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W. Irving. -- John Doe (Law), the name formerly given to the fictitious plaintiff in an action of ejectment. Mozley & W. -- John Doree, John Dory. Etym: [John (or F. jaune yellow) + Doree, Dory.] (Zoöl.) An oval, compressed, European food fish (Zeus faber). Its color is yellow and olive, with golden, silvery, and bl…

A joining of causes of action or defense in civil suits or criminal prosecutions.

Joined; united; combined; concerted; as joint action.

To do something for sport, or as a joke; to be merry in words or actions; to jest. He laughed, shouted, joked, and swore. Macaulay.

The right of judicial action; jurisdiction; extent jurisdiction of a judge or court. Our Savior disputes not here the judicature, for that was not his office, but the morality, of divorce. Milton.

To spring free from the ground by the muscular action of the feet and legs; to project one's self through the air; to spring; to bound; to leap. Not the worst of the three but jumps twelve foot and a half by the square. Shak.

execute justice; judicial authority over a cause or class of causes; as, certain suits or actions, or the cognizance of certain crimes, are within the jurisdiction of a particular court, that is, within the limits of its authority or commission.

justness of a description or representation; the justness of a cause. In value the satisfaction I had in seeing it represented with all the justness and gracefulness of action. Dryden.

To record transactions, accounts, or events in; as, to keep books, a journal, etc. ; also, to enter (as accounts, records, etc. ) in a book.

A large tub or vat in which goods are subjected to the action of hot lye or bleaching liquor; -- also called keeve.

Fig.: To inflame, as the passions; to rouse; to provoke; to excite to action; to heat; to fire; to animate; to incite; as, to kindle anger or wrath; to kindle the flame of love, or love into a flame. So is a contentious man to kindle strife. Prov. xxvi. 21. Nothing remains but that I kindle the boy thither. Shak. Kindl…

The practices of a knave; petty villainy; fraud; trickery; a knavish action. This is flat knavery, to take upon you another man's name. Shak.

The character or actions of wandering knights; the practice of wandering in quest of adventures; chivalry; a quixotic or romantic adventure or scheme. The rigid guardian [i. e., conscience] of a blameless heart Is weak with rank knight-erratries o'errun. Young.

The point on which the action of a story depends; the gist of a matter. [Obs.] I shoulde to the knotte condescend, And maken of her walking soon an end. Chaucer.

Transparent; -- said of blood rendered transparent by the action of some solvent agent on the red blood corpuscles.

To some degree disabled by reason of the imperfect action of a limb; crippled; as, a lame man. "Lame of one leg." Arbuthnot. "Lame in both his feet." 2 Sam. ix. 13. "He fell, and became lame." 2 Sam. iv. 4.

The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers. There was . . . language in their very gesture. Shak.

Systematized knowledge of the action and functions of the larynx; in pathology, the department which treats of the diseases of the larynx.

a strong exertion of the will; languor; debility; weariness. The corporeal instruments of action being strained to a high pitch . . . will soon feel a lassitude. Barrow.

al with miryachit and jumping disease, the person affected performing various involuntary actions and making rapid inarticulate ejaculations in imitation of the actions and words of another person.