Chapter CVI: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (15)

2. (Med.) (a) A grating or crackling sensation or sound, as that produced by rubbing two fragments of a broken bone together, or by pressing upon cellular tissue containing air. (b) A crepitant râle.

CREPITUS Crep"i*tus (krp"-ts), n. Etym: [L., fr. crepare to crack.] (Med.) (a) The noise produced bu a sudden discharge of wind from the bowels. (b) Same as Crepitation, 2.

CREPON Cre"pon (kr"pn; F. kr`pn"), n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A thin stuff made of the finest wool or silk, or of wool and silk.

CREPT Crept (krpt),

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Creep.

CREPUSCLE; CREPUSCULE Cre*pus"cle (kr-ps"s'l), Cre*pus"cule (kr-ps"kl), n. Etym: [L. crepusculum, fr. creper dusky, dark: cf. F. cr.]

Defn: Twilight. Bailey.

CREPUSCULAR; CREPUSCULOUS Cre*pus"cu*lar (-k-lr), Cre*pus"cu*lous (-ls), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cr.]

1. Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; hence, imperfectly clear or luminous. This semihistorical and crepuscular period. Sir G. C. Lewis.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Flying in the twilight or evening, or before sunrise; -- said certain birds and insects. Others feed only in the twilight, as bats and owls, and are called crepuscular. Whewell.

CREPUSCULINE Cre*pus"cu*line, a.

Defn: Crepuscular. [Obs.] Sprat.

CRESCENCE Cres"cence (krs"sens), n. Etym: [See Crescent.]

Defn: Increase; enlargement. [Obs.] And toward the moon's attractive crescence bend. H. Brooke.

CRESCENDO Cres*cen"do (krs-sn"d; It. kr-shn"d), a. & adv. Etym: [It., from crescere to increase. See Crescent.] (Mus.)

Defn: With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone; -- a direction for the performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word on the score.

CRESCENDO Cres*cen"do, n. (Mus.) (a) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with which a passage is performed. (b) A pssage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of tone.

CRESCENT Cres"cent (krs"sent), n. Etym: [OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of cro, OF. creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create. See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo.]

1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state.

2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon.

3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge; as: (a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana. (b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence: (c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople. The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale, dying crescent is daunted. Campbell.

4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by René of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services. Brande & C.

5. (Her.)

Defn: The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; -- often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.

CRESCENT Cres"cent (krs"sent), a.

1. Shaped like a crescent. Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton.

2. Increasing; growing. O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. Tennyson.

CRESCENT Cres"cent, v. t.

1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [R.] Anna Seward.

2. To adorn with crescents.

CRESCENTIC Cres*cen"tic (krs-sn"tk), a.

Defn: Crescent-shaped. "Crescentic lobes." R. Owen.

CRESCENTWISE Cres"cent*wise` (krs"sent-wz`), adv.

Defn: In the form of a crescent; like a crescent. Tennyson.

CRESCIVE Cres"cive (krs"sv), a. Etym: [L. crescere to increase.]

Defn: Increasing; growing. [R.] Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. Shak.

CRESOL Cre"sol (kr"sl), n. Etym: [From Creosote.] (Chem.)

Defn: Any one of three metameric substances, CH3.C6H4.OH, homologous with and resembling phenol. They are obtained from coal tar and wood tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or solids.

Note: [Called also cresylic acid.]

CRESORCIN Cre*sor"cin (kr-sr"sn), n. (Chem.)

Defn: Same as Isorcin.

CRESS Cress (krs), n.; pl. Cresses (kr. Etym: [OE. ces, cresse, kers, kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers, G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw. krasse, and possibly also to OHG. chresan to creep.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic.

Note: The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called cresses. To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread. Goldsmith. Bitter cress. See under Bitter. -- Not worth a cress, or "not worth a kers." a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless "not worth a curse." Skeat.

CRESSELLE Cres*selle" (krs-sl"), n. Etym: [F. crécelle rattle.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A wooden rattle sometimes used as a substitute for a bell, in the Roman Catholic church, during the latter part of Holy Week, or the last week of Lent.

CRESSET Cres"set (krs"st), n. Etym: [OF. crasset, cresset, sort of lamp or torch; perh. of Dutch or German origin, and akin to E. cruse, F. creuset crucible, E. crucible.]

1. An open frame or basket of iron, filled with combustible material, to be burned as a beacon; an open lamp or firrepan carried on a pole in nocturnal processions. Starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed With naphtha and asphaltus. Milton. As a cresset true that darts its length Of beamy luster from a tower of strength. Wordsworth.

2. (Coopering)

Defn: A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible. Knight.

CRESSY Cress"y (krs"), a.

Defn: Abounding in cresses. The cressy islets white in flower. Tennyson.

CREST Crest (krst), n. Etym: [OF. creste, F. cr, L. crista.]

1. A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc. Darwin. [Attack] his rising crest, and drive the serpent back. C. Pitt.

2. The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the weare; hence, also, the helmet. Stooping low his lofty crest. Sir W. Scott. And on his head there stood upright A crest, in token of a knight. Gower.

3. (Her.)

Defn: A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a relic of the ancient cognizance. See Cognizance, 4.

4. The upper curve of a horse's neck. Throwing the base thong from his bending crest. Shak.

5. The ridge or top of wave. Like wave with crest of sparkling foam. Sir W. Scott.

6. The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.

7. The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage. Now the time is come That France must vail her lofty plumed crest. Shak.

8. (Arch.)

Defn: The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc. The finials of gables and pinnacles are sometimes called crest. Parker.

9. (Engin.)

Defn: The top line of a slope or embankment. Crest tile, a tile made to cover the ridge of a roof, fitting upon it like a saddle. -- Interior crest (Fort.), the highest line of the parapet.

CREST Crest, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crested; p. pr. & vb. n. Cresting.]

1. To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for.

His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm Crested the world. Shak. Mid groves of clouds that crest the mountain's brow. Wordsworth.

2. To mark with lines or streaks, like, or regarded as like, waving plumes. Like as the shining sky in summer's night, . . . Is crested with lines of fiery light. Spenser.

CREST Crest (krst), v. i.

Defn: To form a crest.

CRESTED Crest"ed (krst"d), a.

1. Having a crest. But laced crested helm. Dryden.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a crest of feathers or hair upon the head. "The crested bird." Dryden.

3. (Bott.)

Defn: Bearing any elevated appendage like a crest, as an elevated line or ridge, or a tuft. Gray.

CRESTFALLEN Crest"fall`en (-fl`'n), a.

1. With hanging head; hence, dispirited; dejected; cowed. Let it make thee crestfullen; Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride. Shak.

2. Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side; -- said of a horse.

CRESTING Crest"ing, n. (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental finish on the top of a wall or ridge of a roof.

CRESTLESS Crest"less, a.

Defn: Without a crest or escutcheon; of low birth. "Crestless yeomen." Shak.

CRESYLIC Cre*syl"ic (kr-sl"k), a. Etym: [From Creosote.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cresol, creosote, etc. Cresylic acid. (Chem.) See Cresol.

CRETACEOUS Cre*ta"ceous (kr-t"shs), a. Etym: [L. cretaceus, fr. creta chalk. See Crayon.]

Defn: Having the qualities of chalk;abounding with chalk; chalky; as, cretaceous rocks and formations. See Chalk. Cretaceous acid, an old name for carbonic acid. -- Cretaceous formation (Geol.), the series of strata of various kinds, including beds of chalk, green sand, etc., formed in the Cretaceous period; -- called also the chalk formation. See the Diagram under Geology. -- Cretaceous period (Geol.), the time in the latter part of the Mesozoic age during which the Cretaceous formation was deposited.

CRETACEOUS; CRETACIC Cre*ta"ceous, a. Also Cre*tac"ic. (Geol.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the period of time following the Jurassic and preceding the Eocene.

CRETACEOUSLY Cre*ta"ceous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a chalky manner; as chalk.

CRETAN Cre"tan (kr"tan), a.

Defn: Pertaining to Crete, or Candia. -- n.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Crete or Candia.

CRETE Crete (krt), n. Etym: [L. Cres, Cretis.]

Defn: A Cretan

CRETIAN Cre"tian (kr"shan), a. & n.

Defn: See Cretan.

CRETIC Cre"tic (kr"tk), n. Etym: [L. Creticus (sc. pes foot), Gr. (Gr. & Lat. Pros.)

Defn: A poetic foot, composed of one short syllable between two long ones (-Bentley.

CRETICISM Cre"ti*cism (-t-sz'm), n.

Defn: Falsehood; lying; cretism.

CRETIN Cre"tin (kr"tn), n. Etym: [F. crétin; of uncertain origin.]

Defn: One afflicted with cretinism.

CRETINISM Cre"tin*ism (kr"tn-*z'm), n. Etym: [F. cr.]

Defn: A condition of endemic or inherited idiocy, accompanied by physical degeneracy and deformity (usually with goiter), frequent in certain mountain valleys, esp. of the Alps.

CRETINOUS Cre"tin*ous (-s), a.

Defn: Having the characteristics of a cretin. "Cretinous stupefaction." Ruskin.

CRETISM Cre"tism (kr"tz'm), n. Etym: [Gr. Titus i. 12.]

Defn: A Cretan practice; iying; a falsehood.

CRETONNE Cre*tonne" (kr-tn"), n. Etym: [F., gr. Creton, its first manufacturer.]

1. A strong white fabric with warp of hemp and welt of flax.

2. A fabric with cotton warp and woolen weft.

3. A kind of chintz with a glossy surface.

CRETOSE Cre"tose (kr"ts), a. Etym: [L. cretosus, fr. creta chalk.]

Defn: Chalky; cretaceous. [Obs.] Ash.

CREUTZER Creut"zer

Defn: (kroitn. See Kreutzer.

CREUX Creux (kr), n. Etym: [F., adj., hollow, n., a hollow.]

Defn: Used in English only in the expression en creux. Thus, engraving en creux is engraving in intaglio, or by sinking or hollowing out the design.

CREVALLE Cre`val*le" (kr`vl-l"), n. Etym: [Prob. of same origin as cavally. See Cavally.] (Zoöl.) (a) The cavally or jurel. See Cavally, and Jurel. (b) The pompano (Trachynotus Carolinus).

CREVASSE Cre`vasse" (kr`vs"), n. Etym: [F. See Crevice.]

1. A deep crevice or fissure, as in embankment; one of the clefts or fissure by which the mass of a glacier is divided.

2. A breach in the levee or embankment of a river, caused by the pressure of the water, as on the lower Mississippi. [U.S.]

CREVET Crev"et (krv"t), n. Etym: [Cf. Creut.]

Defn: A crucible or melting pot; a cruset. Crabb.

CREVICE Crev"ice (krv"s), n. Etym: [OE. crevace, crevice. F. crevasse, fr. crever to break, burst, fr. L. crepare to crack,break. Cf. Craven, Crepitate, Crevasse.]

Defn: A narrow opening resulting from a split or crack or the separation of a junction; a cleft; a fissure; a rent. The mouse, Behind the moldering wainscot, shrieked, Or from the crevice peered about. Tennyson.

CREVICE Crev"ice, v. t.

Defn: To crack; to flaw. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

CREVICED Crev"iced (-st), a.

Defn: Having a crevice or crevices; as, a creviced structure for storing ears of corn. Trickling through the creviced rock. J. Cunningham.

CREVIS Crev"is (-s), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The crawfish. [Prov. Eng.]

CREW Crew (kr), n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Manx shearwater.

CREW Crew (kr), n. Etym: [From older accrue accession, reAccrue, Crescent.]

1. A company of people associated together; an assemblage; a throng. There a noble crew Of lords and ladies stood on every side. Spenser. Faithful to whom to thy rebellious crew Milton.

2. The company of seamen who man a ship, vessel, or at; the company belonging to a vessel or a boat.

Note: The word crew, in law, is ordinarily used as equivalent to ship's company, including master and other officers. When the master and other officers are excluded, the context always shows it. Story. Burrill.

3. In an extended sense, any small body of men associated for a purpose; a gang; as (Naut.), the carpenter's crew; the boatswain's crew.

Syn. -- Company; band; gang; horde; mob; herd; throng; party.

CREW Crew (kr),

Defn: imp. of Crow.

CREWEL Crew"el (kr"l), n. Etym: [Perh. for clewel, dim. of clew a ball of thread; or cf. D. krul curl, E. curl. sq. root26.]

Defn: Worsted yarn,, slackly twisted, used for embroidery.

CREWELWORK Crew"el*work` (-wrk`), n.

Defn: Embroidery in crewels, commonly done upon some plain material, such as linen.

CREWET Crew"et (kr"t), n.

Defn: See Cruet.

CRIB Crib (krb), n. Etym: [AS. crybb; akin to OS. kribbja, D. krib, kribbe, Dan. krybbe, G. krippe, and perh. to MHG. krebe basket, G, korb, and E. rip a sort of wicker basket.]

1. A manger or rack; a feeding place for animals. The steer lion at one crib shall meet. Pope.

2. A stall for oxen or other cattle. Where no oxen are, the crib is clean. Prov. xiv. 4.

3. A small inclosed bedstead or cot for a child.

4. A box or bin, or similar wooden structure, for storing grain, salt, etc.; as, a crib for corn or oats.

5. A hovel; a hut; a cottage. Why rather, Sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, . . . Than in the perfumed chambers of the great Shak.

6. (Mining)

Defn: A structure or frame of timber for a foundation, or for supporting a roof, or for lining a shaft.

7. A structure of logs to be anchored with stones; -- used for docks, pier, dams, etc.

8. A small raft of timber. [Canada]

9. A small theft; anything purloined;; a plagiaris [Colloq.] The Latin version technically called a crib. Ld. Lytton. Occasional perusal of the Pagan writers, assisted by a crib. Wilkie Collins.

10. A miner's luncheon. [Cant] Raymond.

11. (Card Playing)

Defn: The discarded cards which the dealer can use in scoring points in cribbage.

CRIB Crib, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cribbed (krbd); p.pr. & vb. n. Cribbing.]

1. To shut up or confine in a narrow habitation; to cage; to cramp. If only the vital energy be not cribbed or cramped. I. Taylor. Now I am cabin'd, cribbed, confined. Shak.

2. To pilfer or purloin; hence, to steal from an author; to appropriate; to plagiarize; as, to crib a line from Milton. [Colloq.] Child, being fond of toys, cribbed the necklace. Dickens.

CRIB Crib, v. i.

1. To crowd together, or to be confined, as in a crib or in narrow accommodations. [R.] Who sought to make . . . bishops to crib in a Presbyterian trundle bed. Gauden.

2. To make notes for dishonest use in recitation or examination. [College Cant]

3. To seize the manger or other solid object with the teeth and draw in wind; -- said of a horse.

CRIBBAGE Crib"bage (krb"j), n. Etym: [From Crib, v. t., 2.]

Defn: A game of cards, played by two or four persons, in which there is a crib. (See Crib, 11.) It is characterized by a great variety of chances. A man's fancy would be summed up in cribbage. John Hall. Cribbage board, a board with holes and pegs, used by cribbage players to score their game.

CRIBBER; CRIB-BITER Crib"ber (krb"r), Crib"-bit`er (-bt"r), n.

Defn: A horse that has the habit of cribbing.

CRIBBING Crib"bing (krb"bng), n.

1. The act of inclosing or confining in a crib or in close quarters.

2. Purloining; stealing; plagiarizing. [Colloq.]

3. (Mining)

Defn: A framework of timbers and plank backing for a shaft lining, to prevent caving, percolation of water, etc.

4. A vicious habit of a horse; crib-biting. The horse lays hold of the crib or manger with his teeth and draws air into the stomach with a grunting sound.

CRIB-BITING Crib"-bit`ing (krb"bt`ng), n.

Defn: Same as Cribbing, 4.

CRIBBLE Crib"ble (krb"b'l), n. Etym: [F. crible, LL. criblus sieve, fr. L. cribrum.]

1. A coarse sieve or screen.

2. Coarse flour or meal. [Obs.] Johnson.

CRIBBLE Crib"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cribbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cribbling (-blng).] Etym: [Cf. F. cribler.]

Defn: To cause to pass through a sieve or riddle; to sift.

CRIBBLE Crib"ble, a.

Defn: Coarse; as, cribble bread. [Obs.] Huloet.

CRIBELLUM Cri*bel"lum (krbl"lm), n. Etym: [L., a small sieve, dim. of cribrum sieve.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A peculiar perforated organ of certain spiders (Ciniflonidæ), used for spinning a special kind of silk.

CRIBRATE Crib"rate (krb"rt), a. Etym: [L. cribratus, p.p. of cribrare to sift, fr. cribrum a sieve.]

Defn: Cribriform.

CRIBRATION Cri*bra"tion (kr-br"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cribration, fr. L. cribrare to sift. See Cribble, n.] (Pharmacy)

Defn: The act or process of separating the finer parts of drugs from the coarser by sifting.

CRIBRIFORM Crib"ri*form (krb"rfrm), a. Etym: [L. cribrum sieve + -form: cf. F. cribriforme.]

Defn: Resembling, or having the form of, a sieve; pierced with hokes; as, the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone; a cribriform compress. Cribriform cells (Bot.), those which have here and there oblique or transverse sieve plates, or places perforated with many holes.

CRIBROSE Crib"rose (krb"rs), a. Etym: [L. cribrum sieve.]

Defn: Perforated like a sieve; cribriform.

CRIC Cric (krk), n. Etym: [prob. fr. F. cric a jackscrew.]

Defn: The ring which turns inward and condenses the flame of a lamp. Knight.

CRICK Crick (krk), n. Etym: [See Creak.]

Defn: The creaking of a door, or a noise resembling it. [Obs.] Johnson.

CRICK Crick, n. Etym: [The same as creek a bending, twisting. See Creek, Crook.]

1. A painful, spasmodic affection of the muscles of some part of the body, as of the neck or back, rendering it difficult to move the part. To those also that, with a crick or cramp, have thei necks drawn backward. Holland.

2. Etym: [Cf. F. cric.]

Defn: A small jackscrew. Knight.

CRICKET Crick"et (krk"t), n. Etym: [OE. criket, OF. crequet, criquet; prob. of German origin, and akin to E. creak; cf. D. kriek a cricket. See Creak.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllus, and allied genera. The males make chirping, musical notes by rubbing together the basal parts of the veins of the front wings.

Note: The common European cricket is Gryllus domesticus; the common large black crickets of America are G. niger, G. neglectus, and others. Balm cricket. See under Balm. -- Cricket bird, a small European bird (Silvia locustella); -- called also grasshopper warbler. -- Cricket frog, a small American tree frog (Acris gryllus); -- so called from its chirping.

CRICKET Crick"et, n. Etym: [AS. cricc, crycc, crooked staff, crutch. Perh. first used in sense 1, a stool prob. having been first used as a wicket. See Crutch.]

1. A low stool.

2. A game much played in England, and sometimes in America, with a ball, bats, and wickets, the players being arranged in two contesting parties or sides.

3. (Arch.)

Defn: A small false roof, or the raising of a portion of a roof, so as to throw off water from behind an obstacle, such as a chimney.

CRICKET Crick"et, v. i.

Defn: To play at cricket. Tennyson.

CRICKETER Crick"et*er (krk"t-r), n.

Defn: One who plays at cricket.

CRICOID Cri"coid (kr"koid), a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Resembling a ring; -- said esp. of the cartilage at the larynx, and the adjoining parts.

CRICOTHYROID Cri`co*thy"roid (-k-th"roid), a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining both to the cricoid and the thyroid cartilages.

CRIED Cried (krd),

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Cry.

CRIER Cri"er (kr"r), n. Etym: [Cf. F. crieur. See Cry.]

Defn: One who cries; one who makes proclamation. Specifically, an officer who proclams the orders or directions of a court, or who gives public notice by loud proclamation; as, a town-crier. He openeth his mouth like a crier. Ecclus. xx. 15.

CRIME Crime (krm), n.Etym: [F. crime, fr. L. crimen judicial decision, that which is subjected to such a decision, charge, fault, crime, fr. the root of cernere to decide judicially. See Certain.]

1. Any violation of law, either divine or human; an omission of a duty commanded, or the commission of an act forbidden by law.

2. Gross violation of human law, in distinction from a misdemeanor or trespass, or other slight offense. Hence, also, any aggravated offense against morality or the public welfare; any outrage or great wrong. "To part error from crime." Tennyson.

Note: Crimes, in the English common law, are grave offenses which were originally capitally punished (murder, rape, robbery, arson, burglary, and larceny), as distinguished from misdemeanors, which are offenses of a lighter grade. See Misdemeanors.

3. Any great wickedness or sin; iniguity. Nocrime was thine, if 'tis no crime to love. Pope.

4. That which occasion crime. [Obs.] The tree of life, the crime of our first father's fall. Spenser. Capital crime, a crime punishable with death.

Syn. -- Sin; vice; iniquity; wrong. -- Crime, Sin,Vice. Sin is the generic term, embracing wickedness of every kind, but specifically denoting an offense as committed against God. Crime is strictly a violation of law either human or divine; but in present usage the term is commonly applied to actions contrary to the laws of the State. Vice is more distinctively that which springs from the inordinate indulgence of the natural appetites, which are in themselves innocent. Thus intemperance, unchastity, duplicity, etc., are vices; while murder, forgery, etc., which spring from the indulgence of selfish passions, are crimes.

CRIMEFUL Crime"ful (krm"fl), a.

Defn: Criminal; wicked; contrary to law, right, or dury. [Obs.] Shak.

CRIMELESS Crime"less, a.

Defn: Free from crime; innocent. Shak.

CRIMINAL Crim"i*nal (krm"-nal), a. Etym: [L. criminalis, fr. crimen: cf. F. criminel. See Crime.]

1. Guilty of crime or sin. The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the sight of God. Rogers.

2. Involving a crime; of the nature of a crime; -- said of an act or of conduct; as, criminal carelessness. Foppish and fantastic ornaments are only indications of vice, not criminal in themselves. Addison.

3. Relating to crime; -- opposed to civil; as, the criminal code. The officers and servants of the crown, violating the personal liberty, or other right of the subject . . . were in some cases liable to criminal process. Hallam. Criminal action (Law), an action or suit instituted to secure conviction and punishment for a crime. -- Criminal conversation (Law), unlawful intercourse with a married woman; adultery; -- usually abbreviated, crim. con. -- Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes.

CRIMINAL Crim"i*nal, n.

Defn: One who has commited a crime; especially, one who is found guilty by verdict, confession, or proof; a malefactor; a felon.

CRIMINALIST Crim"i*nal*ist, n.

Defn: One versed in criminal law. [R.]

CRIMINALITY Crim`i*nal"i*ty (krm`-nl"-t), n. Etym: [LL. criminalitas, fr. L. criminalis. See Criminal.]

Defn: The quality or state of being criminal; that which constitutes a crime; guiltiness; guilt. This is by no means the only criterion of criminality. Blackstone.

CRIMINALLY Crim"i*nal*ly (krm"-nal-l), adv.

Defn: In violation of law; wickedly.

CRIMINALNESS Crim"i*nal*ness, n.

Defn: Criminality. [R.]

CRIMINATE Crim"i*nate (kr, v. t. [imp & p. p. Criminated (-n; p. pr. & vb. n. Criminating (-n.] Etym: [L. criminatus, p. p. of criminare, criminari, to criminate, fr. crimen. See Crime.]

1. To accuse of, or charge with, a crime. To criminate, with the heavy and ungrounded charge of disloyalty and disaffection, an uncorrupt, independent, and reforming parliament. Burke.

2. To involve in a crime or in its consequences; to render liable to a criminal charge. Impelled by the strongest pressure of hope and fear to criminate him. Macaulay.

CRIMINATION Crim`i*na"tion (krm`-n"shn), n. Etym: [L. criminatio.]

Defn: The act of accusing; accusation; charge; complaint. The criminations and recriminations of the adverse parties. Macaulay.

CRIMINATIVE Crim"i*na*tive (krm"-n-tv), a.

Defn: Charging with crime; accusing; criminatory. R. North.

CRIMINATORY Crim"i*na*to*ry (-t-r), a.

Defn: Relating to, or involving, crimination; accusing; as, a criminatory conscience.

CRIMINOLOGY Crim`i*nol"o*gy (-nl"-j), n. Etym: [L. crimen, crimenis, crime + - logy.]

Defn: A treatise on crime or the criminal population. -- Crim`i*nol"o*gist (-j, n.

CRIMINOUS Crim"i*nous (krm"-ns), a. Etym: [L. criminosus, fr. crimen. See Crime.]

Defn: Criminal; involving great crime or grave charges; very wicked; heinous. [Obs.] Holland. -- Crim"i*nous*ly, adv.. -- Crim"i*nous*ness,n. [Obs.]

CRIMOSIN Crim"o*sin (krm"-zn), n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Crimson.

CRIMP Crimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crimped (krmt; 215); p. pr. & vb. n. Crimping.] Etym: [Akin to D. krimpen to shrink, shrivel, Sw. krympa, Dan. krympe, and to E. cramp. See Cramp.]

1. To fold or plait in regular undulation in such a way that the material will retain the shape intended; to give a wavy apperance to; as, to crimp the border of a cap; to crimp a ruffle. Cf. Crisp. The comely hostess in a crimped cap. W. Irving.

2. To pinch and hold; to seize.

3. Hence, to entrap into the military or naval service; as, to crimp seamen. Coaxing and courting with intent to crimp him. Carlyle.

4. (Cookery)

Defn: To cause to contract, or to render more crisp, as the flesh of a fish, by gashing it, when living, with a knife; as, to crimp skate, etc. Crimping house, a low lodging house, into which men are decoyed and plied with drink, to induce them to ship or enlist as sailors or soldiers. -- Crimping iron. (a) An iron instrument for crimping and curling the hair. (b) A crimping machine. -- Crimping machine, a machine with fluted rollers or with dies, for crimping ruffles leather, iron, etc. -- Crimping pin, an instrument for crimping or puckering the border of a lady's cap.

CRIMP Crimp, a.

1. Easily crumbled; friable; brittle. [R.] Now the fowler . . . treads the crimp earth. J. Philips.

2. Weak; inconsistent; contradictory. [R.] The evidance is crimp; the witnesses swear backward and forward, and contradict themselves. Arbuthnot.

CRIMP Crimp, n.

1. A coal broker. [Prov. Eng.] De Foe.

2. One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval service. Marryat.

3. A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are entrapped and fleeced.

4. Hair which has been crimped; -- usually in pl.

5. A game at cards. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Boot crimp. See under Boot.

CRIMPAGE Crimp"age (-j), n.

Defn: The act or practice of crimping; money paid to a crimp for shipping or enlisting men.

CRIMPER Crimp"er (-r), n.

Defn: One who, or that which, crimps; as: (a) A curved board or frame over which the upper of a boot or shoe is stretched to the required shape. (b) A device for giving hair a wavy apperance. (c) A machine for crimping or ruffling textile fabrics.

CRIMPLE Crim"ple (krm"p'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crimpled (-p'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Crimpling (-plng).] Etym: [Dim. of crimp, v. t. ]

Defn: To cause to shrink or draw together; to contract; to curl. [R.] Wiseman.

CRIMPY Crimp"y (krmp"), a.

Defn: Having a crimped appearance; frizzly; as, the crimpy wool of the Saxony sheep.

CRIMSON Crim"son (krm"z'n), n. Etym: [OE. crimson, OF. crimoisin, F. cramoisi (cf. Sp. carmesi.) LL. carmesinus, fr. Ar. qermazi, fr. qermez crimson, kermes, fr. Skr. k produced by a worm; k worm or insect + jan to generate; akin to E. kin. CF. Carmine, Kermes.]

Defn: A deep red color tinged with blue; also, red color in general. Theugh jour be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Is. i. 18. A maid jet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty. Shak.

CRIMSON Crim"son, a.

Defn: Of a deep red color tinged with blue; deep red. "A crimson tide." Mrs. Hemans. The blushing poppy with a crimson hue. Prior.

CRIMSON Crim"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crimsoned (-z'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Crimsoning.]

Defn: To dye with crimson or deep red; to redden. Signed in thy spoil and crimsoned in thy lethe. Shak.

CRIMSON Crim"son, b. t.

Defn: To become crimson; to blush. Ancient towers . . . beginning to crimson with the radiant luster of a cloudless July morning. De Quincey.

CRINAL Cri"nal (kr"nal), a. Etym: [L. crinalis, fr. crinis the hair.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the hair. [R.] Blount.

CRINATED Cri"na*ted (kr"n-td), a.

Defn: Having hair; hairy.

CRINATORY Cri"na*to*ry (kr"n-t-r), a.

Defn: Crinitory. Craig.

CRINCUM Crin"cum (krn"km), n. Etym: [Cf. Crinkle.]

Defn: A twist or bend; a turn; a whimsey. [Colloq.] Hudibras.

CRINCUM-CRANCUM Crin"cum-cran"cum (krn"km-krn"km), n.

Defn: A twist; a whimsey or whim. [Colloq.]

CRINED Crined (krnd), a. Etym: [L. crinis hair.] (Her.)

Defn: Having the hair of a different tincture from the rest of the body; as, a charge crined of a red tincture.

CRINEL; CRINET Cri"nel (kr"nEl), Cri"net (kr"nt), n. Etym: [L. crinis hair.]

Defn: A very fine, hairlike feather. Booth.

CRINGE Cringe (krnj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crnged (krnjd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cringing.] Etym: [As. crincgang, cringan, crincan, to jield, fall; akin to E. crank.]

Defn: To draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend or crouch with base humility; to wince; hence; to make court in a degrading manner; to fawn. When they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of the lions. Bunyan. Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou Once fawned and cringed, and servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch Milton. Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing. Arbuthnot.

CRINGE Cringe, v. t.

Defn: To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle; to distort. [Obs.] Till like a boy you see him cringe his face, And whine aloud for mercy. Shak.

CRINGE Cringe, n.

Defn: Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or servility. "With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious." Cowper.

CRINGELING Cringe"ling, n.

Defn: One who cringes meanly; a fawner.

CRINGER Crin"ger (krn"jr), n.

Defn: One who cringes.

CRINGINGLY Crin"ging*ly, adv.

Defn: In a cringing manner.

CRINGLE Crin"gle (krn"g'l), n. Etym: [Icel. kringla orb; akin to kring around, and to D. kring circle, and to E. cringe, crank.]

1. A withe for fastening a gate.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: An iron or pope thimble or grommet worked into or attached to the edges and corners of a sail; -- usually in the plural. The cringles are used for making fast the bowline bridles, earings, etc.

CRINICULTURAL Crin`i*cul"tur*al (krn`-kl"tr-al; 135), a. Etym: [L. crinis hair + cultura.]

Defn: Relating to the growth of hair. [R.]

CRINIGEROUS Cri*nig"er*ous (kr-nj"r-s), a. Etym: [L. criniger; crinis hair + gerere to bear.]

Defn: Bearing hair; hairy. [R.]

CRINITAL Cri"ni*tal (kr"n-tal), a.

Defn: Same as Crinite,

1. He the star crinital adoreth. Stanyhurst.

CRINITE Cri"nite (kr"nt), a. Etym: [L. crinitus, p. p. of crinire to provide or cover with hair, fr. crinis hair.]

1. Having the appearance of a tuft of hair; having a hairlike tail or train. "Comate, crinite, caudate stars."

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Bearded or tufted with hairs. Gray.

CRINITORY Cri"ni*to*ry (kr"n-t-r), a.

Defn: Of or relating to hair; as, a crinitory covering. T. Hook.

CRINKLE Crin"kle (krn"k'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crinkled (-k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Crinkling (-klng).] Etym: [A dim., fr. the root of cringe; akin to D. krinkelen to wind or twist. Cf. Cringle, Cringe.]

Defn: To form with short turns, bends, or wrinkles; to mold into inequalites or sinuosities; to cause to wrinkle or curl. The houscrinkled to and fro. Chaucer. Her face all bowsy, Comely crinkled, Wondrously wrinkled. Skelton. The flames through all the casements pushing forth, Like red-not devils crinkled into snakes. Mrs. Browning.

CRINKLE Crin"kle, v. i.

Defn: To turn or wind; ti run in and out in many short bends or turns; to curl; to run in wavws; to wrinkle; also, to rustle, as stiff cloth when moved. The green wheat crinkles like a lake. L. T. Trowbridge. And all the rooms Were full of crinkling silks. Mrs. Browning.

CRINKLE Crin"kle, n.

Defn: A winding or turn; wrinkle; sinuosity. The crinkles in this glass, making objects appear double. A. Tucker.

CRINKLED Crin"kled (krn"k'ld), a.

Defn: Having short bends, turns, or wrinkles; wrinkled; wavy; zigzag. "The crinkled lightning." Lowell.

CRINKLY Crin"kly (-kl), a.

Defn: Having crinkles; wavy; wrinkly.

CRINOID Cri"noid (kr"noid), a. [See Crinoidea.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Crinoidal. -- n.

Defn: One of the Crinoidea.

CRINOIDAL Cri*noid"al (kr-noidal), a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of pertaining to crinoids; consisting of, or containing, crinoids.

CRINOIDEA Cri*noid"e*a (kr-noid"-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -oid: cf. F. crino.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large class of Echinodermata, including numerous extinct families and genera, but comparatively few living ones. Most of the fossil species, like some that are recent, were attached by a jointed stem. See Blastoidea, Cystoidea, Comatula.

CRINOIDEAN Cri*noid"e*an (-an), n. (Zoöl)

Defn: One of the Crinoidea.

CRINOLINE Crin"o*line (krn"-ln), n. Etym: [F., fr. crin hair,L. crinis.]

1. A kind of stiff cloth, used chiefly by women, for underskirts, to expand the gown worn over it; -- so called because originally made of hair.

2. A lady's skirt made of any stiff material; latterly, a hoop skirt.

CRINOSE Cri*nose" (kr-ns"), a. Etym: [L. crinis hair.]

Defn: Hairy. [R.]

CRINOSITY Cri*nos"i*ty (kr-ns"-t), n.

Defn: Hairiness. [R.]

CRINUM Cri"num (kr"nm), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of bulbous plants, of the order Amaryllidace, cultivated as greenhouse plants on account of their beauty.

CRIOSPHINX Cri"o*sphinx` (kr"-sfnks`), n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A sphinx with the head of a ram.

CRIPPLE Crip"ple (krp"p'l), n. Etym: [OE. cripel, crepel, crupel, AS. crypel (akin to D. kreuple, G. kr, Dan. kr, Icel. kryppill), prop., one that can not walk, but must creep, fr. AS. cre to creep. See Creep.]

Defn: One who creeps, halts, or limps; one who has lost, or never had, the use of a limb or limbs; a lame person; hence, one who is partially disabled. I am a cripple in my limbs; but what decays are in my mind, the reader must determine. Dryden.

CRIPPLE Crip"ple (krp"p'l), a.

Defn: Lame; halting. [R.] "The cripple, tardy-gaited night." Shak.

CRIPPLE Crip"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crippled (-p'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Crippling (-plng).]

1. To deprive of the use of a limb, particularly of a leg or foot; to lame. He had crippled the joints of the noble child. Sir W. Scott.

2. To deprive of strength, activity, or capability for service or use; to disable; to deprive of resources; as, to be financially crippled. More serious embarrassments . . . were crippling the energy of the settlement in the Bay. Palfrey. An incumbrance which would permanently cripple the body politic. Macaulay.

CRIPPLED Crip"pled (krp"p'ld), a.

Defn: Lamed; lame; disabled; impeded. "The crippled crone." Longfellow.

CRIPPLENESS Crip"ple*ness, n.

Defn: Lameness. [R.] Johnson.

CRIPPLER Crip"pler (-plr), n.

Defn: A wooden tool used in graining leather. Knight.

CRIPPLING Crip"pling (-plng), n.

Defn: Spars or timbers set up as a support against the side of a building.

CRIPPLY Crip"ply (-pl), a.

Defn: Lame; disabled; in a crippled condition. [R.] Mrs. Trollope.

CRISIS Cri"sis (kr"ss), n.; pl. Crises (-s. Etym: [L. crisis, Gr. Certain.]

1. The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the decisive moment; the turning point. This hour's the very crisis of your fate. Dryden. The very times of crisis for the fate of the country. Brougham.

2. (Med.)

Defn: That change in a disease which indicates whether the result is to be recovery or death; sometimes, also, a striking change of symptoms attended by an outward manifestation, as by an eruption or sweat. Till some safe crisis authorize their skill. Dryden.

CRISP Crisp (krsp), a. Etym: [AS. crisp, fr. L. crispus; cf. carpere to pluck, card (wool), and E. harvest. Cf. Crape.]

1. Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair.

2. Curled with the ripple of the water. [Poetic] You numphs called Naiads, of the winding brooks . . . Leave jour crisp channels. Shak.

3. Brittle; friable; in a condition to break with a short, sharp fracture; as, crisp snow. The cakes at tea ate short and crisp. Goldsmith.

4. Possessing a certain degree of firmness and freshness; in a fresh, unwilted condition. It [laurel] has been plucked nine months, and yet looks as hale and crisp as if it would last ninety years. Leigh Hunt.

5. Lively; sparking; effervescing. Your neat crisp claret. Beau & Fl.

6. Brisk; crackling; cheerful; lively. The snug, small room, and the crisp fire. Dickens.

CRISP Crisp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crisped (krspt); p. pr. & vb. n. Crisping.] Etym: [L. crispare, fr. crispus. See Crisp. a. ]

1. To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to interweave, as the branches of trees.

2. To cause to undulate irregularly, as crape or water; to wrinkle; to cause to ripple. Cf. Crimp. The lover with the myrtle sprays Adorns his crisped tresses. Drayton. Along the crisped shades and bowers. Milton. The crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold. Milton.

3. To make crisp or brittle, as in cooking. Crisping iron, an instrument by which hair or any textile fabric is crisped. -- Crisping pin, the simplest form of crisping iron. Is. iii. 22.

CRISP Crisp, v. i.

Defn: To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t. To watch the crisping ripples on the beach. Tennuson.

CRISP Crisp, n.

Defn: That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted pork; crackling.

CRISPATE; CRISPATED Cris"pate (krs"pt), Cris"pa*ted (-p-td), a. Etym: [L. crispatus, p. p. of crispare.]

Defn: Having a crisped appearance; irregularly curled or twisted.

CRISPATION Cris*pa"tion (krs-p"shn), n. Etym: [CF. F. crispation.]

1. The act or process of curling, or the state of being curled. Bacon.

2. A very slight convulsive or spasmodic contraction of certain muscles, external or internal. Few men can look down from a great height without creepings and crispations. O. W. Holmes.

CRISPATURE Cris"pa*ture (krs"p-tr; 135), n.

Defn: The state of being crispate.

CRISPER Crisp"er (krs"pr), n.

Defn: One who, or that which, crisps or curls; an instrument for making little curls in the nap of cloth, as in chinchilla.

CRISPIN Cris"pin (krs"pn), n.

1. A shoemaker; -- jocularly so called from the patron sant of the craft.

2. A member of a union or association of shoemakers.

CRISPLY Crisp"ly (krsp"l), adv.

Defn: In a crisp manner.

CRISPNESS Crisp"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being crisp.

CRISPY Crisp"y (-), a.

1. Formed into short, close ringlets; frizzed; crisp; as, crispy locks.

2. Crisp; brittle; as. a crispy pie crust.

CRISSAL Cris"sal (krs"sal), a. (Zoöl.)

1. Pertaining to the crissum; as, crissal feathers.

2. Having highly colored under tail coverts; as, the crissal thrasher.

CRISSCROSS Criss"cross` (krs"krs`; 115), n. Etym: [A corruption of Christcross.]

1. A mark or cross, as the signature of a person who is unable to write.

2. A child's game played on paper or on a slate, consisting of lines arranged in the form of a cross.

CRISSCROSS Criss"cross`, v. t.

Defn: To mark or cover with cross lines; as, a paper was crisscrossed with red marks.

CRISSCROSS Criss"cross` (krs"krs`;115), adv.

1. In opposite directions; in a way to cross something else; crossing one another at various angles and in various ways. Logs and tree luing crisscross in utter confusion. W. E. Boardman.

2. With opposition or hindrance; at cross purposes; contrarily; as, things go crisscross.

CRISSCROSS-ROW Criss"cross-row` (-r`), n.

Defn: See Christcross-row.

CRISSUM Cris"sum (krs"sm),, n.; pl. Crissa (-s. Etym: [NL.; cf. L. crisso to move the haunches.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: That part of a bird, or the feathers, surrounding the cloacal opening; the under tail coverts.

CRISTATE Cris"tate (krs"tt), a. Etym: [L. ctistatus, fr. crista crest.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Crested.

CRITERION Cri*te"ri*on (kr-t"r-n), n.; pl. Criteria (-Criterions (-. Etym: [Gr. Certain.]

Defn: A standard of judging; any approved or established rule or test, by which facts, principles opinions, and conduct are tried in forming a correct judgment respecting them. Of the diseases of the mind there is no criterion. Donne. Inferences founded on such enduring criteria. Sir G. C. Lewis.

Syn. -- Standard; measure; rule.

CRITH Crith (krth), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: The unit for estimating the weight of a

CRITHOMANCY Crith"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. crithomancie.]

Defn: A kind of divination by means of the dough of the cakes offered in the ancient sacrifices, and the meal strewed over the victims.

CRITIC Crit"ic (krt"k), n. Etym: [L. criticus, Gr. able to discuss, from Certain, and cf. Critique.]

1. One skilled in judging of the merits of literary or artistic works; a connoisseur; an adept; hence, one who examines literary or artistic works, etc., and passes judgment upon them; a reviewer. The opininon of the most skillful critics was, that nothing finer [than Goldsmith's "Traveler"] had appeared in verse since the fourth book of the "Dunciad." Macaulay.

2. One who passes a rigorous or captious judgment; one who censures or finds fault; a harsh examiner or judge; a caviler; a carper. When an author has many beauties consistent with virtue, piety, and truth, let not little critics exalt themselves, and shower down their ill nature. I. Watts. You know who the critics are the men who have failed in literature and art. Beaconsfield.

3. The art of criticism. [Obs.] Locke.

4. An act of criticism; a critique. [Obs.] And make each day a critic on the last. Pope.

CRITIC Crit"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [Obs.] "Critic learning." Pope.

CRITIC Crit"ic, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. critiquer.]

Defn: To criticise; to play the critic. [Obs.] Nay, if you begin to critic once, we shall never have done. A. Brewer.

CRITICAL Crit"ic*al (krt"-kal), a. Etym: [See Critic, n., Crisis.]

1. Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or artistic productions. It is submitted to the judgment of more critical ears to direct and determine what is graceful and what is not. Holder.

2. Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation.

3. Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious. Virgil was so critical in the rites of religion. that he would never have brought in such prayers as these, if they had not been agreeable to the Roman customs. Bp. Stillingfleet.

4. Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious; censorious; exacting. O gentle lady, do not put me to 't, For I am nothing, if not critical. Shak.

5. Characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as becomes a critic; as, a critical analysis of a subject.

6. Etym: [See Crisis.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or specially important juncture; important as regards consequences; hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the critical stage of a fever; a critical situation. Our circumstances are indeed critical. Burke. The small moment, the exact point, the critical minute, on which every good work so much depends. South. Critical angle (Optics), that angle of incidence of a luminous ray at which it is wholly reflected, and no portion of it transmitted. The sine of this angle is the reciprocal of the refractive index of the medium. -- Critical philosophy, the metaphysical system of Kant; -- so called from his most important work, the "Critique of Pure Reason." - - Critical point (Physics), a certain temperature, different for different gases, but always the same for each gas, regarded as the limit above which no amount of pressure can produce condensation to a liquid.

CRITICALLY Crit"ic*al*ly, adv.

1. In a critical manner; with nice discernment; accurately; exactly. Critically to discern good writers from bad. Dryden.

2. At a crisis; at a critical time; in a situation. place, or condition of decisive consequence; as, a fortification critically situated. Coming critically the night before the session. Bp. Burnet.

CRITICALNESS Crit"ic*al*ness, n.

1. The state or quality of being critical, or of occurring at a critical time.

2. Accuracy in examination or decision; exactness.

CRITICASTER Crit"ic*as`ter (krt"k-s`tr), n.

Defn: A contemptible or vicious critic. The rancorous and reptile crew of poeticules, who decompose into criticasters. Swinburne.

CRITICISABLE Crit"i*cis`a*ble (krt"-sz`-b'l), a.

Defn: Capable of being criticised.

CRITICISE Crit"i*cise (krt"-sz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Criticised (-szd); p. pr. & vb. n. Criticising.] Etym: [Written also, more analogically, but less commonly, criticize.] Etym: [Cf. G. kritisiren. See Critic.]

1. To examine and judge as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment upon; as, to criticise an author; to criticise a picture.

2. To express one's views as to the merit or demerit of; esp., to animadvert upon; to find fault with; as, to criticise conduct. Blackwood's Mag.

CRITICISE Crit"i*cise, v. i.

1. To act as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment; to play the critic; -- formerly used with on or upon. Several of these ladies, indeed, criticised upon the form of the association. Addison.

2. To discuss the merits or demerits of a thing or person; esp., to find fault. Cavil you may, but never criticise. Pope.

CRITICISER Crit"i*ci`ser (-s`zr), n.

Defn: One who criticises; a critic.

CRITICISM Crit"i*cism (krt"-sz'm), n.

1. The rules and principles which regulate the practice of the critic; the art of judging with knowledge and propriety of the beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of a production in the fine arts; as, dramatic criticism. The elements ofcriticism depend on the two principles of Beauty and Truth, one of which is the final end or object of study in every one of its pursuits: Beauty, in letters and the arts; Truth, in history and sciences. Brande & C. By criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a standard of judging well. Dryden.

2. The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure. About the plan of "Rasselas" little was said by the critics; and yet the faults of the plan might seem to invite severe criticism. Macaulay.

CRITIQUE Cri*tique" (kr-tk"), n. Etym: [F. critique, f., fr. Gr. Critic.]

1. The art of criticism. [Written also critic.] [R.]

2. A critical examination or estimate of a work of literature or art; a critical dissertation or essay; a careful and through analysis of any subject; a criticism; as, Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason." I should as soon expect to see a critique on the poesy of a ring as on the inscription of a medal. Addison.

3. A critic; one who criticises. [Obs.] A question among critiques in the ages to come. Bp. Lincoln.

CRITIQUE Cri*tique", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Critic, v.]

Defn: To criticise or pass judgment upon. [Obs.] Pope.

CRIZZEL Criz"zel (krz"z'l), n. Etym: [Cf. grizzle darkish gray, or G. griselig gravelly, granular, speckled.]

Defn: A kind of roughness on the surface of glass, which clouds its transparency. [Written also crizzeling and crizzle.]

CROAK Croak (krk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Croaked. (krp. pr. & vb. n. Croaking.] Etym: [From the primitive of AS. cracettan to croak as a raven; akin to G. kr to croak, and to E. creak, crake.]

1. To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat, as a frog, a raven, or a crow; hence, to make any hoarse, dismal sound. Loud thunder to its bottom shook the bog, And the hoarse nation croaked. Pope.

2. To complain; especially, to grumble; to forebode evil; to utter complaints or forebodings habitually. Marat . . . croaks with reasonableness. Carlyle.

CROAK Croak, v. t.

Defn: To utter in a low, hoarse voice; to announce by croaking; to forebode; as, to croak disaster. The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan. Shak. Two ravens now began to croak Their nuptial song. Wordsworth.

CROAK Croak, n.

Defn: The coarse, harsh sound uttered by a frog or a raven, or a like sound.

CROAKER Croak"er (-r), n.

1. One who croaks, murmurs, grumbles, or complains unreasonably; one who habitually forebodes evil.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American fish (Micropogon undulatus), of the Atlantic coast. (a) An American fresh-water fish (Aplodinotus grunniens); -- called also drum. (c) The surf fish of California.

Note: When caught these fishes make a croaking sound; whence the name, which is often corrupted into crocus.

CROAT Cro"at (kr"t), n. Etym: [Cf. Cravat.]

1. A native of Croatia, in Austria; esp., one of the native Slavic race.

2. An irregular soldier, generally from Croatia.

CROATIAN Cro*a"tian (kr-"shan), a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Croatia. -- n.

Defn: A Croat.

CROCEIN Cro"ce*in (kr"s-n), n. Etym: [See Croceous.] (Chem.)

Defn: A name given to any one of several yellow or scarlet dyestuffs of artificial production and complex structure. In general they are diazo and sulphonic acid derivatives of benzene and naphthol.

CROCEOUS Cro"ceous (kr"shs), a. Etym: [L. croceus, fr. crocus saffron. See Crocus.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, saffron; deep reddish yellow. [R.]

CROCETIN Cro"ce*tin (kr"s-tn), n. (Chem.)

Defn: A dyestuff, obtained from the Chinese croicin, which produces a brilliant yellow.

CROCHE Croche (krch), n. Etym: [OF. croche, equiv. to F. crochet, croc, hook. See Crotchet, Crook.]

Defn: A little bud or knob at the top of a deer's antler.

CROCHET Cro*chet" (kr-sh"), n. Etym: [F. crochet small hook. See Croche.]

Defn: A kind of knitting done by means of a hooked needle, with worsted, silk, or cotton; crochet work. Commonly used adjectively. Crochet hook, Crochet needle, a small hook, or a hooked needle (often of bone), used in crochet work.

CROCHET Cro*chet", v. t. & i. [imp. & p.p. Crocheted (shd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Crocheting (-sh"ng).]

Defn: To knit with a crochet needle or hook; as, to rochett a shawl.

CROCIARY Cro"ci*a*ry (kr"sh--r), n. Etym: [See Crosier.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One who carries the cross before an archbishop. [Obs.]

CROCIDOLITE Cro*cid"o*lite (kr-sd"-lt), n. Etym: [Gr. kroky`s nap on cloth + - lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral occuring in silky fibers of a lavender blue color. It is related to hornblende and is essentially a silicate of iron and soda; -- called also blue asbestus. A silicified form, in which the fibers penetrating quartz are changed to oxide of iron, is the yellow brown tiger-eye of the jewelers.

CROCIN Cro"cin (kr"sn), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.) (a) The coloring matter of Chinese yellow pods, the fruit of Gardenia grandiflora. Watts. (b) A red powder (called also polychroite), which is made from the saffron (Crocus sativus). See Polychroite.

CROCK Crock (krk), n. Etym: [Cf. W. croeg cover, Scot. crochit covered.]

Defn: The loose black particles collected from combustion, as on pots and kettles, or in a chimney; soot; smut; also, coloring matter which rubs off from cloth.

CROCK Crock, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Crocked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Crocking.]

Defn: To soil by contact, as with soot, or with the coloring matter of badly dyed cloth.

CROCK Crock, v. i.

Defn: To give off crock or smut.

CROCK Crock, n.

Defn: A low stool. "I . . . seated her upon a little crock." Tatler.

CROCK Crock (krk), n. Etym: [AS. croc, croca, crog, croh; akin to D. kruik, G. krug, Icel. krukka, Dan. krukke, Sw. kruka; but cf. W. crwc bucket, pail, crochan pot, cregen earthen vessel, jar. Cf. Cruet.]

Defn: Any piece of crockery, especially of coarse earthenware; an earthen pot or pitcher. Like foolish flies about an honey crock. Spenser.

CROCK Crock, v. t.

Defn: To lay up in a crock; as, to crock butter. Halliwell.

CROCKER Crock"er (-r), n.

Defn: A potter. [Obs.] Wyclif.

CROCKERY Crock"er*y ( krk"r-), n. Etym: [From Crock an earthen vessel.]

Defn: Earthenware; vessels formed of baked clay, especially the coarser kinds.

CROCKET Crock"et (krk"t), n. Etym: [OF. croquet, F. crochet, dim. of croc hook. See Crook, and cf. Crotchet.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: An ornament often resembling curved and bent foliage, projecting from the sloping edge of a gable, spire, etc.

2. A croche, or knob, on the top of a stag's antler. The antlers and the crockets. W. Black.

CROCKETED Crock"et*ed, a. (Arch.)

Defn: Ornamented with crockets.

CROCKETING Crock"et*ing, n. (Arch.)

Defn: Ornamentation with crockets. Ruskin.

CROCKY Crock"y (-), a. Etym: [From Crock soot.]

Defn: Smutty.

CROCODILE Croc"o*dile (krk"-dl; 277), n. Etym: [L. crocodilus, Gr. crocodile. Cf. Cookatrice.]

1. (Zoöl.)