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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Current

Cŭr'rent, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. currens, p. pr. of currere, to run; It. corrente, Fr. courant.]

Sense 1. Running or moving rapidly.

Like the current fire, that renneth Upon a cord. Gower.

To chase a creature that was current then In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns. Tennyson.

Sense 2. Now passing or present, in its progress; as, a current month or year.

Sense 3. Passing from person to person, or from hand to hand; circulating through the community; generally received; often seen; common; as, a current coin; a current report; current value; current history.

That there was current money in Abraham’s time is past doubt. Arbuthnot.

Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current. Shak.

His current value, which is less or more as men have occasion for him. Grew.

Sense 4. Fitted for general acceptance or circulation; authentic; passable.

Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch To try if thou be current gold indeed. Shak.

Cŭr'rent, n.

noun

n. 1. A flowing or passing; onward motion; hence, a stream, especially of a fluid; as, a current of water or of air; a current of electricity, of magnetism, &c.

Two such silver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that bound them in. Shak.

Sense 2. That which moves in a given direction, as a portion of the sea, a body of air, the swiftest part of a river, and the like.

The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents, whose direction it is of great importance the navigator should know. Nichol.

Sense 3. General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and connected movement; as, the current of time, of events, of opinion, &c.

Synonyms—Stream; course. See STREAM.