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A contrivance or machine fixed to the mandrel of a lathe, for holding a tool or the material to be operated upon.

Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean; inferior. See Cyclic poets, under Cyclic. Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how could the Romans have had Dido Dennis.

s composing each chord are not widely distributed over several octaves. -- Close time, a fixed period during which killing game or catching certain fish is prohibited by law. -- Close vowel (Pron.), a vowel which is pronounced with a diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of the cavity of the mouth. --…

in computation as a factor, expressing the amount of some change or effect under certain fixed conditions as to temperature, length, volume, etc.; as, the coefficient of expansion; the coefficient of friction. Arbitrary coefficient (Math.), a literal coefficient placed arbitrarily in an algebraic, expression, the valu…

The act of thinking; thought; meditation; contemplation. "Fixed in cogitation deep." Milton.

The act of aiming at, or directing in a line with, a fixed object. [R.] Johnson.

A crinoid of the genus Antedon and related genera. When young they are fixed by a stem. When adult they become detached and cling to seaweeds, etc., by their dorsal cirri; -- called also feather stars.

hat proportional weight, usually referred to hydrogen as a standard, and for each element fixed and exact, by which an element unites with another to form a distinct compound. The combining weights either are identical with, or are multiples or multiples of, the atomic weight. See Atomic weight, under Atomic, a.…

re. Such a carrier is bound to carry in all cases when he has accommodation, and when his fixed price is tendered, and he is liable for all losses and injuries to the goods, except those which happen in consequence of the act of God, or of the enemies of the country, or of the owner of the property himself. -- Common…

ze or in business; as, tradesmen compete with one another. The rival statesmen, with eyes fixed on America, were all the while competing for European alliances. Bancroft.

o study in order to know; to peruse; to learn; to commit to memory; to regard studiously. Fixedly did look Upon the muddy waters which he conned As if he had been reading in a book. Wodsworth. I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson. Burke. To con answer, to be able to answer. [Obs.] -- To con thanks, to thank;…

Capable of being changed from a liquid to a solid state. [Obs.] They formed a . . . fixed concrescible oil. Fourcroy (Trans. ).

n an underground conduit, from which the current is "picked up" by a plow or other device fixed to the car or electric locomotive. Hence Conduit railway.

y; such assurance as leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self prefixed. Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. Shak. But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.

A fixed state.

, a surface described by a right line moving along any curve and always passing through a fixed point that is not in the plane of that curve.

signing over into the possession of another, or into a different state, with the sense of fixedness in that state, or permanence of possession; as, to consign the body to the grave. At the day of general account, good men are to be consigned over to another state. Atterbury.

To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained. He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. i. 17.

The condition of standing or adhering together, or being fixed in union, as the parts of a body; existence; firmness; coherence; solidity. Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to the natural consistence. Bacon. We are as water, weak, and of no consistence. Jer. Taylor. The same form, substa…

Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid. The humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey.