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The act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; the keeping (of a thing) in a safe or entire state; preservation. A step necessary for the conservation of Protestantism. Hallam. A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation. Burke. Conservation of areas (Astron.), the principle that…

One who preserves from injury or violation; a protector; a preserver. The great Creator and Conservator of the world. Derham.

To keep in a safe or sound state; to save; to preserve; to protect. The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the emperor. Strype.

o care for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing government, and to protect its seamen. Consul general, a consul of the first rank, stationed in an important place, or having jurisdiction in several places or over several consula. -- Vice consul, a consular officer holding the place of a consul du…

A duty or tax paid by merchants for the protection of their connerce by means of a consul in a foreign place.

To accompany for protection, either by sea or land; to attend for protection; to escort; as, a frigate convoys a merchantman. I know ye skillful to convoy The total freight of hope and joy. Emerson.

The teredo; -- so called because it injures the bottoms of vessels, where not protected by copper.

or ravelin, consisting of two lines of rampart parallel to the faces of the bastion, and protecting them from a breaching fire.

To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the cavalry covered the retreat. His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound, And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.

A catch crop planted, esp. in orchards. as a protection to the soil in winter, as well as for the benefit of the soil when plowed under in spring.

Sheltered; not open or exposed; retired; protected; as, a covert nook. Wordsworth. Of either side the green, to plant a covert alley. Bacon.

Under the protection of a husband; married. Burrill.

Covering; shelter; defence; hiding. Protected by walls or other like coverture. Woodward. Beatrice, who even now Is couched in the woodbine coverture. Shak.

ive disease of the cow, which, when communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox, cowpock, and kinepock. Dunglison.

or swinginng on pivots; hence, the place of origin, or in which anything is nurtured or protected in the earlier period of existence; as, a cradle of crime; the cradle of liberty. The cradle that received thee at thy birth. Cowper. No sooner was I crept out of my cradle But I was made a king, at nine months old. Shak.…

a confession of faith for public use; esp., one which is brief and comprehensive. In the Protestant system the creed is not coördinate with, but always subordinate to, the Bible. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.

ess is a kind of conscientiousness, and when it degenerates it becomes crotchetiness. J. Grote.

A voyage made in various directions, as of an armed vessel, for the protection of other vessels, or in search of an enemy; a sailing to and fro, as for exploration or for pleasure. He feigned a compliance with some of his men, who were bent upon going a cruise to Manilla. Dampier.

One of the microscopic particles resembling crystals, consisting of protein matter, which occur in certain plant cells; -- called also protein crystal.

A triangular protection from the intrados of an arch, or from an inner curve of tracery.