Search the Dictionary

rld in which Christianity prevails, or which is governed under Christian institutions, in distinction from heathen or Mohammedan lands. The Arian doctrine which then divided Christendom. Milton A wide and still widening Christendom. Coleridge.

. Chronic disease, one which is inveterate, of long continuance, or progresses slowly, in distinction from an acute disease, which speedly terminates.

Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from military, ecclesiastical, or official state.

y of men set apart, by due ordination, to the service of God, in the Christian church, in distinction from the laity; in England, usually restricted to the ministers of the Established Church. Hooker.

A citizen who put himself under the protection of a man of distinction and influence, who was called his patron.

of consanguinity which exists between persons descended from the same mother; -- used in distinction from agnation.

hips so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; -- in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.

Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family; as, to invite company to dine.

e condensation, the system of condensing steam by contact with cold metallic surfaces, in distinction from condensation by the injection of cold water.

(Bot.) Blended into one; growing together, so as to obliterate all distinction.

The relation of person by blood, is distinction from affinity or relation by marriage; blood relationship; as, lineal consanguinity; collateral consanguinity. Invoking aid by the ties of consanguinity. Prescott.

espect to what comes after; power to influence or produce an effect; value; moment; rank; distinction. It is a matter of small consequence. Shak. A sense of your own worth and consequence. Cowper. In consequence, hence; for this cause. -- In consequence of, by reason of; as the effect of.

Of some distinction; noteworthy; influential; respectable; -- said of persons. You are, indeed, a very considerable man. Junius.

A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in countradistinction variable. Absolute costant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all cirumstanes, as the number 10, or any numeral. -- Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all change…

tion (Eng. Eccl. Law), jurisdiction over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to voluntary jurisdiction, or that exercised upon matters not opposed or controverted.

Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour; a continental coalition. Macaulay. No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of continental alliances. Hallam.

having the quality of contradistinction; distinguishing by contrast. -- Con`tra*dis*tinc"tive, n.

tes in opposition or answer to a remonstraint. [R.] They did the synod wrong to make this distinction of contraremonstrants and remonstrants. Hales.

Law), a secret writing which destroys, invalidates, or alters, a public deed. -- Counter distinction, contradistinction. [Obs.] -- Counter drain, a drain at the foot of the embankment of a canal or watercourse, for carrying off the water that may soak through. -- Counter extension (Surg.), the fixation of the upper p…

estate, after the manner of the crédit foncier on real estate. In practice, however, this distinction has not been strictly observed.