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An obsolete or colloquial contraction of the old form hem, them. Addison.

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

e of speech by which what is to be understood affirmatively is stated negatively, and the contrary; affirmation by contraries.

bligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." Shak.

es; engrossing occupation; employment of the attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any office. Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league. Milton.

To contract a rheum. [Obs.] Harvey.

succeeded by the wearing duties of hard everyday routine. Froude. Exhibiting the seeming contradiction of susceptibility to enthusiasm and calculating shrewdness. Bancroft.

in a trap, by artifices; to involve in difficulties or distresses; to catch or involve in contradictions; as, to be entrapped by the devices of evil men. A golden mesh, to entrap the hearts of men. Shak.

aloid extracted from ergot as a brown, amorphous, bitter substance. It is used to produce contraction of the uterus.

Physostigma venenosum; physostigmine. It is used in ophthalmic surgery for its effect in contracting the pupil.

espousing or betrothing; especially, in the plural, betrothal; plighting of the troths; a contract of marriage; sometimes, the marriage ceremony.

A stop; an obstruction or bar to one's alleging or denying a fact contrary to his own previous action, allegation, or denial; an admission, by words or conduct, which induces another to purchase rights, against which the party making such admission can not take a position inconsistent with the admission.…

That part of moral philosophy which treats of happiness; the science of happiness; -- contrasted with aretaics. J. Grote.

To make void; to nullify; to vacate; as, to evacuate a contract or marriage. [Obs.] Bacon.

ing from perils." Bacon. Unarmed they might Have easily, as spirits evaded swift By quick contraction or remove. Milton.

s, and bankers of a city meet at certain hours, to transact business. In this sense often contracted to 'Change. Arbitration of exchange. See under Arbitration. -- Bill of exchange. See under Bill. -- Exchange broker. See under Broker. -- Par of exchange, the established value of the coin or standard of value of one…

The quality or state of being exchangeable. The law ought not be contravened by an express article admitting the exchangeability of such persons. Washington.

sions are transmitted to a nerve center and then reflected back so as to produce muscular contraction without sensation or volition.

ther A or Not-A." no third state or condition being involved or allowed. See Principle of contradiction, under Contradiction.

ffect on a future contingency; as, an executory devise, reminder, or estate; an executory contract. Blackstone.