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trument in writing, from the sovereign power of a state or country, executed in due form, bestowing rights, franchises, or privileges. The king [John, a.d. 1215], with a facility somewhat suspicious, signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. This famous deed, commonly called the "Great Charter," either g…

A bird of the genus Icteria, allied to the warblers, in America. The best known species are the yelow-breasted chat (I. viridis), and the long chat (I. longicauda). In Europe the name is given to several birds of the family Saxicolidæ, as the stonechat, and whinchat. Bush chat. (Zoöl.) See under Bush.…

The best part; that which is preferable. The flower and choice Of many provinces from bound to bound. Milton. To make a choice of, to choose; to select; to separate and take in preference.

a genus of poisonous umbelliferous plants, of which the water hemlock or cowbane is best known.

A genus of hemipterous insects of which the bedbug is the best known example. See Bedbug.

tree growing in Ceylon. It is aromatic, of a moderately pungent taste, and is one of the best cordial, carminative, and restorative spices.

to civil affairs. Civic crown (Rom. Antiq.), a crown or garland of oak leaves and acorns, bestowed on a soldier who had saved the life of a citizen in battle.

d Romans, esp. to Greek or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds. Though throned midst Latium's classic plains. Mrs. Hemans. The epithet classical, as applied t…

Of, pertaining to, or confined in, a cloister; recluse. [Written also cloisteral.] Best become a cloistral exercise. Daniel.

oth Macaulay. The cloth, the clergy, are constituted for administering and for giving the best possible effect to . . . every axiom. I. Taylor. Body cloth. See under Body. -- Cloth of gold, a fabric woven wholly or partially of threads of gold. -- Cloth measure, the measure of length and surface by which cloth is mea…

ison. -Club moss (Bot.), an evergreen mosslike plant, much used in winter decoration. The best know species is Lycopodium clavatum, but other Lycopodia are often called by this name. The spores form a highly inflammable powder. -- Club root (Bot.), a disease of cabbages, by which the roots become distorted and the hea…

s in a train of reasoning; to be logically consistent. They have been inserted where they best seemed to cohere. Burke.

To bestow or confer. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

The act of conferring or bestowing. [Obs.] Not by the collation of the king . . . but by the people. Bacon.

nt state; as, the British colonies in America. The first settlers of New England were the best of Englishmen, well educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was never a colony formed of better materials. Ames.

in antiquity, as the Colossus of Nero in Rome, the Colossus of Apollo at Rhodes. He doth bestride the narrow world Like a colossus. Shak.

o challenge; to claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people; the best goods command the best price. 'Tis not in mortals to command success. Addison.

To be equal with; to match. [R.] In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Shak.

rts; complicated; intricate. When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best possible way, the process is difficult and complex. Whewell. Complex fraction. See Fraction. -- Complex number (Math.), in the theory of numbers, an expression of the form a + bsq. root-1, when a and b are ordinary integers.…

in composition; as, a dark- complexioned or a ruddy-complexioned person. A flower is the best-complexioned grass, as a pearl is the best- colored clay. Fuller.