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The quality, state, or condition, of being certain. The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes. Fisher Ames.

ificate the decree is usually founded. Blackstone. Certified check, A bank check, the validity of which is certified by the bank on which it is drawn.

en by statute to recover lands when the tenant has for two years failed to perform the conditions of his tenure.

The voluntary surrender of a person's effects to his creditors to avoid imprisonment.

A girdle; particularly that of Aphrodite (or Venus) which gave the wearer the power of exciting love.

l receive, in the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See Maintenance.

that befalls, as the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a happening; accident; fortuity; casualty. It was a chance that happened to us. 1 Sam. vi. 9. The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (O shameful chance!…

The kiling of another in self-defense upon a sudden and unpremeditated encounter. See Chaud-Medley.

A dealer in other commodities, which are indicated by a word prefixed; as, ship chandler, corn chandler.

Commodities sold by a chandler.

n those thousands with whom thou wouldst not, for any interest, change thy fortune and condition. Jer. Taylor.

The confused, unorganized condition or mass of matter before the creation of distinct and order forms.

buys and sells; a merchant; a buyer or a seller. [Obs.] The word of life is a quick commodity, and ought not, as a drug to be obtruded on those chapmen who are unwilling to buy it. T. Fuller.

A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade, accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador or minister plenipotentiary.

The act or condition of holding chattels; the state of being a chattel.

To talk idly, carelessly, or with undue rapidity; to jabber; to prate. To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue. Shak.

A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop; delay; as, to hold an enemy in check. Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity. Addison. No check, no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth.

To ruminate mentally; to meditate on. He chews revenge, abjuring his offense. Prior. To chew the cud, to chew the food ocer again, as a cow; to ruminate; hence, to meditate. Every beast the parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. Deut. xxiv. 6.…

w of enormous size, whose food was patient wives, and which was therefore in very lean condition.

The state of being a child; the time in which persons are children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty. I have walked before you from my childhood. 1. Sam. xii. 2.