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A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc. Ure. Dunglison.…

Of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. See catechin.

One who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines of Christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially recognized as a Christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to admission to full membership in the church.

The state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which one is a catechumen.

Of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical instructions.

A catechumen. Bp. Morton.

Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an organic acid which is obtained as a white crystalline substance from catechin, asafetida, oil of cloves, etc., and by distillation itself yields pyrocatechin.

A hearer; especially a catechumen in the early church. [Obs.] Shelton.

ship and instructed in all the mysteries of the Christian religion, in distinction from a catechumen, or one yet under instruction.

See Catechu.

One of the tannic acids, extracted from catechu as a white, crystaline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, and catechuin.

See Catechu.

Catechu. [Written also gambeer and gambir.]

he Civil War it was called variously Yankee clover and Rebel clover. -- Japan earth. See Catechu. -- Japan ink, a kind of writing ink, of a deep, glossy black when dry. -- Japan varnish, a varnish prepared from the milky juice of the Rhus vernix, a small Japanese tree related to the poison sumac.

A name given to certain catechumens and penitents who were permitted to join only in parts of church worship.

See Catechu.

tial decomposition of orsellic acid as a white crystalline substance, and related to protocatechuic acid.

ith pyrogallol, and obtained by the decomposition of phloretin, and from certain gums, as catechu, kino, etc. It belongs to the class of phenols. [Called also phloroglucinol.]

ries, found in various plants; -- so called because first obtained by distillation of gum catechu. Called also catechol, oxyphenol. etc.

An examination of catechumens, in the last week of Lent, who were to receive baptism on Easter Day.