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A genus of fresh-water or river turtles which have the shell imperfectly developed and covered with a soft leathery skin. They are noted for their agility and rapacity. Called also soft tortoise, soft-shell tortoise, and mud turtle.

hem to shapes." Shak. His limbs how turned, how broad his shoulders spread ! Pope. He was perfectly well turned for trade. Addison.

Imperfectly illuminated; shaded; obscure. O'er the twilight groves and dusky caves. Pope.

A beginner in learning; one who is in the rudiments of any branch of study; a person imperfectly acquainted with a subject; a novice. [Written also tiro.] The management of tyros of eighteen Is difficult. Cowper.

Not fully saturated; imperfectly saturated.

er revolution, to get rid of this illegitimate and usurped government, would of course be perfectly justifiable. Burke.

f truth; habitually speaking truth; truthful; as, veracious historian. The Spirit is most perfectly and absolutely veracious. Barrow.

Any of several fruit flies, esp. Drosophila ampelopophila, which breed in imperfectly sealed preserves and in pickles.

A sharp or uneven edge on a board that is cut from a log not perfectly squared, or that is made in the process of squaring. See Wany, a.

ter of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence.

th; sound in body; not ailing, diseased, or sick; healthy; as, a well man; the patient is perfectly well. "Your friends are well." Shak. Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake Gen. xliii. 27.

In a whole or complete manner; entirely; completely; perfectly. Nor wholly overcome, nor wholly yield. Dryden.

ants, bees, and white ants. The workers are generally females having the sexual organs imperfectly developed. See Ant, and White ant, under White.

Any one of the perfectly developed individuals of a compound animal.