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An obsolete or colloquial contraction of the old form hem, them. Addison.

aloid extracted from ergot as a brown, amorphous, bitter substance. It is used to produce contraction of the uterus.

ing from perils." Bacon. Unarmed they might Have easily, as spirits evaded swift By quick contraction or remove. Milton.

sions are transmitted to a nerve center and then reflected back so as to produce muscular contraction without sensation or volition.

s tissue in the lungs, and the gradual atrophy of the lungs, from the pressure due to the contraction of this tissue.

Before; -- sometimes written 'fore as if a contraction of afore or before. [Obs.]

A contraction of Against.

Success; prosperous journeying; -- a contraction of the phrase, "God speed you." [Written also as two separate words.] Receive him not into house, neither bid him God speed. 2 John 10.

. A contraction of have not or has not; as, I hain't, he hain't, we hain't. [Colloq. or illiterate speech.] [Written also han't.]

3d pers. sing. pres. of Hold, contraction for holdeth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A contraction of have not, or has not, used in illiterate speech. In the United States the commoner spelling is hain't.

Contraction of only one ventricle of the heart.

A modified respiratory movement; a spasmodic inspiration, consisting of a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, accompanied with closure of the glottis, so that further entrance of air is prevented, while the impulse of the column of air entering and striking upon the closed glottis produces a sound, or hiccough. [Writt…

. Contraction for I will or I shall. I'll by a sign give notice to our friends. Shak.

. A contraction from I would or I had.

. A contraction of I am.

. Colloquial contraction of I have.

The crash or concussion attending the breaking up of masses of ice, -- often due to contraction from extreme cold.

Applied to a semipermanent contraction of a muscle, produced by a mechanical irritant.

n the case of muscular motion, commences in the nerve centers, and excites the muscles to contraction. Opposed to excito-motor.