Search the Dictionary

A genus of trilobites characteristic of the Silurian age.

A follower of the Rev. Richard Cameron, a Scotch Covenanter of the time of Charies II. Cameron and others refused to accept the "indulgence" offered the Presbyterian clergy, insisted on the Solemn league and Covenant, and in 1680 declared Charles II deposed for tyranny, breach of faith, etc. Cameron was killed at the b…

A hydroid of the family ampanularidæ, characterized by having the polyps or zooids inclosed in bell-shaped calicles or hydrothecæ.

An obstinate and often incurable disease of a horse's foot, characterized by separation of the horny portion and the development of fungoid growths; -- usually resulting from neglected thrush.

A form of scarlet fever characterized by ulcerated or putrid sore throat.

A great gun; a piece of ordnance or artillery; a firearm for discharging heavy shot with great force.

The act of discharging cannon and throwing ball, shell, etc., for the purpose of destroying an army, or battering a town, ship, or fort; -- usually, an attack of some continuance. A furious cannonade was kept up from the whole circle of batteries on the devoted towm. Prescott.

Having a charge in each of the four corners; -- said of a cross on a shield, and also of the shield itself.

A charm; an incantation; a shell; a trick; adroit mischief. [Written also cantraip.] [Scot.]

ass for subscriptions or for votes; to canvass for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; -- commonly followed by for.

Outward condition or circumstances; occupation; profession; character; position; as, to work in the capacity of a mason or a carpenter.

civil and ecclesiastical, esp. of the Frankish kings, in chapters or sections. Several of Charlemagne's capitularies. Hallam.

Governed or characterized by caprice; apt to change suddenly; freakish; whimsical; changeable. "Capricious poet." Shak. "Capricious humor." Hugh Miller. A capricious partiality to the Romish practices. Hallam.

a dry fruit or pod which is made up of several parts or carpels, and opens to discharge the seeds, as, the capsule of the poppy, the flax, the lily, etc.

One in charge of a portion of a ship's company; as, a captain of a top, captain of a gun, etc.

To acquire ascendancy over by reason of some art or attraction; to fascinate; to charm; as, Cleopatra captivated Antony; the orator captivated all hearts. Small landscapes of captivating loveliness. W. Irving.

One charmed or subdued by beaty, excellence, or affection; one who is captivated.

A chariot of war or of triumph; a vehicle of splendor, dignity, or solemnity. [Poetic]. The gilded car of day. Milton. The towering car, the sable steeds. Tennyson.

ds. Atomic weight 11.97. Symbol C. it is combustible, and forms the base of lampblack and charcoal, and enters largely into mineral coals. In its pure crystallized state it constitutes the diamond, the hardest of known substances, occuring in monometric crystals like the octahedron, etc. Another modification is graphit…

boniferous age (Geol.), the age immediately following the Devonian, or Age of fishes, and characterized by the vegatation which formed the coal beds. This age embraces three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the Carboniferous, and Permian. See Age of acrogens, under Acrogen. -- Carboniferous formation (Geol.), the series…