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A principal or important point of concentration; the nucleus around which things are gathered or to which they tend; an object of attention, action, or force; as, a center of attaction.

nation of the head in animal life as expressed in the physical structure; localization of important organs or parts in or near the head, in animal development. Dana.

ten of a symbolical character, prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in consecrating a church;…

alton. At best, he is but a channel to convey to the National assembly such matter as may import that body to know. Burke.

Weight; import; value. Many suchlike "as's" of great charge. Shak. Back charge. See under Back, a. -- Bursting charge. (a (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc. (b (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of a charge of coarse powder in blasting. -- Charge and discharge (Equity Practice),…

im. This famous deed, commonly called the "Great Charter," either granted or secured very important liberties and privileges to every order of men in the kingdom. Hume.

n any quality or action; most distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of man.

agreeable suffocating odor, and exceedingly poisonous. It is abundant in nature, the most important compound being common salt. It is powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agent. Symbol Cl. Atomic weight, 35.4. Chlorine family, the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, called the halogens, and cla…

it is a hard, brittle, grayish white metal, fusible with difficulty. Its chief commercial importance is for its compounds, as potassium chromate, lead chromate, etc., which are brilliantly colored and are used dyeing and calico printing. Called also chrome.

Something incidental to the main subject, but of less importance; opposed to an essential; -- generally in the plural; as, the circumstantials of religion. Addison.

Continual or importunate talk; prattle; prating. Whose chief intent is to vaunt his spiritual clack. South. Clack box (Mach.), the box or chamber in which a clack valve works. -- Clack dish, a dish with a movable lid, formerly carried by beggars, who clacked the lid to attract notice. Shak. Clack door (Mining), remova…

To utter loud sounds or outcries; to vociferate; to complain; to make importunate demands. The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Shak.

An important edible fish (Gadus morrhua), Taken in immense numbers on the northern coasts of Europe and America. It is especially abundant and large on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland. It is salted and dried in large quantities.

a cursory mention. It might indeed, at that time, have been not improperly called a most important political institution . . . The coffeehouses were the chief organs through which the public opinion of the metropolis vented itself . . . Every man of the upper or middle class went daily to his coffeehouse to learn the…

rench army left Mexico; many financial projects collapse after attaining some success and importance.

To infer; to conclude. [Archaic] Whence some collect that the former word imports a plurality of persons. South.

e who colors; an artist who excels in the use of colors; one to whom coloring is of prime importance. Titian, Paul Veronese, Van Dyck, and the rest of the good colorists. Dryden.

r belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to. Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts xxviii. 31. Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with…

Important. [Archaic] So great and so concerning truth. South.

One who, or that which, concurs; a joint or contributory cause. To all affairs of importance there are three necessary concurrents . . . time, industry, and faculties. Dr. H. More.