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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



295 words match “DEFINITE”

CALCULUS n.
alculus, a method of investigating mathematical questions by using the ratio of certain indefinitely small quantities called differentials. The problems are primarily of this form: to find how the change in some variable quantity alters at each instant the value of a quantity dependent upon it. -- Exponential calculus…
CARBONIC a.
ss gas, CO, of a light odor, called more correctly carbon monoxide. It is almost the only definitely known compound in which carbon seems to be divalent. It is a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon, and is an abundant constituent of water gas. It is fatal to animal life, extinguishes combustion, and burns wi…
CARD n.
e one's plants to rivals or foes. -- To speak by the card, to speak from information and definitely, not by guess as in telling a ship's bearing by the compass card. -- Visiting card, a small card bearing the name, and sometimes the address, of the person presenting it.
CERTAIN a.
Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; -- sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons. It came to pass when he was in a certain city. Luke. v. 12. About everything he wrote there was a certain natural grace und decorum. Macaulay. For certain, assuredly. -- Of a certain,…
CHANGE n.
at may be changed or substituted one for another in machinery, to produce a different but definite rate of angular velocity in an axis, as in cutting screws, gear, etc. -- To ring the changes on, to present the same facts or arguments in variety of ways.
CHRISTIAN n.
One born in a Christian country or of Christian parents, and who has not definitely becomes an adherent of an opposing system.
CLEAVAGE n.
The quality possessed by many crystallized substances of splitting readily in one or more definite directions, in which the cohesive attraction is a minimum, affording more or less smooth surfaces; the direction of the dividing plane; a fragment obtained by cleaving, as of a diamond. See Parting.
CLIP v.
To move swiftly; -- usually with indefinite it. Straight flies as chek, and clips it down the wind. Dryden.
COIN v.
To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass of metal; to mint; to manufacture; as, to coin silver dollars; to coin a medal.
COMBINATION n.
or process of uniting by chemical affinity, by which substances unite with each other in definite proportions by weight to form distinct compounds.
COMPOUND n.
A union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by weight, so combined as to form a distinct substance; as, water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen.
COMPREHENSION n.
igure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.
CONDENSATION n.
concentration of the different constituents of one or more substances into a distinct and definite compound of greater complexity and molecular weight, often resulting in an increase of density, as the condensation of oxygen into ozone, or of acetone into mesitylene. Condensation product (Chem.), a substance obtained b…
CONNECTION n.
person connected with another by marriage rather than by blood; -- used in a loose and indefinite, and sometimes a comprehensive, sense.
CONVERGING a.
ect, tend toward a single point. -- Converging series (Math.), a series in which if an indefinitely great number of terms be taken, their sum will become indefinitely near in value to a fixed quantity, which is called the sum of the series; -- opposed to a diverging series.
CRAZY a.
other material of various sizes, shapes, and colors, fancifully stitched together without definite plan or arrangement.
CREED n.
A definite summary of what is believed; esp., a summary of the articles of Christian faith; a confession of faith for public use; esp., one which is brief and comprehensive. In the Protestant system the creed is not coördinate with, but always subordinate to, the Bible. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
CROWN n.
The person entitled to wear a regal or imperial crown; the sovereign; -- with the definite article. Parliament may be dissolved by the demise of the crown. Blackstone. Large arrears of pay were due to the civil and military servants of the crown. Macaulay.
CRYSTALLITE n.
nute mineral form like those common in glassy volcanic rocks and some slags, not having a definite crystalline outline and not referable to any mineral species, but marking the first step in the crystallization process. According to their form crystallites are called trichites, belonites, globulites, etc.…
CUSTOMER n.
A peculiar person; -- in an indefinite sense; as, a queer customer; an ugly customer. [Colloq.] Dickens.
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