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, prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in consecrating a church; marriage and baptismal ceremo…

. -- Chamber lye, urine. Shak. -- Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a theater, concert hall, or chuch. -- Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who give their opinions in private, but do not appear in c…

Achievement; deed; performance. [Obs.] Fortune, the foe of famous chevisance. Spenser.

To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to applaud; as, to clap a performance. To clap hands. (a) To pledge faith by joining hands. [Obs.] Shak.

ant or authority, granting certain powers or privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain duties. Let him see our commission. Shak.

To direct, as the leader in the performance of a musical composition.

of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone; -- a direction for the performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word on the score.

the art of judging with knowledge and propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of a production in the fine arts; as, dramatic criticism. The elements ofcriticism depend on the two principles of Beauty and Truth, one of which is the final end or object of study in every one of its pursuits: Be…

One of the attendants of a prince or noble, permanently charged with the performance of this office for his master. "I was the king's cupbearer." Neh. i. 11.

The quality of being cursory; superficial performance; as, cursoriness of view.

teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. W. Irving. -- The curtain falls, the performance closes. -- The curtain rises, the performance begins. -- To draw the curtain, to close ot over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance. -- To d…

Performance; -- followed by of. [Obs.] Shak. In deed, in fact; in truth; verily. See Indeed.

ade at the same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing conditions, on the performance of which the estate then created may be defeated.

Money lodged with a party as earnest or security for the performance of a duty assumed by the person depositing.

nversation between two or more persons; particularly, a formal conservation in theatrical performances or in scholastic exercises.

Of or performance to diet, or to the rules for regulating the kind and quantity of food to be eaten.

Of or performance to the fingers, or to digits; done with the fingers; as, digital compression; digital examination.

reater Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated with elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.

rid of, an obligation, liability, etc.; fulfillment, as by the payment of a debt, or the performance of a trust or duty. Indefatigable in the discharge of business. Motley. Nothing can absolve us from the discharge of those duties. L'Estrange.

eration in the state of the body or of some of its organs, interrupting or disturbing the performance of the vital functions, and causing or threatening pain and weakness; malady; affection; illness; sickness; disorder; -- applied figuratively to the mind, to the moral character and habits, to institutions, the state,…