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e of the stars; star lore; astrology; astronomy. [Obs.] Which in star-read were wont have best insight. Spenser.

The principal gold coin of ancient Grece. It varied much in value, the stater best known at Athens being worth about £1 2s., or about $5.35. The Attic silver tetradrachm was in later times called stater.

l status. The greater part have kept, I see, Their station. Milton. They in France of the best rank and station. Shak.

's store of goods; as, to lay in a stock of provisions. Add to that stock which justly we bestow. Dryden.

long to Ciconia and several allied genera. The European white stork (Ciconia alba) is the best known. It commonly makes its nests on the top of a building, a chimney, a church spire, or a pillar. The black stork (C. nigra) is native of Asia, Africa, and Europe. Black-necked stork, the East Indian jabiru. -- Hair-crest…

Bound with stays. Let nature have scope to fashion the body as she thinks best; we have few well-shaped that are strait-laced. Locke.

To straddle; to bestride. I mean to stride your steed. Shak.

A place of bestial debauchery. To roll with pleasure in a sensual sty. Milton.

The ancient custom of betrothing by the bestowal, on the part of the man, of marriage gifts or tokens, as money, rings, or other presents, upon the woman.

Refined by, or as by, sublimation; exalted; purified. [Words] whose weight best suits a sublimated strain. Dryden.

To be subservient; to be useful. [Obs.] "Our passions . . . subminister to the best and worst purposes." L'EStrange.

ng sufficient, or adequate to the end proposed; adequacy. His sufficiency is such that he bestows and possesses, his plenty being unexhausted. Boyle.

An informer; a talebearer. [Obs.] "Accusing sycophants, of all men, did best sort to his nature." Sir P. Sidney.

em of divinity; a system of botany or chemistry; a military system; the solar system. The best way to learn any science, is to begin with a regular system, or a short and plain scheme of that science well drawn up into a narrow compass. I. Watts.

ory of his favorite wife. In beauty of design and rich decorative detail it is one of the best examples of Saracenic architecture.

dal, etc., and makes mischief. Spies and talebearers, encouraged by her father, did their best to inflame her resentment. Macaulay.

Constitution; state; degree of any quality. The best composition and temperature is, to have openness in fame and opinion, secrecy in habit, dissimulation in seasonable use, and a power to feign, if there be no remedy. Bacon. Memory depends upon the consistence and the temperature of the brain. I. Watts.…

The holding by the fourth hand of the best and third best cards of a suit led; also, sometimes, the combination of best with third best card of a suit in any hand.

rimination. Who would excel, when few can make a test Betwixt indifferent writing and the best Dryden.

press gratitude to (anyone) for a favor; to make acknowledgments to (anyone) for kindness bestowed; -- used also ironically for blame. "Graunt mercy, lord, that thank I you," quod she. Chaucer. I thank thee for thine honest care. Shak. Weigh the danger with the doubtful bliss, And thank yourself if aught should fall am…