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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



751 words match “ANCIENT”

CABALLERIA n.
An ancient Spanish land tenure similar to the English knight's fee; hence, in Spain and countries settled by the Spanish, a land measure of varying size. In Cuba it is about 33 acres; in Porto Rico, about 194 acres; in the Southwestern United States, about 108 acres.
CACKEREL n.
The mendole; a small worthless Mediterranean fish considered poisonous by the ancients. See Mendole.
CADET n.
The younger of two brothers; a younger brother or son; the youngest son. The cadet of an ancient and noble family. Wood.
CALEDONIA n.
The ancient Latin name of Scotland; -- still used in poetry.
CALENDS n.
The first day of each month in the ancient Roman calendar. [Written also kalends.] The Greek calends, a time that will never come, as the Greeks had no calends.
CAMBRIA n.
The ancient Latin name of Wales. It is used by modern poets.
CAMP n.
An ancient game of football, played in some parts of England. Halliwell. Camp bedstead, a light bedstead that can be folded up onto a small space for easy transportation. -- camp ceiling (Arch.), a kind ceiling often used in attics or garrets, in which the side walls are inclined inward at the top, following the slope…
CANCER n.
ation. It was so called, perhaps, from the great veins which surround it, compared by the ancients to the claws of a crab. The term it now restricted to such a growth made up of aggregations of epithelial cells, either without support or embedded in the meshes of a trabecular framework.
CANONIC; CANNONICAL n.
sh them from heretics. -- Canonical life, the method or rule of living prescribed by the ancient cleargy who lived in community; a course of living prescribed for the clergy, less rigid that the monastic, and more restrained that the secular. -- Canonical obedience, submission to the canons of a canons of a church, e…
CANTO n.
The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music; anciently the tenor, now the soprano. Canto fermo ( Etym: [It.] (Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the plain song.
CAPRICORN n.
A southern constellation, represented on ancient monuments by the figure of a goat, or a figure with its fore part like a fish. Capricorn beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Carambucidæ; one of the long-horned beetles. The larvæ usually bore into the wood or bark of trees and shurbs and are often destructive. See…
CARDINAL a.
y remain through life in some fishes. -- Cardinal virtues, preëminent virtues; among the ancients, prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude. -- Cardinal winds, winds which blow from the cardinal points due north, south, east, or west.
CARTHAGINIAN a.
Of a pertaining to ancient Carthage, a city of northern Africa. -- n.
CATAPASM n.
A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc. Dunglison.
CATAPULT n.
An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.
CATECHETIC; CATECHETICAL a.
Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching. Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.
CATHOLIC n.
ected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith.
CELLA n.
The part inclosed within the walls of an ancient temple, as distinguished from the open porticoes.
CELT n.
One of an ancient race of people, who formerly inhabited a great part of Central and Western Europe, and whose descendants at the present day occupy Ireland, Wales, the Highlands of Scotland, and the northern shores of France. [Written also Kelt. The letter C was pronounced hard in Celtic languages.]…
CELTIBERIAN a.
Of or pertaining to the ancient Celtiberia (a district in Spain lying between the Ebro and the Tagus) or its inhabitants the Celtiberi (Celts of the river Iberus). -- n.
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