Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Căt'a-lăn, a. p. 204(Geog.) Pertaining to Catalonia, or to its inhabitants or their language.Căt'a-lăn, n. p. 204(Geog.) A native or an inhabitant of Catalonia.Căt'a-lĕc'tic, a. p. 204(Pros.) Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.Căt'a-lēp'sis or Căt'a-lēp'sy, n. p. 204(Med.) A sudden suspension of the action of the senses and of volition, the body and limbs preserving the position given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues. Dunglison.Căt'a-lēp'tic, a. p. 204Pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy.Căt'al-lăc'ties, n. sing. p. 204The science of exchanges, or of what is now called political economy. Whately.Căt'a-lo-gīze, v. t. p. 204To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue. [Obs.] Coles.Căt'a-lōgue, n. p. 204A list or enumeration of names, titles, or articles arranged methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the students of a college, or of books, or of the stars. Catalogue raisonné…Căt'a-lŏgue, v. t. p. 204To make a list of; to insert in a catalogue. The most innocent acts are catalogued with sins. Walpole.Ca-tăl’pă, n. p. 204(Bot.) A large tree of North America, abundant on the banks of the Mississippi, having large leaves and white, showy flowers. It is the Bignonia catalpa of Linn., Catalpa syringifolia of others.…Ca-tăl'y-sĭs, n. p. 204A dissolution into parts; degeneration; decay. [Obs.] “Sad catalysis and declension of piety.” Evelyn. 2. (Chem.) The influence by which, as was supposed by Berzelius and some other chemists…Căt'a-lyt'ic, a. p. 204Relating to catalysis. Catalytic force, that modification of the force of chemical affinity which determines catalysis.Căt'a-ma-răn', n. p. 204A kind of raft or float, consisting of three pieces of wood lashed together, and often moved by means of a large sail;—used in Ceylon for fishing and landing goods. It is also used on the Coromandel…Căt'a-mē'ni-ă, n. p. 204(Med.) The monthly courses of females; menstrual discharges; menses.Căt′/a-mē′/ni-al, a. p. 204Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.Căt'a-mīte, n. p. 204A boy kept for unnatural purposes; a bardash; an ingle.Căt'a-mount, n. p. 204(Zool.) The North American tiger; the cougar, or puma; it is the Felis concolor of some zoölogists, Puma concolor of others.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.