Search the Dictionary

A seeking for or gathering of berries, esp. of such as grow wild.

to surround; to besiege; to blockade. "Beset with foes." Milton. Let thy troops beset our gates. Addison.

gnetic or electric field, emitted by radioactive substances, as radium. They consist of negatively charged particles or electrons, apparently the same in kind as those of the cathode rays, but having much higher velocities (about 35,000 to 180,000 miles per second).

Having two hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by negative atoms or radicals to form salts; -- said of bases. See Diacid.

Having a forked petiole, and a pair of leaflets at the end of each division; biconjugate; twice paired; -- said of a decompound leaf.

Bijugate.

To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a prisoner.

That binds; obligatory. Binding beam (Arch.), the main timber in double flooring. -- Binding joist (Arch.), the secondary timber in double-framed flooring.

The condition or property of being binding; obligatory quality. Coleridge.

The investigation of life.

A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; -- in this sense usually two words.

reference to, God; speaking evil of God; also, the act of claiming the attributes or prerogatives of deity.

Without sight, discernment, or understanding; without thought, investigation, knowledge, or purpose of one's own. By his imperious mistress blindly led. Dryden.

The delicate, powdery coating upon certain growing or newly- gathered fruits or leaves, as on grapes, plums, etc. Hence: Anything giving an appearance of attractive freshness; a flush; a glow. A new, fresh, brilliant world, with all the bloom upon it. Thackeray.

A costume for women, consisting of a short dress, with loose trousers gathered round ankles, and (commonly) a broad-brimmed hat.

A long wrought iron tube, on the end of which the workman gathers a quantity of "metal" (melted glass), and through which he blows to expand or shape it; -- called also blowing tube, and blowpipe.

his former wives. -- Also used adjectively of a subject which it is forbidden to investigate. The Bluebeard chamber of his mind, into which no eye but his own must look. Carlyle.

ile or a friendly purpose. Both slain at one time, as they attempted the boarding of a frigate. Sir F. Drake.

A form of syllogism of which the first and third propositions are particular negatives, and the middle term a universal affirmative. Baroko and Bocardo have been stumbling blocks to the logicians. Bowen.

, or the depth of the shank (by which the size is indicated); as, a nonpareil face on an agate body.