Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Căt/a-năd'ro-moŭs, a. p. 205(Ichth.) Passing once a year from salt water into fresh, and returning, as is the habit of some fish.Căt'a-păsm, n. p. 205(Med.) A dry powder compounded of several ingredients, employed by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, &c. Dunglison.Căt'a-pĕlt'ic, a. p. 205Pertaining to the catapult.Căt'a-pĕlt'ie, n. p. 205A catapult. [Obs.] See CATAPULT.Căt'a-pĕt'al-oŭs, a. p. 205(Bot.) Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow. Brande.Căt'a-phôn'ic, a. p. 205Of, or relating to, cataphonics.Căt'a-phôn'ics, n. sing. p. 205The doctrine of reflected sounds, a branch of acoustics. [See MATHEMATICS.]Căt'a-phrāct, n. p. 205(Mil. Antiq.) A piece of heavy, defensive armor, formed of cloth or leather, strengthened with scales or links, used to defend the breast, the whole body, or even the horse, as well as the rider. 2.…Căt'a-phrāct/ed, a. p. 205(Zool.) Covered with a cataphract, or armor made of plate, scales, &c.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, &c.Căt'a-phrăc'tic, a. p. 205Pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.Căt'a-plăsm, n. p. 205(Med.) A soft and moist substance to be applied to some part of the body, to excite or repel heat, or to relax the skin, &c.; a poultice. Dunglison.Căt'a-pŭce, n. p. 205(Bot.) The herb spurge. [Obs.] Chaucer.Căt'a-pŭlt, n. p. 205(Mil. Antiq.) An engine used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, &c. Mitford.Căt'a-răct, n. p. 205A great fall of water over a precipice; a great cascade or waterfall. The tremendous cataracts of America thundering in their solitudes. W. Irving. 2. (Surg.) An opacity of the crystalline lens, or…Căt'a-răct'oŭs, a. p. 205Partaking of the nature of a cataract in the eye.Ca-tärrh', n. p. 205(Med.) (a.) A discharge of fluid from the mucous membrane, especially of the nose, fauces, and bronchial passages, caused by a cold in the head. It is attended with cough, thirst, lassitude, and…Ca-tärrh'al or Ca-tärrh'oŭs, a. p. 205Pertaining to catarrh, or produced by it or attending it; as, a catarrhal fever.Căt'a-stăl'tic, a. p. 205(Med.) Checking evacuations through astringent or styptic qualities.Ca-tăs'ta-sis, n. p. 205(Rhet.) That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject-matter of the question to be discussed, often for the purpose of gaining the favor or good-will of the…Ca-tăs'ter-ism, n. p. 205A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars. “The catasterisms of Eratosthenes.” Whewell.Ca-tăs'tro-phe, n. p. 205An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature. The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw.…Căt/a-strŏph'ic, a. p. 205Of, or pertaining to, a catastrophe. B. Powell.Ca-tas'tro-phist, n. p. 205(Geol.) One who holds that the formation of the rocks and other geological changes were produced by a series of catastrophes or violent physical changes.Ca-taw'bā, n. p. 205A native North American grape, of a light claret color when ripe; much used for making wine.Căt'-bird, n. p. 205(Ornith.) An American bird of the thrush family (Mimus Carolinensis), whose cry resembles the mewing of a cat. Baird.Căt'-blŏck, n. p. 205(Naut.) A two or three fold block, with an iron strap and large hook, used to draw up an anchor to the cat-head. Totten.Căt'-call, n. p. 205A squeaking instrument, used in playhouses to condemn plays. Pope.Cătch, v. t. p. 205To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; as, to catch a ball. 2. To take captive, as in a snare or net; to entangle; to apprehend; as, to catch a bird; to catch a thief. “To catch him in…Catch, v. i. p. 205To be held or impeded by entanglement or slight obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open. 2. To spread by infecting; to communicate. “Sickness is catching.” Shak.Cătch, n. p. 205The act of seizing; seizure. Sidney. 2. That by which any thing is caught; as, the catch of a gate. 3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching the opportunity to…Cătch or Cŭtch, n. p. 205Catechu, so called in commerce. See CATECHU. Simmonds.Cătch'a-ble, a. p. 205Capable of being caught. [Rare.]Cătch'-drāin, n. p. 205A ditch or drain on the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch on the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.Cătch'er, n. p. 205One who catches; that which catches, or in which any thing is caught.Cătch'flȳ, n. p. 205(Bot.) A plant, of different species, having the surface of the leaves, &c., covered with viscid secretions, which catch and hold flies, such as the Silene. Loudon.Cătch'ing-bär'gain, n. p. 205A bargain made with an heir-expectant for the purchase of his expectancy at an inadequate price. Bouvier.Cătch'-lănd, n. p. 205Land so lying that it is uncertain to which of two or more parishes, &c., it belongs; border-land. [Eng.] Halliwell.Cătch'-mĕad'ōw, n. p. 205A meadow which is irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the declivity of a hill.Cătch'ment, n. p. 205A surface of ground where water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.Cătch'pĕn-ny, n. p. 205Something worthless, particularly a worthless book or pamphlet, intended to gain money in market.Cătch'pĕn-ny, a. p. 205Made to gain money; worthless; as, a catchpenny pamphlet.Cātech'pēn-ny, a. p. 205Made to gain money; worthless; as, a catchpenny pamphlet.Cātech’poll, n. p. 205A bailiff’s assistant; — so called by way of reproach. [Obs.] Bacon.Cātech'up or Cāt'sup, n. p. 205A liquor extracted from mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, &c., used as a sauce.Cătch'-weed, n. p. 205A weed that catches hold of whatever comes in contact with it. Craig.Cătch'-word, n. p. 205Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue. 2. (Print.) The first word of every page of a book after the first, inserted at…Cătch'-work, n. p. 205A work or artificial water-course for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catch-drain. Ogilvie.Cāte, n. p. 205Food. [Obs.] See CATES.Căt'e-chēt'ic or Căt'e-chēt'ic-al, a. p. 205Relating to, or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching pupils. Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.Căt'e-chēt'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 205In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.Căt'e-chēt'ics, n. sing. p. 205The science or habit of instructing by questions and answers. [See note under MATHEMATICS.]Căt'e-chīne, n. p. 205(Chem.) A peculiar compound contained in catechu. When pure, it forms a white, silky, crystalline powder. Gregory.Căt'e-chi-sā'tion, n. p. 205The act of catechising.Cāt'e-chīse, v. t. p. 205To instruct by asking questions, receiving answers, and offering explanations and corrections, — particularly in regard to points of religious faith. 2. To question or interrogate; to examine or try…Căt'e-chīṣ'er, n. p. 205One who catechises; one who instructs by question and answer, particularly in the rudiments of the Christian religion.Căt'e-chĭsm, n. p. 205A form of instruction by means of questions and answers. 2. An elementary book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers. The…Cāt'e-chīṣ'mal, a. p. 205Having the form of questions and answers; catechetical.Căt'e-chīst, n. p. 205One who instructs by question and answer; a catechiser.Cāt'e-chīst'ic or Cāt'e-chīst'ic-al, a. p. 205Pertaining to a catechist or to catechism. “Catechistical doctrine.” Henry More.Căt'e-chū, n. p. 205(Chem.) A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used both in medicine…