Search the Dictionary

The operation of shaping or dressing the edge of anything, as of a piece of metal. Edging machine, a machine tool with a revolving cutter, for dressing edges, as of boards, or metal plates, to a pattern or templet.

A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.

body) which is an article of commerce; -- called also eider duck. The American eider (S. Dresseri), the king eider (S. spectabilis), and the spectacled eider (Arctonetta Fischeri) are related species. Eider down. Etym: [Cf. Icel. æ\'ebardun, Sw. eiderdun, Dan. ederduun.] Down of the eider duck, much sought after as an…

g of a short, sudden exclamation or prayer, or the exclamation or prayer uttered. In your dressing, let there be jaculations fitted to the several actions of dressing. Jer. Taylor.

ress strong emotion or to state facts arguments with fluency and power; as, an eloquent address or statement; an eloquent appeal to a jury.

y contrasted figures and colors; variegated decoration. Fields in spring's embroidery are dressed. Addison. A mere rhetorical embroidery of phrases. J. A. Symonds.

A sovereign mistress. "Empress of my soul." Shak. Empress cloth, a cloth for ladies' dresses, either wholly of wool, or with cotton warp and wool weft. It resembles merino, but is not twilled.

Bestowing praise; praising; eulogistic; laudatory; as, an encomiastic address or discourse. -- En*co`mi*as"tic*al*ly, adv.

Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as, engaging manners or address. -- En*ga"ging*ly, adv. -- En*ga"ging*ness, n. Engaging and disengaging gear or machinery, that in which, or by means of which, one part is alternately brought into gear or out of gear with another part, as occasion may require.…

To cover or dress with lard or grease; to fatten. Shak.

A speech or short poem addressed to the spectators and recited by one of the actors, after the conclusion of the play. A good play no epilogue, yet . . . good plays prove the better by the help of good epilogues. Shak.

One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to their Christian brethren by Apostles. Epistle side, the right side of an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the chancel. One sees the pulpit on the epistle side. R. Browning.

To dress up; to array; accouter. The country are led astray in following the town, and equipped in a ridiculous habit, when they fancy themselves in the height of the mode. Addison.

Furnished with equipage. Well dressed, well bred. Well equipaged, is ticket good enough. Cowper.

To get away from by artifice; to avoid by dexterity, subterfuge, address, or ingenuity; to elude; to escape from cleverly; as, to evade a blow, a pursuer, a punishment; to evade the force of an argument. The heathen had a method, more truly their own, of evading the Christian miracles. Trench.

s or advice; to animate or urge by arguments, as to a good deed or laudable conduct; to address exhortation to; to urge strongly; hence, to advise, warn, or caution. Examples gross as earth exhort me. Shak. Let me exhort you to take care of yourself. J. D. Forbes.

Occasioning expense; calling for liberal outlay; costly; dear; liberal; as, expensive dress; an expensive house or family. War is expensive, and peace desirable. Burke.

y of his conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging him to make redress or to desist; to remonstrate; -- followed by with. Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against enemies who have done them a wrong. Jowett (Thuc. ).

One who manifests an exquisite attention to external appearance; one who is overnice in dress or ornament; a fop; a dandy.

previous study; unpremeditated; off-hand; extempore; extemporary; as, an extemporaneous address or production. -- Ex*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Ex*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ness,n.