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In a manner or degree tending to sanctify or make holy.

ing sapphire; made of sapphire; having the color, or any quality of sapphire. "Sapphirine degree of hardness." Boyle.

A keen, reproachful expression; a satirical remark uttered with some degree of scorn or contempt; a taunt; a gibe; a cutting jest. The sarcasms of those critics who imagine our art to be a matter of inspiration. Sir J. Reynolds.

Gradation; succession of ascending and descending steps and degrees; progressive series; scheme of comparative rank or order; as, a scale of being. There is a certain scale of duties . . . which for want of studying in right order, all the world is in confusion. Milton.

The room or hall in English universities where the examinations for degrees and honors are held.

An instrument for determining with accuracy the degree of hardness of a mineral.

the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite; also, the system itself, which confers thirty-three degrees, of which the first three are nearly identical with those of the York rite.

To burn (the surface of) to dryness and hardness; to cauterize; to expose to a degree of heat such as changes the color or the hardness and texture of the surface; to scorch; to make callous; as, to sear the skin or flesh. Also used figuratively. I'm seared with burning steel. Rowe. It was in vain that the amiable divi…

a minute of time or of a minute of space, that is, the second regular subdivision of the degree; as, sound moves about 1,140 English feet in a second; five minutes and ten seconds north of this place.

Of the rank or degree below the best highest; inferior; second- rate; as, a second-class house; a second-class passage.

In a secondary manner or degree.

g some quality, or having been subject to some operation (as substitution), in the second degree; as, a secondary salt, a secondary amine, etc. Cf. primary.

An element possessing metallic properties in an inferior degree and not malleable, as arsenic, antimony, bismuth, molybdenum, uranium, etc. [Obs.]

Of or pertaining to a semimetal; possessing metallic properties in an inferior degree; resembling metal.

aspect of the planets when distant from each other the half of a quadrant, or forty-five degrees, or one sign and a half. Hutton.

An aspect of the planets when distant from each other half of the quintile, or thirty-six degrees.

the planets when they are distant from each other the twelfth part of a circle, or thirty degrees. Hutton.

Slightly clear; transmitting light in a slight degree.

Of the seventh degree or order. -- n. (Alg.)

Any succession of chords (or harmonic phrase) rising or falling by the regular diatonic degrees in the same scale; a succession of similar harmonic steps.