Search the Dictionary

is the second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 196,220.) It is etymologically related to p , v , f , w and m , letters representing sounds having a close organic affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear and Lat. pear; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and…

A support or resource in reserve. This project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this should blast in proof. Shak.

In France, a second ballot taken after an indecisive first ballot to decide between two or several candidates.

The secondary, inferior, or rear courtyard of a large house; the outer court of a castle.

The second joint of the antennæ of crustaceans.

squared at the quarry. -- Bastard file, a file intermediate between the coarsest and the second cut. -- Bastard type (Print.), type having the face of a larger or a smaller size than the body; e.g., a nonpareil face on a brevier body. -- Bastard wing (Zoöl.), three to five quill feathers on a small joint correspondi…

The second tine of a stag's horn. See under Antler.

taining and declaring that a deceased person is one of "the blessed," or has attained the second degree of sanctity, -- usually a stage in the process of canonization. "The beatification of his spirit." Jer. Taylor.

The second crust formed in port and some other wines after long keeping. It consists of pure, shining scales of tartar, supposed to resemble the wing of a bee.

ennial plant of the genus Beta, which produces an edible root the first year and seed the second year.

To adjudge; to assign by authority. The second was to Triamond behight. Spenser.

ubordination to another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent and secondary possession. A feudatory or beneficiary king of England. Bacon.

The second letter of the Greek alphabet, B, b. See B, and cf. etymology of Alphabet. Beta (B, b) is used variously for classifying, as:

of the cathode rays, but having much higher velocities (about 35,000 to 180,000 miles per second).

The second branch of a stag's horn.

en perishing, as plants which form roots and leaves the first year, and produce fruit the second.

Binding beam (Arch.), the main timber in double flooring. -- Binding joist (Arch.), the secondary timber in double-framed flooring.

s always to break joints; Cross bond, which differs from the English by the change of the second stretcher line so that its joints come in the middle of the first, and the same position of stretchers comes back every fifth line; Combined cross and English bond, where the inner part of the wall is laid in the one method…

The second stomach of a ruminating animal.

troop of two or more patrols of eight scouts each, who are of three classes, tenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class scout.