Chapter CLXIX: Epilogue: Ep"i*logue, n. Etym: F. épilogue, L. epilogus, fr. Gr. Legend (16)

FENESTRULE Fe*nes"trule, n. Etym: [L. fenestrula a little window, dim. of fenestra a window.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the openings in a fenestrated structure.

FENG-HWANG Fêng"-hwang`, n. [Chin. feng + 'huang.] (Chinese Myth.)

Defn: A pheasantlike bird of rich plumage and graceful form and movement, fabled to appear in the land on the accession of a sage to the throne, or when right principles are about to prevail. It is often represented on porcelains and other works of art.

FENGITE Fen"gite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A kind of marble or alabaster, sometimes used for windows on account of its transparency.

FENG-SHUI Fêng"-shu`i, n. [Chin. feng wind + shiu water.]

Defn: A system of spirit influences for good and evil believed by the Chinese to attend the natural features of landscape; also, a kind of geomancy dealing with these influences, used in determining sites for graves, houses, etc.

FENIAN Fe"ni*an, n. Etym: [From the Finians or Fenii, the old militia of Ireland, who were so called from Fin or Finn, Fionn, or Fingal, a popular hero of Irish traditional history.]

Defn: A member of a secret organization, consisting mainly of Irishment, having for its aim the overthrow of English rule in ireland.

FENIAN Fe"ni*an, a.

Defn: Pertaining to Fenians or to Fenianism.

FENIANISM Fe"ni*an*ism, n.

Defn: The principles, purposes, and methods of the Fenians.

FENKS Fenks, n.

Defn: The refuse whale blubber, used as a manure, and in the manufacture of Prussian blue. Ure.

FENNEC Fen"nec, n. Etym: [Ar. fanek.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small, African, foxlike animal (Vulpes zerda) of a pale fawn color, remarkable for the large size of its ears.

FENNEL Fen"nel, n. Etym: [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.)

Defn: A perennial plant of the genus Fæniculum (F.vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds. Smell of sweetest fennel. Milton. A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex. S. G. Goodrich. Azorean, or Sweet, fennel, (Fæniculum dulce). It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb. -- Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European weed; -- called also mayweed. -- Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. N.Damascena is common in gardens. N.sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in Isaiah (xxviii. 25). -- Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is stimulant and carminative. -- Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus. -- Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale) looking something like fennel.

FENNISH Fen"nish, a.

Defn: Abounding in fens; fenny.

FENNY Fen"ny, a. Etym: [AS. fennig.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or inhabiting, a fen; abounding in fens; swampy; boggy. "Fenny snake." Shak.

FENOWED Fen"owed, a. Etym: [AS. fynig musty, fynegean to become musty or filthy: cf. fennig fenny, muddy, dirty, fr. fen fen. Cf. Finew.]

Defn: Corrupted; decayed; moldy. See Vinnewed. [Obs.] Dr. Favour.

FENSI-BLE Fen"si-ble, a.

Defn: Fencible. [Obs.] Spenser.

FEN-SUCKED Fen"-sucked`, a.

Defn: Sucked out of marches. "Fen-sucked fogs." Shak.

FENUGREEK Fen"u*greek ( or ), n. Etym: [L. faenum Graecum, lit., Greek hay: cf. F. fenugrec. Cf. Fennel.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (trigonella Foenum Græcum) cultivated for its strong- smelling seeds, which are "now only used for giving false importance to horse medicine and damaged hay." J. Smith (Pop. Names of Plants, 1881).

FEOD Feod, n.

Defn: A feud. See 2d Feud. Blackstone.

FEODAL Feod"al, a.

Defn: Feudal. See Feudal.

FEODALITY Feo*dal"i*ty, n.

Defn: Feudal tenure; the feudal system. See Feudality. Burke.

FEODARY Feod"a*ry, n.

1. An accomplice. Art thou a feodary for this act Shak.

2. (Eng. Law)

Defn: An ancient officer of the court of wards. Burrill.

FEODATORY Feod"a*to*ry, n.

Defn: See Feudatory.

FEOFF Feoff

Defn: , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feoffed; p. pr. & vb. n.. Feoffing.] Etym: [OE. feffen, OF. feffer, fieffer, F. fieffer, fr. fief fief; cf. LL. feoffare, fefare. See Fief.] (Law)

Defn: To invest with a fee or feud; to give or grant a corporeal hereditament to; to enfeoff.

FEOFF Feoff, n. (Law)

Defn: A fief. See Fief.

FEOFFEE Feof*fee", n. Etym: [OF. feoffé.] (Law)

Defn: The person to whom a feoffment is made; the person enfeoffed.

FEOFFMENT Feoff"ment, n. Etym: [OF. feoffement, fieffement; cf. LL. feoffamentum.] (Law) (a) The grant of a feud or fee. (b) (Eng. Law) A gift or conveyance in fee of land or other corporeal hereditaments, accompanied by actual delivery of possession. Burrill. (c) The instrument or deed by which corporeal hereditaments are conveyed. [Obs. in the U.S., Rare in Eng.]

FEOFOR; FEOFFER Feo"for, Feof"fer, n. Etym: [OF. feoour.] (Law)

Defn: One who enfeoffs or grants a fee.

FER Fer, a. & adv.

Defn: Far. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERACIOUS Fe*ra"cious, a. Etym: [L. ferax, -acis, fr. ferre to bear.]

Defn: Fruitful; producing abudantly. [R.] Thomson.

FERACITY Fe*rac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. feracitas.]

Defn: The state of being feracious or fruitful. [Obs.] Beattie.

FERAE Fe"ræ, n. pl. Etym: [L., wild animals, fem. pl. of ferus wild.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of mammals which formerly included the Carnivora, Insectivora, Marsupialia, and lemurs, but is now often restricted to the Carnivora.

FERAE NATURAE Fe"ræ na*tu"ræ. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Of a wild nature; -- applied to animals, as foxes, wild ducks, etc., in which no one can claim property.

FERAL Fe"ral, a. Etym: [L. ferus. See Fierce.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; -- said of beasts, birds, and plants. feral child, not raised by humans

FERAL Fe"ral, a. Etym: [L. feralis, belonging to the dead.]

Defn: Funereal; deadly; fatal; dangerous. [R.] "Feral accidents." Burton.

FERDE Ferde, obs.

Defn: imp. of Fare. Chaucer.

FER-DE-LANCE Fer`-de-lance", n. Etym: [F., the iron of a lance, lance head.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large, venomous serpent (Trigonocephalus lanceolatus) of Brazil and the West Indies. It is allied to the rattlesnake, but has no rattle.

FERDING Fer"ding, n. Etym: [See Farthing.]

Defn: A measure of land mentioned in Domesday Book. It is supposed to have consisted of a few acres only. [Obs.]

FERDNESS Ferd"ness, n. Etym: [OE. ferd fear. See Fear.]

Defn: Fearfulness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERE Fere, n. Etym: [OE. fere companion, AS. gefera, from feran to go, travel, faran to travel. sq. root78. See Fare.]

Defn: A mate or companion; -- often used of a wife. [Obs.] [Written also fear and feere.] Chaucer. And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere. Spenser. In fere, together; in company. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERE Fere, a. Etym: [Cf. L. ferus wild.]

Defn: Fierce. [Obs.]

FERE Fere, n. Etym: [See Fire.]

Defn: Fire. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERE Fere, n. Etym: [See Fear.]

Defn: Fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERE Fere, v. t. & i.

Defn: To fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERETORY Fer`e*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. feretrum bier, Gr. ferre, E. bear to support.]

Defn: A portable bier or shrine, variously adorned, used for containing relics of saints. Mollett.

FERFORTH Fer"forth`, adv.

Defn: Far forth. [Obs.] As ferforth as, as far as. -- So ferforth, to such a degree.

FERFORTHLY Fer"forth`ly, adv.

Defn: Ferforth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERGUSONITE Fer"gu*son*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of a brownish black color, essentially a tantalo- niobate of yttrium, erbium, and cerium; -- so called after Robert Ferguson.

FERIA Fe"ri*a, n.; pl. Feriæ (. (Eccl.)

Defn: A week day, esp. a day which is neither a festival nor a fast. Shipley.

FERIAL Fe"ri*al, n.

Defn: Same as Feria.

FERIAL Fe"ri*al, a. Etym: [LL. ferialis, fr. L. ferie holidays: cf. F. férial. See 5th Fair.]

1. Of or pertaining to holidays. [Obs.] J. Gregory.

2. Belonging to any week day, esp. to a day that is neither a festival nor a fast.

FERIATION Fe`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. feriari to keep holiday, fr. ferie holidays.]

Defn: The act of keeping holiday; cessation from work. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

FERIE Fe"rie, n. Etym: [OF. ferie, fr. L. ferie holidays. See 5th Fair.]

Defn: A holiday. [Obs.] Bullokar.

FERIER Fe"ri*er, a.

Defn: , compar. of Fere, fierce. [Obs.] Rhenus ferier than the cataract. Marston.

FERINE Fe"rine, a. Etym: [L. ferinus, fr. ferus wild. See Fierce.]

Defn: Wild; untamed; savage; as, lions, tigers, wolves, and bears are ferine beasts. Sir M. Hale. -- n.

Defn: A wild beast; a beast of prey. -- Fe"rine*ly, adv. -- Fe"rine*ness, n.

FERINGEE Fer*in"gee, n. Etym: [Per. Farangi, or Ar. Firanji, properly, a Frank.]

Defn: The name given to Europeans by the Hindos. [Written also Feringhee.]

FERITY Fer"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. feritas, from ferus wild.]

Defn: Wildness; savageness; fierceness. [Obs.] Woodward.

FERLY Fer"ly, a. Etym: [AS. f sudden, unexpected. See Fear, n.]

Defn: Singular; wonderful; extraordinary. [Obs.] -- n.

Defn: A wonder; a marvel. [Obs.] Who hearkened ever such a ferly thing. Chaucer.

FERM; FERME Ferm, Ferme, n.Etym: [See Farm.]

Defn: Rent for a farm; a farm; also, an abode; a place of residence; as, he let his land to ferm. [Obs.] Out of her fleshy ferme fled to the place of pain. Spenser.

FERMACY Fer"ma*cy, n. Etym: [OE. See Pharmacy.]

Defn: Medicine; pharmacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERMENT Fer"ment, n. Etym: [L. fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for fervimentum, fr. fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F. ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent.]

1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting beer.

Note: Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organized ferments. (b) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called soluble or chemical ferments, and enzymes. Ferments of the first class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment, etc. See Fermentation. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic. Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia, and disease of malt. globular proteins, capable of catalyzing a wide variety of chemical reactions, not merely hydrolytic. The full set of enzymes causing production of ethyl alcohol from sugar has been identified and individually purified and studied. See enzyme

2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation. Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. Rogers. the nation is in a ferment. Walpole. in a ferment in a state of agitation, applied to human groups.

3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid; fermentation. [R.] Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. Thomson. ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants, and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of the alchenists. Ure.

FERMENT Fer*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fermenting.] Etym: [L. fermentare, fermentatum: cf. F. fermenter. See Ferment, n.]

Defn: To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to excite internal emotion in; to heat. Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood. Pope.

FERMENT Fer*ment", v. i.

1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into sensible internal motion, as the constituent oarticles of an animal or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.

2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions. But finding no redress, ferment an rage. Milton. The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect. De Quincey.

FERMENTABILITY Fer*ment`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capability of fermentation.

FERMENTABLE Fer*ment"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentable.]

Defn: Capable of fermentation; as, cider and other vegetable liquors are fermentable.

FERMENTAL Fer*ment"al, a.

Defn: Fermentative. [Obs.]

FERMENTATION Fer`men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentation.]

1. The process of undergoing an effervescent change, as by the action of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.), the transformation of an organic substance into new compounds by the action of a ferment, either formed or unorganized. It differs in kind according to the nature of the ferment which causes it.

2. A state of agitation or excitement, as of the intellect or the feelings. It puts the soul to fermentation and activity. Jer. Taylor. A univesal fermentation of human thought and faith. C. Kingsley. Acetous, or Acetic, fermentation, a form of oxidation in which alcohol is converted into vinegar or acetic acid by the agency of a specific fungus or ferment (Mycoderma aceti). The process involves two distinct reactions, in which the oxygen of the air is essential. An intermediate product, aldehyde, is formed in the first process. 1. C2H6O + O = H2O + C2H4O

Note: Alcohol. Water. Aldehyde. 2. C2H4O + O = C2H4O2

Note: Aldehyde. Acetic acid. -- Alcoholic fermentation, the fermentation which saccharine bodies undergo when brought in contact with the yeast plant or Torula. The sugar is converted, either directly or indirectly, into alcohol and carbonic acid, the rate of action being dependent on the rapidity with which the Torulæ develop. -- Ammoniacal fermentation, the conversion of the urea of the urine into ammonium carbonate, through the growth of the special urea ferment. CON2H4 + 2H2O = (NH4)2CO3

Note: Urea. Water. Ammonium carbonate.

Note: Whenever urine is exposed to the air in open vessels for several days it undergoes this alkaline fermentation. -- Butyric fermentation, the decomposition of various forms of organic matter, through the agency of a peculiar worm-shaped vibrio, with formation of more or less butyric acid. It is one of the many forms of fermentation that collectively constitute putrefaction. See Lactic fermentation. -- Fermentation by an unorganized ferment or enzyme. Fermentations of this class are purely chemical reactions, in which the ferment acts as a simple catalytic agent. Of this nature are the decomposition or inversion of cane sugar into levulose and dextrose by boiling with dilute acids, the conversion of starch into dextrin and sugar by similar treatment, the conversion of starch into like products by the action of diastase of malt or ptyalin of saliva, the conversion of albuminous food into peptones and other like products by the action of pepsin-hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice or by the ferment of the pancreatic juice. -- Fermentation theory of disease (Biol. & Med.), the theory that most if not all, infectious or zymotic disease are caused by the introduction into the organism of the living germs of ferments, or ferments already developed (organized ferments), by which processes of fermentation are set up injurious to health. See Germ theory. -- Glycerin fermentation, the fermentation which occurs on mixing a dilute solution of glycerin with a peculiar species of schizomycetes and some carbonate of lime, and other matter favorable to the growth of the plant, the glycerin being changed into butyric acid, caproic acid, butyl, and ethyl alcohol. With another form of bacterium (Bacillus subtilis) ethyl alcohol and butyric acid are mainly formed. -- Lactic fermentation, the transformation of milk sugar or other saccharine body into lactic acid, as in the souring of milk, through the agency of a special bacterium (Bacterium lactis of Lister). In this change the milk sugar, before assuming the form of lactic acid, presumably passes through the stage of glucose. C12H22O11.H2O = 4C3H6O3

Note: Hydrated milk sugar. Lactic acid.

Note: In the lactic fermentation of dextrose or glucose, the lactic acid which is formed is very prone to undergo butyric fermentation after the manner indicated in the following equation: 2C3H6O3 (lactic acid) = C4H8O2 (butyric acid) + 2CO2 (carbonic acid) + 2H2 (hydrogen gas). -- Putrefactive fermentation. See Putrefaction.

FERMENTATION THEORY Fer`men*ta"tion the"o*ry. (Med.)

Defn: The theory which likens the course of certain diseases (esp. infectious diseases) to the process of fermentation, and attributes them to the organized ferments in the body. It does not differ materially from the accepted germ theory (which see).

FERMENTATIVE Fer*ment"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentatif.]

Defn: Causing, or having power to cause, fermentation; produced by fermentation; fermenting; as, a fermentative process. -- Fer*ment"a*tive*ly, adv. -- Fer*ment"a*tive*ness, n.

FERMERERE Fer"mer*ere, n. Etym: [OF. enfermerier, fr. enfermerie infirmary. See Infirmary.]

Defn: The officer in a religious house who had the care of the infirmary. [Obs.]

FERMETURE Fer"me*ture, n. [F., fr. fermer to close.] (Mil.)

Defn: The mechanism for closing the breech of a breech-loading firearm, in artillery consisting principally of the breechblock, obturator, and carrier ring.

FERMILLET Fer"mil*let, n. Etym: [OF., dim. of fermeil, fermail, clasp, prob. fr. OF. & F. fermer to make fast, fr. ferme fast. See Firm.]

Defn: A buckle or clasp. [Obs.] Donne.

FERN Fern, adv.

Defn: Long ago. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERN Fern, a. Etym: [AS. fyrn.]

Defn: Ancient; old. [Obs.] "Pilgrimages to . . . ferne halwes." [saints]. Chaucer.

FERN Fern, n. Etym: [AS. fearn; akin to D. varen, G. farn, farnkraut; cf. Skr. parna wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. papartis fern.] (Bot.)

Defn: An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices, which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size.

Note: The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns. Christmas fern. See under Christmas. -- Climbing fern (Bot.), a delicate North American fern (Lygodium palmatum), which climbs several feet high over bushes, etc., and is much sought for purposes of decoration. -- Fern owl. (Zoöl.) (a) The European goatsucker. (b) The short- eared owl. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fern shaw, a fern thicket. [Eng.] R. Browning.

FERNERY Fern"er*y, n.

Defn: A place for rearing ferns.

FERNTICLE Fern"ti*cle, n.

Defn: A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern. [Prov. Eng.]

FERNY Fern"y, a.

Defn: Abounding in ferns.

FEROCIOUS Fe*ro"cious, a. Etym: [L. ferox, -ocis, fierce: cf. F. féroce. See Ferocity.]

Defn: Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious; as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion. The humbled power of a ferocious enemy. Lowth.

Syn. -- Ferocious, Fierce, Savage, Barbarous. When these words are applied to human feelings or conduct, ferocious describes the disposition; fierce, the haste and violence of an act; barbarous, the coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; savage, the cruel and unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is ferocious in his temper, fierce in his actions, barbarous in the manner of carrying out his purposes, savage in the spirit and feelings expressed in his words or deeds. -- Fe*ro"cious*ly, adv. -- Fe*ro"cious*ness, n. It [Christianity] has adapted the ferociousness of war. Blair.

FEROCITY Fe*roc"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. ferocitas, fr. ferox, -ocis, fierce, kin to ferus wild: cf. F. ferocité. See Fierce.]

Defn: Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity of countenance. The pride and ferocity of a Highland chief. Macaulay.

FEROHER Fer*o"her, n. (Archæol.)

Defn: A symbol of the solar deity, found on monuments exhumed in Babylon, Nineveh, etc.

FEROUS Fe"rous, a. Etym: [L. ferus. See Fierce.]

Defn: Wild; savage. [R.] Arthur Wilson.

-FEROUS -fer*ous. Etym: [L. -fer. fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.]

Defn: A suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as, auriferous, yielding gold; chyliferous, producing chyle.

FERRANDINE Fer*ran"dine ( or ), n. Etym: [F.; cf. OF. ferrant iron-gray, from L. ferrum iron.]

Defn: A stuff made of silk and wool. I did buy a colored silk ferrandine. Pepys.

FERRANTI CABLES; FERRANTI MAINS Fer*ran"ti ca"bles, Fer*ran"ti mains". (Elec.)

Defn: A form of conductor, designed by Ferranti, for currents of high potential, and consisting of concentric tubes of copper separated by an insulating material composed of paper saturated with black mineral wax.

FERRANTI PHENOMENON Fer*ran"ti phe*nom"e*non. (Elec.)

Defn: An increase in the ratio of transformation of an alternating current converter, accompanied by other changes in electrical conditions, occurring when the secondary of the converter is connected with a condenser of moderate capacity; -- so called because first observed in connection with the Ferranti cables in London.

FERRARA Fer*ra"ra, n.

Defn: A sword bearing the mark of one of the Ferrara family of Italy. These swords were highly esteemed in England and Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.

FERRARESE Fer`ra*rese", a.

Defn: Pertaining to Ferrara, in Italy. -- n., sing. & pl.

Defn: A citizen of Ferrara; collectively, the inhabitants of Ferrara.

FERRARY Fer"ra*ry, n. Etym: [L. ferraria iron works. See Ferreous.]

Defn: The art of working in iron. [Obs.] Chapman.

FERRATE Fer"rate, n. Etym: [L. ferrum iron.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of ferric acid.

FERRE; FERRER Fer"re, Fer"rer, a. & adv. Obs.

Defn: compar. of Fer.

FERREOUS Fer"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. ferreus, fr. ferrum iron. Cf. Farrier, Ferrous.]

Defn: Partaking of, made of, or pertaining to, iron; like iron. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

FERREST Fer"rest, a. & adv. Obs.

Defn: superl. of Fer. Chaucer.

FERRET Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief (cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo), about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color, with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their holes.

FERRET Fer"ret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting.] Etym: [Cf. F. fureter. See Ferret, n.]

Defn: To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; -- often used with out; as, to ferret out a secret. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.

FERRET Fer"ret, n. Etym: [Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or F. fleuret. Cf. Floret.]

Defn: A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.

FERRET Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.] (Glass Making)

Defn: The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.

FERRETER Fer"ret*er, n.

Defn: One who ferrets. Johnson.

FERRET-EYE Fer"ret-eye`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The spur-winged goose; -- so called from the red circle around the eyes.

FERRETTO Fer*ret"to, n. Etym: [It. ferretto di Spagna, dim. of ferro iron, fr. L. ferrum.]

Defn: Copper sulphide, used to color glass. Hebert.

FERRI- Fer"ri- (. (Chem.)

Defn: A combining form indicating ferric iron as an ingredient; as, ferricyanide.

FERRIAGE Fer"ri*age (; 48), n. Etym: [From Ferry.]

Defn: The price or fare to be paid for passage at a ferry.

FERRIC Fer"ric, a. Etym: [L. ferrum iron: cf. F. ferrique. See Ferrous.]

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing iron. Specifically (Chem.), denoting those compounds in which iron has a higher valence than in the ferrous compounds; as, ferric oxide; ferric acid. Ferric acid (Chem.), an acid, H2FeO4, which is not known in the free state, but forms definite salts, analogous to the chromates and sulphates. -- Ferric oxide (Chem.), sesquioxide of iron, Fe2O3; hematite. See Hematite.

FERRICYANATE Fer`ri*cy"a*nat, n. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of ferricyanic acid; a ferricyanide.

FERRICYANIC Fer`ri*cy*an"ic, a. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, a ferricyanide. Ferricyanic acid (Chem.), a brown crystalline substance, H6(CN)12Fe2, obtained from potassium ferricyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferricyanides; -- called also hydro-ferricyanic acid, hydrogen ferricyanide, etc.

FERRICYANIDE Fer`ri*cy"a*nide (; 104), n. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanide.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a complex series of double cyanides of ferric iron and some other base. Potassium ferricyanide (Chem.), red prussiate of potash; a dark, red, crystalline salt, K6(CN)12Fe2, consisting of the double cyanide of potassium and ferric iron. From it is derived the ferrous ferricyanate, Turnbull's blue.

FERRIER Fer"ri*er, n.

Defn: A ferryman. Calthrop.

FERRIFEROUS Fer*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ferrum iron + -ferous: cf. F. ferrifère.]

Defn: Producing or yielding iron.

FERRIPRUSSIATE Fer`ri*prus"si*ate ( or ; see Prussiate, 277), n. Etym: [Ferri- + prussiate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A ferricyanate; a ferricyanide. [R.]

FERRIPRUSSIC Fer`ri*prus"sic ( or ; see Prussik, 277), a. Etym: [Ferri- + prussic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Ferricyanic. [R.]

FERRIS WHEEL Fer"ris wheel.

Defn: An amusement device consisting of a giant power-driven steel wheel, revolvable on its stationary axle, and carrying a number of balanced passenger cars around its rim; -- so called after G. W. G. Ferris, American engineer, who erected the first of its kind for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

FERRO- Fer"ro- (. (Chem.)

Defn: A prefix, or combining form, indicating ferrous iron as an ingredient; as, ferrocyanide.

FERROCALCITE Fer`ro*cal"cite, n. Etym: [Ferro- + calcite.]

Defn: Limestone containing a large percentage of iron carbonate, and hence turning brown on exposure.

FERRO-CONCRETE Fer"ro-con"crete, n. (Arch. & Engin.)

Defn: Concrete strengthened by a core or foundation skeleton of iron or steel bars, strips, etc. Floors, columns, piles, water pipes, etc., have been successfully made of it. Called also armored concrete steel, and reënforced concrete.

FERROCYANATE Fer`ro*cy"a*nate, n. Etym: [Ferro- + cyanate: cf. F. ferrocyanate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of ferrocyanic acid; a ferrocyanide.

FERROCYANIC Fer`ro*cy*an"ic, a. Etym: [Ferro- + cyanic: cf. F. ferrocyanique.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, a ferrocyanide. ferrocyanic acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, H4(CN)6Fe, of strong acid properties, obtained from potassium ferrocyanide, and regarded as the type of the ferrocyanides; -- called also hydro- ferrocyanic acid, hydrogen ferrocyanide. etc.

FERROCYANIDE Fer`ro*cy"a*nide ( or ; 104), n. Etym: [Ferro- + cyanide.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of complex double cyanides of ferrous iron and some other base. Potassium ferrocyanide (Chem.), yellow prussiate of potash; a tough, yellow, crystalline salt, K4(CN)6Fe, the starting point in the manufacture of almost all cyanogen compounds, and the basis of the ferric ferrocyanate, prussian blue. It is obtained by strongly heating together potash, scrap iron, and animal matter containing nitrogen, as horn, leather, blood, etc., in iron pots.

FERROPRUSSIATE Fer`ro*prus"si*ate ( or or; see Prussiate, 277), n. ) Etym: [Ferro- + prussiate.] (Chem.)

Defn: A ferrocyanate; a ferocyanide. [R.]

FERROPRUSSIC Fer`ro*prus"sic ( or ; see Prussic, 277), a. Etym: [Ferro- + prussic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Ferrocyanic.

FERROSO- Fer*ro"so- (. (Chem.)

Defn: See Ferro-.

FERROTYPE Fer"ro*type, n. Etym: [L. ferrum iron + -type.]

Defn: A photographic picture taken on an iron plate by a collodion process; -- familiarly called tintype.

FERROUS Fer"rous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ferreux. See Ferreous.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, iron; -- especially used of compounds of iron in which the iron has its lower valence; as, ferrous sulphate.

FERRUGINATED Fer*ru"gi*na`ted, a. Etym: [See Ferrugo.]

Defn: Having the color or properties of the rust of iron.

FERRUGINEOUS Fer`ru*gin"e*ous, a.

Defn: Ferruginous. [R.]

FERRUGINOUS Fer*ru"gi*nous, a. Etym: [L. ferruginus, ferrugineus, fr. ferrugo, - ginis, iron rust: cf. F. ferrugineux. See Ferrugo.]

1. Partaking of iron; containing particles of iron. Boyle.

2. Resembling iron rust in appearance or color; brownish red, or yellowish red.

FERRUGO Fer*ru"go, n. Etym: [L., iron rust, fr. ferrum iron.]

Defn: A disease of plants caused by fungi, commonly called the rust, from its resemblance to iron rust in color.

FERRULE Fer"rule ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Formerly verrel, F. virole, fr. L. viriola little bracelet, dim. of viriae, pl., bracelets; prob. akin to viere to twist, weave, and E. withe. The spelling with f is due to confusion with L. ferrum iron.]

1. A ring or cap of metal put round a cane, tool, handle, or other similar object, to strengthen it, or prevent splitting and wearing.

2. (Steam Boilers)

Defn: A bushing for expanding the end of a flue to fasten it tightly in the tube plate, or for partly filling up its mouth.

FERRUMINATE Fer*ru"mi*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. ferruminatus, p.p. of ferruminare to cement, solder, fr. ferrumen cement, fr. ferrum iron.]

Defn: To solder or unite, as metals. [R.] Coleridge.

FERRUMINATION Fer*ru`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. ferruminatio: cf. F. ferrumination.]

Defn: The soldering ir uniting of me [R.] Coleridge.

FERRY Fer"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferried; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferrying.] Etym: [OE. ferien to convey, AS. ferian, from faran to go; akin to Icel. ferja to ferry, Goth. farjan to sail. See Fare.]

Defn: To carry or transport over a river, strait, or other narrow water, in a boat.

FERRY Fer"ry, v. i.

Defn: To pass over water in a boat or by a ferry. They ferry over this Lethean sound Both to and fro. Milton.

FERRY Fer"ry, n.; pl. Ferries. Etym: [OE. feri; akin to Icel. ferja, Sw. färja, Dan. færge, G. fähre. See Ferry, v. t.]

1. A place where persons or things are carried across a river, arm of the sea, etc., in a ferryboat. It can pass the ferry backward into light. Milton. To row me o'er the ferry. Campbell.

2. A vessel in which passengers and goods are conveyed over narrow waters; a ferryboat; a wherry.

3. A franchise or right to maintain a vessel for carrying passengers and freight across a river, bay, etc., charging tolls. Ferry bridge, a ferryboat adapted in its structure for the transfer of railroad trains across a river or bay. -- Ferry railway. See under Railway.

FERRYBOAT Fer"ry*boat`, n.

Defn: A vessel for conveying passengers, merchandise, etc., across streams and other narrow waters.

FERRYMAN Fer"ry*man, n.; pl. Ferrymen (.

Defn: One who maintains or attends a ferry.

FERS Fers, a.

Defn: Fierce. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERTHE Ferthe, a.

Defn: Fourth. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FERTILE Fer"tile ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. fertilis, fr. ferr to bear, produce: cf. F. fertile. See Bear to support.]

1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able to produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive; rich; inventive; as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or imagination. Though he in a fertile climate dwell. Shak.

2. (Bot.) (a) Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers. (b) Containing pollen; -- said of anthers.

3. produced in abundance; plenteous; ample. Henceforth, my early care . . . Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease Of thy full branches. Milton.

Syn. -- Fertile, Fruitful. Fertile implies the inherent power of production; fruitful, the act. The prairies of the West are fertile by nature, and are turned by cultivation into fruitful fields. The same distinction prevails when these words are used figuratively. A man of fertile genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a readiness of application which enable him to think and act effectively.

FERTILELY Fer"tile*ly ( or ; 277), adv.

Defn: In a fertile or fruitful manner.

FERTILENESS fer"tile*ness, n.

Defn: Fertility. Sir P. Sidney.

FERTILITATE Fer*til"i*tate, v. t.

Defn: To fertilize; to fecundate. Sir T. Browne.

FERTILITY Fer*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fertilitas: cf. F. fertilité.]

Defn: The state or quality of being fertile or fruitful; fruitfulness; productiveness; fecundity; richness; abundance of resources; fertile invention; quickness; readiness; as, the fertility of soil, or of imagination. "fertility of resource." E. Everett. And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps Corrupting in its own fertility. Shak. Thy very weeds are beautiful; thy waste More rich than other climes' fertility. Byron.

FERTILIZATION Fer`ti*li*za"tion, n.

1. The act or process of rendering fertile.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: The act of fecundating or impregnating animal or vegetable germs; esp., the process by which in flowers the pollen renders the ovule fertile, or an analogous process in flowerless plants; fecundation; impregnation. Close fertilization (Bot.), the fertilization of pistils by pollen derived from the stamens of the same blossom. -- Cross fertilization, fertilization by pollen from some other blossom. See under Cross, a.

FERTILIZE Fer"ti*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fertilized; p. pr. & vb. n. Fertilizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fertiliser.]

1. To make fertile or enrich; to supply with nourishment for plants; to make fruitful or productive; as, to fertilize land, soil, ground, and meadows. And fertilize the field that each pretends to gain. Byron.

2. To fecundate; as, to fertilize flower. A. R. Wallace.

FERTILIZER Fer"ti*lizer, n.

1. One who fertilizes; the agent that carries the fertilizing principle, as a moth to an orchid. A. R. Wallace.

2. That which renders fertile; a general name for commercial manures, as guano, phosphate of lime, etc.

FERULA Fer"u*la, n. Etym: [L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were used in punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to strike; akin to OHG. berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. Ferule.]

1. A ferule. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.

FERULACEOUS Fer`u*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. ferulaceus, fr. ferula rod: cf. F. férulacé.]

Defn: Pertaining to reeds and canes; having a stalk like a reed; as, ferulaceous plants.

FERULAR Fer"u*lar, n.

Defn: A ferule. [Obs.] Milton.

FERULE Fer"ule ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [L. ferula: cf. F. férule. See Ferula.]

Defn: A flat piece of wood, used for striking, children, esp. on the hand, in punishment.

FERULE Fer"ule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feruled; p. pr. & vb. n. Feruling.]

Defn: To punish with a ferule.

FERULIC Fe*ru"lic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, asafetida (Ferula asafoetida); as, ferulic acid. [Written also ferulaic.]

FERVENCE Fer"vence, n.

Defn: Heat; fervency. [Obs.]

FERVENCY Fer"ven*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. fervence. See Fervent.]

Defn: The state of being fervent or warm; ardor; warmth of feeling or devotion; eagerness. When you pray, let it be with attention, with fervency, and with perseverance. Wake.

FERVENT Fer"vent, a. Etym: [F. fervent, L. fervens, -entis. p.pr. of fervere o the boiling hot, to boil, glow.]

1. Hot; glowing; boiling; burning; as, a fervent summer. The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Pet. iii. 10.

2. Warm in feeling; ardent in temperament; earnest; full of fervor; zealous; glowing. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit. Rom. iii. 11. So spake the fervent angel. Milton. A fervent desire to promote the happiness of mankind. Macaulay. -- Fer"vent*ly, adv. -- Fer"vent*ness, n. Laboring fervently for you in prayers. Col. iv. 12.

FERVESCENT Fer*ves"cent, a. Etym: [L. fervescens, p.pr. of fervescere to become boiling hot, incho., fr. fervere. See Fervent.]

Defn: Growing hot.

FERVID Fer"vid, a. Etym: [L. fervidus, fr. fervere. See Fervent.]

1. Very hot; burning; boiling. The mounted sun Shot down direct his fervid rays. Milton.

2. Ardent; vehement; zealous. The fervid wishes, holy fires. Parnell. -- Fer"vid*ly, adv. -- Fer"vid*ness, n.

FERVOR Fer"vor, n. [Written also fervour.] Etym: [OF. fervor, fervour, F. ferveur, L. fervor, fr. fervere. See Fervent.]

1. Heat; excessive warmth. The fevor of ensuing day. Waller.

2. Intensity of feeling or expression; glowing ardor; passion; holy zeal; earnestness. Hooker. Winged with fervor of her love. Shak.

Syn. -- Fervor, Ardor. Fervor is a boiling heat, and ardor is a burning heat. Hence, in metaphor, we commonly use fervor and its derivatives when we conceive of thoughts or emotions under the image of ebullition, or as pouring themselves forth. Thus we speak of the fervor of passion, fervid declamation, fervid importunity, fervent supplication, fervent desires, etc. Ardent is used when we think of anything as springing from a deepseated glow of soul; as, ardent friendship, ardent zeal, ardent devotedness; burning with ardor for the fight.

FESCENNINE Fes"cen*nine, a. Etym: [L. Fescenninus, fr. Fescennia, a city of Etruria.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the Fescennines. -- n.

Defn: A style of low, scurrilous, obscene poetry originating in fescennia.

FESCUE Fes"cue, n. Etym: [OE. festu, OF. festu, F. fétu, fr. L. festuca stalk, straw.]

1. A straw, wire, stick, etc., used chiefly to point out letters to children when learning to read. "Pedantic fescue.' Sterne. To come under the fescue of an imprimatur. Milton.

2. An instrument for playing on the harp; a plectrum. [Obs.] Chapman.

3. The style of a dial. [Obs.]

4. (Bot.)

Defn: A grass of the genus Festuca. Fescue grass (Bot.), a genus of grasses (Festuca) containing several species of importance in agriculture. Festuca ovina is sheep's fescue; F. elatior is meadow fescue.

FESCUE Fes"cue, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Fescued; p. pr. & vb. n. Fescuing.]

Defn: To use a fescue, or teach with a fescue. Milton.

FESELS Fes"els, n. pl. Etym: [Written also fasels.]

Defn: See Phasel. [Obs.] May (Georgics).

FESS; FESSE Fess, Fesse, n. Etym: [OF. fesse, faisse, F. fasce, fr. L. fascia band. See Fascia.] (Her.)

Defn: A band drawn horizontally across the center of an escutcheon, and containing in breadth the third part of it; one of the nine honorable ordinaries. Fess point (Her.), the exact center of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon.

FESSITUDE Fes"si*tude, n. Etym: [L. fessus wearied, fatigued.]

Defn: Weariness. [Obs.] Bailey.

FESSWISE Fess"wise, adv.

Defn: In the manner of fess.

FEST Fest, n. Etym: [See Fist.]

Defn: The fist. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FEST; FESTE Fest, Fes"te, n.

Defn: A feast. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FESTAL Fes"tal, a. Etym: [L. festum holiday, feast. See feast.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a holiday or a feast; joyous; festive. You bless with choicer wine the festal day. Francis.

FESTALLY Fes"tal*ly, adv.

Defn: Joyously; festively; mirthfully.

FESTENNINE Fes"ten*nine, n.

Defn: A fescennine.

FESTER Fes"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Festered; p. pr. & vb. n. Festering.] Etym: [OE. festern, fr. fester, n.; or fr. OF. festrir, fr. festre, n. See Fester, n.]

1. To generate pus; to become imflamed and suppurate; as, a sore or a wound festers. Wounds immedicable Rankle, and fester, and gangrene. Milton. Unkindness may give a wound that shall bleed and smart, but it is treachery that makes it fester. South. Hatred . . . festered in the hearts of the children of the soil. Macaulay.

2. To be inflamed; to grow virulent, or malignant; to grow in intensity; to rankle.

FESTER Fes`ter, v. t.

Defn: To cause to fester or rankle. For which I burnt in inward, swelt'ring hate, And fstered ranking malice in my breast. Marston.

FESTER Fes"ter, n. Etym: [OF. festre, L. fistula a sort of ulcer. Cf. Fistula.]

1. A small sore which becomes inflamed and discharge corrupt matter; a pustule.

2. A festering or rankling. The fester of the chain their necks. I. Taylor.

FESTERMENT Fes"ter*ment, n.

Defn: A festering. [R.] Chalmers.

FESTEYE Fest"eye, v. t. Etym: [OF. festier, festeer, F. festoyer.]

Defn: To feast; to entertain. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FESTINATE Fes"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. festinatus, p.p. of festinare to hasten.]

Defn: Hasty; hurried. [Obs.] -- Fes"ti*nate*ly, adv. [Obs.] Shak.

FESTINATION Fes`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. festinatio.]

Defn: Haste; hurry. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

FESTIVAL Fes"ti*val, a. Etym: [OF. festival, fr. L. festivum festive jollity, fr. festivus festive, gay. See Festive.]

Defn: Pertaining to a fest; festive; festal; appropriate to a festival; joyous; mirthful. I cannot woo in festival terms. Shak.

FESTI-VAL Fes"ti-val, n.

Defn: A time of feasting or celebration; an anniversary day of joy, civil or religious. The morning trumpets festival proclaimed. Milton.

Syn. -- Feast; banquet; carousal. See Feast.

FESTIVE Fes"tive, a. Etym: [L. festivus, fr. festum holiday, feast. See feast, and cf. Festivous.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or becoming, a feast; festal; joyous; gay; mirthful; sportive. -- Fes"tive*ly, adv. The glad circle round them yield their souls To festive mirth and wit that knows no gall. Thomson.

FESTIVITY Fes*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. Festivities. Etym: [L. festivitas: cf. F. festivité.]

1. The condition of being festive; social joy or exhilaration of spirits at an entertaintment; joyfulness; gayety. The unrestrained festivity of the rustic youth. Bp. Hurd.

2. A festival; a festive celebration. Sir T. Browne.

FESTIVOUS Fes"ti*vous, a. Etym: [See Festive.]

Defn: Pertaining to a feast; festive. [R.] Sir W. Scott.

FESTLICH Fest"lich, a. Etym: [See Feast, n.]

Defn: Festive; fond of festive occasions. [Obs.] "A festlich man." Chaucer.

FESTOON Fes*toon", n. Etym: [F. feston (cf. Sp. feston, It. festone), prob. fr. L. festum festival. See Feast.]

1. A garland or wreath hanging in a depending curve, used in decoration for festivals, etc.; anything arranged in this way.

2. (Arch. & Sculp.)

Defn: A carved ornament consisting of flowers, and leaves, intermixed or twisted together, wound with a ribbon, and hanging or depending in a natural curve. See Illust. of Bucranium.

FESTOON Fes*toon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Festooned; p. pr. & vb. n. Festooning.]

Defn: To form in festoons, or to adorn with festoons.

FESTOONY Fes*toon"y, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, festoons. Sir J. Herschel.

FESTUCINE Fes*tu*cine ( or ), a. Etym: [L. festula stalk, straw. Cf. Fescue.]

Defn: Of a straw color; greenish yellow. [Obs.] A little insect of a festucine or pale green. Sir T. Browne.

FESTUCOUS Fes"tu*cous, a.

Defn: Formed or consisting of straw. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

FESTUE Fes"tue, n. Etym: [See Fescue.]

Defn: A straw; a fescue. [Obs.] Holland.

FET Fet, n. Etym: [Cf. feat, F. fait, and It. fett slice, G. fetzen rag, Icel. fat garment.]

Defn: A piece. [Obs.] Dryton.

FET Fet, v. t. Etym: [OE. fetten, feten, AS. fetian; akin to AS. fæt a journey, and to E. foot; cf. G. fassen to seize. sq. root 77. See Foot, and cf. Fetch.]

Defn: To fetch. [Obs.] And from the other fifty soon the prisoner fet. Spenser.

FET Fet, p. p. of Fette.

Defn: Fetched. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FETAL Fe"tal, a. Etym: [From Fetus.]

Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, a fetus; as, fetal circulation; fetal membranes.

FETATION Fe*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The formation of a fetus in the womb; pregnancy.

FETCH Fetch (; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fetched 2; p. pr. & vb. n.. Fetching.] Etym: [OE. fecchen, AS. feccan, perh. the same word as fetian; or cf. facian to wish to get, OFries. faka to prepare. sq. root 77. Cf. Fet, v. t.]

1. To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing from whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go and bring; to get. Time will run back and fetch the age of gold. Milton. He called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bred in thine hand. 1 Kings xvii. 11, 12.

2. To obtain as price or equivalent; to sell for. Our native horses were held in small esteem, and fetched low prices. Macaulay.

3. To recall from a swoon; to revive; -- sometimes with to; as, to fetch a man to. Fetching men again when they swoon. Bacon.

4. To reduce; to throw. The sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to the ground. South.

5. To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with certain objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a sigh. I'll fetch a turn about the garden. Shak. He fetches his blow quick and sure. South.

6. To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive at; to attain; to reach by sailing. Meantine flew our ships, and straight we fetched The siren's isle. Chapman.

7. To cause to come; to bring to a particular state. They could n't fetch the butter in the churn. W. Barnes. To fetch a compass (Naut.), to make a sircuit; to take a circuitious route going to a place. -- To fetch a pump, to make it draw water by pouring water into the top and working the handle. -- To fetch headway or sternway (Naut.), to move ahead or astern. -- To fetch out, to develop. "The skill of the polisher fetches out the colors [of marble]" Addison. -- To fetch up. (a) To overtake. [Obs.] "Says [the hare], I can fetch up the tortoise when I please." L'Estrange. (b) To stop suddenly.

FETCH fetch, v. i.

Defn: To bring one's self; to make headway; to veer; as, to fetch about; to fetch to windward. Totten. To fetch away (Naut.), to break loose; to roll slide to leeward. -- To fetch and carry, to serve obsequiously, like a trained spaniel.

FETCH Fetch, n.

1. A stratagem by which a thing is indirectly brought to pass, or by which one thing seems intended and another is done; a trick; an artifice. Every little fetch of wit and criticism. South.

2. The apparation of a living person; a wraith. The very fetch and ghost of Mrs. Gamp. Dickens. Fetch candle, a light seen at night, superstitiously believed to portend a person's death.

FETCHER Fetch"er, n.

Defn: One wo fetches or brings.

FETE Fete, n. Etym: [See feat.]

Defn: A feat. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FETE Fete, n. pl. Etym: [See Foot.]

Defn: Feet. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FETE Fête, n. Etym: [F. See Feast.]

Defn: A festival. Fête champêtre ( Etym: [F.], a festival or entertainment in the open air; a rural festival.

FETE Fête, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fêted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fêting.] Etym: [Cf. F. fêter.]

Defn: To feast; to honor with a festival.

FETICH; FETISH Fe"tich, Fe"tish, n.Etym: [F. fétiche, from Pg. feiti, adj., n., sorcery, charm, fr. L. facticius made by art, artifical, factitious. See Factitious.]

1. A material object supposed among certain African tribes to represent in such a way, or to be so connected with, a supernatural being, that the possession of it gives to the possessor power to control that being.

2. Any object to which one is excessively devoted.

FETICHISM; FETISHISM fe"tich*ism, Fe"tish*ism ( or ); 277), n.Etym: [Cf. F. fétichisme.] [Written also feticism.]

1. The doctrine or practice of belief in fetiches.

2. Excessive devotion to one object or one idea; abject superstition; blind adoration. The real and absolute worship of fire falls into two great divisions, the first belonging rather to fetichism, the second to polytheism proper. Tylor.

FETICHIST; FETISHIST Fe"tich*ist, Fe"tish*ist, n.

Defn: A believer in fetiches. He was by nature a fetichist. H. Holbeach.

FETICHISTIC; FETISHISTIC Fe`tich*is"tic, Fe`tish*is"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or involving, fetichism. A man of the fifteenth century, inheriting its strange web of belief and unbelief, of epicurean levity and fetichistic dread. G. Eliot.

FETICIDE Fe"ti*cide ( or ), n. [Written also foeticide.] Etym: [Fetus + L. caedere to kill.] (Med. & Law)

Defn: The act of killing the fetus in the womb; the offense of procuring an abortion.

FETICISM Fe"ti*cism, n.

Defn: See Fetichism.

FETID Fet"id ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. fetidus, foetidus, fr. fetere, foetere, to have an ill smell, to stink: cf. F. fétide.]

Defn: Having an offensive smell; stinking. Most putrefactions . . . smell either fetid or moldy. Bacon.

FETIDITY Fet*id"i*ty ( or ), n.

Defn: Fetidness.

FETIDNESS Fet"id*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being fetid.

FETIFEROUS Fe*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Fetus + -ferous.]

Defn: Producing young, as animals.

FETIS Fe"tis, a. Etym: [OF. fetis, faitis. Cf. Factitious.]

Defn: Neat; pretty; well made; graceful. [Obs.] Full fetis was her cloak, as I was ware. Chaucer.

FETISELY Fe"tise*ly, adv.

Defn: Neatly; gracefully; properly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FETISH; FETISHISM; FETISHIST; FETISHISTIC Fe"tish, n., Fe"tish*ism, n., Fe"tishist, n., Fe`tish*is"tic (, a.

Defn: See Fetich, n., Fetichism, n., Fetichistic, a.

FETLOCK Fet"lock, n. Etym: [OE. fetlak, fitlock, cf. Icel. fet pace, step, fit webbed foot of water birds, akin to E. foot. sq. root 77. See Foot.]

Defn: The cushionlike projection, bearing a tuft of long hair, on the back side of the leg above the hoof of the horse and similar animals. Also, the joint of the limb at this point (between the great pastern bone and the metacarpus), or the tuft of hair. Their wounded steeds Fret fetlock deep in gore. Shak.

FETOR Fe"tor, n. Etym: [L. fetor, foetor. See Fetid.]

Defn: A strong, offensive smell; stench; fetidness. Arbuthnot.

FETTE Fet"te ( or ), v.t. [imp. Fette, p.p. Fet.] Etym: [See Fet, v. t.]

Defn: To fetch. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FETTER Fet"ter, n. Etym: [AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feter, pl., OD. veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fjöturr, L. pedi, Gr. foot. sq. root 77. See Foot.] [Chiefly used in the plural, fetters.]

1. A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and rapid motion; a bond; a shackle. [They] bound him with fetters of brass. Judg. xvi. 21.

2. Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint. Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound. Dryden.

FETTER Fet"ter, v. t. Etym: [imp. & p.p. Fettered (n. Fettering.]

Defn: 1. To put fetters upon; to shakle or confine the feet of with a chain; to bind. My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton.

2. To reastrain from motion; to impose restrains on; to confine; to enchain; as, fettered by obligations. My conscience! thou art fettered More than my shanks and wrists. Shak.

FETTERED Fet"tered, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Seeming as if fettered, as the feet pf certain animals which bend backward, and appear unfit for walking.

FETTERER Fet"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who fetters. Landor.

FETTERLESS Fet"ter*less, a.

Defn: Free from fetters. Marston.

FETTLE Fet"tle, v. t. Etym: [OE. & Prov. E., to fettle (in sense 1), fettle, n., order, repair, preparation, dress; prob. akin to E. fit. See Fit, a.]

Defn: 1. To repair; to prepare; to put in order. [Prov. Eng.] Carlyle.

2. (Metal.)

Defn: To cover or line with a mixture of ore, cinders, etc., as the hearth of a puddling furnace.

FETTLE Fet"tle, v. i.

Defn: To make preparations; to put things in order; to do trifling business. [Prov. Eng.] Bp. Hall.

FETTLE Fet"tle, n.

Defn: The act of fettling. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. In fine fettle, in good spirits.

FETTLING Fet"tling, n.

1. (Metal.)

Defn: A mixture of ore, cinders, etc., used to line the hearth of a puddling furnace. [Eng.] [It is commonly called fix in the United States.]

2. (Pottery)

Defn: The operation of shaving or smoothing the surface of undried clay ware.

FETUOUS Fet"u*ous, a.

Defn: Neat; feat. [Obs.] Herrick.

FETUS Fe"tus, n.; pl. Fetuses. Etym: [L. fetus, foetus, a bringing forth, brood, offspring, young ones, cf. fetus fruitful, fructified, that is or was filled with young; akin to E. fawn a deer, fecundity, felicity, feminine, female, and prob. to do, or according to others, to be.]

Defn: The young or embryo of an animal in the womb, or in the egg; often restricted to the later stages in the development of viviparous and oviparous animals, embryo being applied to the earlier stages. [Written also foetus.]

FETWAH Fet"wah, n. Etym: [Ar.]

Defn: A written decision of a Turkish mufti on some point of law. Whitworth.

FEU Feu, n. Etym: [See 2d Feud, and Fee.] (Scots Law)

Defn: A free and gratuitous right to lands made to one for service to be performed by him; a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money. Burrill.

FEUAR Feu"ar, n. Etym: [From Feu.] (Scots Law)

Defn: One who holds a feu. Sir W. Scott.

FEUD Feud, n. Etym: [OE. feide, AS. f, fr. fah hostile; akin to OHG. f, G. fehde, Sw. fejd, D. feide; prob. akin to E. fiend. See Foe.]

1. A combination of kindred to avenge injuries or affronts, done or offered to any of their blood, on the offender and all his race.

2. A contention or quarrel; especially, an inveterate strife between families, clans, or parties; deadly hatred; contention satisfied only by bloodshed. Mutual feuds and battles betwixt their several tribes and kindreds. Purchas.

Syn. -- Affray; fray; broil; contest; dispute; strife.

FEUD Feud, n. Etym: [LL. feudum, feodum prob. of same origin as E. fief. See Fief, Fee.] (Law)

Defn: A stipendiary estate in land, held of superior, by service; the right which a vassal or tenant had to the lands or other immovable thing of his lord, to use the same and take the profists thereof hereditarily, rendering to his superior such duties and services as belong to military tenure, etc., the property of the soil always remaining in the lord or superior; a fief; a fee.

FEUDAL Feu"dal, a. Etym: [F. féodal, or LL. feudalis.]

1. Of or pertaining to feuds, fiefs, or feels; as, feudal rights or services; feudal tenures.

2. Consisting of, or founded upon, feuds or fiefs; embracing tenures by military services; as, the feudal system.

FEUDALISM Feu"dal*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. féodalisme.]

Defn: The feudal system; a system by which the holding of estates in land is made dependent upon an obligation to render military service to the kind or feudal superior; feudal principles and usages.

FEUDALIST Feu"dal*ist, n.

Defn: An upholder of feudalism.

FEUDALITY Feu*dal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. féodalité.]

Defn: The state or quality of being feudal; feudal form or constitution. Burke.

FEUDALIZATION Feu*dal*i*za/tion, n.

Defn: The act of reducing to feudal tenure.

FEUDALIZE Feu"dal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feudalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Feudalizing.]

Defn: To reduce toa feudal tenure; to conform to feudalism.

FEUDALLY Feu"dal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a feudal manner.

FEUDARY Feu"da*ry, a. Etym: [LL. feudarius, fr. feudum. See 2d Feud.]

Defn: Held by, or pertaining to, feudal tenure.

FEUDARY Feu"da*ry, n.

1. A tenant who holds his lands by feudal service; a feudatory. Foxe.

2. A feodary. See Feodary.

FEUDATARY Feu"da*ta*ry, a. & n. Etym: [LL. feudatarius: cf. F. feudataire.]

Defn: See Feudatory.

FEUDATORY Feu"da*to*ry, n.; pl. Feudatories (.

Defn: A tenant or vassal who held his lands of a superior on condition of feudal service; the tenant of a feud or fief. The grantee . . . was styled the feudatory or vassal. Blackstone. [He] had for feudatories great princes. J. H. Newman.

FEUDATORY Feu"da*to*ry, a.

Defn: Held from another on some conditional tenure; as, a feudatory title. Bacon.

FEU DE JOIE Feu` de joie". Etym: [F., lit., fire of joy.]

Defn: A fire kindled in a public place in token of joy; a bonfire; a firing of guns in token of joy.

FEUDIST Feud"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. feudiste.]

Defn: A writer on feuds; a person versed in feudal law. Spelman.

FEUILLANTS Feu`illants", n. pl.