Search the Dictionary

e flowers. Wordsworth. Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious women engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick; -- a popular designation. There are various orders of the Sisters of Charity.

Brigands in bands, who, about 1793, pillaged, burned, and killed in parts of France; -- so called because they used to burn the feet of their victims to extort money.

A band of singers and dancers. The Grecian tragedy was at first nothing but a chorus of singers. Dryden.

One who is engaged in chromolithography.

the safe transmission of secrets; also, a writing in such characters. His father . . . engaged him when he was very young to write all his letters to England in cipher. Bp. Burnet. Cipher key, a key to assist in reading writings in cipher.

To bespeak; to indicate. [Obs.] Aged honor cites a virtuous youth. Shak.

ich is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.

A vessel employed in sailing along a coast, or engaged in the coasting trade.

r thrust in, by falsehood or deception; as, to cog in a word; to palm off. [R.] Fustian tragedies . . . have, by concerted applauses, been cogged upon the town for masterpieces. J. Dennis To cog a die, to load so as to direct its fall; to cheat in playing dice. Swift.

s of a book that has just been printed, to ascertain whether they are correctly printed, paged, etc. [Eng.]

A collection, body, or society of persons engaged in common pursuits, or having common duties and interests, and sometimes, by charter, peculiar rights and privileges; as, a college of heralds; a college of electors; a college of bishops. The college of the cardinals. Shak. Then they made colleges of sufferers; persons…

One engaged in the business of digging mineral coal or making charcoal, or in transporting or dealing in coal.

An engagement of no great magnitude; or one in which the parties engaged are not armies. Single combat, one in which a single combatant meets a single opponent, as in the case of David and Goliath; also a duel.

lay in which mirth predominates and the termination of the plot is happy; -- opposed to tragedy. With all the vivacity if comedy. Macaulay. Are come to play a pleasant comedy. Shak.

Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy. I can not for the stage a drama lay, Tragic or comic, but thou writ'st the play. B. Jonson.

the act of exposing, endangering, or compromising; also, the state of being pledged or engaged. Hamilton.

contest; rivalry, as for approbation, for a prize, or as where two or more persons are engaged in the same business and each seeking patronage; -- followed by for before the object sought, and with before the person or thing competed with. Competition to the crown there is none, nor can be. Bacon. A portrait, with whic…

ithin which the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church are continuously secluded while engaged in choosing a pope.

United in a league; allied by treaty; engaged in a confederacy; banded together; allied. All the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have made this peace. Shak.

, or give something, to a common purpose; to have a share in any act or effect. We are engaged in war; the secretary of state calls upon the colonies to contribute. Burke.