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off from something; to divide; to part in any way, especially by violence, as by cutting, rending, etc.; as, to sever the head from the body. The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just. Matt. xiii. 49.

To render more quick or acute in perception; to make more ready or ingenious. The air . . . sharpened his visual ray To objects distant far. Milton. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves and sharpens our skill. Burke.

To break at once into many pieces; to dash, burst, or part violently into fragments; to rend into splinters; as, an explosion shatters a rock or a bomb; too much steam shatters a boiler; an oak is shattered by lightning. A monarchy was shattered to pieces, and divided amongst revolted subjects. Locke.…

A sand bank in the sea, or a rock, or ledge of rocks, rendering the water shallow, and dangerous to ships. On the tawny sands and shelves. Milton. On the secret shelves with fury cast. Dryden.

That which renders pastry short or friable, as butter, lard, etc.

To make signal or eminent; to render distinguished from what is common; to distinguish. It is this passion which drives men to all the ways we see in use of signalizing themselves. Burke.

To render silken or silklike. Dyer.

An English rendering of the LAtin Dominus, the academical title of a bachelor of arts; -- formerly colloquially, and sometimes contemptuously, applied to the clergy. Nares. Instead of a faithful and painful teacher, they hire a Sir John, which hath better skill in playing at tables, or in keeping of a garden, than in G…

to rest; to abide; to rest in any position or condition. And Moses said to . . . the children of Reuben, Shall your brothren go to war, and shall ye sit here Num. xxxii. 6. Like a demigod here sit I in the sky. Shak.

To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens.

the scales of mica or crystals of hornblende, which are usually minute, form thin laminæ, rendering the rock easily cleavable.

To make even and smooth; to render smooth, soft, and glossy; to smooth over. Sleeking her soft alluring locks. Milton. Gentle, my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks. Shak.

or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as, oily substances render things slippery.

To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; to slit; as, to sliver wood. Shak. They 'll sliver thee like a turnip. Sir W. Scott.

To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer. Shak.

A ship that sails slowly. [Obs.] Halliwell. His rendezvous for his fleet, and for all slugs to come to, should be between Calais and Dover. Pepys.

Vigorous; sharp; severe. "Smart skirmishes, in which many fell." Clarendon.

Native zinc carbonate. It generally occurs in stalactitic, reniform, or botryoidal shapes, of a white to gray, green, or brown color. See Note under Calamine.

mon military drum, as distinguished from the bass drum; -- so called because (in order to render it more resonant) it has stretched across its lower head a catgut string or strings.

ing [as sighing], stronger. Bacon. She sighed, she sobbed, and, furious with despair. She rent her garments, and she tore her hair. Dryden.