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The act of exploring, penetrating, or ranging over for purposes of discovery, especially of geographical discovery; examination; as, the exploration of unknown countries; (Med.)

Intended for a particular purpose; relating to an express; sent on a particular errand; dispatched with special speed; as, an express messenger or train. Also used adverbially. A messenger sent express from the other world. Atterbury. Express color. (Law) See the Note under Color, n., 8.

In an express manner; in direct terms; with distinct purpose; particularly; as, a book written expressly for the young. The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel. Ezek. i. 3. I am sent expressly to your lordship. Shak.

To purify; to clear from anything noxious, offensive, or erroneous; to cleanse; to purge; as, to expurgate a book.

The act of expurgating, purging, or cleansing; purification from anything noxious, offensive, sinful, or erroneous. Milton.

One who expurgates or purifies.

Serving to purify from anything noxious or erroneous; cleansing; purifying. "Expurgatory animadversions." Sir T. Browne. Expurgatory Index. See Index Expurgatorius, under Index.

To purge away. [Obs.] Milton.

That which is extracted; extract; essence. They [books] do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and extraction of that living intellect that bred them. Milton. The extraction of roots. (Math.) (a) The operation of finding the root of a given number or quantity. (b) The method or rule by which the operation is perf…

f industry are conveniently designated extractive: e.g., agriculture, pastoral and mining pursuits, cutting of lumber, etc. Cairnes.

Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions. The Puritans or extreme Protestants. Gladstone.

Tinge; shade of color. [Obs.] Red with an eye of blue makes a purple. Boyle. By the eye, in abundance. [Obs.] Marlowe. -- Elliott eye (Naut.), a loop in a hemp cable made around a thimble and served. -- Eye agate, a kind of circle agate, the central part of which are of deeper tints than the rest of the mass. Brande…

To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter; as, to face an enemy in the field of battale. I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden.

A covering in front, for ornament or other purpose; an exterior covering or sheathing; as, the facing of an earthen slope, sea wall, etc. , to strengthen it or to protect or adorn the exposed surface.

small branches of trees, used for fuel, for raising batteries, filling ditches, or other purposes in fortification; a fascine. Shak.

Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished; clean; pure. A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer.

A present; originally, one given or purchased at a fair. Gay. Fairing box, a box receiving savings or small sums of money. Hannah More.

ving a toothlike lobe on the upper mandible; especially, one of this genus trained to the pursuit of other birds, or game. In the language of falconry, the female peregrine (Falco peregrinus) is exclusively called the falcon. Yarrell.

The art of training falcons or hawks to pursue and attack wild fowl or game.

fall back. (a) To recede or retreat; to give way. (b) To fail of performing a promise or purpose; not to fulfill. -- To fall back upon. (a) (Mil.) To retreat for safety to (a stronger position in the rear, as to a fort or a supporting body of troops). (b) To have recourse to (a reserved fund, or some available expedi…