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Adhering to facts; not turning aside from absolute realities; not fanciful or imaginative; commonplace; dry.

Not being, or having, matter; as, matterless spirits. Davies (Wit's Pilgr. ).

Full of substance or matter; important. B. Jonson.

To find fault; to be peevish. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]

A European toad (Bufo calamita), having a yellow line along its back.

To exceed in flattering.

To strike with a quick succession of slight, sharp sounds; as, pattering rain or hail; pattering feet. The stealing shower is scarce to patter heard. Thomson.

One who patters, or talks glibly; specifically, a street peddler. [Cant, Eng.]

chetype; an exemplar; that which is to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine. I will be the pattern of all patience. Shak.

A sound like that of alternating light beats. Also, a pattering of words.

is brought to the table. The attendants . . . speedly brought in several large, smoking platters, filled with huge pieces of beef. Sir W. Scott.

Having a broad, flat face.

One who, or that which, rats, as one who deserts his party.

sely; to deposit or place here and there, esp. in an open or sparse order. And some are scattered all the floor about. Chaucer. Why should my muse enlarge on Libyan swains, Their scattered cottages, and ample plains Dryden. Teach the glad hours to scatter, as they fly, Soft quiet, gentle love, and endless joy. Prior.…

giddy or thoughtless person; one incapable of concentration or attention. [Written also scatter-brains.]

Giddy; thoughtless.

Irregular in position; having no regular order; as, scattered leaves. -- Scat"tered*ly, adv. -- Scat"tered*ness, n.

One who wastes; a spendthrift.

oing or falling in various directions; not united or agregated; divided among many; as, scattering votes.

In a scattering manner; dispersedly.