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A variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. The mane is given to other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.

Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol.

Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light. Hutton.

Of or pertaining to catoptrics; produced by reflection. Catoptric light, a light in which the rays are concentrated by reflectors into a beam visible at a distance.

urface are tangents. Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.

A literary or a musical composition formed by selections from different authors disposed in a new order.

Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a confused mixture; confusion; disorder.

at which is preferred; the determination of the mind in preferring one thing to another; election.

To make a selection; to decide. They had only to choose between implicit obedience and open rebellion. Prescott.

A selection of passages, with notes, etc., to be used in acquiring a language; as, a Hebrew chrestomathy.

A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain, regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. "I have marshaled my clan." Campbell.

A collection of persons employed to applaud at a theatrical exhibition.

A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles, susponded in the upper atmosphere. I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13.

A confused collection; hence, confusion; disorder; as, the room is in a clutter. He saw what a clutter there was with huge, overgrown pots, pans, and spits. L'Estrange.

A collection or digest of laws; a code. Burrill.

Recollection; recognition. Who, soon as on that knight his eye did glance, Eftsoones of him had perfect cognizance. Spenser.

A collection of the Lives of the Fathers or other devout work read daily in monasteries.

Expressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a singular form; as, a collective name or noun, like assembly, army, juri, etc.

tered passages and puts them together in one book. Volumes without the collector's own reflections. Addison.

A collection, body, or society of persons engaged in common pursuits, or having common duties and interests, and sometimes, by charter, peculiar rights and privileges; as, a college of heralds; a college of electors; a college of bishops. The college of the cardinals. Shak. Then they made colleges of sufferers; persons…