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the book which is made up of the writings accepted by Christians as of divine origin and authority, whether such writings be in the original language, or translated; the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; -- sometimes in a restricted sense, the Old Testament; as, King James's Bible; Douay Bible; Luther's Bible.…

Pertaining to, or derived from, the Bible; as, biblical learning; biblical authority.

Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty, promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds nations to each other. Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton.

A book of admiralty law, of the highest authority, compiled in the reign of Edw. III. Bouvier. Wharton.

tever obstructs sight or discernment. Nor bigots who but one way see, through blinkers of authority. M. Green.

in, and Venus coper. Chaucer. -- Body snatcher, one who secretly removes without right or authority a dead body from a grave, vault, etc.; a resurrectionist. -- Body snatching (Law), the unauthorized removal of a dead body from the grave; usually for the purpose of dissection.

A person in a state of slavery; one whose person and liberty are subjected to the authority of a master.

knee, and buckled or fastened there; smallclothes. -- To wear the breeches, to usurp the authority of the husband; -- said of a wife. [Colloq.]

A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or private purpose. [Eng.] Apostolical brief, a letter of the pope written on fine parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the secretary of briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," i. e., "fr…

Any body of persons organized for acting or marching together under authority; as, a fire brigade. Brigade inspector, an officer whose duty is to inspect troops in companies before they are mustered into service. -- Brigade major, an officer who may be attached to a brigade to assist the brigadier in his duties.…

er or splendor to. The present queen would brighten her character, if she would exert her authority to instill virtues into her people. Swift.

ng event, as military operations or the health of some distinguished personage, issued by authority for the information of the public.

hief, in contradiction to a system in which the officers of government have an associated authority and responsibility; also, government conducted on this system.

pe or the sovereign; a decision, regulation, code, or constitution made by ecclesiastical authority. Various canons which were made in councils held in the second centry. Hock.

A person having authority over others acting in concert; as, the captain of a boat's crew; the captain of a football team. A trainband captain eke was he. Cowper. The Rhodian captain, relying on . . . the lightness of his vessel, passed, in open day, through all the guards. Arbuthnot.

The condition, rank, post, or authority of a captain or chief commander. "To take the captainship." Shak.

legal instrument, as a commission, indictment, etc., which shows where, when, and by what authority, it taken, found, or executed. Bouvier. Wharton.

rmission to superscribe what conditions he pleases. Hence: Unconditional terms; unlimited authority.

The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority. Ex cathedra Etym: [L., from the chair], in the exercise of one's office; with authority. The Vatican Council declares that the Pope, is infallible "when he speaks ex cathedra." Addis & Arnold's Cath. Dict.

Ar act or series of acts, often of a symbolical character, prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observe…