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Moderation in doctrines or opinion, especially in politics or religion.

d; a modified form or condition; state as modified; a change; as, the modification of an opinion, or of a machine; the various modifications of light. Bentley.

A follower of the opinions of Molina, a Spanish Jesuit (in respect to grace); an opposer of the Jansenists.

A veteran partisan; one who is so conservative in opinion that he may be likened to a stone or old tree covered with moss. [Political Slang, U.S.]

A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece. Every coffeehouse has some particular statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of the street where he lives. Addison.

One who delivers the opinion of others or of another; a spokesman; as, the mouthpiece of his party. Egmont was imprudent enough to make himself the mouthpiece of their remonstrance. Motley.

and vigorous physical state. T. Hughes. -- Muscular CHristianity. (a) The practice and opinion of those Christians who believe that it is a part of religious duty to maintain a vigorous condition of the body, and who therefore approve of athletic sports and exercises as conductive to good health, good morals, and rig…

Arising by birth; having an origin; born. [Obs.] Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native, rising and vanishing again in long periods of times. Cudworth.

e answer no to an inquiry or request; refusing assent; as, a negative answer; a negative opinion; -- opposed to Ant: affirmative. If thou wilt confess, Or else be impudently negative. Shak. Denying me any power of a negative voice. Eikon Basilike. Something between an affirmative bow and a negative shake. Dickens.…

stributed, at stated intervals, for conveying intelligence of passing events, advocating opinions, etc.; a public print that circulates news, advertisements, proceedings of legislative bodies, public announcements, etc.

One of a sect of philosophers in the Middle Ages, who adopted the opinion of Roscelin, that general conceptions, or universals, exist in name only. Reid.

r because he is satisfied that he can not support it, or upon the judge's expressing his opinion. A compulsory nonsuit is a nonsuit ordered by the court on the ground that the plaintiff on his own showing has not made out his case.

A sentiment; an opinion. The extravagant notion they entertain of themselves. Addison. A perverse will easily collects together a system of notions to justify itself in its obliquity. J. H. Newman.

A notional or groundless opinion. [R.] Glanvill.

One whose opinions are ungrounded notions. [R.] Bp. Hopkins.

In passing; incidentally; by the way. Obiter dictum (Law), an incidental and collateral opinion uttered by a judge. See Dictum, n., 2(a).

Hence: An expression of an opinion or judgment upon what one has observed; a remark. "That's a foolish observation." Shak. To observations which ourselves we make We grow more partial for the observer's sake. Pope.

A fixedness in will, opinion, or resolution that can not be shaken at all, or only with great difficulty; firm and usually unreasonable adherence to an opinion, purpose, or system; unyielding disposition; stubborness; pertinacity; persistency; contumacy. You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contr…

Pertinaciously adhering to an opinion, purpose, or course; persistent; not yielding to reason, arguments, or other means; stubborn; pertinacious; -- usually implying unreasonableness. I have known great cures done by obstinate resolution of drinking no wine. Sir W. Temple. No ass so meek, no ass so obstinate. Pope. Of…

f obtruding; a thrusting upon others by force or unsolicited; as, the obtrusion of crude opinions on the world.