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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Cĕr'be-rŭs, n. p. 212(Myth.) A monster, in the shape of a dog, guarding the entrance into the infernal regions, usually represented as having three heads.Cer-cā'ri-an, n. p. 212(Zoöl.) An intestinal animalcule of the shape of a tadpole, having its body terminated by a tail-like appendage. R. Owen.Cer-cā'ri-an, a. p. 212Pertaining to the cercarians.Cēre, n. p. 212The naked skin that covers the base of the bill in some birds, as in those of the hawk tribe.Cēre, v. t. p. 212To wax, or cover with wax. Wiseman.Cē're-al, a. p. 212Pertaining to edible grain, as wheat, rye, &c.Cē're-al, n. p. 212Any edible grain.Cē're-ā'li-ā, n. pl. p. 212Edible grains; the cereals. Prout. 2. (Antiq.) Public festivals in honor of Ceres.Cĕr'e-bĕl, n. p. 212The lower part of the brain; the cerebellum. Derham.Cēr'e-bĕl'lar or Cēr'e-bĕl'lōŭs, a. p. 212Pertaining to the cerebellum, or its parts. Dunglison.Cēr'e-bĕl'lum, n. p. 212(Anat.) The postero-inferior division of the brain; the little brain. It presides over the co-ordination of the voluntary movements.Cĕr'e-bral, a. p. 212Pertaining to the cerebrum, or brain. Cerebral letters, a class of consonants almost exclusively peculiar to the Indian languages, formed by bringing the tip of the tongue backward and upward nearly…Cĕr'e-brā'tion, n. p. 212The action of the brain. Dunglison.Cēr'e-bric, a. p. 212(Chem.) Of, or relating to, a peculiar acid of a fatty nature which is contained in the brain. Gregory.Cĕr'e-brōp'a-thy, n. p. 212(Med.) A hypochondriacal condition verging upon insanity, occasionally occurring in those whose brains have been unduly taxed. Dunglison.Cĕr'e-brō-spī'nal, a. p. 212(Anat.) Pertaining to that part of the nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord. Dunglison.Cĕr'e-brūm, n. p. 212(Anat.) The superior and larger division of the brain; the seat of the reasoning faculties and the will.Cēre'clōth, n. p. 212A cloth smeared with melted wax, or with some gummy or glutinous matter. Bacon.Cēre'ment, n. p. 212A cloth dipped in melted wax, with which dead bodies are infolded, when embalmed. Shak.Cēr'e-mō'ni-al, a. p. 212Relating to ceremony, or external rite; ritual; according to the forms of established rites. “Ceremonial observances and outward show.” Hallam. 2. Observant of forms; precise in manners; formal in…Cĕr'e-mō'ni-al, n. p. 212A system of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by law, or established by custom, in religious worship, social intercourse, or the courts of princes; outward form. He introduced the gorgeous ceremonial of…Cĕr'e-mō'ni-al-ism, n. p. 212Adherence to external rites; fondness for ceremony.Cĕr'e-mō'ni-al-ly, adv. p. 212According to rites and ceremonies; as, a person ceremonially unclean.Cér'e-mō'ni-al-ness, n. p. 212The property of being ceremonial; ceremoniousness.Cĕr'e-mō'ni-oŭs, a. p. 212Consisting of outward forms and rites; ceremonial. “The ceremonious part of worship.” South. 2. According to prescribed or customary rules and forms; civil; formally respectful. “Ceremonious…Cĕr'e-mō'ni-oŭs-ly, adv. p. 212In a ceremonious manner; formally; with due forms.Cĕr'e-mō'ni-oŭs-ness, n. p. 212The quality of being ceremonious; the use of customary forms; the practice of much ceremony; great formality in manners.Cĕr'e-mo-ny, n. p. 212Outward rite; external form in religion. “Sacred ceremonies.” Spenser. 2. Forms prescribed or established by order or custom, serving for the purpose of regulating social intercourse in public or…Cē're-ōp'sis, n. p. 212(Ornith.) A kind of bird found in Australia, so called from a green, wax-like membrane covering the upper portion of the base of the bill.Cē're-ōus, a. p. 212Waxen; like wax. [Obs.] Gayton.Cē'rēs, n. p. 212(Myth.) The daughter of Saturn and Ops, the goddess of corn and tillage.Cē'rine, n. p. 212(Chem.) That part of common wax obtained by dissolving it in hot alcohol; formerly supposed to be a neutral fat in the impure state, but since shown to be a volatile acid, and called cerotic acid.…Ce-rin'thi-an, n. p. 212(Eccl. Hist.) One of an ancient religious sect, so called from Cerinthus, a Jew by birth, who attempted to unite the doctrines of Christ with the opinions of the Jews and Gnostics. Hook.Çĕr'iph, n. p. 212(Type-founding.) One of the fine lines of a letter, especially one of the fine cross-strokes at the top and bottom of letters. Savage.Cē'rite, n. p. 212(Min.) A siliciferous oxide of cerium. Dana.Cē'ri-ūm, n. p. 212(Min.) A metal named from the planet Ceres; it has a high specific gravity, a grayish-white color, and lamellar texture. It exists in the mineral cerite (the species in which it was first…Cĕr'nuŏs or Cĕr'nu-oŭs, a. p. 212(Bot.) Having the top inclining or nodding downward; pendulous.Cē·ro-grāph'ic or Cē·ro-grāph'ic-al, a. p. 212Pertaining to cerography.Cē-rŏg'ra-phist, n. p. 212One who is versed in, or who practices, cerography.Ce-rŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 212A writing on wax. 2. The art of engraving on wax, spread on a sheet of copper, from which a stereotype plate is taken. S. E. Morse.Ce-rō'mā, n. p. 212(Anc. Arch.) That part of the ancient baths and gymnasia in which bathers and wrestlers used to anoint themselves with a composition of oil and wax. Elmes.Cĕr'o-mān'cy, n. p. 212Divination by dropping melted wax in water.Ce-rōon', n. p. 212A bale or package made of skins; as, a ceroon of indigo.Ce-rōph'e-ra-ry, n. p. 213A servant of inferior grade in a church, whose office is to carry the candles in religious ceremonies; an acolyte. [Obs.] Fuller.Cē'ro-plās'tic, a. p. 213Modeled in wax.Cē'ro-plās'tic, n. p. 213(Sculp.) The art of modeling, or of forming models, in wax. Elmes.Cē'r-o-sine, n. p. 213(Chem.) A waxy substance occasionally found on the surface of the sugar-cane, composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Gregory.Cē'rōte, n. p. 213See CERATE.Cěr'ri-al, a. p. 213(Bot.) Pertaining to the cerrus, or bitter oak. “Chaplets green of cerrial oak.” Dryden.Cĕr'tain, a. p. 213[Fr. certain, O. Fr. & Pr. certain, It. & O. Sp. certain, from Lat. certus, determined, fixed, certain, originally p. p. of cernere, to perceive, decide, determine. 1. Assured in mind; having no…Cĕr'tain-ly, adv. p. 213Without doubt or question; in truth and fact; without failure.Cěr'tain-ness, n. p. 213Certainty; infallibility.Cěr'tain-ty, n. p. 213The quality or condition of being certain, or beyond doubt, denial, failure, &c.; exemption from doubt or failure. The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes. Fisher Ames. 2. A…Cēr'tēs, adv. p. 213Certainly; in truth; verily. [Obs.] Certes it great pity was to see Him his nobility so foul deface. Spenser.Cer-tĭf'i-cate, n. p. 213A written testimony to the truth of any fact; as, a certificate of good behavior. 2. A written declaration legally authenticated. Trial by certificate, a trial in which the testimony of the person…Cer-tif'i-cāte, v. t. p. 213To verify by certificate. 2. To furnish with a certificate; as, to certificate a pupil.Cĕr'ti-fi-cā'tion, n. p. 213The act of certifying.Cĕr'ti-fi'er, n. p. 213One who certifies, or assures.Cĕr'ti-fy, v. t. p. 213To testify to in writing; to make a declaration concerning, in writing, under hand, or hand and seal; to make known or establish as a fact. The judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor…Cĕr'ti-o-rā'rī, n. p. 213(Law.) A writ issuing out of chancery, or a superior court, to call up the records of an inferior court, or remove a cause there depending, in order that the party may have more sure and speedy…