Search the Dictionary

To enter in a commonplace book, or to reduce to general heads. Felton.

et, a ticket, as for transportation, which is the evidence of a contract for service at a reduced rate. See 2d Commute, 2.

A ticket for transportation at a reduced rate in consideration of some special circumstance, as increase of travel; specif., a ticket for a certain number of, or for daily, trips between neighboring places at a reduced rate, such as are commonly used by those doing business in a city and living in a suburb. Commutation…

To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper state or condition; to adjust; to regulate. In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. Dryden. How in safety best we may Compose our present evils. Milton.

To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to compress air or water. Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single life. D. Webster. The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through his hist…

Pressed together; compacted; reduced in volume by pressure.

to concentrate by washing; -- opposed to Ant: dilute. Spirit of vinegar concentrated and reduced to its greatest strength. Arbuthnot.

Exciting desire, good or evil. The schools reduce all the passions to these two heads, the concupiscible and irascible appetite. South.

To reduce into another and denser form, as by cold or pressure; as, to condense gas into a liquid form, or steam into water. Condensed milk, milk reduced to the consistence of very thick cream by evaporation (usually with addition of sugar) for preservation and transportation. -- Condensing engine, a steam engine in w…

ke possession of by violent means; to gain dominion over; to subdue by physical means; to reduce; to overcome by force of arms; to cause to yield; to vanquish. "If thou conquer Rome." Shak. If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us. Shak. We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms. Pope.

To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to shorten, narrow, or lesen; as, to contract one's shpere of action. In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties. Dr. H. More.

To make cool or cold; to reduce the temperature of; as, ice cools water. Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue. Luke xvi. 24.

aining to a bone of the shoulder girdle in most birds, reptiles, and amphibians, which is reduced to a process of the scapula in most mammals.

ction of a strong acid or a caustic alkali. Aqua fortis corroding copper . . . is wont to reduce it to a green- blue solution. Boyle.

To burn; to reduce to ashes by the action of fire, either directly or in an oven or retort; to incremate or incinerate; as, to cremate a corpse, instead of burying it.

Not reduced to order or form;unfinished; not arranged or prepared; ill-considered; immature. "Crudeprojects." Macualay. Crude, undigested masses of suggestion, furnishing rather raw materials for composition. De Quincey. The originals of Nature in their crude Conception. Milton.

That which is in a crude or undigested state; hence, superficial, undigested views, not reduced to order or form. "Cridities in the stomach." Arbuthnot.

To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute; as, to crush quartz.

l, intellectual, or moral condition; refinement; culture. Italy . . . was but imperfectly reduced to cultivation before the irruption of the barbarians. Hallam.

To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; to abridge; to diminish; to reduce. I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion. Shak. Our incomes have been curtailed; his salary has been doubled. Macualay.