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tices to the patriarchal religion. Teraphim were consulted by the Israelites for oracular answers. Dr. W. Smith (Bib. Dict.).

amps in Jove's high course were lit. Spenser. Is not this the day That Hermia should give answer of her choice Shak.

The third estate, or commonalty, in France, answering to the commons in Great Britain; -- so called in distinction from, and as inferior to, the nobles and clergy.

The seventh month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, answering to a part of September with a part of October.

n most of the languages of Europe, that of long oo, as in tool, and short oo, as in wood, answering to the French ou in tour. Etymologically U is most closely related to o, y (vowel), w, and v; as in two, duet, dyad, twice; top, tuft; sop, sup; auspice, aviary. See V, also O and Y. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 130-14…

s name under, or set one's name to, as a policy of insurance, for the purpose of becoming answerable for loss or damage, on consideration of receiving a certain premium per cent; as, individuals, as well as companies, may underwrite policies of insurance. B. Jonson. The broker who procures the insurance ought not, by u…

nt the Urim and the Thummim. Ex. xxviii. 30. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 1 Sam. xxviii. 6.

Having, or being of, no use; unserviceable; producing no good end; answering no valuable purpose; not advancing the end proposed; unprofitable; ineffectual; as, a useless garment; useless pity. Not to sit idle with so great a gift Useless, and thence ridiculous. Milton.

t; as, the utmost assiduity; the utmost harmony; the utmost misery or happiness. He shall answer . . . to his utmost peril. Shak. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. Shak.

um. A vacuity is interspersed among the particles of matter. Bentley. God . . . alone can answer all our longings and fill every vacuity of our soul. Rogers.

weak or defective; sound; good; efficacious; as, a valid argument; a valid objection. An answer that is open to no valid exception. I. Taylor.

The relative length or duration of a tone or note, answering to quantity in prosody; thus, a quarter note [value of two eighth notes [

Having word answering to word; word for word; literal; as, a verbal translation.

The answer of a jury given to the court concerning any matter of fact in any cause, civil or criminal, committed to their examination and determination; the finding or decision of a jury on the matter legally submitted to them in the course of the trial of a cause.

n; sinful; wicked; bad. "Such vile base practices." Shak. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee Job xl. 4.

ness, usually before being sworn in chief, requiring him to speak the truth, or make true answers in reference to matters inquired of, to ascertain his competency to give evidence. Greenleaf. Ld. Abinger.

The god of fire, who presided over the working of metals; -- answering to the Greek Hephæstus.

In some northern counties of England, a division, or district, answering to the hundred in other counties. Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire are divided into wapentakes, instead of hundreds. [Written also wapentac.] Selden. Blackstone.

Why For what purpose On what account [Obs.] What should I tell the answer of the knight. Chaucer. But what do I stand reckoning upon advantages and gains lost by the misrule and turbulency of the prelates What do I pick up so thriftily their scatterings and diminishings of the meaner subject Milton.…

The necessary means or instrument. So shall I have wherewith to answer him. Ps. cxix. 42. The wherewith to meet excessive loss by radiation. H. Spencer.