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A flower-shaped ornament, esp. one terminating an object or forming one of a series, as a knob of a cover to a dish, or a flower- shaped part in a necklace.

Not funded; not fixed, invested, or determined; as, floating capital; a floating debt. Trade was at an end. Floating capital had been withdrawn in great masses from the island. Macaulay. Floating anchor (Naut.), a drag or sea anchor; drag sail. -- Floating battery (Mil.), a battery erected on rafts or the hulls of shi…

The tuft of hair terminating the tail of mammals.

in one direction and now in another; to be wavering or unsteady; to be irresolute or undetermined; to vacillate.

An unnatural or excessive flow of blood or fluid toward any organ; a determination.

The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.

Previous contrivance or determination; predetermination. He makes this difference to arise from the forecast and predetermination of the gods themselves. Addison.

A piece of timber which terminates the keel at the fore end, connecting it with the lower end of the stem.

Browning. Foregone conclusion, one which has preceded argument or examination; one predetermined.

To ordain or appoint beforehand; to preordain; to predestinate; to predetermine. Hooker.

Previous ordination or appointment; predetermination; predestination.

A piece of rag terminating the log line.

An instrument consisting consisting of a handle with a shank terminating in two or more prongs or tines, which are usually of metal, parallel and slightly curved; -- used from piercing, holding, taking up, or pitching anything.

also cross double fitché. A cross forked of three points is a cross, each of whose arms terminates in three sharp points. -- Forked counsel, advice pointing more than one way; ambiguous advice. [Obs.] B. Jonson. -- Fork"ed*ly, adv. -- Fork"ed*ness, n.

That by which shape is given or determined; mold; pattern; model.

Serving to form; derivative; not radical; as, a termination merely formative.

less matter of a cell, that which is physiologically dead, in distinction from the truly germinal or living matter.

Shapeless; without a determinate form; wanting regularity of shape. -- Form"less*ly, adv. -- Form"less*ness, n.

To reject or renounce upon oath; hence, to renounce earnestly, determinedly, or with protestations. I . . . do forswear her. Shak.

anner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life. 'T is more by fortune, lady, than by merit. Shak. O Fortune, Fortune, all men call thee fickle. Shak.…