Chapter 59

The use of money is . . . that of saving the commutation of more bulky commodities. Arbuthnot.

3. (Law) The change of a penalty or punishment by the pardoning power of the State; as, the commutation of a sentence of death to banishment or imprisonment.

Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts for money agreed to be given as a commutation for penance. Blackstone.

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 payments or allowances; as, commutation of tithes; commutation of fares; commutation of copyright; commutation of rations.

Angle of commutation (Astron.), the difference of the geocentric longitudes of the sun and a planet. -- Commutation of tithes, the substitution of a regular payment, chargeable to the land, for the annual tithes in kind. -- Commutation ticket, a ticket, as for transportation, which is the evidence of a contract for service at a reduced rate. See 2d Commute, 2.

Com*mut"a*tive (?), a. [CF. F. commutatif.] Relative to exchange; interchangeable; reciprocal. -- Com*mut"a*tive"ly, adv.

Rich traders, from their success, are presumed . . . to have cultivated an habitual regard to commutative justice. Burke.

Com"mu*ta`tor (?), n. (Elec.) A piece of apparatus used for reversing the direction of an electrical current; an attachment to certain electrical machines, by means of which alternating currents are made to be continuous or to have the same direction.

Com*mute" (k&obreve;m*mūt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Commuting.] [L. commutare, -mutatum; com- + mutare to change. See Mutation.] To exchange; to put or substitute something else in place of, as a smaller penalty, obligation, or payment, for a greater, or a single thing for an aggregate; hence, to lessen; to diminish; as, to commute a sentence of death to one of imprisonment for life; to commute tithes; to commute charges for fares.

The sounds water and fire, being once annexed to those two elements, it was certainly more natural to call beings participating of the first "watery", and the last "fiery", than to commute the terms, and call them by the reverse. J. Harris

The utmost that could be obtained was that her sentence should be commuted from burning to beheading. Macaulay.

Com*mute", v. i. 1. To obtain or bargain for exemption or substitution; to effect a commutation.

He . . . thinks it unlawful to commute, and that he is bound to pay his vow in kind. Jer. Taylor.

2. To pay, or arrange to pay, in gross instead of part by part; as, to commute for a year's travel over a route.

Com*mut"er (k&obreve;m*mū"t&etilde;r), n. One who commutes; especially, one who commutes in traveling.

Com*mu"tu*al (?; 135), a. [Pref. com- + mutual.] Mutual; reciprocal; united. [R.]

There, with commutual zeal, we both had strove. Pope.

Co"mose (kō"mōs or k&osl;*mōs"), a. [L. comosus hairy, from coma hair.] (Bot.) Bearing a tuft of soft hairs or down, as the seeds of milkweed. Gray.

Com*pact" (k&obreve;m*păkt"), p. p. & a [L. compactus, p. p. of compingere to join or unite; com- + pangere to fasten, fix: cf. F. compacte. See Pact.] 1. Joined or held together; leagued; confederated. [Obs.] "Compact with her that's gone." Shak.

A pipe of seven reeds, compact with wax together. Peacham.

2. Composed or made; -- with of. [Poetic]

A wandering fire, Compact of unctuous vapor. Milton.

3. Closely or firmly united, as the particles of solid bodies; firm; close; solid; dense.

Glass, crystal, gems, and other compact bodies. Sir I. Newton.

4. Brief; close; pithy; not diffuse; not verbose; as, a compact discourse.

Syn. -- Firm; close; solid; dense; pithy; sententious.

Com*pact", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compacted; p. pr. & vb. n. Compacting.] 1. To thrust, drive, or press closely together; to join firmly; to consolidate; to make close; -- as the parts which compose a body.

Now the bright sun compacts the precious stone. Blackstone.

2. To unite or connect firmly, as in a system.

The whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth. Eph. iv. 16.

Com"pact (k&obreve;m"păkt), n. [L. compactum, fr. compacisci, p. p. compactus, to make an agreement with; com- + pacisci to make an agreement. See Pact.] An agreement between parties; a covenant or contract.

The law of nations depends on mutual compacts, treaties, leagues, etc. Blackstone.

Wedlock is described as the indissoluble compact. Macaulay.

The federal constitution has been styled a compact between the States by which it was ratified. Wharton.

Syn. -- See Covenant.

Com*pact"ed (k&obreve;m*păkt"&ebreve;d), a. Compact; pressed close; concentrated; firmly united.

Com*pact"ed*ly, adv. In a compact manner.

Com*pact"ed*ness, n. A state of being compact.

Com*pact"er (?), n. One who makes a compact.

Com*pact"i*ble (?), a. That may be compacted.

Com*pac"tion (?), n. [L. compactio.] The act of making compact, or the state of being compact. [Obs.] Bacon.

Com*pact"ly (?), adv. In a compact manner; with close union of parts; densely; tersely.

Com*pact"ness, n. The state or quality of being compact; close union of parts; density.

Com*pac"ture (?; 135), n. [L. compactura.] Close union or connection of parts; manner of joining; construction. [Obs.] "With comely compass and compacture strong." Spenser.

||Com*pa"ges (?), n. sing & pl. [L., fr. compingere. See Compact, v. t.] A system or structure of many parts united.

A regular compages of pipes and vessels. Ray.

Com*pag"i*nate (?), v. t. [L. compaginare, compaginatum.] To unite or hold together; as, the side pieces compaginate the frame. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

Com*pag`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. compaginatio.] Union of parts; structure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

Com"pa*na*ble (?), a. [OF. compaignable.] Companionable; sociable. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Com"pa*na`tor (?), n. [LL. companatores, pl.] (Eccl.) Same as Impanator.

Com*pan"i*a*ble (?), a. Companionable; sociable. [Obs.] Bacon.

Com*pan"ion (?), n. [F. compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. an assumed LL. companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L. com- + panis bread. See Pantry.] 1. One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner.

The companions of his fall. Milton.

The companion of fools shall smart for it. Prov. xiii. 20 (Rev. Ver.).

Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweetest companions in the world. Shak.

A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate. Trench.

2. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath.

3. A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.

4. [Cf. OSp. compa˝a an outhouse, office.] (Naut.) (a) A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck. (b) A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a companion hatch.

Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the entrance or staircase of the cabin. -- Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to, or descend from, the quarter- deck. Totten. -- Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin. -- Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights grand cross, and the like.

Syn. -- Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner; ally; confederate; coadjutor; accomplice.

Com*pan"ion, v. t. 1. To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany. [R.] Ruskin.

2. To qualify as a companion; to make equal. [Obs.]

Companion me with my mistress. Shak.

Com*pan"ion*a*ble (?), a. Fitted to be a companion; fit for good fellowship; agreeable; sociable. "Each companionable guest." Mallett. "Companionable wit." Clarendon.

-- Com*pan"ion*a*ble*ness, n. -- Com*pan"ion*a*bly, adv.

Com*pan"ion*less, a. Without a companion.

Com*pan"ion*ship, n. Fellowship; association; the act or fact of keeping company with any one. Shak.

He never seemed to avail himself of my sympathy other than by mere companionship. W. Irving

Com"pa*ny (kŭm"p&adot;*n&ybreve;), n.; pl. Companies (- n&ibreve;z). [F. compagnie, fr. OF. compaing. See Companion.] 1. The state of being a companion or companions; the act of accompanying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse. Shak.

Evil company doth corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33. (Rev. Ver.).

Brethren, farewell: your company along I will not wish. Milton.

2. A companion or companions.

To thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. Shak.

3. An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or transient.

Thou shalt meet a company of prophets. 1 Sam. x. 5.

4. Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.

5. Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse.

Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not of shining in company. Swift.

6. An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company.

7. Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or title; -- often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.

8. (Mil.) A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.

9. (Naut.) The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's company.

10. The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of a play.

To keep company with. See under Keep, v. t.

Syn. -- Assemblage; assembly; society; group; circle; crowd; troop; crew; gang; corporation; association; fraternity; guild; partnership; copartnery; union; club; party; gathering.

Com"pa*ny (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Companied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Companying.] To accompany or go with; to be companion to. [Obs.]

Com"pa*ny, v. i. 1. To associate.

Men which have companied with us all the time. Acts i. 21.

2. To be a gay companion. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. To have sexual commerce. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Com"pa*ra*ble (?), a. [L. comparabilis: cf. F. comparable.] Capable of being compared; worthy of comparison.

There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a discreet and virtuous friend. Addison.

-- Com"pa*ra*ble*ness, n. -- Com"pa*ra*bly, adv.

Com"pa*rate (?), n. [L. comparatum, fr. comparatus, p. p. of comparare. See 1st Compare.] (Logic) One of two things compared together.

Com`pa*ra"tion (?), n. [L. comparatio. See Compare to get.] A making ready; provision. [Obs.]

Com*par"a*tive (?), a. [L. comparativus: cf. F. comparatif.] 1. Of or pertaining to comparison. "The comparative faculty." Glanvill.

2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the comparative sciences; the comparative anatomy.

3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as compared with another thing or state.

The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold. Whewell.

The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top. Bentley.

4. (Gram.) Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as, brighter, more bright, or less bright.

Comparative sciences, those which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them; as, comparative anatomy, comparative physiology, comparative philology.

Com*par"a*tive, n. (Gram.) The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger, wiser, weaker, more stormy, less windy, are all comparatives.

In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives there is a relation of many. Angus.

2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. [Obs.]

Gerard ever was His full comparative. Beau. & Fl.

3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. [Obs.] "Every beardless vain comparative." Shak.

Com*par"a*tive*ly, adv. According to estimate made by comparison; relatively; not positively or absolutely.

With but comparatively few exceptions. Prescott.

Com"pa*ra`tor (? or ?), n. [L., a comparer.] (Physics) An instrument or machine for comparing anything to be measured with a standard measure; -- applied especially to a machine for comparing standards of length.

Com*pare" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Comparing.] [L. comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par equal: cf. F. comparer. See Pair, Peer an equal, and cf. Compeer.] 1. To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with discriminating attention.

Compare dead happiness with living woe. Shak.

The place he found beyond expression bright, Compared with aught on earth. Milton.

Compare our faces and be judge yourself. Shak.

To compare great things with small. Milton.

2. To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to liken.

Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counselors to the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did not trouble it. Bacon.

3. (Gram.) To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives of one syllable are compared by affixing "- er" and "-est" to the positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one syllable are usually compared by prefixing "more" and "most", or "less" and "least", to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful, most beautiful.

Syn. -- To Compare, Compare with, Compare to. Things are compared with each other in order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus we compare Cicero with Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding which was the greater orator. One thing is compared to another because of a real or fanciful likeness or similarity which exists between them. Thus it has been common to compare the eloquence of Demosthenes to a thunderbolt, on account of its force, and the eloquence of Cicero to a conflagration, on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks of London to the lungs of the human body.

Com*pare" (?), v. i. 1. To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as, his later work does not compare with his earlier.

I should compare with him in excellence. Shak.

2. To vie; to assume a likeness or equality.

Shall pack horses . . . compare with CŠsars? Shak.

Com*pare", n. 1. Comparison. [Archaic]

His mighty champion, strong beyond compare. Milton.

Their small galleys may not hold compare With our tall ships. Waller.

2. Illustration by comparison; simile. [Obs.]

Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare. Shak.

Beyond compare. See Beyond comparison, under Comparison.

Com*pare", v. t. [L. comparare to prepare, procure; com- + parare. See Prepare, Parade.] To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire [Obs.]

To fill his bags, and richesse to compare. Spenser.

Com*par"er (?), n. One who compares.

Com*par"i*son (? or ?), n. [F. comparaison, L. comparatio. See 1st Compare.] 1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative estimate.

As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear comparison with them. Macaulay.

The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many interesting points of comparison. Trench.

2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state, quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between them.

3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal or like; illustration; similitude.

Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? Mark iv. 30.

4. (Gram.) The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison.

5. (Rhet.) A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another, or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality, which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel.

6. (Phren.) The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to perceive resemblances and contrasts.

Beyond comparison, so far superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison needless. -- In comparison of, In comparison with, as compared with; in proportion to. [Archaic] "So miserably unpeopled in comparison of what it once was." Addison. -- Comparison of hands (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both were written by the same person. Bouvier. Burrill.

Com*par"i*son, v. t. To compare. [Obs.] Wyclif.

Com*part" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comparted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comparting.] [L. compartiri; com- + partiri, partire to share, pars, partis, part, share: cf. OF. compartir. See Part, v. t.] To divide; to mark out into parts or subdivisions. [R.]

The crystal surface is comparted all In niches verged with rubies. Glover.

Com`par*ti"tion (?), n. [LL. compartitio.] The act of dividing into parts or compartments; division; also, a division or compartment. [Obs.]

Their temples . . . needed no compartitions. Sir H. Wotton.

Com*part"ment (?), n. [F. compartiment, OF. compartir to divide. See Compart.] 1. One of the parts into which an inclosed portion of space is divided, as by partitions, or lines; as, the compartments of a cabinet, a house, or a garden.

In the midst was placed a large compartment composed of grotesque work. Carew.

2. (Shipbuilding) One of the sections into which the hold of a ship is divided by water-tight bulkheads.

Com*part"ner (?), n. See Copartner. [Obs.]

Com"pass (kŭm"pas), n. [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See Pace, Pass.] 1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.

They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. 2 Kings iii. 9.

This day I breathed first; time is come round, And where I did begin, there shall I end; My life is run his compass. Shak.

2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the compass of an encircling wall.

3. An inclosed space; an area; extent.

Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. Addison.

4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his eye; the compass of imagination.

The compass of his argument. Wordsworth.

5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used with within.

In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such commission had been executed. Sir J. Davies.

6. (Mus.) The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or instrument.

You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass. Shak.

7. An instrument for determining directions upon the earth's surface by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot and pointing in a northerly and southerly direction.

He that first discovered the use of the compass did more for the supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built workhouses. Locke.

8. A pair of compasses. [R.] See Compasses.

To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please. Swift.

9. A circle; a continent. [Obs.]

The tryne compas [the threefold world containing earth, sea, and heaven. Skeat.] Chaucer.

Azimuth compass. See under Azimuth. -- Beam compass. See under Beam. -- Compass card, the circular card attached to the needles of a mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or rhumbs. -- Compass dial, a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to tell the hour of the day. -- Compass plane (Carp.), a plane, convex in the direction of its length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved woodwork. -- Compass plant, Compass flower (Bot.), a plant of the American prairies (Silphium laciniatum), not unlike a small sunflower; rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south.

Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet: This is the compass flower. Longefellow.

-- Compass saw, a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve; -- called also fret saw and keyhole saw. -- Compass timber (Shipbuilding), curved or crooked timber. -- Compass window (Arch.), a circular bay window or oriel window. -- Mariner's compass, a kind of compass used in navigation. It has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card, which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into thirty-two points, called also rhumbs, and the glass- covered box or bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in order to preserve its horizontal position. -- Surveyor's compass, an instrument used in surveying for measuring horizontal angles. See Circumferentor. -- Variation compass, a compass of delicate construction, used in observations on the variations of the needle. -- To fetch a compass, to make a circuit.

Com"pass (kŭm"pas), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassed (- past); p. pr. & vb. n. Compassing.] [F. compasser, LL. compassare.] 1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.

Ye shall compass the city seven times. Josh. vi. 4.

We the globe can compass soon. Shak.

2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to environ; to invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round about.

With terrors and with clamors compassed round. Milton.

Now all the blessings Of a glad father compass thee about. Shak.

Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round. Luke xix. 43.

3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to obtain; to accomplish.

If I can check my erring love, I will: If not, to compass her I'll use my skill. Shak.

How can you hope to compass your designs? Denham.

4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in carpentry and shipbuilding.] Shak.

5. (Law) To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.

Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms; compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect. Blackstone.

Com"pass*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being compassed or accomplished. Burke.

Com"passed (?), a. Rounded; arched. [Obs.]

She came . . . into the compassed window. Shak.

Com"pass*es (?), n., pl. An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc., consisting of two, or (rarely) more, pointed branches, or legs, usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move.

&fist; The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points, pencil points, etc.; those used for measuring without adjustable points are generally called dividers. See Dividers.

Bow compasses. See Bow- compass. -- Caliber compasses, Caliper compasses. See Calipers. -- Proportional, Triangular, etc., compasses. See under Proportional, etc.

Com"pass*ing (?), a. (Shipbuilding) Curved; bent; as, compassing timbers.