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of which they are composed; enigmatical representation of words by figures; hence, a peculiar form of riddle made up of such representations.

e; lately come; not of remote date, antiquated style, or the like; not already known, familiar, worn out, trite, etc.; fresh; novel; new; modern; as, recent news. The ancients were of opinion, that a considerable portion of that country [Egypt] was recent, and formed out of the mud discharged into the neighboring sea b…

Sought out with care; choice. Hence: of rare quality, elegance, or attractiveness; peculiar and refined in kind.

Luster; special brilliancy of surface; -- used esp. in ceramics to denote the peculiar metallic brilliancy seen in lustered pottery such as majolica; as, silver reflet; gold reflet.

To pay respect to; to treat as something of peculiar value, sanctity, or the like; to care for; to esteem. He that regardeth thae day, regardeth it into the LOrd. Rom. xiv. 6. Here's Beaufort, that regards nor God nor king. Shak.

Indicating or specifying some relation. Relational words, as prepositions, auxiliaries, etc. R. Morris.

In a variable expansion central-valve engine, a small auxiliary engine for automatically adjusting the steam distribution to the load on the main engine. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

A fox; -- so called in fables or familiar tales, and in poetry. [Written also reynard.]

ession of goods and chattle wrongfully taken or detained. Originally, it was a remedy peculiar to cases for wrongful distress, but it may generally now be brought in all cases of wrongful taking or detention. Bouvier.

l. [Obs.] With respective shame, rose, took us by the hands. Chapman. With thy equals familiar, yet respective. Lord Burleigh.

Having gular teeth formed by a peculiar modification of the inferior spines of some of the vertebræ, as certain South African snakes (Dasypelits) which swallow birds' eggs and use these gular teeth to crush them.

order of reptiles having biconcave vertebræ, immovable quadrate bones, and many other peculiar osteological characters. Hatteria is the only living genus, but numerous fossil genera are known, some of which are among the earliest of reptiles. See Hatteria. Called also Rhynchocephalia.

A wife; -- in allusion to Eve, as made out of Adam's rib. [Familiar & Sportive] How many have we known whose heads have been broken with their own rib. Bp. Hall. Chuck rib, a cut of beef immediately in front of the middle rib. See Chuck. -- Fore ribs, a cut of beef immediately in front of the sirloin. -- Middle rib,…

The peculiar fitting in shape, number, and arrangement of sails and masts, by which different types of vessels are distinguished; as, schooner rig, ship rig, etc. See Illustration in Appendix.

The quality of being risible; as, risibility is peculiar to the human species. A strong and obvious disposition to risibility. Sir W. Scott.

An affection of the windpipe of a horse, causing a loud, peculiar noise in breathing under exertion; the making of the noise so caused. See Roar, v. i., 5.

A fondness for romantic characteristics or peculiarities; specifically, in modern literature, an aiming at romantic effects; -- applied to the productions of a school of writers who sought to revive certain medi He [Lessing] may be said to have begun the revolt from pseudo- classicism in poetry, and to have been thus u…

come decomposed by a natural process; to putrefy; to decay. Fixed like a plant on his peculiar spot, To draw nutrition, propagate, and rot. Pope.

eather, a soft kind of leather, made originally in Russia but now elsewhere, having a peculiar odor from being impregnated with an oil obtained from birch bark. It is much used in bookbinding, on account of its not being subject to mold, and being proof against insects. -- Russia matting, matting manufactured in Russi…

Having a peculiar pouch developed near the front edge of the wing; -- said of certain bats of the genus Saccopteryx.