Search the Dictionary

The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching the words and conduct of others, to make discoveries, as spies or secret emissaries; secret watching.

of yellow tears, produced chiefly by the African Euphorbia resinifrea. It was formerly employed medicinally, but was found so violent in its effects that its use is nearly abandoned.

ly discovering a method of finding out how much the gold of King Hiero's crown had been alloyed. Hence, an expression of triumph concerning a discovery.

Of maximum fusibility; -- said of an alloy or mixture which has the lowest melting point which it is possible to obtain by the combination of the given components.

The principle or process of forming from given components the eutectic alloy, or alloy of maximum fusibility.

ommon; usual; as, an everyday suit or clothes. The mechanical drudgery of his everyday employment. Sir. J. Herchel.

gned to be an example for imitation or for warning; by way of example. She is exemplarily loyal. Howell. Some he punisheth exemplarily. Hakewill.

The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing; employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application; use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice. exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to the legislature. Jefferson. O we will walk this world, Yoked in all exe…

Capable of being exercised, employed, or enforced; as, the authority of a magistrate is exercisible within his jurisdiction.

m (Steam Engine), steam which is allowed to escape from the cylinder after having been employed to produce motion of the piston. -- Exhaust valve (Steam Engine), a valve that lets exhaust steam escape out of a cylinder.

An ancient geometrical method in which an exhaustive process was employed. It was nearly equivalent to the modern method of limits.

nce by hope of receiving some good. An expectant of future glory. South. Those who had employments, or were expectants. Swift.

To lay out, apply, or employ in any way; to consume by use; to use up or distribute, either in payment or in donations; to spend; as, they expend money for food or in charity; to expend time labor, and thought; to expend hay in feeding cattle, oil in a lamp, water in mechanical operations. If my death might make this i…

Pertaining to, or employed in, the expiration or emission of air from the lungs; as, the expiratory muscles.

sense whatever does a man who accumulates a fortune by legitimate industry exploit his employés or make his capital "out of" anybody else. W. G. Sumner.

Employed in, or designed for, exploration. "Exploring parties." Bancroft.

ive effect, and with intention to produce that effect; but in its true application, as employed in American law, it relates only to crimes, and signifies a law which retroacts, by way of criminal punishment, upon that which was not a crime before its passage, or which raises the grade of an offense, or renders an act p…

A sporting rifle for use at short ranges, employing a large charge of powder and a light (short) bullet, giving a high initial velocity and consequently a flat trajectory. It is usually of moderately large caliber.

A person employed in the express business; also, the driver of a job wagon. W. D. Howells.

tances or preserving them from moisture; a desiccator; also, less frequently, an agent employed to absorb moisture, as calcium chloride, or concentrated sulphuric acid.