Search the Dictionary

Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



463 words match “CHARACTERISTIC”

CARBOXYL n.
The complex radical, CO.OH, regarded as the essential and characteristic constituent which all oxygen acids of carbon (as formic, acetic, benzoic acids, etc.) have in common; -- called also oxatyl.
CARICATURE n.
An exaggeration, or distortion by exaggeration, of parts or characteristics, as in a picture.
CAUDA GALLI n.
A plume-shaped fossil, supposed to be a seaweed, characteristic of the lower Devonian rocks; as, the cauda galli grit. Gauda galli epoch (Geol.), an epoch at the begining of the Devonian age in eastern America, so named from the characteristic gritty sandstone marked with impressions of cauda galli. See the Diagram und…
CENTRAL a.
Milky Way, to be revolving. A point near Alcyone in the Pleiades was supposed to possess characteristics of the position of such a body.
CESTRACIONT a.
Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the genus Cestracion.
CHARACTERISM n.
A distinction of character; a characteristic. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CHARACTERIZE v.
To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of. The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in most countries. W. Irving.
CHILD n.
ung person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth; hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person, as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc. When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away ch…
CHILDNESS n.
The manner characteristic of a child. [Obs.] "Varying childness." Shak.
CHONDRITIC a.
Granular; pertaining to, or having the granular structure characteristic of, the class of meteorites called chondrites.
CHRISTIAN a.
Characteristic of Christian people; civilized; kind; kindly; gentle; beneficent. The graceful tact; the Christian art. Tennyson. Christian Commission. See under Commission. -- Christian court. Same as Ecclesiastical court. -- Christian era, the present era, commencing with the birth of Christ. It is supposed that owi…
CHTHONIAN a.
orship is widely considered as more primitive in form than that of the Olympian gods. The characteristics of chthonian worship are propitiatory and magical rites and generalized or euphemistic names of the deities, which are supposed to have been primarily ghosts.
CIRCEAN a.
Having the characteristics of Circe, daughter of Sol and Perseis, a mythological enchantress, who first charmed her victims and then changed them to the forms of beasts; pleasing, but noxious; as, a Circean draught.
CIRCUMSTANTIALITY n.
The state, characteristic, or quality of being circumstantial; particularity or minuteness of detail. "I will endeavor to describe with sufficient circumstantiality." De Quincey.
CITIZEN a.
Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a city; characteristic of citizens; effeminate; luxurious. [Obs.] I am not well, But not so citizen a wanton as To seem to die ere sick. Shak.
CITRACONIC a.
Pertaining to, derived from, or having certain characteristics of, citric and aconitic acids. Citraconic acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline, deliquescent substance, C3H4(CO2H)2, obtained by distillation of citric acid. It is a compound of the ethylene series.
CLASS n. 2 definitions
A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated class; the lower classes.
CLOWNISH a.
Of or resembling a clown, or characteristic of a clown; ungainly; awkward. "Clownish hands." Spenser. "Clownish mimic." Prior. -- Clown"ish*ly, adv.
COCKNEYISH a.
Characteristic of, or resembling, cockneys.
COLLECTIVIST n.
Relating to, or characteristic of, collectivism.
← Previous Page 4 of 24 Next →