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One who affects singularity. [Obs.] A clownish singularist, or nonconformist to ordinary usage. Borrow.

fact or truth can be certainly known; a universal doubter; a Pyrrhonist; hence, in modern usage, occasionally, a person who questions whether any truth or fact can be established on philosophical grounds; sometimes, a critical inquirer, in opposition to a dogmatist. All this criticism [of Hume] proceeds upon the errone…

Formerly, defamation generally, whether oral or written; in modern usage, defamation by words spoken; utterance of false, malicious, and defamatory words, tending to the damage and derogation of another; calumny. See the Note under Defamation. Burril.

of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor. In popular usage, the term is often employed to indicate any lawless, revolutionary social scheme. See Communism, Fourierism, Saint-Simonianism, forms of socialism. [Socialism] was first applied in England to Owen's theory of social reconstr…

eak solution of sodium bicarbonate, with some acid to cause effervescence; now, in common usage, a beverage consisting of water highly charged with carbon dioxide (carbonic acid). Fruit sirups, cream, etc., are usually added to give flavor. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic. -- Washing soda, sodium carbonate. [Colloq.…

The mist formed by condensed vapor; visible vapor; -- so called in popular usage.

stockbrokers who meet and transact business by certain recognized forms, regulations, and usages. Wharton. Brande & C. -- Stock farmer, a farmer who makes it his business to rear live stock. -- Stock gillyflower (Bot.), the common stock. See Stock, n., 18. -- Stock gold, gold laid up so as to form a stock, or hoard.…

ly as a pie. Chaucer. These heretics be so stiff and stubborn. Sir T. More. Your stubborn usage of the pope. Shak.

ring secta, followers or witnesses, to prove the plaintiff's demand. [Obs.] (b) In modern usage, to institute an action. -- To follow suit. (Card Playing) See under Follow, v. t.

Any habit, usage, or belief, remaining from ancient times, the origin of which is often unknown, or imperfectly known. The close bearing of the doctrine of survival on the study of manners and customs. Tylor. Survival of the fittest. (Biol.) See Natural selection, under Natural.

arrangement of words in sentences in their necessary relations, according to established usage in any language.

In parliamentary usage, to lay on the table; to postpone, by a formal vote, the consideration of (a bill, motion, or the like) till called for, or indefinitely.

In parliamentary usage, to add (a supplement) to a bill; to append; -- often with on or to. Macaulay.

Equivalent in value, signification, or effect. A usage nearly tantamount to constitutional right. Hallam. The certainty that delay, under these circumstances, was tantamount to ruin. De Quincey.

Manner, with respect to what is pleasing, refined, or in accordance with good usage; style; as, music composed in good taste; an epitaph in bad taste.

In modern usage, a book or roll in which the lands of private persons or corporations are described by their site, boundaries, number of acres, or the like. [Written also terrar.]

eir admission to office. They were obliged also to receive the sacrament according to the usage of the Church of England. Blackstone. -- Test object (Optics), an object which tests the power or quality of a microscope or telescope, by requiring a certain degree of excellence in the instrument to determine its existenc…

e., the dying for one's country. Where the infinitive denotes the design or purpose, good usage formerly allowed the prefixing of for to the to; as, what went ye out for see (Matt. xi. 8). Then longen folk to go on pilgrimages, And palmers for to seeken strange stranders. Chaucer.

ad's transportation for a given period; -- a term and practice of restricted or erroneous usage.

The act or manner of treating; management; manipulation; handling; usage; as, unkind treatment; medical treatment.