Search the Dictionary

A constellation of the zodiac, now occupying chiefly the sign Libra, and containing the bright star Spica.

age and strength; valorous; valiant; brave. [Obs.] Old Priam's son, amongst them all, was chiefly virtuous. Chapman.

The face, countenance, or look of a person or an animal; -- chiefly applied to the human face. Chaucer. "A visage of demand." Shak. His visage was so marred more than any man. Isa. lii. 14. Love and beauty still that visage grace. Waller.

Command; precept; -- now chiefly used in scriptural language. So shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God. Deut. viii. 20.

A turning; a time; -- chiefly used in phrases signifying that the part is to be repeated one, two, or more times; as, una volta, once. Seconda volta, second time, points to certain modifications in the close of a repeated strain.

Formerly, a passage either by sea or land; a journey, in general; but not chiefly limited to a passing by sea or water from one place, port, or country, to another; especially, a passing or journey by water to a distant place or country. I love a sea voyage and a blustering tempest. J. Fletcher. So steers the prudent c…

. (a) Any one of several species of wagtails of the restricted genus Motacilla. They live chiefly on the shores of ponds and streams. (b) The American water thrush. See Water thrush. -- Wood wagtail, an Asiatic wagtail; (Calobates sulphurea) having a slender bill and short legs.

The sitting up of persons with a dead body, often attended with a degree of festivity, chiefly among the Irish. "Blithe as shepherd at a wake." Cowper. Wake play, the ceremonies and pastimes connected with a wake. See Wake, n., 3 (b), above. [Obs.] Chaucer.

cies, as the brush kangaroo (H. Bennettii) and the pademelon (H. thetidis). The wallabies chiefly inhabit the wooded district and bushy plains. [Written also wallabee, and whallabee.]

One who, or that which, warbles; a singer; a songster; -- applied chiefly to birds. In lulling strains the feathered warblers woo. Tickell.

A large, hard pear, chiefly used for baking and roasting. [Obs.] I would have had him roasted like a warden. Beau. & Fl. Warden pie, a pie made of warden pears. [Obs.] Shak.

In water-color painting, work in, or a work done chiefly in, washes, as distinguished from that done in stipple, in body color, etc.

A common North American colubrine snake (Tropidonotus sipedon) which lives chiefly in the water.

, including dams, sluices, pumps, aqueducts, distributing pipes, fountains, etc.; -- used chiefly in the plural.

mall New Zealand owl (Sceloglaux albifacies). It has short wings and long legs, and lives chiefly on the ground.

To direct; to betake;- used chiefly in the phrase to wend one's way. Also used reflexively. "Great voyages to wend." Surrey.

f the large species, some of which become nearly one hundred feet long. Whales are hunted chiefly for their oil and baleen, or whalebone.

Pachynematus extensicornis, whose larvæ feed chiefly on the blades of wheat; -- called also grass sawfly.

Any instrument having the form of, or chiefly consisting of, a wheel. Specifically: --

Having wheels; -- used chiefly in composition; as, a four- wheeled carriage.