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Athletic or disciplinary exercises; the art of performing gymnastic exercises; also, disciplinary exercises for the intellect or character.

A kind of divination performed by drawing a ring or circle, and walking in or around it. Brande & C.

of conduct; practice; usage; hence, prominently, the involuntary tendency or aptitude to perform certain actions which is acquired by their frequent repetition; as, habit is second nature; also, peculiar ways of acting; characteristic forms of behavior. A man of very shy, retired habits. W. Irving.

The pilgrimage to Mecca, performed by Mohammedans.

A low-grade actor or performer. [Theatrical Slang]

That which resembles, or to some extent performs the office of, a human hand; as:

Performed by the hand. [Obs.] To draw up and come to handy strokes. Milton.

er. Heat engine, any apparatus by which a heated substance, as a heated fluid, is made to perform work by giving motion to mechanism, as a hot-air engine, or a steam engine. -- Heat producers. (Physiol.) See under Food. -- Heat rays, a term formerly applied to the rays near the red end of the spectrum, whether within…

A member of a chapter or convent, whose week it is to officiate in the choir, and perform other services, which, on extraordinary occasions, are performed by the superiors.

To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, and the like. [R.] I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt. Shak.

To furnish with strength or means for the successful performance of any action or the attainment of any object; to aid; to assist; as, to help a man in his work; to help one to remember; -- the following infinitive is commonly used without to; as, "Help me scale yon balcony." Longfellow.

hest." Shak. Let him that yields obey the victor's hest. Fairfax. Yet I thy hest will all perform, at full. Tennyson.

An arena for equestrian performances; a circus.

To reach or attain exactly; to meet according to the occasion; to perform successfully; to attain to; to accord with; to be conformable to; to suit. Birds learning tunes, and their endeavors to hit the notes right. Locke. There you hit him; . . . that argument never fails with him. Dryden. Whose saintly visage is too b…

rary obstruction; an obstacle; as, a hitch in one's progress or utterance; a hitch in the performance.

Performed or accompanied with marks of honor, or with testimonies of esteem; an honorable burial.

ss or authority by which a person, directed by the decree of a court of justice to pay or perform anything, is ordered to comply therewith. Mozley & W.

A dance performed, usually by one person, to such a tune, and popular among sailors.

or steam engines and other prime movers for doing work. It is the power required for the performance of work at the rate of 33,000 English units of work per minute; hence, it is the power that must be exerted in lifting 33,000 pounds at the rate of one foot per minute, or 550 pounds at the rate of one foot per second,…

horse; mounted or riding on a horse or horses; in the saddle. The long journey was to be performed on horseback. Prescott.