Search the Dictionary

A contrivance; a new-fangled device; -- used scornfully. [Colloq. or Dial.] -- Con*trap"tious (#), a.

To make devices; to form designs; to plan; to scheme; to plot. The Fates with traitors do contrive. Shak. Thou hast contrived against th very life Of the defendant. Shak.

e of persecution. Hammond. A sort of men who . . . attend its [the curch of England's] service in the morning, and go with their wives to a conventicle in the afternoon. Swift.

Formed by agreement or compact; stipulated. Conventional services reserved by tenures upon grants, made out of the crown or knights' service. Sir M. Hale.

utting the predicate for the subject, and the subject for the predicate; as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue.

nge attending a change of belief with conviction; a change of heart; a change from the service of the world to the service of God; a change of the ruling disposition of the soul, involving a transformation of the outward life. He oft Frequented their assemblies, . . . and to them preached Conversion and repentance, as…

A lay friar or brother, permitted to enter a monastery for the service of the house, but without orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.

as, to cook up a story; to cook an account. [Colloq.] They all of them receive the same advices from abroad, and very often in the same words; but their way of cooking it is so different. Addison.

an porter or carrier; a laborer transported from the East Indies, China, or Japan, for service in some other country.

A device for holding copy for a compositor.

nitroglycerin, guncotton, and mineral jelly, and used by the British army and in other services. In making it the ingredients are mixed into a paste with the addition of acetone and pressed out into cords (of various diameters) resembling brown twine, which are dried and cut to length. A variety containing less nitrog…

A crown or garland bestowed among the Romans as a reward for distinguished services.

nt. The due correction of swearing, rioting, neglect of God's word, and other scandalouss vices. Strype.

An obligation to perform certain services, as the repair of roads, for the lord or sovereign.

burning lights of different colors and used by vessels at sea, and in the life-saving service; -- named after their inventor.

An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation in a critical case.

Result of consultation; advice; instruction. I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised. Shak. It was ill counsel had misled the girl. Tennyson.

Willing to receive counsel or follow advice. [R.] Few men of so great parts were upon all occasions more counselable than he. Clarendon.

One whose profession is to give advice in law, and manage causes for clients in court; a barrister. Good counselors lack no clients. Shak.

he magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice. Atterbury.