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e mixtures, chiefly of ammonium nitrate and a nitrate derivative of naphthalene. They are stable, but require protection from moisture. As prepared it is a compressed cylinder of the explosive, filled with loose powder of the same composition, all inclosed in waterproof wrappers. It is used for mining.…

Not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable mind; not firm in opinion or purpose; inconstant; capricious; as, Fortune's fickle wheel. Shak. They know how fickle common lovers are. Dryden.

Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed; steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or will; strong; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent. Under spread ensigns, moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion. Milton. By one man's firm obediency fully tried. Milton.…

Infirm; unstable. "Firmless sands." Sylvester.

Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable. After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well. Shak. -- Fit"ful*ly, adv. -- Fit"ful*ness, n. The victorius trumpet peal Dies fitfully away. Macaulay.

To make firm, stable, or fast; to set or place permanently; to fasten immovably; to establish; to implant; to secure; to make efinite. An ass's nole I fixed on his head. Shak. O, fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers May also fix their reverence. Herbert. His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. Ps. cxii. 7. And…

Stable; non-volatile. Fixed air (Old Chem.), carbonic acid or carbon dioxide; -- so called by Dr. Black because it can be absorbed or fixed by strong bases. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Fixed alkali (Old Chem.), a non-volatile base, as soda, or potash, in distinction from the volatile alkali ammonia. -- Fixe…

In a fixed, stable, or constant manner.

Fixed position; stable condition; firmness. [Obs.] Shak.

To be unstable; to be easily or often moved. And the free soul to flitting air resigned. Dryden.

Unstable; fluttering. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Flowing; unstable; inconstant; variable. The flux nature of all things here. Barrow.

Hateful; detestable; shameful; odious; wretched. "The foul with Sycorax." Shak. Who first seduced them to that foul revolt Milton.

A structure of four bars, adjustable in size, on which cloth, etc., is stretched for quilting, embroidery, etc.

Not firm or solid; soft; unstable. Bacon.

Characterized by inconstancy; unstable; changeable; fickle; wild; thoughtless; heedless. "Giddy, foolish hours." Rowe. "Giddy chance." Dryden. Young heads are giddy and young hearts are warm. Cowper.

young man; a waiter; a servant; especially, a man or boy who has charge of horses, or the stable. Spenser.

Capable of being, or deserving to be, hated; odious; detestable.

Hateful; detestable. [Obs.]

a cigar. Young Frank Clavering stole his father's Havannahs, and . . . smoked them in the stable. Thackeray.