Search the Dictionary

The act of making a speech or speeches. [Used derisively or humorously.] The dinner and speechifying . . . at the opening of the annual season for the buckhounds. M. Arnold.

The act of making a speech. [R.]

A white waxy substance obtained from cavities in the head of the sperm whale, and used making candles, oilments, cosmetics, etc. It consists essentially of ethereal salts of palmitic acid with ethal and other hydrocarbon bases. The substance of spermaceti after the removal of certain impurities is sometimes called ceti…

The process of becoming or making gangrenous; mortification.

vision in optical instruments; -- used for determining the exact position of objects and making delicate measurements. Fine wires, silk fibers, or lines on glass similarly placed, are called spider lines. -- Spider mite. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of several species of parasitic mites of the genus Argas and allied genera. S…

A stitch in lace making used to fill in open spaces with threads resembling a cobweb.

Bleached yarn in making the linen tape called inkle; unwrought inkle. Knight.

her, or by applying a piece which laps upon the two ends, and then binding, or in any way making fast.

One of the small plates of metal used in making splint armor. See Splint armor, below. The knees and feet were defended by splints, or thin plates of steel. Sir. W. Scott.

Divided deeply; cleft. Split pease, hulled pease split for making soup, etc. -- Split pin (Mach.), a pin with one end split so that it may be spread open to secure it in its place. -- Split pulley, a parting pulley. See under Pulley. -- Split ring, a ring with overlapped or interlocked ends which may be sprung apart…

to burst there with a crack. Lampoons, like squibs, may make a present blaze. Waller. The making and selling of fireworks, and squibs . . . is punishable. Blackstone.

. It is read in the Mass of the Sorrows of the Virgin Mary, and is sung by Catholics when making "the way of the cross" (Via Crucis). See Station, 7 (c).

The act of making firm; firm support; establishment. [R.] Jer. taylor. They serve for stabiliment, propagation, and shade. Derham.

lored or stained by certain metallic pigments fused into its substance, -- often used for making ornament windows.

The which stamps; any instrument for making impressions on other bodies, as a die. 'T is gold so pure It can not bear the stamp without alloy. Dryden.

her object. (b) That part of a rope around which turns are taken with the running part in making a knot of the like. -- Standing rigging (Naut.), the cordage or rope which sustain the masts and remain fixed in their position, as the shrouds and stays, - - distinguished from running rigging.

food, in the production of commercial grape sugar, for stiffening linen in laundries, in making paste, etc.

One who practices the art of making statues. On other occasions the statuaries took their subjects from the poets. Addison.

, above. -- Statute labor, a definite amount of labor required for the public service in making roads, bridges, etc., as in certain English colonies. -- Statute merchant (Eng. Law), a bond of record pursuant to the stat. 13 Edw. I., acknowledged in form prescribed, on which, if not paid at the day, an execution might…

Making a large angle with the plane of the horizon; ascending or descending rapidly with respect to a horizontal line or a level; precipitous; as, a steep hill or mountain; a steep roof; a steep ascent; a steep declivity; a steep barometric gradient.