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A coleopterous insect of the genus Lampyris; esp., the wingless females and larvæ of the two European species (L. noctiluca, and L. splendidula), which emit light from some of the abdominal segments. Like a glowworm in the night, The which hath fire in darkness, none in light. Shak.

ood-sucking dipterous fly, of the genus Culex, undergoing a metamorphosis in water. The females have a proboscis armed with needlelike organs for penetrating the skin of animals. These are wanting in the males. In America they are generally called mosquitoes. See Mosquito.

A female for whom one becomes sponsor at baptism.

A female god; a divinity, or deity, of the female sex. When the daughter of Jupiter presented herself among a crowd of goddesses, she was distinguished by her graceful stature and superior beauty. Addison.

kes himself a surety for its Christian training and instruction. There shall be for every Male-child to be baptized, when they can be had, two Godfathers and one Godmother; and for every Female, one Godfather and two Godmothers; and Parents shall be admitted as Sponsors, if it is desired. Book of Common Prayer (Prot. E…

A male for whom one has stood sponsor in baptism. See Godfather.

In ontogony, differentiation of male and female individuals from embryos having the same rudimentary sexual organs.

The female of the gorcock.

A female governor; a woman invested with authority to control and direct; especially, one intrusted with the care and instruction of children, -- usually in their homes.

Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, l…

eauty, loveliness, or amiability; graceful; excellent. Since the birth of Cain, the first male child, . . . There was not such a gracious creature born. Shak.

ay copper (Min.), tetrahedrite. -- Gray duck (Zoöl.), the gadwall; also applied to the female mallard. -- Gray falcon (Zoöl.) the peregrine falcon. -- Gray Friar. See Franciscan, and Friar. -- Gray hen (Zoöl.), the female of the blackcock or black grouse. See Heath grouse. -- Gray mill or millet (Bot.), a name of…

A female Greek. [R.]

A male attendant of a bridegroom at his wedding; -- the correlative of bridesmaid.

Sullen malice or malevolence; cherished malice, enmity, or dislike; ill will; an old cause of hatred or quarrel. Esau had conceived a mortal grudge and eumity against hie brother Jacob. South. The feeling may not be envy; it may not be imbittered by a grudge. I. Taylor.

A female guardian. I have placed a trusty, watchful guardianess. Beau. & Fl.

A female guide. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A ventral canal or groove, in which the males of some dioecious trematodes carry the female. See Illust. of Hæmatozoa.

normal condition of certain animals, in which one side has the external characters of the male, and the other those of the female.

Government by a woman, female power; gyneocracy. Bailey.