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To defy; to challenge. [Obs.] L. Andrews.

e and arms Etym: [trans. of L. vi et armis] (Law), an expression in old indictments, signifying violence. -- In force, or Of force, of unimpaired efficacy; valid; of full virtue; not suspended or reversed. "A testament is of force after men are dead." Heb. ix. 17. -- Metabolic force (Physiol.), the influence which ca…

redemption. -- To foreclose a mortgage, (not technically correct, but often used to signify) the obtaining a judgment for the payment of an overdue mortgage, and the exposure of the mortgaged property to sale to meet the mortgage debt. Wharton.

not to let slip an opportunity. Time is painted with a lock before and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for when it is once past, there is no recalling it. Swift. On occasion's forelock watchful wait. Milton.

To tell beforehand; to signify by tokens; to predestine. [Obs.] Spenser.

To foreshow; to presignify; to prognosticate. Whilst strange prodigious signs foretoken blood. Daniel.

The act of fortifying; the art or science of fortifying places in order to defend them against an enemy.

To furnish with a fortress or with fortresses; to guard; to fortify. Shak.

To convert into a fossil; to petrify; as, to fossilize bones or wood.

To intoxicate; to stupefy with drink. I drank . . . so much wine that I was almost foxed. Pepys.

Spongy; soft; fat and puffy. [Scot.]

the ancient privileges of a freeman; free and common law; -- an obsolete expression signifying substantially the same as the American expression civil rights. Abbot.

To frighten; to terrify; to alarm. I. Taylor. What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed Spenser.

To checker; to diversify. [R. & Poet.] The painted windows, frecking gloom with glow. Lowell.

To ornament with raised work; to variegate; to diversify. Whose skirt with gold was fretted all about. Spenser. Yon gray lines, That fret the clouds, are messengers of day. Shak.

To alarm suddenly; to shock by causing sudden fear; to terrify; to scare. Nor exile or danger can fright a brave spirit. Dryden.

To disturb with fear; to throw into a state of alarm or fright; to affright; to terrify. More frightened than hurt. Old Proverb.

Covered with leaves; leafy; as, a frondent tree. [R.]

Leafy. Gray.

A combining form signifying relating to the forehead or the frontal bone; as, fronto-parietal, relating to the frontal and the parietal bones; fronto-nasal, etc.