Search the Dictionary

Wandering; straying; deviating from the right course; -- hence, irregular; unnatural. [Obs.] "Erroneous circulation." Arbuthnot. Stopped much of the erroneous light, which otherwise would have disturbed the vision. Sir I. Newman.

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

diner. Famous men, -- whose scientific attainments were esteemed hardly less than supernatural. Hawthorne.

nic radical united with the residue of any oxygen acid, organic or inorganic; thus the natural fats are esters of glycerin and the fatty acids, oleic, etc.

The character, sentiment, or disposition of a community or people, considered as a natural endowment; the spirit which actuates manners and customs; also, the characteristic tone or genius of an institution or social organization.

That which is evacuated or discharged; especially, a discharge by stool or other natural means. Quincy.

It is still believed by the ignorant and superstitious that some persons have the supernatural power of injuring by a look. It almost led him to believe in the evil eye. J. H. Newman. -- Evil speaking, speaking ill of others; calumny; censoriousness. -- The evil one, the Devil; Satan.

That series of changes under natural law which involves continuous progress from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous in structure, and from the single and simple to the diverse and manifold in quality or function. The pocess is by some limited to organic beings; by others it is applied to the inorganic and the psychic…

A representation of things beyond natural life, in expression, beauty, power, vigor.

An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation. Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Eph. v. 18. Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. Milton.

reted and ejected; that which is excreted or cast out of the animal body by any of the natural emunctories; especially, alvine, discharges; dung; ordure.

An excrescent appendage, as, a wart or tumor; anything growing out unnaturally from anything else; a preternatural or morbid development; hence, a troublesome superfluity; an incumbrance; as, an excrescence on the body, or on a plant. "Excrescences of joy." Jer. Taylor. The excrescences of the Spanish monarchy. Addison…

A funeral rite (usually in the plural); the ceremonies of burial; obsequies; funeral procession. But see his exequies fulfilled in Rouen. Shak.

Any protuberance of a bone which is not natural; an excrescence or morbid enlargement of a bone. Coxe.

o make available; to get the value or usefulness out of; as, to exploit a mine or agricultural lands; to exploit public opinion. [Recent]

eyed from one country or State to another in the way of traffic; -- used chiefly in the plural, exports. The ordinary course of exchange . . . between two places must likewise be an indication of the ordinary course of their exports and imports. A. Smith.

hich makes a show, rather than that which is intrinsic; visible form; -- usually in the plural. Adam was then no less glorious in his externals South. God in externals could not place content. Pope.

To obscure; to eclipse, as by superior splendor. Natural graces that extinguish art. Shak .

That which is extraordinary; -- used especially in the plural; as, extraordinaries excepted, there is nothing to prevent success. Their extraordinary did consist especially in the matter of prayers and devotions. Jer. Taylor.

ts, wishes, praise, abuse. There appears something nobly wild and extravagant in great natural geniuses. Addison.