Chapter 104

||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.

2. (Bibliography) The extant copies of the first or earliest printed books, or of such as were printed in the 15th century.

Cunc*ta"tion (k?nk-t?"sh?n), n. [L. cunctatio, fr. cunctari, p. p. cunctatus, to delay.] Delay; procrastination. [R.] Carlyle.

Cunc"ta*tive (k?nk"t?-t?v), a. Slow; tardy; dilatory; causing delay.

||Cunc*ta"tor (k?nk-t?"t?r), n. [L., lit., a delayer; -- applied as a surname to Q. Fabius Maximus.] One who delays or lingers. [R.]

Cunc*tip"o*tent (k?nk-t?p"?-tent), a. [L. cunctipotens; cunctus all + potens powerful.] All-powerful; omnipotent. [R] "God cunctipotent." Neale (Trans. Rhythm of St. Bernard).

Cund (kŭnd), v. t. [See Cond.] To con (a ship). [Obs.]

Cun`du*ran"go (k?n`d?-r?n"g?), n. (Med.) The bark of a South American vine (Gonolobus Condurango) of the Milkweed family. It has been supposed, but erroneously, to be a cure for cancer. [Written also condurango.]

Cu"ne*al (k?"n?-a]/>l), [L. cuneus a wege. See Coin.] Relating to a wedge; wedge-shaped.

{ Cu"ne*ate (k?"n?-?t), Cu"ne*a`ted (- ?`tEd), } a. [L. cuneatus, fr. cuneus a wege SeeCoin.] Wedge-shaped; (Bot.), wedge-shaped, with the point at the base; as, a cuneate leaf.

Cu`ne*at"ic (k?`n?-?t"?k), a. Cuneiform. "Cuneatic decipherment." Sayce.

{ Cu*ne"i*form (k?-n?"?-f?rm), Cu"ni*form (k?"n?-f?rm), } a. [L. cuneus a wedge + -form: cf. F. cunei-forme. See Coin.] 1. Wedge-shaped; as, a cuneiform bone; -- especially applied to the wedge-shaped or arrowheaded characters of ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. See Arrowheaded.

2. Pertaining to, or versed in, the ancient wedge-shaped characters, or the inscriptions in them. "A cuneiform scholar." Rawlinson.

{ Cu*ne"i*form, Cu"ni*form }, n. 1. The wedge-shaped characters used in ancient Persian and Assyrian inscriptions. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

2. (Anat.) (a) One of the three tarsal bones supporting the first, second third metatarsals. They are usually designated as external, middle, and internal, or ectocuniform, mesocuniform, and entocuniform, respectively. (b) One of the carpal bones usually articulating with the ulna; -- called also pyramidal and ulnare.

||Cu*nette" (k&usl;*n&ebreve;t"), n. [F.] (Fort.) A drain trench, in a ditch or moat; -- called also cuvette.

Cun"ner (k?n"n?r), n. [Cf. Conner.] (Zo÷l.) (a) A small edible fish of the Atlantic coast (Ctenolabrus adspersus); -- called also chogset, burgall, blue perch, and bait stealer. [Written also conner.] (b) A small shellfish; the limpet or patella.

Cun"ning (kŭn"n&ibreve;ng), a. [AS. cunnan to know, to be able. See 1st Con, Can.] 1. Knowing; skillful; dexterous. "A cunning workman." Ex. xxxviii. 23.

"Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on. Shak.

Esau was a cunning hunter. Gen xxv. 27.

2. Wrought with, or exhibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious; curious; as, cunning work.

Over them Arachne high did lift Her cunning web. Spenser.

3. Crafty; sly; artful; designing; deceitful.

They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being sincere. South.

4. Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy. [Colloq. U.S.] Barlett.

Syn. -- Cunning, Artful, Sly, Wily, Crafty. -- These epithets agree in expressing an aptitude for attaining some end by peculiar and secret means. Cunning is usually low; as, a cunning trick. Artful is more ingenious and inventive; as, an artful device. Sly implies a turn for what is double or concealed; as, sly humor; a sly evasion. Crafty denotes a talent for dexterously deceiving; as, a crafty manager. Wily describes a talent for the use of stratagems; as, a wily politician. "Acunning man often shows his dexterity in simply concealing. An artful man goes further, and exerts his ingenuity in misleading. A crafty man mingles cunning with art, and so shapes his actions as to lull suspicions. The young may be cunning, but the experienced only can be crafty. Slyness is a vulgar kind of cunning; the sly man goes cautiously and silently to work. Wiliness is a species of cunning or craft applicable only to cases of attack and defense." Crabb.

Cun"ning, n. [AS. cunnung trial, or Icel. kunnandi knowledge. See Cunning, a.] 1. Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity. [Archaic]

Let my right hand forget her cunning. Ps. cxxxvii. 5.

A carpenter's desert Stands more in cunning than in power. Chapman.

2. The faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose; fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit; craft.

Discourage cunning in a child; cunning is the ape of wisdom. Locke.

We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom. Bacon.

Cun"ning*ly (k?n"n?ng-l?), adv. In a cunning manner; with cunning.

Cun"ning*man` (-m?n`), n. A fortune teller; one who pretends to reveal mysteries. [Obs.] Hudibras.

Cun"ning*ness, n. Quality of being cunning; craft.

Cup (kŭp), n. [AS. cuppe, LL. cuppa cup; cf. L. cupa tub, cask; cf. also Gr. ky`ph hut, Skr. kūpa pit, hollow, OSlav. kupa cup. Cf. Coop, Cupola, Cowl a water vessel, and Cob, Coif, Cop.] 1. A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin cup, a silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern times, the pottery or porcelain vessel, commonly with a handle, used with a saucer in drinking tea, coffee, and the like.

2. The contents of such a vessel; a cupful.

Give me a cup of sack, boy. Shak.

3. pl. Repeated potations; social or excessive indulgence in intoxicating drinks; revelry.

Thence from cups to civil broils. Milton.

4. That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to one; a portion.

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Matt. xxvi. 39.

5. Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of a flower.

The cowslip's golden cup no more I see. Shenstone.

6. (Med.) A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.

Cup and ball, a familiar toy of children, having a cup on the top of a piece of wood to which, a ball is attached by a cord; the ball, being thrown up, is to be caught in the cup; bilboquet. Milman. -- Cup and can, familiar companions. -- Dry cup, Wet cup (Med.), a cup used for dry or wet cupping. See under Cupping. -- To be in one's cups, to be drunk.

Cup, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cupped (kŭpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Cupping.] 1. To supply with cups of wine. [R.]

Cup us, till the world go round. Shak.

2. (Surg.) To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping. See Cupping.

3. (Mech.) To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to cup the end of a screw.

Cup"bear`er (-bÔr`&etilde;r), n. 1. One whose office it is to fill and hand the cups at an entertainment.

2. (Antiq.) One of the attendants of a prince or noble, permanently charged with the performance of this office for his master. "I was the king's cupbearer." Neh. i. 11.

Cup"board (kŭb"b&etilde;rd), n. [Cup + board.] 1. A board or shelf for cups and dishes. [Obs.] Bacon.

2. A small closet in a room, with shelves to receive cups, dishes, food, etc.; hence, any small closet.

Cupboard love, interested love, or that which has an eye to the cupboard. "A cupboard love is seldom true." Poor Robin. [Colloq.] -- To cry cupboard, to call for food; to express hunger. [Colloq.] "My stomach cries cupboard." W. Irving.

Cup"board, v. t. To collect, as into a cupboard; to hoard. [R.] Shak.

Cu"pel (kū"p&ebreve;l), n. [LL. cupella cup (cf. L. cupella, small cask, dim. of cupa) : cf. F. coupelle. See Cup, and cf. Coblet.] A shallow porous cup, used in refining precious metals, commonly made of bone ashes (phosphate of lime). [Written also coppel.]

Cupel dust, powder used in purifying metals.

Cu*pel" (k&usl;*p&ebreve;l"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cupelled (-p?ld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Cupelling.] To refine by means of a cupel.

Cu`pel*la"tion (kū`p&ebreve;l*lā"shŭn) n. [See Cupel.] The act or process of refining gold or silver, etc., in a cupel.

&fist; The process consist in exposing the cupel containing the metal to be assayed or refined to a hot blast, by which the lead, copper, tin, etc., are oxidized, dissolved, and carried down into the porous cupel, leaving the unoxidizable precious metal. If lead is not already present in the alloy it must be added before cupellation.

Cup"ful (k?p"f?l), n.; pl. Cupfuls (-f&?;lz). As much as a cup will hold.

Cup"-gall` (-g?l`), n. A kind of oak-leaf gall. See Gall.

Cu"pid (k?"p?d), n . [L. Cupido, fr. cupido desire, desire of love, fr. cupidus. See Cupidity.] (Rom. Myth.) The god of love, son of Venus; usually represented as a naked, winged boy with bow and arrow.

Pretty dimpled boys, like smiling cupids. Shak.

Cu*pid"i*ty (k?-p?d"?-t?), n. [F. cupidite, L. cupiditas, fr. cupidus longing, desiring, fr. cupere to long for, desire. See Covet.] 1. A passionate desire; love. [Obs.]

2. Eager or inordinate desire, especially for wealth; greed of gain; avarice; covetousness.

With the feelings of political distrust were mingled those of cupidity and envy, as the Spaniard saw the fairest provinces of the south still in the hands of the accursed race of Ishmael. Prescott.

Cup"-moss` (k?p"m?s`; 115), n. (Bot.) A kind of lichen, of the genus Cladonia.

Cu"po*la (k?"p?-l?), n.; pl. Cupolas (-l&?;z). [It. cupola, LL. cupula, cuppula (cf. L. cupula little tub). fr. cupa, cuppa, cup; cf. L. cupa tub. So called on account of its resemblance to a cup turned over. See Cup, and cf. Cupule.] 1. (Arch.) A roof having a rounded form, hemispherical or nearly so; also, a ceiling having the same form. When on a large scale it is usually called dome.

2. A small structure standing on the top of a dome; a lantern.

3. A furnace for melting iron or other metals in large quantity, -- used chiefly in foundries and steel works.

4. A revolving shot-proof turret for heavy ordnance.

5. (Anat.) The top of the spire of the cochlea of the ear.

Cup"per (kŭp"p&etilde;r), n. [Fropm cup.] One who performs the operation of cupping.

Cup"ping (k?p"p?ng), n. (Med.) The operation of drawing blood to or from the surface of the person by forming a partial vacuum over the spot. Also, sometimes, a similar operation for drawing pus from an abscess.

Cupping glass, a glass cup in which a partial vacuum is produced by heat, in the process of cupping. -- Dry cupping, the application of a cupping instrument without scarification, to draw blood to the surface, produce counter irritation, etc. -- Wet cupping, the operation of drawing blood by the application of a cupping instrument after scarification.

Cu"pre*ous (k?"pr?-?s), a. [L. cupreus, fr. cuprum.] Consisting of copper or resembling copper; coppery.

Cu"pric (k?"pr?k), a. [From Cuprum.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, copper; containing copper; -- said of those compounds of copper in which this element is present in its lowest proportion.

Cu*prif"er*ous (k?-pr?f"?r-?s), a. [Cuprum + -ferous.] Containing copper; as, cupriferous silver.

Cu"prite (k?"pr?t), n. (Min.) The red oxide of copper; red copper; an important ore of copper, occurring massive and in isometric crystals.

Cu"proid (k?"proid), n. [Cuprum + -oid.] (Crystalloq.) A solid related to a tetrahedron, and contained under twelve equal triangles.

Cup"-rose (k?p"r?z), n. Red poppy. See Cop-rose.

Cu"prous (k?"pr?s), a. [From Cuprum.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or derived from, copper; containing copper; -- said of those compounds of copper in which this element is present in its highest proportion.

||Cu"prum (k?"pr?m), n. [L.] (Chem.) Copper.

Cu"pu*late (k?"p?-l?t), a. Having or bearing cupules; cupuliferous.

Cu"pule (k?"p?l), n. [See Cupola.] 1. (Bot.) A cuplet or little cup, as of the acorn; the husk or bur of the filbert, chestnut, etc.

2. (Zo÷l.) A sucker or acetabulum.

Cu`pu*lif"er*ous (k?`p?-l?f"?r-?s), a. [Cupule + -ferous: cf. F. cupulifŔre.] Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the oak and the chestnut are examples, -- trees bearing a smooth, solid nut inclosed in some kind of cup or bur; bearing, or furnished with, a cupule.

Cur (kűr), n. [OE. curre, kur; cf. dial. Sw. kurre dog, OD. korre watchdog, and Icel. kurra to murmur, grumble, Sw. kurra to rumble, croak, Dan. kurre to coo, whirr; prob. of imitative origin.] 1. A mongrel or inferior dog.

They . . . like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do. Shak.

2. A worthless, snarling fellow; -- used in contempt.

What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? Shak.

Cur`a*bil"i*ty (k?r`?-b?l"?-t?), n. The state of being curable; curableness.

Cur"a*ble (k?r"?-b'l), a. [Cf. F. curable. See Cure, v. t.] Capable of being cured; admitting remedy. "Curable diseases." Harvey. -- Cur"a*ble*ness, n. -- Cur`a*bly, adv.

{ Cu`ra*šao", Cu`ra*šoa", } (k??`r?-s?"), n. A liqueur, or cordial, flavored with orange peel, cinnamon, and mace; -- first made at the island of Curašcao.

Cu"ra*cy (k?"r?-s?), n.; pl. Curacies (-s&?;z). [See Cure, Curate.] The office or employment of a curate.

{ Cu*ra"re Cu*ra"ri } (k?-r?"r?), n. [Native name. Cf. Wourall.] A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians from the bark of several species of Strychnos (S. toxifera, etc.). It sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an arrow poison. [Written also urari, woorali, woorari, etc.]

Cu"ra*rine (k?"r?-r?n or k?-r?"r?n; 104), n. (Chem.) A deadly alkaloid extracted from the curare poison and from the Strychnos toxifera. It is obtained in crystalline colorless salts.

Cu"ra*rize (-r?z), v. t. To poison with curare.

Cu*ras"sow (k?-r?s"s?), n. [Native name in Brazil.] (Zool.) A large gallinaceous bird of the American genera Crax, Ourax, etc., of the family CracidŠ.

&fist; The crested curassow (Crax alector) is black, and about the size of a small hen-turkey, with an erectile crest of curled feathers. It ranges from Mexico to Brazil. The galeated curassow or cushew bird (Ourax Pauxi) is similar in size, and has a large, hollow, blue, pear-shaped protuberance on the head.

Cu"rat (k?"r?t), n. [SeeCuirass.] A cuirass or breastplate. [Obs.] Spenser.

Cu"rate (k?"r?t), n. [LL. curatus, prop., one who is charged with the care (L. cura) of souls. See Cure, n., and cf. CurÚ] One who has the cure of souls; originally, any clergyman, but now usually limited to one who assists a rector or vicar. Hook.

All this the good old man performed alone, He spared no pains, for curate he had none. Dryden.

Cu"rate*ship, n. A curacy.

Cu*ra"tion (k?-r?"sh?n), n. [Cf. OF. curacion.] Cure; healing. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Cur"a*tive (k?r"?-t?v), a. [Cf. F. curatif. See Cure, v. t.] Relating to, or employed in, the cure of diseases; tending to cure. Arbuthnot.

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.

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

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

2. A woman who is a guardian or custodian. Burrill.

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 curbthy warm desires. Prior.

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

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, n. 1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindrance; 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.

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

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.

Curb"stone` (kűrb"stōn`), n. A stone set along a margin as a limit and protection, as along the edge of a sidewalk next the roadway; an edge stone.

Curbstone broker. See under Broker.

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

Cur*cu"li*o (k?r-r?"l?-?), n.; pl. Curculios (-&?;z). [L., a grain weevil.] (Zo÷l.) 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.

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

||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 ScitamineŠ, including the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa).

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

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.

&fist; 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 (kűrd), 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 distinguished 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 (k?rd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curded; p. pr. & 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, v. i. To become coagulated or thickened; to separate into curds and whey Shak.

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

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.

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.

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

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

Cure> (kūr), 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 greatcure, 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! pastcure! 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, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cured (kūrd); 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, 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.

||Cu`rÚ" (k&usdot;`r&asl;"), n. [F., fr. LL. curatus. See Curate.] A curate; a pardon.

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

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

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

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.

||Cu*rette" (k&usdot;*r&ebreve;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.

Cur"few (kűr"fū), 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.]