle...

||Bo*le"tus (&?;), n. [L. boletus, Gr. &?;.] (Bot.) A genus of fungi having the under side of the pileus or cap composed of a multitude of fine separate tubes. A few are edible,...

Bucking iron (Mining), a broad-faced hammer, used in bucking or breaking up ores. -- Bucking kier (Manuf.), a large circular boiler, or kier, used in bleaching. -- Bucking stool...

Bonded goods, goods placed in a bonded warehouse; goods, for the duties on which bonds are given at the customhouse. -- Bonded warehouse, a warehouse in which goods on which the...

{ Ax, Axe, } (&?;), n. [OE. ax, axe, AS. eax, æx, acas; akin to D. akse, OS. accus, OHG. acchus, G. axt, Icel. öx, öxi, Sw. yxe, Dan. ökse, Goth. aqizi, Gr. &?;, L. ascia; not a...

Properly, the precious metals are called bullion, when smelted and not perfectly refined, or when refined, but in bars, ingots or in any form uncoined, as in plate. The word is...

{ Bat"tel*er (&?;), Bat"tler } (&?;), n. [See 2d Battel, n.] A student at Oxford who is supplied with provisions from the buttery; formerly, one who paid for nothing but what he...

Birth"right` (&?;), n. Any right, privilege, or possession to which a person is entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir, or civil liberty under a free...

Ark (&?;), n. [OE. ark, arke, arche, AS. arc, earc, earce, fr. L. arca, fr. arcere to inclose, keep off; akin to Gr. &?; to keep off.] 1. A chest, or coffer. [Obs.]

Be*lief" (&?;), n. [OE. bileafe, bileve; cf. AS. geleáfa. See Believe.] 1. Assent to a proposition or affirmation, or the acceptance of a fact, opinion, or assertion as real or...

Bowstring bridge, a bridge formed of an arch of timber or iron, often braced, the thrust of which is resisted by a tie forming a chord of the arch. -- Bowstring girder, an arche...

Bid (bd), v. t. [imp. Bade (bd), Bid, (Obs.) Bad; p. p. Bidden (&?;), Bid; p. pr. & vb. n. Bidding.] [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan; akin to OS. biddian, Icel. biðja,...

{ Be*ghard" Be*guard" } (&?;), n. [F. bégard, béguard; cf. G. beghard, LL. Beghardus, Begihardus, Begardus. Prob. from the root of beguine + -ard or -hard. See Beguine.] (Eccl....

Bar"ber (bär"br), n. [OE. barbour, OF. barbeor, F. barbier, as if fr. an assumed L. barbator, fr. barba beard. See 1st Barb.] One whose occupation it is to shave or trim the bea...

7. Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations. "A cruel act of a...

Bet (&?;), n. [Prob. from OE. abet abetting, OF. abet, fr. abeter to excite, incite. See Abet.] That which is laid, staked, or pledged, as between two parties, upon the event of...

Bee (b), n. [AS. beó; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b&?;, Sw. & Dan. bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha. √97.] 1. (Zoöl.) An insect of th...

Brum"ma*gem (&?;), a. [Birmingham (formerly Bromwycham), Eng., "the great mart and manufactory of gilt toys, cheap jewelry," etc.] Counterfeit; gaudy but worthless; sham. [Slang...

At one" (&?;). [OE. at on, atone, atoon, attone.] 1. In concord or friendship; in agreement (with each other); as, to be, bring, make, or set, at one, i. e., to be or bring in o...

{ Av"o*cet, Av"o*set } (v"*st), n. [F. avocette: cf. It. avosetta, Sp. avoceta.] (Zoöl.) A grallatorial bird, of the genus Recurvirostra; the scooper. The bill is long and bend...

Ba*ro"ko (b*r"k), n. [A mnemonic word.] (Logic) A form or mode of syllogism of which the first proposition is a universal affirmative, and the other two are particular negatives.

Bank"rupt (&?;), n. [F. banqueroute, fr. It. bancarotta bankruptcy; banca bank (fr. OHG. banch, G. bank, bench) + rotta broken, fr. L. ruptus, p. p. of rumpere to break. At Flor...

Ail (l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ailed (ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Ailing.] [OE. eilen, ailen, AS. eglan to trouble, pain; akin to Goth. us-agljan to distress, agls troublesome, irksome,...

A*crop"e*tal (&?;), a. [Gr. 'a`kros summit + L. petere to seek.] (Bot.) Developing from below towards the apex, or from the circumference towards the center; centripetal; -- sai...

Blare (&?;), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blared (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Blaring.] [OE. blaren, bloren, to cry, woop; cf. G. plärren to bleat, D. blaren to bleat, cry, weep. Prob. an imit...

Syn. -- To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish; lessen. -- To Abate, Subside. These words, as here compared, imply a coming down from some previously raised or excite...

Back"gam`mon (&?;), n. [Origin unknown; perhaps fr. Dan. bakke tray + E. game; or very likely the first part is from E. back, adv., and the game is so called because the men are...

Bush"whack`ing, n. 1. Traveling, or working a way, through bushes; pulling by the bushes, as in hauling a boat along the bushy margin of a stream. [U.S.] T. Flint.

An*neal" (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annealed (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Annealing.] [OE. anelen to heat, burn, AS. an&?;lan; an on + &?;lan to burn; also OE. anelen to enamel, prob....

2. A festival of the heathen Celts on the first day of May, in the observance of which great bonfires were kindled. It still exists in a modified form in some parts of Scotland...

Av"a*lanche` (?; 277), n. [F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let down, from aval down, downward; &?; (L. ad) + val, L. vallis, valley. See Valley.] 1. A large mass or body...

Af*fuse" (f*fz"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affused (-fzd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Affusing (&?;).] [L. affusus, p. p. of affundere to pour to; ad + fundere. See Fuse.] To pour out or upon....

Blithe (bl), a. [AS. blðe blithe, kind; akin to Goth. bleiþs kind, Icel. blðr mild, gentle, Dan. & Sw. blid gentle, D. blijd blithe, OHG. bldi kind, blithe.] Gay; merry; spright...

Bore, n. [Icel. bra wave: cf. G. empor upwards, OHG. bor height, burren to lift, perh. allied to AS. beran, E. 1st bear. √92.] (Physical Geog.) (a) A tidal flood which reg...

Both precedes the first of two coördinate words or phrases, and is followed by and before the other, both . . . and . . . ; as well the one as the other; not only this, but also...

Am*bi"tion (&?;), n. [F. ambition, L. ambitio a going around, especially of candidates for office is Rome, to solicit votes (hence, desire for office or honor&?; fr. ambire to g...

Bright"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brightened (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Brightening.] [From Bright, a.] 1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the luster of; to g...

Ap*pur"te*nant (&?;), a. [F. appartenant, p. pr. of appartenir. See Appurtenance.] Annexed or pertaining to some more important thing; accessory; incident; as, a right of way ap...

At*tem"per (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempered (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Attempering.] [OF. atemprer, fr. L. attemperare; ad + temperare to soften, temper. See Temper, and cf. At...

A*non"y*mous, a. [Gr. &?; without name; 'an priv. + &?;, Eol. for &?; name. See Name.] Nameless; of unknown name; also, of unknown or unavowed authorship; as, an anonymous benef...

Black" let`ter (&?;). The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed. It was conspicuous for its...

Brew"is (&?;), n. [OE. brewis, brouwys, browesse, brewet, OF. brouet, - s being the OF. ending of the nom. sing. and acc. pl.; dim. of OHG. brod. √93. See Broth, and cf. B...

Ber"yl (br"l), n. [F. béryl, OF. beril, L. beryllus, Gr. bh`ryllos, prob. fr. Skr. vairya. Cf. Brilliant.] (Min.) A mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much bea...

It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., a...

Anchor ice. See under Ice. -- Anchor ring. (Math.) Same as Annulus, 2 (b). -- Anchor stock (Naut.), the crossbar at the top of the shank at right angles to the arms. -- The anch...

A*cute" (&?;), a. [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.] 1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to...

Al"der*ney (&?;), n. One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called Jersey cattle. See Jerse...

Aluminium bronze. See under Aluminium. -- Bronze age, an age of the world which followed the stone age, and was characterized by the use of implements and ornaments of copper or...

5. That which is allowed; a share or portion allotted or granted; a sum granted as a reimbursement, a bounty, or as appropriate for any purpose; a stated quantity, as of food or...

2. The trunk, or main part, of a person or animal, as distinguished from the limbs and head; the main, central, or principal part, as of a tree, army, country, etc.

An"ti*qua*ry, n.; pl. Antiquaries (&?;). One devoted to the study of ancient times through their relics, as inscriptions, monuments, remains of ancient habitations, statues, coi...

As*cent" (&?;). [Formed like descent, as if from a F. ascente, fr. a verb ascendre, fr. L. ascendere. See Ascend, Descent.] 1. The act of rising; motion upward; rise; a mounting...

Bin"na*cle (&?;), n. [For bittacle, corrupted (perh. by influence of bin) fr. Pg. bitacola binnacle, fr. L. habitaculum dwelling place, fr. habitare to dwell. See Habit, and cf....

Syn. -- Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description; explanation; rehearsal. -- Account, Narrative, Narration, Recital. These words are applied to different modes of re...

Al"le*go*ry (&?;), n.; pl. Allegories (&?;). [L. allegoria, Gr. &?;, description of one thing under the image of another; &?; other + &?; to speak in the assembly, harangue, &?;...

||A*pod`y*te"ri*um (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to strip one's self.] (Anc. Arch.) The apartment at the entrance of the baths, or in the palestra, where one stripped; a d...

According to present popular usage in England, and among housekeepers in America, bug, when not joined with some qualifying word, is used specifically for bedbug. As a general t...

Buoy"ant (&?;), a. [From Buoy, v. t. & i.] 1. Having the quality of rising or floating in a fluid; tending to rise or float; as, iron is buoyant in mercury. "Buoyant on the floo...

{ ||Ab`o*ma"sum (&?;), ||Ab`o*ma"sus (&?;), } n. [NL., fr. L. ab + omasum (a Celtic word).] (Anat.) The fourth or digestive stomach of a ruminant, which leads from the third sto...

A*muse" (*mz"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amused (*mzd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Amusing.] [F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, à (L. ad) + OF. muser. See Muse, v.] 1. To occupy or...

The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile, &?;, when the planets are 60° apart; quartile, or quadrate, &?;, when their distance is 90° or the quarter of a circl...

Bew"it (&?;), n. [Cf. OF. buie bond, chain, fr. L. boja neck collar, fetter. Cf. Buoy.] A double slip of leather by which bells are fastened to a hawk's legs.

A"lose (&?;), n. [F., fr. L. alosa or alausa.] (Zoöl.) The European shad (Clupea alosa); -- called also allice shad or allis shad. The name is sometimes applied to the American...

Syn. -- Fright; affright; terror; trepidation; apprehension; consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude. -- Alarm, Fright, Terror, Consternation. These words expres...

A*syn"de*ton (&?;), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; unconnected; 'a priv. + &?; bound together, fr. &?;; &?; with + &?; to bind.] (Rhet.) A figure which omits the connective; as, I...

A*part"ment (&?;), n. [F. appartement; cf. It. appartamento, fr. appartare to separate, set apart; all fr. L. ad + pars, partis, part. See Apart.] 1. A room in a building; a div...

MICRA, Inc. makes no proprietary claims on this version of the 1913 Webster dictionary. If the original printed edition of the 1913 Webster is in the public domain, this version...

Ac"er*ose` (&?;), a. [(a) L. acerosus chaffy, fr. acus, gen. aceris, chaff; (b) as if fr. L. acus needle: cf. F. acéreux.] (Bot.) (a) Having the nature of chaff; chaffy. (b) Nee...

Be*nign" (&?;), a. [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. bénin, fem. bénigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.] 1....

Bleed"ing, n. A running or issuing of blood, as from the nose or a wound; a hemorrhage; the operation of letting blood, as in surgery; a drawing or running of sap from a tree or...

Brad (&?;), n. [Cf.OE. brod, Dan. braad prick, sting, brodde ice spur, frost nail, Sw. brodd frost nail, Icel. broddr any pointed piece of iron or stell; akin to AS. brord point...

Al"i*ment (&?;), n. [L. alimentum, fr. alere to nourish; akin to Goth. alan to grow, Icel. ala to nourish: cf. F. aliment. See Old.] 1. That which nourishes; food; nutriment; an...

||A*del"phi*a (&?;), n. [Gr. 'adelfo`s brother.] (Bot.) A "brotherhood," or collection of stamens in a bundle; -- used in composition, as in the class names, Monadelphia, Diadel...

Syn. -- Company; group; collection; concourse; gathering; meeting; convention. Assemblage, Assembly. An assembly consists only of persons; an assemblage may be composed of thing...

Ad`o*les"cent (d`*ls"sent), a. [L. adolescens, p. pr. of adolescere to grow up to; ad + the inchoative olescere to grow: cf. F. adolescent. See Adult.] Growing; advancing from c...

Ar`e*op"a*gus, n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, and &?; &?;, hill of Ares (Mars' Hill).] The highest judicial court at Athens. Its sessions were held on Mars' Hill. Hence, any high court or...

An*frac"tu*ous (&?;), a. [L. anfractuosus, fr. anfractus a turning, a winding, fr. the unused anfringere to wind, bend; an-, for amb- + fractus, p. p. of frangere to break: cf....

Court of arches, or Arches Court (Eng. Law), the court of appeal of the Archbishop of Canterbury, whereof the judge, who sits as deputy to the archbishop, is called the Dean of...

Am*har"ic (&?;), a. Of or pertaining to Amhara, a division of Abyssinia; as, the Amharic language is closely allied to the Ethiopic. -- n. The Amharic language (now the chief la...

||A*poth"e*sis (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; a putting back or away, fr. &?;. See Apothecary.] (Arch.) (a) A place on the south side of the chancel in the primitive churches, furnished wit...

3. To become a party by associating one's self with others; to give one's adhesion. Hence, to agree or assent to a proposal or a view; as, he acceded to my request.

Ag*nos"tic, n. One who professes ignorance, or denies that we have any knowledge, save of phenomena; one who supports agnosticism, neither affirming nor denying the existence of...

Syn. -- To Appreciate, Estimate, Esteem. Estimate is an act of judgment; esteem is an act of valuing or prizing, and when applied to individuals, denotes a sentiment of moral ap...

To breathe again, to take breath; to feel a sense of relief, as from danger, responsibility, or press of business. -- To breathe one's last, to die; to expire. -- To breathe a v...

Age of a tide, the time from the origin of a tide in the South Pacific Ocean to its arrival at a given place. -- Moon's age, the time that has elapsed since the last preceding c...

Ar`a*ma"ic (&?;), a. [See Aramæan, a.] Pertaining to Aram, or to the territory, inhabitants, language, or literature of Syria and Mesopotamia; Aramæan; -- specifically applied t...

Bran"dish (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brandished (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Brandishing.] [OE. braundisen, F. brandir, fr. brand a sword, fr. OHG. brant brand. See Brand, n.] 1. To m...

Æ*o"li*an (&?;), a. [L. Aeolius, Gr. &?;.] 1. Of or pertaining to Æolia or Æolis, in Asia Minor, colonized by the Greeks, or to its inhabitants; æolic; as, the Æolian dialect.

||A"bib (&?;), n. [Heb. abb, lit. an ear of corn. The month was so called from barley being at that time in ear.] The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, correspondin...

The old Roman name was Sextilis, the sixth month from March, the month in which the primitive Romans, as well as Jews, began the year. The name was changed to August in honor of...

As*size" (&?;), n. [OE. assise, asise, OF. assise, F. assises, assembly of judges, the decree pronounced by them, tax, impost, fr. assis, assise, p. p. of asseoir, fr. L. assid&...

(1.) Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely...

An*tic"i*pate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anticipated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Anticipating (&?;).] [L. anticipatus, p. p. of anticipare to anticipate; ante + capere to make. See C...

Ar"se*nic (är"s*nk; 277), n. [L. arsenicum, Gr. 'arseniko`n, 'arreniko`n, yellow orpiment, perh. fr. 'arseniko`s or better Attic 'arreniko`s masculine, 'a`rrhn male, on account...

Blue asbestus. See Crocidolite. -- Blue black, of, or having, a very dark blue color, almost black. -- Blue blood. See under Blood. -- Blue buck (Zoöl.), a small South African a...

Ap"pe*ten*cy (&?;), n.; pl. Appetencies (&?;). [L. appetentia, fr. appetere to strive after, long for. See Appetite.] 1. Fixed and strong desire; esp. natural desire; a craving;...

Ar*tif"i*cer (&?;), n. [Cf. F. artificier, fr. LL. artificiarius.] 1. An artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose occupation requires skill or knowledge of a parti...

An*ten"na (&?;), n.; pl. Antennæ (&?;). [L. antenna sail-yard; NL., a feeler, horn of an insect.] (Zoöl.) A movable, articulated organ of sensation, attached to the heads of ins...

Au"thor ("thr), n. [OE. authour, autour, OF. autor, F. auteur, fr. L. auctor, sometimes, but erroneously, written autor or author, fr. augere to increase, to produce. See Auctio...

2. (Metaph.) The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis. Thus, when the mind considers the fo...

3. (Bot.) (a) A climbing shrub, with oval coral-red berries (Solanum dulcamara); woody nightshade. The whole plant is poisonous, and has a taste at first sweetish and then bitte...

{ ||As*te`ri*oid"e*a (&?;), ||As`ter*id"e*a (&?;), } n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. 'asteri`as + -oid. See Asterias.] (Zoöl.) A class of Echinodermata including the true starfishes. The r...

Af"fer*ent (&?;), a. [L. afferens, p. pr. of afferre; ad + ferre to bear.] (Physiol.) Bearing or conducting inwards to a part or organ; -- opposed to efferent; as, afferent vess...

Ac"node (&?;), n. [L. acus needle + E. node.] (Geom.) An isolated point not upon a curve, but whose coördinates satisfy the equation of the curve so that it is considered as bel...

3. The operation of bringing all the parts of an instrument, as a microscope or telescope, into their proper relative position for use; the condition of being thus adjusted; as,...

Am"pe*lite (m"p*lt), n. [L. ampelitis, Gr. 'ampeli^tis, fr. 'a`mpelos vine.] (Min.) An earth abounding in pyrites, used by the ancients to kill insects, etc., on vines; -- appli...

Ar"rack (?; 277), n. [Ar. araq sweat, juice, spirituous liquor, fr. araqa to sweat. Cf. Rack arrack.] A name in the East Indies and the Indian islands for all ardent spirits. Ar...

Ab"sent (&?;), a. [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth.] 1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present. "Exp...

4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited; not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and retaining the literal idea more or less clearly, the precise...

A*nal"o*gous (&?;), a. [L. analogous, Gr. &?; according to a due ratio, proportionate; &?; + &?; ratio, proportion. See Logic.] Having analogy; corresponding to something else;...

4. The delicate, powdery coating upon certain growing or newly-gathered fruits or leaves, as on grapes, plums, etc. Hence: Anything giving an appearance of attractive freshness;...

An"guish (&?;), n. [OE. anguishe, anguise, angoise, F. angoisse, fr. L. angustia narrowness, difficulty, distress, fr. angustus narrow, difficult, fr. angere to press together....

Ad*van"tage (?; 61, 48), n. [OE. avantage, avauntage, F. avantage, fr. avant before. See Advance, and cf. Vantage.] 1. Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, partic...

||Ac*cip"i*tres (&?;), n. pl. [L., hawks.] (Zoöl.) The order that includes rapacious birds. They have a hooked bill, and sharp, strongly curved talons. There are three families,...

2. (Zoöl.) A tuft of long, tough filaments which are formed in a groove of the foot, and issue from between the valves of certain bivalve mollusks, as the Pinna and Mytilus, by...