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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



246 words match “ETYM”

COMA n.
the inflorescence of a plant; or a tuft of long hairs on certain seeds. Coma Berenices ( Etym: [L.] (Astron.), a small constellation north of Virgo; -- called also Berenice's Hair.
COMPOSITION n.
nals so that the sum of the third and fourth to the fourth.COMPOSITIVE Com*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. compositivus.]
CONSCIENCE n.
e, And every tale condemns me for a villain. Shak. As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self- knowledge . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . . Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wr…
CONVERSE n.
, a. Etym: [L. conversus, p.p. of convertere. See Convert.] Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a converse proposition.
CORDON n.
al lace or string, used to secure a mantle in some costumes of state. Cordon bleu (kd" bl Etym: [F., blue cordon], a first-rate cook, or one worthy to be the cook of the cordons bleus, or Knights of the Holy Ghost, famous for their good dinners. -- Cordon sanitaire (kd" s Etym: [F., sanitary cordon], a line of troops…
CORPS n.
visions of a large army, organized as a complete army in itself. -- Corps de logis (ke l Etym: [F., body of the house], the principal mass of a building, considered apart from its wings. -- Corps diplomatique (k Etym: [F., diplomatic body], the body of ministers or envoys accredited to a government.…
CORPUS n.
or dead; the corporeal substance of a thing. Corpus callosum (k; pl. Corpora callosa (-s Etym: [NL., callous body] (Anat.), the great band of commissural fibers uniting the cerebral hemispheries. See Brain. -- Corpus Christi (kr Etym: [L., body of Christ] (R. C. Ch.), a festival in honor of the eucharist, observed on…
COSS n.
A thing (only in phrase below). Rule of Coss, an old name for Algebra. Etym: [It. regola di cosa rule of thing, the unknown quantity being called the cosa, or the thing.]
COUP n.
erm used in various ways to convey the idea of promptness and force. Coup de grace (ke gr Etym: [F.], the stroke of mercy with which an executioner ends by death the sufferings of the condemned; hence, a decisive, finishing stroke. -- Coup de main (ke m Etym: [F.] (Mil.), a sudden and unexpected movement or attack. -…
CUSTOS n.
A keeper; a custodian; a superintendent. [Obs.] Custos rotulorum (r Etym: [LL., keeper of the rolls] (Eng. Law), the principal justice of the peace in a county, who is also keeper of the rolls and records of the sessions of the peace.
DELIRIUM n.
rving. The delirium of the preceding session (of Parliament). Motley. Delirium tremens (. Etym: [L., trembling delirium] (Med.), a violent delirium induced by the excessive and prolonged use of intoxicating liquors. -- Traumatic delirium (Med.), a variety of delirium following injury.
DERNIER a.
Last; final. Dernier ressort ( Etym: [F.], last resort or expedient.
DIABETES n.
ntains saccharine matter, in which case the disease is generally fatal. Diabetes mellitus Etym: [NL., sweet diabetes], that form of diabetes in which the urine contains saccharine matter. -- Diabetes insipidus Etym: [NL., lit., diabetes], the form of diabetes in which the urine contains no abnormal constituent.…
DOUBLET n.
pl. Etym: [Cf. Pr. doblier, dobler draughtboard.]
DOWN n.
pl. Etym: [From the adverb.]
DUPLEX a.
inders are placed side by side, one operating the valves of the other. -- Duplex querela Etym: [L., double complaint] (Eccl. Law), a complaint in the nature of an appeal from the ordinary to his immediate superior, as from a bishop to an archbishop. Mozley & W. -- Duplex telegraphy, a system of telegraphy for sending…
EIDER n.
tabilis), and the spectacled eider (Arctonetta Fischeri) are related species. Eider down. Etym: [Cf. Icel. æ\'ebardun, Sw. eiderdun, Dan. ederduun.] Down of the eider duck, much sought after as an article of luxury.
EQUATE v.
tances. Palgrave gives both scrolle and scrowe and equates both to F[rench] rolle. Skeat (Etymol. Dict. ). Equating for grades (Railroad Engin.), adding to the measured distance one mile for each twenty feet of ascent. -- Equating for curves, adding half a mile for each 360 degrees of curvature.
EXECUTOR n.
The person appointed by a Executor de son tort Etym: [Of., executor of his own wrong] (Law), a stranger who intermeddles without authority in the distribution of the estate of a deceased person.
F n.
ue of Greek letter came from the Phoenician, the ultimate source being probably Egyptian. Etymologically fis most closely related to p,k,v, and b; as in E. five, Gr. f, L. lupus, Gr. fox, vixen ; fragile, break ; fruit, brook, v. t.; E. bear, L. ferre. See Guide to Pronunciation, sq. root 178, 179, 188, 198, 230.…
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