The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section C

(b) To put an untimely death; to put an end to; to destroy. "IrenŠus was likewise cut off by martyrdom." Addison. (c) To interrupt; as, to cut off communication; to cut off (the...

Cor"ner (k?r"n?r), n. [OF. corniere, cornier, LL. cornerium, corneria, fr. L. cornu horn, end, point. See Horn.] 1. The point where two converging lines meet; an angle, either e...

{ Cor"bie or Cor"by } (k˘r"b&ybreve;), n.; pl. Corbies (-b&ibreve;z). [F. corbeau, OF. corbel, dim. fr. L. corvus raven.] 1. (Zo÷l.) The raven. [Scot.]

Cos`mo*ra"ma (k?z`m?-r?"m? or -r?"m?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. ko`smos the world + &?;&?;&?; a sight, spectacle, fr. &?;&?;&?; to see.] An exhibition in which a series of views in vari...

||Cu*nab"u*la (k?-n?b"?-l?), n. pl. [L., a cradle, earliest abode, fr. cunae cradle.] 1. The earliest abode; original dwelling place; originals; as, the cunabula of the human race.

&fist; The systems of crystallization are the several classes to which the forms are mathematically referable. They are most simply described according to the relative lengths a...

To cramp the wheels of wagon, to turn the front wheels out of line with the hind wheels, so that one of them shall be against the body of the wagon.

2. Any ornamental appendage at the wrist, whether attached to the sleeve of the garment or separate; especially, in modern times, such an appendage of starched linen, or a subst...

Croconic acid (Chem.), a yellow crystalline substance, C5O3(OH)2, obtained from potassium carboxide, rhodizonic acid, and various phenol and quinone derivatives of benzene, and...

&fist; Casehardening is now commonly effected by cementation with charcoal or other carbonizing material, the depth and degree of hardening (carbonization) depending on the time...

Cal"ends (?), n. pl. [OE. kalendes month, calends, AS. calend month, fr. L. calendae; akin to calare to call, proclaim, Gr. &?;&?;&?;&?;&?;&?;. CF. Claim.] The first day of each...

Cre*ta"ceous (kr&esl;*tā"shŭs), a. [L. cretaceus, fr. creta chalk. See Crayon.] Having the qualities of chalk; abounding with chalk; chalky; as, cretaceous rocks an...

19. A coin stamped with the image of a crown; hence,a denomination of money; as, the English crown, a silver coin of the value of five shillings sterling, or a little more than...

Corrosive sublimate (Chem.), mercuric chloride, HgCl2; so called because obtained by sublimation, and because of its harsh irritating action on the body tissue. Usually it is in...

Cross"breed` (-brēd`), n. 1. A breed or an animal produced from parents of different breeds; a new variety, as of plants, combining the qualities of two parent varieties o...

2. The result of combining or uniting; union of persons or things; esp. a union or alliance of persons or states to effect some purpose; -- usually in a bad sense.

Coy"o*te (k?"?-t? or k?"?t), n. [Spanish Amer., fr. Mexican coyotl.] (Zo÷l.) A carnivorous animal (Canis latrans), allied to the dog, found in the western part of North America;...

||CrÚ`dit" mo`bi`lier" (m?`b?`ly?"). [F. crÚdit credit & mobilier personal, pertaining to personal property.] A joint stock company, formed for general banking business, or for...

{ Cyc"lic (s?k"l?k or s?"kl?k), Cyc"lic*al (s?k"l?-kal), } a. [Cf. F. cycluque, Gr. kykliko`s, fr. ky`klos See Cycle.] Of or pertaining to a cycle or circle; moving in cycles; a...

Con*vul"sion*ist, n. One who has convulsions; esp., one of a body of fanatics in France, early in the eighteenth century, who went into convulsions under the influence of religi...

Coc*agne" (?), n. [F. cocagne, pays de cocagne; of uncertian origin, cf. Prov. F. couque cake, Catal. coca, L. coquere to cook; as if the houses in this country were covered wit...

Ca*det" (?), n. [F. cadet a younger or the youngest son or brother, dim. fr. L. caput head; i. e., a smaller head of the family, after the first or eldest. See Chief, and cf. Cad.]

Clef (kl&ebreve;f; 277), n. [F. clef key, a key in music, fr. L. clavis key. See Clavicle.] (Mus.) A character used in musical notation to determine the position and pitch of th...

Coun"ter*shaft` (koun"t?r-sh?ft`), n. (Mach.) An intermediate shaft; esp., one which receives motion from a line shaft in a factory and transmits it to a machine.

Cod"dle (k&obreve;d"d'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coddled (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Coddling (- dl&ibreve;ng).] [Cf. Prov. E. caddle to coax, spoil, fondle, and Cade, a. & v. t.] [Wr...

||Cit`i*gra"dŠ (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. L. citus swift (p. p. of cire, ciere, to move) + gradi to walk. See Cite.] (Zo÷l.) A suborder of Arachnoidea, including the European tarantu...

Carry arms (Mil. Drill), a command of the Manual of Arms directing the soldier to hold his piece in the right hand, the barrel resting against the hollow of the shoulder in a ne...

Cri"nite (kr?"n?t), a. [L. crinitus, p. p. of crinire to provide or cover with hair, fr. crinis hair.] 1. Having the appearance of a tuft of hair; having a hairlike tail or trai...

Cruse (kr?s), n. [Akin to LG. kruus, kroos, mug, jug, jar, D. kroes, G. krause, Icel. krus, Sw. krus, Dan. kruus. Cf. Crucible, Cresset.] 1. A cup or dish.

Cape (kāp), n. [F. cap, fr. It. capo head, cape, fr. L. caput heat, end, point. See Chief.] A piece or point of land, extending beyond the adjacent coast into the sea or a...

||Chank" (chă&nsm;k), n. [Skr. ša&ndot;kha. See Conch.] (Zo÷l.) The East Indian name for the large spiral shell of several species of sea conch much used in making bangle...

Can"ta*loupe (?), n. [F. cantaloup, It. cantalupo, so called from the caste of Cantalupo, in the Marca d'Ancona, in Italy, where they were first grown in Europe, from seed said...

Came (?), n. [Cf. Scot. came, caim, comb, and OE. camet silver.] A slender rod of cast lead, with or without grooves, used, in casements and stained-glass windows, to hold toget...

3. (Med.) A school, or a session of a school or class, in which medicine or surgery is taught by the examination and treatment of patients in the presence of the pupils.

Counter approach (Fort.), a trench or work pushed forward from defensive works to meet the approaches of besiegers. See Approach. -- Counter bond (Law), in old practice, a bond...

Cov"er (k?v"?r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered (-?rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Covering.] [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- + operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over...

Cray"on (krā"?n), n. [F., a crayon, a lead pencil (crayon ContÚ ContÚ's pencil, i. e., one made a black compound invented by ContÚ), fr. craie chalk, L. creta; said to be,...

Cen"sure, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Censured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Censuring.] [Cf. F. ensurer.] 1. To form or express a judgment in regard to; to estimate; to judge. [Obs.] "Should I...

Corps (kōr, pl. kōrz), n. sing. & pl. [F., fr. L. corpus body. See Corpse.] 1. The human body, whether living or dead. [Obs.] See Corpse, 1.

A cast of the eye, a slight squint or strabismus. -- Renal cast (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys; -- so called becau...

||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 on...

Law of universal causation, the theoretical or asserted law that every event or phenomenon results from, or is the sequel of, some previous event or phenomenon, which being pres...

Canal boat, a boat for use on a canal; esp. one of peculiar shape, carrying freight, and drawn by horses walking on the towpath beside the canal. -- Canal lock. See Lock.

Cab`e*zon" (kăb`&asl;*z&obreve;n" or kń*b&asl;*th&osl;n"), n. [Sp., properly, big head. Cf. Cavesson.] (Zo÷l.) A California fish (Hemilepidotus spinosus), allied to the s...

Cap"si*cum (kăp"s&ibreve;*kŭm), n. [NL., fr. L. capsa box, chest.] (Bot.) A genus of plants of many species, producing capsules or dry berries of various forms, wh...

Age of coal plants. See Age of Acrogens, under Acrogen. -- Anthracite or Glance coal. See Anthracite. -- Bituminous coal. See under Bituminous. -- Blind coal. See under Blind. -...

Chase (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Chasing.] [OF. chacier, F. chasser, fr. (assumed) LL. captiare, fr. L. captare to strive to seize. See Catch.] 1. To p...

3. (Mil.) A kind of case shot for cannon, in which a number of lead or iron balls in layers are inclosed in a case fitting the gun; -- called also canister shot.

Clan (klăn), n. [Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir. clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion, slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n.] 1. A tr...

In course, in regular succession. - - Of course, by consequence; as a matter of course; in regular or natural order. -- In the course of, at same time or times during. "In the c...

Cer"tain (?), a. [F. certain, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus, fr. L. certus determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere to perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. &?; to dec...

Bank check, a written order on a banker or broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer. -- Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank. -- Ch...

7. A distinguishing badge, as a flag or similar symbol (usually in the plural); as, the colors or color of a ship or regiment; the colors of a race horse (that is, of the cap an...

||Car*niv"o*ra (?), n. pl. [NL., neut. pl. from L. carnivorus. See Carnivorous.] (Zo÷l.) An order of Mammallia including the lion, tiger, wolf bear, seal, etc. They are adapted...

Cher`o*kees" (?), n. pl.; sing. Cherokee. (Ethnol.) An Appalachian tribe of Indians, formerly inhabiting the region about the head waters of the Tennessee River. They are now mo...

Cede (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceding.] [L. cedere to withdraw, yield; akin to cadere to fall, and to E. chance; cf. F. cÚder.] To yield or surrender; to g...

Cog"nate (?), a. [L. cognatus; co- + gnatus, natus, p. p. of nasci, anciently gnasci, to be born. See Nation, and cf. Connate.] 1. Allied by blood; kindred by birth; specificall...

Cat`a*lec"tic (?), a. [L. catalecticus, Gr. &?; incomplete, fr. &?; to leave off; kata` down, wholly + lh`gein to stop.] 1. (Pros.) Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating...

Cha*grin" (?), n. [F., fr. chagrin shagreen, a particular kind of rough and grained leather; also a rough fishskin used for graters and files; hence (Fig.), a gnawing, corroding...

||Ceph`a*la"ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. kefalh` head.] (Zo÷l.) A large division of Mollusca, including all except the bivalves; -- so called because the head is distinctly deve...

Cop"per (?), n. [OE. coper (cf. D. koper, Sw. koppar, Dan. kobber, G. kupfer), LL. cuper, fr. L. cuprum for earlier Cyprium, Cyprium aes, i.e., Cyprian brass, fr. Gr. &?; of Cyp...

Cardinal bird, or Cardinal grosbeak (Zo÷l.), an American song bird (Cardinalis cardinalis, or C. Virginianus), of the family FringillidŠ, or finches having a bright red plumage,...

Ca*lam"i*ty (?) n.; pl. Calamities (#). [L. calamitas, akin to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamitÚ] 1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to events o...

Ca"ter (?), n. [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr. acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad + captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to...

Cal*los"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Callosities (#). [L. callasitas; cf. F. calostÚ.] A hard or thickened spot or protuberance; a hardening and thickening of the skin or bark of a part, e...

The lord chamberlain of England, an officer of the crown, who waits upon the sovereign on the day of coronation, and provides requisites for the palace of Westminster, and for t...

Syn. -- Chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal; sachem; sagamore; sheik. -- Chief, chieftain, Commander, Leader. These words fluctuate somewhat in their...

Con*ver"sion (?), n. [L. conversio: cf. F. conversion. See Convert.] 1. The act of turning or changing from one state or condition to another, or the state of being changed; tra...

Close borough. See under Borough. -- Close breeding. See under Breeding. -- Close communion, communion in the Lord's supper, restricted to those who have received baptism by imm...

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2. A society of scholars or friends of learning, incorporated for study or instruction, esp. in the higher branches of knowledge; as, the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge Univer...

Claw (kl&add;), n. [AS. clawu, clā, cleˇ; akin to D. klaauw, G. klaue, Icel. klō, Sw. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E. clew.] 1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.

Churl (?), n. [AS. ceorl a freeman of the lowest rank, man, husband; akin to D. karel, kerel, G. kerl, Dan. & Sw. karl, Icel. karl, and to the E. proper name Charles (orig., man...

Cold abscess. See under Abscess. -- Cold blast See under Blast, n., 2. -- Cold blood. See under Blood, n., 8. -- Cold chill, an ague fit. Wright. -- Cold chisel, a chisel of pec...

Cot"y*loid (k?t"?-loid), a. [Cotyle + -oid] (Anat.) (a) Shaped like a cup; as, the cotyloid cavity, which receives the head of the thigh bone. (b) Pertaining to a cotyloid cavit...

Con*dole" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condoled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Condoling.] [L. condolere; con- + dolere to feel pain, grieve. See Doleful.] To express sympathetic sorrow; to g...

Car"bide (?), n. [Carbon + -ide.] (Chem.) A binary compound of carbon with some other element or radical, in which the carbon plays the part of a negative; -- formerly termed ca...

Char"coal` (?), n. [See Char, v. t., to burn or to reduce to coal, and Coal.] 1. Impure carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances; esp., coal made by charring wood in...

3. An association of persons for the promotion of some common object, as literature, science, politics, good fellowship, etc.; esp. an association supported by equal assessments...

1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a...

4. A substitution, as of a less thing for a greater, esp. a substitution of one form of payment for another, or one payment for many, or a specific sum of money for conditional...

Con*cat"e*nate (k&obreve;n*kăt"&esl;*nāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concatenated; p. pr. & vb. n. Concatenating.] [L. concatenatus, p. p. of concatenare to concatenate....

Chlo"ro*phyll (?), n. [Gr. chlwro`s light green + fy`llon leaf: cf. F. chlorophylle.] (Bot.) Literally, leaf green; a green granular matter formed in the cells of the leaves (an...

Conch (?), n. [L. concha, Gr. &?;. See Coach, n.] 1. (Zo÷l.) A name applied to various marine univalve shells; esp. to those of the genus Strombus, which are of large size. S. g...

Choragic monument, a building or column built by a victorious choragus for the reception and exhibition of the tripod which he received as a prize. Those of Lysicrates and Thras...

Cinque"foil` (?), n. [Cinque five + foil, F. feuille leaf. See Foil.] 1. (Bot.) The name of several different species of the genus Potentilla; -- also called five-finger, becaus...

Chinese paper. See India paper, under India. -- Chinese wax, a snowy-white, waxlike substance brought from China. It is the bleached secretion of certain insects of the family C...

Construction of an equation (Math.), the drawing of such lines and figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the equation, and their relations to each other. --...

Consigner and consignee are used by merchants to express generally the shipper of merchandise, and the person to whom it is addressed, by bill of lading or otherwise. De Colange.

Chromic acid, an acid, H2CrO4, analogous to sulphuric acid, not readily obtained in the free state, but forming well known salts, many of which are colored pigments, as chrome y...

Syn. -- Admit; grant; concede; avow; own; assent; recognize; prove; exhibit; attest. -- To Confess, Acknowledge, Avow. Acknowledge is opposed to conceal. We acknowledge what we...

Continental Congress. See under Congress. -- Continental system (Hist.), the blockade of Great Britain ordered by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object bei...

2. A character, or accent, denoting in Greek a rise and of the voice on the same long syllable, marked thus [~ or &?;]; and in Latin and some other languages, denoting a long an...

Syn. -- Comfort, Consolation. Comfort has two meanings: 1. Strength and relief received under affliction; 2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with the...

Con*form"ist, n. One who conforms or complies; esp., one who conforms to the Church of England, or to the Established Church, as distinguished from a dissenter or nonconformist.

Com"plex (k&obreve;m"pl&ebreve;ks), a. [L. complexus, p. p. of complecti to entwine around, comprise; com- + plectere to twist, akin to plicare to fold. See Plait, n.] 1. Compos...

Common bar (Law) Same as Blank bar, under Blank. -- Common barrator (Law), one who makes a business of instigating litigation. -- Common Bench, a name sometimes given to the Eng...

Con"gre*gate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Congregated; p. pr. & vb. n. Congregating] To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to assemble; to bring into one place, or into a unite...

Con*jure" (k&obreve;n*jūr"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conjured (- jūrd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Conjuring.] [F. conjurer, fr. L. conjurare to swear together, to conspire; con-...

Conscript fathers (Rom. Antiq.), the senators of ancient Rome. When certain new senators were first enrolled with the "fathers" the body was called Patres et Conscripti; afterwa...

&fist; In some countries, concubinage is marriage of an inferior kind, or performed with less solemnity than a true or formal marriage; or marriage with a woman of inferior cond...

Com*pound", v. i. To effect a composition; to come to terms of agreement; to agree; to settle by a compromise; -- usually followed by with before the person participating, and f...

Con"tu*ma*cy (?), n.; pl. Contumacies (#). [L. contumacia, fr. contumax, -acis, insolent; prob. akin to contemnere to despise: cf. F. contumace. Cf. Contemn.] 1. Stubborn perver...

Com*pas"sion (?), n. [F., fr. L. compassio, fr. compati to have compassion; com- + pati to bear, suffer. See Patient.] Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow e...

Con`tra*dict"o*ry (?), a. [LL. contradictorius: cf. F. contradictoire.] 1. Affirming the contrary; implying a denial of what has been asserted; also, mutually contradicting; inc...

Con*tem"po*ra*ry (?), a. [Pref. con- + L. temporarius of belonging to time, tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.] 1. Living, occuring, or existing, at the same ti...

Com"merce (?), n. (Formerly accented on the second syllable.) [F. commerce, L. commercium; com- + merx, mercis, merchandise. See Merchant.] 1. The exchange or buying and selling...

Con*spire" (k&obreve;n*spīr"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conspired (- spīrd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Conspiring.] [F. conspirer, L. conspirare to blow together, harmonize, agree...

Cyst (s&ibreve;st), n. [Gr. ky`stis bladder, bag, pouch, fr. ky`ein to be pregnant. Cf. Cyme.] 1. (Med.) (a) A pouch or sac without opening, usually membranous and containing mo...