Chapter CLXXXII: Foreword: Fore"word`, n (3)

Defn: To cause a fracture or fractures in; to break; to burst asunder; to crack; to separate the continuous parts of; as, to fracture a bone; to fracture the skull.

FRAENULUM Fræn"u*lum, n.; pl. Frænula. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. fraenum a bridle.] (Anat.)

Defn: A frænum.

FRAENUM; FRENUM Fræ"num, or; Fre"num, n.; pl. E. Frænums, L. Fræna. Etym: [L., a bridle.] (Anat.)

Defn: A connecting fold of membrane serving to support or restrain any part; as, the frænum of the tongue.

FRAGILE Frag"ile, a. Etym: [L. fragilis, from frangere to break; cf. F. fragile. See Break, v. t., and cf. Frail, a.]

Defn: Easily broken; brittle; frail; delicate; easily destroyed. The state of ivy is tough, and not fragile. Bacon.

Syn. -- Brittle; infirm; weak; frail; frangible; slight. -- Frag"ile*ly, adv.

FRAGILITY Fra*gil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fragilitas: cf. F. fragilité. Cf. Frailty.]

1. The condition or quality of being fragile; brittleness; frangibility. Bacon.

2. Weakness; feebleness. An appearance of delicacy, and even of fragility, is almost essential to it [beauty]. Burke.

3. Liability to error and sin; frailty. [Obs.] The fragility and youthful folly of Qu. Fabius. Holland.

FRAGMENT Frag"ment, n. Etym: [L. fragmentum, fr. frangere to break: cf. F. fragment. See Break, v. t.]

Defn: A part broken off; a small, detached portion; an imperfect part; as, a fragment of an ancient writing. Gather up the fragments that remain. John vi. 12.

FRAGMENTAL Frag*men"tal, a.

1. Fragmentary.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Consisting of the pulverized or fragmentary material of rock, as conglomerate, shale, etc.

FRAGMENTAL Frag*men"tal, n. (Geol.)

Defn: A fragmentary rock.

FRAGMENTARILY Frag"men*ta*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a fragmentary manner; piecemeal.

FRAGMENTARINESS Frag"men*ta*ri*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or property of being in fragnebts, or broken pieces, incompleteness; want of continuity. G. Eliot.

FRAGMENTARY Frag"men*ta*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fragmentaire.]

1. Composed of fragments, or broken pieces; disconnected; not complete or entire. Donne.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Composed of the fragments of other rocks.

FRAGMENTED Frag"ment*ed, a.

Defn: Broken into fragments.

FRAGMENTIST Frag"ment*ist, n.

Defn: A writer of fragments; as, the fragmentist of Wolfenbüttel. [R.]

FRAGOR Fra"gor (, n. Etym: [L., a breaking to pieces, fr. frangere to break.]

1. A loud and sudden sound; the report of anything bursting; a crash. I. Watts.

2.

Note: [Due to confusion with fragrant.]

Defn: A strong or sweet scent. [Obs. & Illegitimate.] Sir T. Herbert.

FRAGRANCE; FRAGRANCY Fra"grance, Fra"gran*cy, n. Etym: [L. fragrantia: cf. OF. fragrance.]

Defn: The quality of being fragrant; sweetness of smell; a sweet smell; a pleasing odor; perfume. Eve separate he spies, Veiled in a cloud of fragrance. Milton. The goblet crowned, Breathed aromatic fragrancies around. Pope.

FRAGRANT Fra"grant, a.

Defn: [fragrans. -antis, p.pr. of fragrare to emit a smell of fragrance: cf. OF. fragrant. Affecting the olfactory nerves agreeably; sweet of smell; odorous; having or emitting an agreeable perfume. Fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers. Milton.

Syn. -- Sweet-smelling; odorous; odoriferous; swetacented; redolent; ambrosial; balmy; spicy; aromatic. -- Fra"grant*ly, adv.

FRAIGHT Fraight, a.

Defn: Same as Fraught. [Obs.] Spenser.

FRAIL Frail, n. Etym: [OE. fraiel, fraile, OF. fraiel, freel, frael, fr. LL. fraellum.]

Defn: A basket made of rushes, used chiefly for containing figs and raisins.

2. The quantity of raisins -- about thirty-two, fifty-six, or seventy-five pounds, -- contained in a frail.

3. A rush for weaving baskets. Johnson.

FRAIL Frail, a. [Compar. Frailer; superl. Frailest.] Etym: [OE. frele, freile, OF. fraile, frele, F. frêle, fr. L. fragilis. See Fragile.]

1. Easily broken; fragile; not firm or durable; liable to fail and perish; easily destroyed; not tenacious of life; weak; infirm. That I may know how frail I am. Ps. xxxix. 4. An old bent man, worn and frail. Lowell.

2. Tender. [Obs.] Deep indignation and compassion. Spenser.

3. Liable to fall from virtue or be led into sin; not strong against temptation; weak in resolution; also, unchaste; -- often applied to fallen women. Man is frail, and prone to evil. Jer. Taylor.

FRAILLY Frail"ly, adv.

Defn: Weakly; infirmly.

FRAILNESS Frail"ness, n.

Defn: Frailty.

FRAILTY Frail"ty, n.; pl. Frailties. Etym: [OE. frelete, freilte, OF. fraileté, fr. L. fragilitas. See Frail, a., and cf. Fragility.]

1. The condition quality of being frail, physically, mentally, or morally, frailness; infirmity; weakness of resolution; liableness to be deceived or seduced. God knows our frailty, [and] pities our weakness. Locke.

2. A fault proceeding from weakness; foible; sin of infirmity.

Syn. -- Frailness; fragility; imperfection; failing.

FRAISCHEUR Frai"scheur, n. Etym: [OF.; F fraicheur, fr. frais, fem. fra, fresh; of German origin. See Frash, a.]

Defn: Freshness; coolness. [R.] Dryden.

FRAISE Fraise, n. Etym: [See Froise.]

Defn: A large and thick pancake, with slices of bacon in it. [Obs.] Johnson.

FRAISE Fraise, n. Etym: [F. fraise, orig., a ruff, cf. F. frise frieze, E. frieze a coarse stuff.]

1. (Fort.)

Defn: A defense consisting of pointed stakes driven into the ramparts in a horizontal or inclined position.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A fluted reamer for enlarging holes in stone; a small milling cutter.

FRAISE Fraise, v. t. (Mil.)

Defn: To protect, as a line of troops, against an onset of cavalry, by opposing bayonets raised obliquely forward. Wilhelm.

FRAISED Fraised, a.

Defn: Fortified with a fraise.

FRAKEN Frak"en, n.

Defn: A freckle. [Obs.] A few fraknes in his face. Chaucer.

FRAMABLE Fram"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being framed.

FRAMBAESIA Fram*bæ"si*a, n. Etym: [F. & NL., fr. F. framboise raspberry.] (Med.)

Defn: The yaws. See Yaws.

FRAME Frame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Framed; p. pr. & vb. n. Framing.] Etym: [OE. framen, fremen, to execute, build, AS. fremman to further, perform, effect, fr. fram strong, valiant; akin to E. foremost, and prob. to AS. fram from, Icel. fremja, frama, to further, framr forward, G. fromm worthy, excellent, pious. See Foremost, From, and cf. Furnish.]

1. (Arch. & Engin.)

Defn: To construct by fitting and uniting the several parts of the skeleton of any structure; specifically, in woodwork, to put together by cutting parts of one member to fit parts of another. See Dovetail, Halve, v. t., Miter, Tenon, Tooth, Tusk, Scarf, and Splice.

2. To originate; to plan; to devise; to contrive; to compose; in a bad sense, to invent or fabricate, as something false. How many excellent reasonings are framed in the mind of a man of wisdom and study in a length of years. I. Watts.

3. To fit to something else, or for some specific end; to adjust; to regulate; to shape; to conform. And frame my face to all occasions. Shak. We may in some measure frame our minds for the reception of happiness. Landor. The human mind is framed to be influenced. I. Taylor.

4. To cause; to bring about; to produce. [Obs.] Fear frames disorder, and disorder wounds. Shak.

5. To support. [Obs. & R.] That on a staff his feeble steps did frame. Spenser.

6. To provide with a frame, as a picture.

FRAME Frame, v. i.

1. To shape; to arrange, as the organs of speech. [Obs.] Judg. xii. 6.

2. To proceed; to go. [Obs.] The bauty of this sinful dame Made many princes thither frame. Shak.

FRAME Frame, n.

1. Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure. These are thy glorius works, Parent of good, Almighty! thine this universal frame. Milton.

2. The bodily structure; physical constitution; make or build of a person. Some bloody passion shakes your very frame. Shak. No frames could be strong enough to endure it. Prescott.

3. A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched; as: (a) The skeleton structure which supports the boiler and machinery of a locomotive upon its wheels. (b) (Founding) A molding box or flask, which being filled with sand serves as a mold for castings. (c) The ribs and stretchers of an umbrella or other structure with a fabric covering. (d) A structure of four bars, adjustable in size, on which cloth, etc., is stretched for quilting, embroidery, etc. (e) (Hort.) A glazed portable structure for protecting young plants from frost. (f) (Print.) A stand to support the type cases for use by the compositor.

4. (Mach.)

Defn: A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame; lace frame; spinning frame, etc.

5. Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frameof government. She that hath a heart of that fine frame To pay this debt of love but to a brother. Shak. Put your discourse into some frame. Shak.

6. Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame.

7. Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming. [Obs.] John the bastard Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies. Shak. Balloon frame, Cant frames, etc. See under Balloon, Cant, etc. -- Frame building or house, a building of which the form and support is made of framed timbers. [U.S.] -- Frame level, a mason's level. -- Frame saw, a thin saw stretched in a frame to give it rigidity.

FRAMER Fram"er, n.

Defn: One who frames; as, the framer of a building; the framers of the Constitution.

FRAME-UP Frame"-up`, n.

Defn: A conspiracy or plot, esp. for a malicious or evil purpose, as to incriminate a person on false evidence. [Slang]

FRAMEWORK Frame"work`, n.

1. The work of framing, or the completed work; the frame or constructional part of anything; as, the framework of society. A staunch and solid piece of framework. Milton.

2. Work done in, or by means of, a frame or loom.

FRAMING Fram"ing, n.

1. The act, process, or style of putting together a frame, or of constructing anything; a frame; that which frames.

2. (Arch. & Engin.)

Defn: A framework, or a sy Framing chisel (Carp.), a heavy chisel with a socket shank for making mortises.

FRAMPEL; FRAMPOID Fram"pel, Fram"poid, a. Etym: [Also written frampul, frampled, framfold.] Etym: [Cf. W. fframfol passionate, ffrom angry, fretting; or perh. akin to E. frump.]

Defn: Peevish; cross; vexatious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Shak. Is Pompey grown so malapert, so frampel Beau. & Fl.

FRANC Franc, n. Etym: [F., fr. franc a Franc. See Frank, a.]

Defn: A silver coin of France, and since 1795 the unit of the French monetary system. It has been adopted by Belgium and Swizerland. It is equivalent to about nineteen cents, or ten pence, and is divided into 100 centimes.

FRANCHISE Fran"chise ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [F., fr. franc, fem. franche, free. See Frank, a.]

1. Exemption from constraint or oppression; freedom; liberty. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. (LAw)

Defn: A particular privilege conferred by grant from a sovereign or a government, and vested in individuals; an imunity or exemption from ordinary jurisdiction; a constitutional or statutory right or privilege, esp. the right to vote. Election by universal suffrage, as modified by the Constitution, is the one crowning franchise of the American people. W. H. Seward.

3. The district or jurisdiction to which a particular privilege extends; the limits of an immunity; hence, an asylum or sanctuary. Churches and mobasteries in Spain are franchises for criminals. London Encyc.

4. Magnanimity; generosity; liberality; frankness; nobility. "Franchise in woman." [Obs.] Chaucer. Elective franchise, the privilege or right of voting in an election of public officers.

FRANCHISE Fran"chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Franchised; p. pr. & vb. n. Franchising.] Etym: [Cf. OF. franchir to free, F., to cross.]

Defn: To make free; to enfranchise; to give liberty to. Shak.

FRANCHISEMENT Fran"chise*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. franchissement.]

Defn: Release; deliverance; freedom. Spenser.

FRANCIC Fran"cic, a. Etym: [See Frank, a.]

Defn: Pertaining to the Franks, or their language; Frankish.

FRANCISCAN Fran*cis"can, a. Etym: [LL. Franciscus Francis: cf. F. franciscain.] (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans. Franciscan Brothers, pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis. -- Franciscan Nuns, nuns who follow the rule of t. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also Poor Clares or Minoresses. -- Franciscan Tertiaries, the Third Order of St. Francis.

FRANCISCAN Fran*cis"can, n. (R.C.Ch.)

Defn: A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. They are called also Friars Minor; and in England, Gray Friars, because they wear a gray habit.

FRANCOLIN Fran"co*lin, n. Etym: [F.; cf. It. francolino, Sp. francolin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A spurred partidge of the genus Francolinus and allied genera, of Asia and Africa. The common species (F. vulgaris) was formerly common in southern Europe, but is now nearly restricted to Asia.

FRANCOLITE Fran"co*lite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of apatite from Wheal Franco in Devonshire.

FRANC-TIREUR Franc"-ti`reur", n. [F., fr. franc free + tireur shooter, fr. tirer to shoot.] (Mil.)

Defn: A French partisan soldier, or one belonging to a corps of detached light troops engaged in forays, skirmishes, scouting, etc.

FRANGENT Fran"gent, a. Etym: [L. frangens, p.pr. of frangere. See Fraction.]

Defn: Causing fracture; breaking. [R.] H. Walpole.

FRANGIBILITY Fran`gi*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. frangibilité.]

Defn: The state or quality of being frangible. Fox.

FRANGIBLE Fran"gi*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. frangible.]

Defn: Capable of being broken; brittle; fragile; easily broken.

FRANGIPANE Fran"gi*pane, n. Etym: [F. frangipane; supposed to be called so from the inventor, the Marquis Frangipani, major general under Louis XIV.]

1. A perfume of jasmine; frangipani.

2. A species of pastry, containing cream and almonds.

FRANGIPANI; FRANGIPANNI Fran`gi*pan"i, Fran`gi*pan"ni, n. Etym: [Another spelling of frangipane.]

Defn: A perfume derived from, or imitating the odor of, the flower of the red jasmine, a West Indian tree of the genus Plumeria.

FRANGULIC; FRANGULINIC Fran*gu"lic, Fran`gu*lin"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or drived from, frangulin, or a species (Rhamnus Frangula) of the buckthorn. Frangulinic acid (Chem.), a yellow crystalline substance, resembling alizarin, and obtained by the decomposition of frangulin.

FRANGULIN Fran"gu*lin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline dyestuff, regarded as a glucoside, extracted from a species (Rhamnus Frangula) of the buckthorn; -- called also rhamnoxanthin.

FRANION Fran"ion, n. Etym: [Perh. from F. fainéant an idler.]

Defn: A paramour; a loose woman; also, a gay, idle fellow. [Obs.] Spenser.

FRANK Frank, n. Etym: [OF. franc.]

Defn: A pigsty. [Obs.]

FRANK Frank, v. t.

Defn: To shut up in a frank or sty; to pen up; hence, to cram; to fatten. [Obs.] Shak.

FRANK Frank, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common heron; -- so called from its note. [Prov. Eng.]

FRANK Frank, a. [Compar Franker; superl. Frankest.] Etym: [F. franc free, frank, L. Francus a Frank, fr. OHG. Franko the name of a Germanic people on the Rhine, who afterward founded the French monarchy; cf. AS. franca javelin, Icel. frakka. Cf. Franc, French, a., Franchise, n.]

1. Unbounded by restrictions, limitations, etc.; free. [R.] "It is of frank gift." Spenser.

2. Free in uttering one's real sentiments; not reserved; using no disguise; candid; ingenuous; as, a frank nature, conversation, manner, etc.

3. Liberal; generous; profuse. [Obs.] Frank of civilities that cost them nothing. L'Estrange.

4. Unrestrained; loose; licentious; -- used in a bad sense. Spenser.

Syn. -- Ingenuous; candid; artless; plain; open; unreserved; undisguised; sincere. See Candid, Ingenuous.

FRANK Frank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Franked; p. pr. & vb. n. Franking.]

1. To send by public conveyance free of expense. Dickens.

2. To extempt from charge for postage, as a letter, package, or packet, etc.

FRANK Frank, n. Etym: [See Frank, a.]

Defn: The privilege of sending letters or other mail matter, free of postage, or without charge; also, the sign, mark, or signature denoting that a letter or other mail matter is to free of postage. I have said so much, that, if I had not a frank, I must burn my letter and begin again. Cowper.

FRANK Frank, n. Etym: [Cf. F. franc. See Frank, a.]

1. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A member of one of the German tribes that in the fifth century overran and conquered Gaul, and established the kingdom of France.

2. A native or inhabitant of Western Europe; a European; -- a term used in the Levant.

3. A French coin. See Franc.

FRANKALMOIGNE Frank`al*moigne", n. Etym: [F. franc free + Norm. F. almoigne alma, for almosne, F. aumône. See Frank, a., and Almoner.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: A tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands given to them and their successors forever, usually on condition of praying for the soul of the donor and his heirs; -- called also tenure by free alms. Burrill.

FRANK-CHASE Frank"-chase`, n. Etym: [Frank free + chase.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: The liberty or franchise of having a chase; free chase. Burrill.

FRANK-FEE Frank"-fee`, n. Etym: [Frank free + fee.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: A species of tenure in fee simple, being the opposite of ancient demesne, or copyhold. Burrill.

FRANKFORT BLACK Frank"fort black`

Defn: . A black pigment used in copperplate printing, prepared by burning vine twigs, the lees of wine, etc. McElrath.

FRANKINCENSE Frank"in*cense, n. Etym: [OF. franc free, pure + encens incense.]

Defn: A fragrant, aromatic resin, or gum resin, burned as an incense in religious rites or for medicinal fumigation. The best kinds now come from East Indian trees, of the genus Boswellia; a commoner sort, from the Norway spruce (Abies excelsa) and other coniferous trees. The frankincense of the ancient Jews is still unidentified.

FRANKING Frank"ing, n. (Carp.)

Defn: A method of forming a joint at the intersection of window-sash bars, by cutting away only enough wood to show a miter.

FRANKISH Frank"ish, a.

Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the Franks.

FRANK-LAW Frank"-law`, n. Etym: [Frank free + law.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: The liberty of being sworn in courts, as a juror or witness; one of the ancient privileges of a freeman; free and common law; -- an obsolete expression signifying substantially the same as the American expression civil rights. Abbot.

FRANKLIN Frank"lin, n. Etym: [OE. frankelein; cf. LL. franchilanus. See Frank, a.]

Defn: An English freeholder, or substantial householder. [Obs.] Chaucer. The franklin, a small landholder of those days. Sir J. Stephen.

FRANKLINIC Frank*lin"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Benjamin Franklin. Franklinic electricity, electricity produced by friction; called also statical electricity.

FRANKLINITE Frank"lin*ite, n. (Min.)

Defn: A kind of mineral of the spinel group.

FRANKLIN STOVE Frank"lin stove`

Defn: . A kind of open stove introduced by Benjamin Franklin, the peculiar feature of which was that a current of heated air was directly supplied to the room from an air box; -- now applied to other varieties of open stoves.

FRANKLY Frank"ly, adv.

Defn: In a frank manner; freely. Very frankly he confessed his treasons. Shak.

Syn. -- Openly; ingenuously; plainly; unreservedly; undisguisedly; sincerely; candidly; artlessly; freely; readily; unhesitatingly; liberally; willingly.

FRANK-MARRIAGE Frank"-mar"riage, n. Etym: [Frank free + marriage.] (Eng. Law)

Defn: A certain tenure in tail special; an estate of inheritance given to a man his wife (the wife being of the blood of the donor), and descendible to the heirs of their two bodies begotten. [Obs.] Blackstone.

FRANKNESS Frank"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being frank; candor; openess; ingenuousness; fairness; liberality.

FRANKPLEDGE Frank"pledge`, n. Etym: [Frank free + pledge.] (O. Eng. Law) (a) A pledge or surety for the good behavior of freemen, -- each freeman who was a member of an ancient decennary, tithing, or friborg, in England, being a pledge for the good conduct of the others, for the preservation of the public peace; a free surety. (b) The tithing itself. Bouvier. The servants of the crown were not, as now, bound in frankpledge for each other. Macaulay.

FRANTIC Fran"tic, a. Etym: [OE. frentik, frenetik, F. frentique, L. phreneticus, from Gr. Frenzy, and cf. Frenetic, Phrenetic.]

Defn: Mad; raving; furious; violent; wild and disorderly; distracted. Die, frantic wretch, for this accursed deed! Shak. Torrents of frantic abuse. Macaulay. -- Fran"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Fran"tic*ly, adv. Shak. -- Fran"tic*ness, n. Johnson.

FRAP Frap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Frapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Frapping.] Etym: [Cf. F. frapper to strike, to seize ropes. Cf. Affrap.]

1. (Naut.)

Defn: To draw together; to bind with a view to secure and strengthen, as a vessel by passing cables around it; to tighten; as a tackle by drawing the lines together. Tottem.

2. To brace by drawing together, as the cords of a drum. Knoght.

FRAPE Frape, n. Etym: [Cf. frap, and Prov. E. frape to scold.]

Defn: A crowd, a rabble. [Obs.] ares.

FRAPLER Frap"ler, n.

Defn: A blusterer; a rowdy. [Obs.] Unpolished, a frapler, and base. B. Jonson.

FRAPPE Frap`pé" (fra`pa"), a. [F., p.p. of frapper to strike, to chill.]

Defn: Iced; frozen; artificially cooled; as, wine frappé. -- n.

Defn: A frappé mixture or beverage, as a water ice, variously flavored, frozen soft, and served in glasses.

FRAPPING Frap"ping, n. [From Frap.] (Naut.)

Defn: A lashing binding a thing tightly or binding things together.

FRATER Fra"ter, n. Etym: [L., a brother.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A monk; also, a frater house. [R.] Shipley. Frater house, an apartament in a convent used as an eating room; a refectory; -- called also a fratery.

FRATERNAL Fra*ter"nal, a.Etym: [F. fraternel, LL. fraternalis, fr. L. fraternus, fr. frater brother. See Brother.]

Defn: Pf, pertaining to, or involving, brethren; becoming to brothers; brotherly; as, fraternal affection; a fraternal embrace. -- Fra*ter"nal*ly, adv. An abhorred, a cursed, a fraternal war. Milton. Fraternal love and friendship. Addison.

FRATERNATE Fra*ter"nate, v. i.

Defn: To fraternize; to hold fellowship. Jefferson.

FRATERNATION; FRATERNISM Fra`ter*na"tion, Fra"ter*nism, n.

Defn: Fraternization. [R.] Jefferson.

FRATERNITY Fra*ter"ni*ty, n.; pl. Fraternities. Etym: [F. fraternité, L. fraternitas.]

1. The state or quality of being fraternal or brotherly; brotherhood.

2. A body of men associated for their common interest, business, or pleasure; a company; a brotherhood; a society; in the Roman Catholic Chucrch, an association for special religious purposes, for relieving the sick and destitute, etc.

3. Men of the same class, profession, occupation, character, or tastes. With what terms of respect knaves and sots will speak of their own fraternity! South.

FRATERNIZATION Fra`ter*ni*za"tion ( or ), n.

Defn: The act of fraternizing or uniting as brothers. I hope that no French fraternization . . . could so change the hearts of Englishmen. Burke.

FRATERNIZE Fra"ter*nize ( or ; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fraternized; p. pr. & vb. n.. Fraternizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fraterniser.]

Defn: To associate or hold fellowship as brothers, or as men of like occupation or character; to have brotherly feelings.

FRATERNIZE Fra"ter*nize, v. t.

Defn: To bring into fellowship or brotherly sympathy. Correspondence for fraternizing the two nations. Burke.

FRATERNIZER Frat"er*ni`zer, n.

Defn: One who fraternizes. Burke.

FRATERY Fra"ter*y ( or ), n. Etym: [L. frater brother: cf. It. frateria a brotherhood of monks. See Friar.]

Defn: A frater house. See under Frater.

FRATRAGE Fra"trage ( or ; 48), n. Etym: [L. frater a brother.] (Law)

Defn: A sharing among brothers, or brothers' kin. [Obs.] Crabb.

FRATRICELLI Fra`tri*cel"li, n. pl. Etym: [It. fraticelli, lit., little brothers, dim. fr. frate brother, L. frater.] (Eccl. Hist.) (a) The name which St. Francis of Assisi gave to his followers, early in the 13th century. (b) A sect which seceded from the Franciscan Order, chiefly in Italy and Sicily, in 1294, repudiating the pope as an apostate, maintaining the duty of celibacy and poverty, and discountenancing oaths. Called also Fratricellians and Fraticelli.

FRATRICIDAL Frat"ri*ci`dal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to fratricide; of the nature of fratricide.

FRATRICIDE Frat"ri*cide, n. Etym: [L. fratricidium a brother's murder, fr. fratricida a brother's murderer; frater, fratris, brother + caedere to kill: cf. F. fratricide.]

1. The act of one who murders or kills his own brother.

2. Etym: [L. fratricida: cf. F. fratricide.]

Defn: One who murders or kills his own brother.

FRAU Frau, n.; pl. Frauen (#). [G. Cf. 1st Frow.]

Defn: In Germany, a woman; a married woman; a wife; -- as a title, equivalent to Mrs., Madam.

FRAUD Fraud, n. Etym: [F. fraude, L. fraus, fraudis; prob. akin to Skr. dh to injure, dhv to cause to fall, and E. dull.]

1. Deception deliberately practiced with a view to gaining an unlawful or unfair advantage; artifice by which the right or interest of another is injured; injurious stratagem; deceit; trick. If success a lover's toil attends, Few ask, if fraud or force attained his ends. Pope.

2. (Law)

Defn: An intentional perversion of truth for the purpose of obtaining some valuable thing or promise from another.

3. A trap or snare. [Obs.] To draw the proud King Ahab into fraud. Milton. Constructive fraud (Law), an act, statement, or omission which operates as a fraud, although perhaps not intended to be such. Mozley & W. -- Pious fraud (Ch. Hist.), a fraud contrived and executed to benefit the church or accomplish some good end, upon the theory that the end justified the means. -- Statute of frauds (Law), an English statute (1676), the principle of which is incorporated in the legislation of all the States of this country, by which writing with specific solemnities (varying in the several statutes) is required to give efficacy to certain dispositions of property. Wharton.

Syn. -- Deception; deceit; guile; craft; wile; sham; strife; circumvention; stratagem; trick; imposition; cheat. See Deception.

FRAUDFUL Fraud"ful, a.

Defn: Full of fraud, deceit, or treachery; trickish; treacherous; fraudulent; -- applied to persons or things. I. Taylor. -- Fraud"ful*ly, adv.

FRAUDLESS Fraud"less, a.

Defn: Free from fraud. -- Fraud"less*ly, adv. -- Fraud"less*ness, n.

FRAUDULENCE; FRAUDULENCY Fraud"u*lence or Fraud"u*len*cy, n. Etym: [L. fraudulentia.]

Defn: The quality of being fraudulent; deliberate deceit; trickishness. Hooker.

FRAUDULENT Fraud"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. fraudulentus, fr. fraus, fraudis, frand: cf. F. fraudulent.]

1. Using fraud; trickly; deceitful; dishonest.

2. Characterized by,, founded on, or proceeding from, fraund; as, a fraudulent bargain. He, with serpent tongue, . . . His fraudulent temptation thus began. Milton.

3. Obtained or performed by artifice; as, fraudulent conquest. Milton.

Syn. -- Deceitful; fraudful; guileful; crafty; wily; cunning; subtle; deceiving; cheating; deceptive; insidious; treacherous; dishonest; designing; unfair.

FRAUDULENTLY Fraud"u*lent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a fraudulent manner.

FRAUGHT Fraught, n. Etym: [OE.fraight, fraght; akin to Dan. fragt, Sw. frakt, D. vracht, G. fracht, cf. OHG. fr merit, reward; perh. from corresponding to E. for + The root of E. own. Cf. Freight.]

Defn: A freight; a cargo. [Obs.] Shak.

FRAUGHT Fraught, a.

Defn: Freighted; laden; filled; stored; charged. A vessel of our country richly fraught. Shak. A discourse fraught with all the commending excellences oSouth. Enterprises fraught with world-wide benefits. I. Taylor.

FRAUGHT Fraught, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fraughted or Fraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Fraughting.] Etym: [Akin to Dan. fragte, Sw. frakta, D. bevrachten, G. frachten, cf. OHG. frehton to deserve. See Fraught, n.]

Defn: To freight; to load; to burden; to fill; to crowd. [Obs.] Upon the tumbling billows fraughted ride The armed ships. Fairfax.

FRAUGHTAGE Fraught"age (; 48), n.

Defn: Freight; loading; cargo. [Obs.] Shak.

FRAUGHTING Fraught"ing, a.

Defn: Constituting the freight or cargo. [Obs.] "The fraughting souls within her." Shak.

FRAULEIN Fräu"lein, n.sing. & pl. [G., dim. of frau woman. See Frau.]

Defn: In Germany, a young lady; an unmarried woman; -- as a title, equivalent to Miss.

FRAUNHOFER LINES Fraun"ho*fer lines`. (Physics.)

Defn: The lines of the spectrun; especially and properly, the dark lines of the solar spectrum, so called because first accurately observed and interpreted by Fraunhofer, a German physicist.

FRAXIN Frax"in, n. Etym: [From Fraxinus.] (Chem.)

Defn: A colorless crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside, and found in the bark of the ash (Fraxinus) and along with esculin in the bark of the horse-chestnut. It shows a delicate fluorescence in alkaline solutions; -- called also paviin.

FRAXINUS Frax"i*nus, n. Etym: [L., the ash tree.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of deciduous forest trees, found in the north temperate zone, and including the true ash trees.

Note: Fraxinus excelsior is the European ash; F. Americana, the white ash; F. sambucifolia, the black ash or water ash.

FRAY Fray, n. Etym: [Abbreviated from affray.]

Defn: Affray; broil; contest; combat. Who began this bloody fray Shak.

FRAY Fray, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Frayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fraying.] Etym: [See 1st Fray, and cf. Affray.]

Defn: To frighten; to terrify; to alarm. I. Taylor. What frays ye, that were wont to comfort me affrayed Spenser.

FRAY Fray, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. fraier. See Defray, v. t.]

Defn: To bear the expense of; to defray. [Obs.] The charge of my most curious and costly ingredients frayed, I shall acknowledge myself amply satisfied. Massinger.

FRAY Fray, v. t. Etym: [OF. freier, fraier, froier, to rub. L. fricare; cf. friare to crumble, E. friable; perh. akin to Gr. gh to rub, scratch. Cf. Friction.]

Defn: To rub; to wear off, or wear into shreds, by rubbing; to fret, as cloth; as, a deer is said to fray her head.

FRAY Fray, v. i.

1. To rub. We can show the marks he made When 'gainst the oak his antlers frayed. Sir W. Scott.

2. To wear out or into shreads, or to suffer injury by rubbing, as when the threads of the warp or of the woof wear off so that the cross threads are loose; to ravel; as, the cloth frays badly. A suit of frayed magnificience. tennyson.

FRAY Fray, n.

Defn: A fret or chafe, as in cloth; a place injured by rubbing.

FRAYING Fray"ing, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The skin which a deer frays from his horns. B. Jonson.

FRAZZLE Fraz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Frazzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Frazzling.] [Cf. G. faseln, and E. fray.]

Defn: To fray; to wear or pull into tatters or tag ends; to tatter; - -used literally and figuratively. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.]

Her hair was of a reddish gray color, and its frazzled and tangled condition suggested that the woman had recently passed through a period of extreme excitement. J. C. Harris.

FRAZZLE Fraz"zle, n.

Defn: The act or result of frazzling; the condition or quality of being frazzled; the tag end; a frayed-out end. [Prov. Eng. & U. S.]

My fingers are all scratched to frazzles. Kipling.

Gordon had sent word to Lee that he "had fought his corps to a frazzle." Nicolay & Hay (Life of Lincoln).

FREAK Freak, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Freaking.] Etym: [Akin to OE. frakin, freken, freckle, Icel. freknur, pl., Sw. fräkne, Dan. fregne, Gr. prsçni variegated. Cf. Freckle, Freck.]

Defn: To variegate; to checker; to streak. [R.] Freaked with many a mingled hue. Thomson.

FREAK Freak, n. Etym: [Prob. from OE. frek bold, AS. frec bold, greedly; akin to OHG. freh greedly, G. frech insolent, Icel. frekr greedly, Goth. faíhufriks avaricious.]

Defn: A sudden causeless change or turn of the mind; a whim of fancy; a capricious prank; a vagary or caprice. She is restless and peevish, and sometimes in a freak will instantly change her habitation. Spectator.

Syn. -- Whim; caprice; folly; sport. See Whim.

FREAKING Freak"ing, a.

Defn: Freakish. [Obs.] Pepys.

FREAKISH Freak"ish, a.

Defn: Apt to change the mind suddenly; whimsical; capricious. It may be a question whether the wife or the woman was the more freakish of the two. L'Estrange. Freakish when well, and fretful when she's sick. Pope. -- Freak"ish*ly, adv. -- Freak"ish*ness, n.

FRECK Freck, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Freak, v. t., Freckle.]

Defn: To checker; to diversify. [R. & Poet.] The painted windows, frecking gloom with glow. Lowell.

FRECKLE Freck"le, n. Etym: [Dim., from the same root as freak, v. t.]

1. A small yellowish or brownish spot in the skin, particularly on the face, neck, or hands.

2. Any small spot or discoloration.

FRECKLE Frec"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freckled; p. pr. & vb. n. Freckling.]

Defn: To spinkle or mark with freckle or small discolored spots; to spot.

FRECKLE Frec"kle, v. i.

Defn: To become covered or marked with freckles; to be spotted.

FRECKLED Frec"kled, a.

Defn: Marked with freckles; spotted. "The freckled trout." Dryden. The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover. Shak.

FRECKLEDNESS Frec"kled*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being freckled.

FRECKLY Frec"kly, a.

Defn: Full of or marked with freckles; sprinkled with spots; freckled.

FRED Fred, n. Etym: [AS. fri peace. See Frith inclosure.]

Defn: Peace; -- a word used in composition, especially in proper names; as, Alfred; Frederic.

FREDSTOLE Fred"stole`, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Fridstol. Fuller.

FREE Free, a. [Compar. Freer; superl. Freest.] Etym: [OE. fre, freo, AS. freó, fri; akin to D. vrij, OS. & OHG. fri, G. frei, Icel. fri, Sw. & Dan. fri, Goth. freis, and also to Skr. prija beloved, dear, fr. pri to love, Goth. frij. Cf. Affray, Belfry, Friday, Friend, Frith inclosure.]

1. Exempt from subjection to the will of others; not under restraint, control, or compulsion; able to follow one's own impulses, desires, or inclinations; determining one's own course of action; not dependent; at liberty. That which has the power, or not the power, to operate, is that alone which is or is not free. Locke.

2. Not under an arbitrary or despotic government; subject only to fixed laws regularly and fairly administered, and defended by them from encroachments upon natural or acquired rights; enjoying political liberty.

3. Liberated, by arriving at a certain age, from the control of parents, guardian, or master.

4. Not confined or imprisoned; released from arrest; liberated; at liberty to go. Set an unhappy prisoner free. Prior.

5. Not subjected to the laws of physical necessity; capable of voluntary activity; endowed with moral liberty; -- said of the will. Not free, what proof could they have given sincere Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love. Milton.

6. Clear of offense or crime; guiltless; innocent. My hands are guilty, but my heart is free. Dryden.

7. Unconstrained by timidity or distrust; unreserved; ingenuous; frank; familiar; communicative. He was free only with a few. Milward.

8. Unrestrained; immoderate; lavish; licentious; -- used in a bad sense. The critics have been very free in their censures. Felton. A man may live a free life as to wine or women. Shelley.

9. Not close or parsimonious; liberal; open-handed; lavish; as, free with his money.

10. Exempt; clear; released; liberated; not encumbered or troubled with; as, free from pain; free from a burden; -- followed by from, or, rarely, by of. Princes declaring themselves free from the obligations of their treaties. Bp. Burnet.

11. Characteristic of one acting without restraint; charming; easy.

12. Ready; eager; acting without spurring or whipping; spirited; as, a free horse.

13. Invested with a particular freedom or franchise; enjoying certain immunities or privileges; admitted to special rights; -- followed by of. He therefore makes all birds, of every sect, Free of his farm. Dryden.

14. Thrown open, or made accessible, to all; to be enjoyed without limitations; unrestricted; not obstructed, engrossed, or appropriated; open; -- said of a thing to be possessed or enjoyed; as, a free school. Why, sir, I pray, are not the streets as free For me as for you Shak.

15. Not gained by importunity or purchase; gratuitous; spontaneous; as, free admission; a free gift.

16. Not arbitrary or despotic; assuring liberty; defending individual rights against encroachment by any person or class; instituted by a free people; -- said of a government, institutions, etc.

17. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: Certain or honorable; the opposite of base; as, free service; free socage. Burrill.

18. (Law)

Defn: Privileged or individual; the opposite of common; as, a free fishery; a free warren. Burrill.

19. Not united or combined with anything else; separated; dissevered; unattached; at liberty to escape; as, free carbonic acid gas; free cells. Free agency, the capacity or power of choosing or acting freely, or without necessity or constraint upon the will. -- Free bench (Eng. Law), a widow's right in the copyhold lands of her husband, corresponding to dower in freeholds. -- Free board (Naut.), a vessel's side between water line and gunwale. -- Free bond (Chem.), an unsaturated or unemployed unit, or bond, of affinity or valence, of an atom or radical. -- Free-borough men (O.Eng. Law). See Friborg. -- Free chapel (Eccles.), a chapel not subject to the jurisdiction of the ordinary, having been founded by the king or by a subject specially authorized. [Eng.] Bouvier. -- Free charge (Elec.), a charge of electricity in the free or statical condition; free electricity. -- Free church. (a) A church whose sittings are for all and without charge. (b) An ecclesiastical body that left the Church of Scotland, in 1843, to be free from control by the government in spiritual matters. -- Free city, or Free town, a city or town independent in its government and franchises, as formerly those of the Hanseatic league. -- Free cost, freedom from charges or expenses. South. -- Free and easy, unconventional; unrestrained; regardless of formalities. [Colloq.] "Sal and her free and easy ways." W. Black. -- Free goods, goods admitted into a country free of duty. -- Free labor, the labor of freemen, as distinguished from that of slaves. -- Free port. (Com.) (a) A port where goods may be received and shipped free of custom duty. (b) A port where goods of all kinds are received from ships of all nations at equal rates of duty. -- Free public house, in England, a tavern not belonging to a brewer, so that the landlord is free to brew his own beer or purchase where he chooses. Simmonds. -- Free school. (a) A school to which pupils are admitted without discrimination and on an equal footing. (b) A school supported by general taxation, by endowmants, etc., where pupils pay nothing for tuition; a public school. -- Free services (O.Eng. Law), such feudal services as were not unbecoming the character of a soldier or a freemen to perform; as, to serve under his lord in war, to pay a sum of money, etc. Burrill. -- Free ships, ships of neutral nations, which in time of war are free from capture even though carrying enemy's goods. -- Free socage (O.Eng. Law), a feudal tenure held by certain services which, though honorable, were not military. Abbott. -- Free States, those of the United States before the Civil War, in which slavery had ceased to exist, or had never existed. -- Free stuff (Carp.), timber free from knots; clear stuff. -- Free thought, that which is thought independently of the authority of others. -- Free trade, commerce unrestricted by duties or tariff regulations. -- Free trader, one who believes in free trade. -- To make free with, to take liberties with; to help one's self to. [Colloq.] -- To sail free (Naut.), to sail with the yards not braced in as sharp as when sailing closehauled, or close to the wind.

FREE Free, adv.

1. Freely; willingly. [Obs.] I as free forgive you As I would be forgiven. Shak.

2. Without charge; as, children admitted free.

FREE Free, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freed; p. pr. & vb. n. Freeing.] Etym: [OE. freen, freoien, AS. freógan. See Free, a.]

1. To make free; to set at liberty; to rid of that which confines, limits, embarrasses, oppresses, etc.; to release; to disengage; to clear; -- followed by from, and sometimes by off; as, to free a captive or a slave; to be freed of these inconveniences. Clarendon. Our land is from the rage of tigers freed. Dryden. Arise, . . . free thy people from their yoke. Milton.

2. To remove, as something that confines or bars; to relieve from the constraint of. This master key Frees every lock, and leads us to his person. Dryden.

3. To frank. [Obs.] Johnson.

FREEBOOTER Free"boot`er, n. Etym: [D. vrijbuiter, fr. vrijbuiten to plunder; vrij free + buit booty, akin to E. booty. See Free, and Booty, and cf. Filibuster.]

Defn: One who plunders or pillages without the authority of national warfare; a member of a predatory band; a pillager; a buccaneer; a sea robber. Bacon.

FREEBOOTERY Free"boot`er*y, n.

Defn: The act, practice, or gains of a freebooter; freebooting. Booth.

FREEBOOTING Free"boot`ing, n.

Defn: Robbery; plunder; a pillaging.

FREEBOOTING Free"boot`ing, a.

Defn: Acting the freebooter; practicing freebootery; robbing. Your freebooting acquaintance. Sir W. Scott.

FREEBOOTY Free"boot`y, n.

Defn: Freebootery. [Obs.]

FREEBORN Free"born`, a.

Defn: Born free; not born in vasssalage; inheriting freedom.

FREE COINAGE Free coinage.

Defn: In the fullest sense, the conversion of bullion (of any specified metal) into legal-tender coins for any person who chooses to bring it to the mint; in a modified sense, such coinage when done at a fixed charge proportionate to the cost of the operation.

FREE-DENIZEN Free"-den`i*zen, v. t.

Defn: To make free. [R.]

FREEDMAN Freed"man, n.; pl. Freedmen (.

Defn: A man who has been a slave, and has been set free.

FREEDOM Free"dom, n. Etym: [AS. freód; freófree + -dom. See Free, and -dom.]

1. The state of being free; exemption from the power and control of another; liberty; independence. Made captive, yet deserving freedom more. Milton.

2. Privileges; franchises; immunities. Your charter and your caty's freedom. Shak.

3. Exemption from necessity, in choise and action; as, the freedom of the will.

4. Ease; facility; as, he speaks or acts with freedom.

5. Frankness; openness; unreservedness. I emboldened spake and freedom used. Milton.

6. Improper familiarity; violation of the rules of decorum; license.

7. Generosity; liberality. [Obs.] Chaucer. Freedom fine, a sum paid on entry to incorporations of trades. -- Freedom of the city, the possession of the rights and privileges of a freeman of the city; formerly often, and now occasionally, conferred on one not a resident, as a mark of honorary distinction for public services.

Syn. -- See Liberty.

FREEDSTOOL Freed"stool`, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Fridstol.

FREE-HAND Free"-hand`, a.

Defn: Done by the hand, without support, or the guidance of instruments; as, free-hand drawing. See under Drawing.

FREE-HANDED Free"-hand`ed, a.

Defn: Open-handed; liberal.

FREE-HEARTED Free"-heart`ed, a.

Defn: Open; frank; unreserved; liberal; generous; as, free-hearted mirth. -- Free"-heart`ed*ly, adv. -- Free"-heart`ed*ness, n.

FREEHOLD Free"hold`, n. (LAw)

Defn: An estate in real property, of inheritance (in fee simple or fee tail) or for life; or the tenure by which such estate is held. Kent. Burrill. To abate into a freehold. See under Abate.

FREEHOLDER Free"hold`er, n. (Law)

Defn: The possessor of a freehold.

FREE-LIVER Free"-liv`er, n.

Defn: One who gratifies his appetites without stint; one given to indulgence in eating and drinking.

FREE-LIVING Free"-liv`ing, n.

Defn: Unrestrained indulgence of the appetites.

FREE-LOVE Free"-love`, n.

Defn: The doctrine or practice of consorting with the opposite sex, at pleasure, without marriage.

FREE-LOVER Free"-lov`er, n.

Defn: One who believes in or practices free-love.

FREELTE Freel"te, n.

Defn: Frailty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FREELY Free"ly, adv. Etym: [AS. freólice.]

Defn: In a free manner; without restraint or compulsion; abundantly; gratuitously. Of every tree of the garden thou mayst freely eat. Gen. ii. 16. Freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. x. 8. Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. Milton. Freely we serve Because we freely love. Milton.

Syn. -- Independently; voluntarily; spontaneously; unconditionally; unobstructedly; willingly; readily; liberally; generously; bounteously; munificently; bountifully; abundantly; largely; copiously; plentifully; plenteously.

FREEMAN Free"man, n.; pl. Freemen. Etym: [AS. freóman; freófree + mann man.]

1. One who enjoys liberty, or who is not subject to the will of another; one not a slave or vassal.

2. A member of a corporation, company, or city, possessing certain privileges; a member of a borough, town, or State, who has the right to vote at elections. See Liveryman. Burrill. Both having been made freemen on the same day. Addison.

FREE-MARTIN Free"-mar`tin, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An imperfect female calf, twinborn with a male.

FREEMASON Free"ma`son, n.

Defn: One of an ancient and secret association or fraternity, said to have been at first composed of masons or builders in stone, but now consisting of persons who are united for social enjoyment and mutual assistance.

FREEMASONIC Free`ma*son"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the institutions or the practices of freemasons; as, a freemasonic signal.

FREEMASONRY Free"ma`son*ry, n.

Defn: The institutions or the practices of freemasons.

FREE-MILLING Free"-mill`ing, a.

Defn: Yielding free gold or silver; -- said of certain ores which can be reduced by crushing and amalgamation, without roasting or other chemical treatment. Raymond.

FREE-MINDED Free"-mind`ed, a.

Defn: Not perplexed; having a mind free from care. Bacon.

FREENESS Free"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being free; freedom; liberty; openness; liberality; gratuitousness.

FREER Fre"er, n.

Defn: One who frees, or sets free.

FREE SILVER Free silver.

Defn: The free coinage of silver; often, specif., the free coinage of silver at a fixed ratio with gold, as at the ratio of 16 to 1, which ratio for some time represented nearly or exactly the ratio of the market values of gold and silver respectively.

FREE-SOIL Free"-soil`, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or advocating, the non-extension of slavery; -- esp. applied to a party which was active during the period 1846-1856. [U.S.] -- Free"soil`er, n. [U.S.] -- Free"-soil`ism, n. [U.S.]

FREE-SPOKEN Free"-spo`ken, a.

Defn: Accustomed to speak without reserve. Bacon. -- Free"-spo`ken-ness, n.

FREESTONE Free"stone`, n.

Defn: A stone composed of sand or grit; -- so called because it is easily cut or wrought.

FREESTONE Free"stone`, a.

Defn: Having the flesh readily separating from the stone, as in certain kinds of peaches.

FREE-SWIMMING Free"-swim`ming, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Swimming in the open sea; -- said of certain marine animals.

FREETHINKER Free"think`er, n.

Defn: One who speculates or forms opinions independently of the authority of others; esp., in the sphere or religion, one who forms opinions independently of the authority of revelation or of the church; an unbeliever; -- a term assumed by deists and skeptics in the eighteenth century. Atheist is an old-fashioned word: I'm a freethinker, child. Addison.

Syn. -- Infidel; skeptic; unbeliever. See Infidel.

FREETHINKING Free"think`ing, n.

Defn: Undue boldness of speculation; unbelief. Berkeley. -- a.

Defn: Exhibiting undue boldness of speculation; skeptical.

FREE-TONGUED Free"-tongued`, a.

Defn: Speaking without reserve. Bp. Hall.

FREEWHEEL Free"wheel`, n. (Mach.)

Defn: A clutch fitted in the rear hub of a cycle, which engages the rear sprocket with the rear wheel when the pedals are rotated forwards, but permits the rear wheel to run on free from the rear sprocket when the pedals are stopped or rotated backwards. Freewheelcycles are usually fitted with hub brakes or rim brakes, operated by back pedaling.

FREEWHEEL Free"wheel`, v. i.

1. (a) Of a freewheel cycle, to run on while the pedals are held still. (b) Of a person, to ride a cycle of this manner. To ride a freewheel cycle.

2. (Mach.) To operate like a freewheel, so that one part moves freely over another which normally moves with it; -- said of a clutch.

FREE WILL Free will.

1. A will free from improper coercion or restraint. To come thus was I not constrained, but did On my free will. Shak.

2. The power asserted of moral beings of willing or choosing without the restraints of physical or absolute necessity.

FREEWILL Free"will`, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to free will; voluntary; spontaneous; as, a freewill offering. Frewill Baptists. See under Baptist.

FREEZABLE Freez"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being frozen.

FREEZE Freeze, n. (Arch.)

Defn: A frieze. [Obs.]

FREEZE Freeze, v. i. [imp. Froze; p. p. Frozen; p. pr. & vb. n. Freezing.] Etym: [OE. fresen, freosen, AS. freósan; akin to D. vriezen, OHG. iosan, G. frieren, Icel. frjsa, Sw. frysa, Dan. fryse, Goth. frius cold, frost, and prob. to L. prurire to itch, E. prurient, cf. L. prna a burning coal, pruina hoarfrost, Skr. prushva ice, prush to spirt. Frost.]

1. To become congealed by cold; to be changed from a liquid to a solid state by the abstraction of heat; to be hardened into ice or a like solid body.

Note: Water freezes at 32º above zero by Fahrenheit's thermometer; mercury freezes at 40º below zero.

2. To become chilled with cold, or as with cold; to suffer loss of animation or life by lack of heat; as, the blood freezes in the veins. To freeze up (Fig.), to become formal and cold in demeanor. [Colloq.]

FREEZE Freeze, v. t.

1. To congeal; to harden into ice; to convert from a fluid to a solid form by cold, or abstraction of heat.

2. To cause loss of animation or life in, from lack of heat; to give the sensation of cold to; to chill. A faint, cold fear runs through my veins, That almost freezes up the heat of life. Shak.

FREEZE Freeze, n.

Defn: The act of congealing, or the state of being congealed. [Colloq.]

FREEZER Freez"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, cools or freezes, as a refrigerator, or the tub and can used in the process of freezing ice cream.

FREEZING Freez"ing, a.

Defn: Tending to freeze; for freezing; hence, cold or distant in manner. -- Frrez"ing*ly, adv. Freezing machine. See Ice machine, under Ice. -- Freezing mixture, a mixture (of salt and snow or of chemical salts) for producing intense cold. -- Freezing point, that degree of a thermometer at which a fluid begins to freeze; -- applied particularly to water, whose freezing point is at 32º Fahr., and at 0º Centigrade.

FREIESLEBENITE Frei"es*le`ben*ite, n. Etym: [Named after the German chemist Freiesleben.]

Defn: A sulphide of antimony, lead, and silver, occuring in monoclinic crystals.

FREIGHT Freight, n. Etym: [F. fret, OHG. fr merit, reward. See Fraught, n.]

1. That with which anything in fraught or laden for transportation; lading; cargo, especially of a ship, or a car on a railroad, etc.; as, a freight of cotton; a full freight.

2. (Law) (a) The sum paid by a party hiring a ship or part of a ship for the use of what is thus hired. (b) The price paid a common carrier for the carriage of goods. Wharton.

3. Freight transportation, or freight line.

FREIGHT Freight, a.

Defn: Employed in the transportation of freight; having to do with freight; as, a freight car. Freight agent, a person employed by a transportation company to receive, forward, or deliver goods. -- Freight car. See under Car. -- Freight train, a railroad train made up of freight cars; -- called in England goods train.

FREIGHT Freight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Freighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Freighting.] Etym: [Cf. F. freter.]

Defn: To load with goods, as a ship, or vehicle of any kind, for transporting them from one place to another; to furnish with freight; as, to freight a ship; to freight a car.

FREIGHTAGE Freight"age, n.

1. Charge for transportation; expense of carriage.

2. The transportation of freight.

3. Freight; cargo; lading. Milton.

FREIGHTER Freight"er, n.

1. One who loads a ship, or one who charters and loads a ship.

2. One employed in receiving and forwarding freight.

3. One for whom freight is transported.

4. A vessel used mainly to carry freight.

FREIGHTLESS Freight"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of freight.

FREIHERR Frei"herr`, n.; pl. Freiherrn (#). [G., lit., free lord.]

Defn: In Germany and Austria, a baron.

FRELTE Frel"te, n.

Defn: Frailty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

FREMD; FREMED Fremd, Frem"ed a. Etym: [OE., from AS. fremede, fremde; akin to G. fremd.]

Defn: Strange; foreign. [Old Eng. & Scot.] Chaucer.

FREMESCENT Fre*mes"cent, a. [L. fremere to roar, murmur + -escent.]

Defn: Becoming murmurous, roaring. "Fremescent clangor." Carlyle. -- Fre*mes"cence (#), n.

FREMITUS Frem"i*tus, n., sing. & pl. [L., a murmuring, roaring.] (Med.)

Defn: Palpable vibration or thrill; as, the rhonchial fremitus.

FREN Fren, n. Etym: [OE. frenne, contr. fr. forrene foreign. See Foreign, a.]

Defn: A stranger. [Obs.] Spenser.

FRENCH French, a. Etym: [AS. frencisc, LL. franciscus, from L. Francus a Frank: cf. OF. franceis, franchois, fran, F. franFrank, a., and cf. Frankish.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to France or its inhabitants. French bean (Bot.), the common kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). -- French berry (Bot.), the berry of a species of buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus), which affords a saffron, green or purple pigment. -- French casement (Arch.) See French window, under Window. -- French chalk (Min.), a variety of granular talc; -- used for drawing lines on cloth, etc. See under Chalk. -- French cowslip (Bot.) The Primula Auricula. See Bear's-ear. -- French fake (Naut.), a mode of coiling a rope by running it backward and forward in parallel bends, so that it may run freely. -- French honeysuckle (Bot.) a plant of the genus Hedysarum (H. coronarium); -- called also garland honeysuckle. -- French horn, a metallic wind instrument, consisting of a long tube twisted into circular folds and gradually expanding from the mouthpiece to the end at which the sound issues; -- called in France cor de chasse. -- French leave, an informal, hasty, or secret departure; esp., the leaving a place without paying one's debts. -- French pie Etym: [French (here used in sense of "foreign") + pie a magpie (in allusion to its black and white color)] (Zoöl.), the European great spotted woodpecker (Dryobstes major); -- called also wood pie. -- French polish. (a) A preparation for the surface of woodwork, consisting of gums dissolved in alcohol, either shellac alone, or shellac with other gums added. (b) The glossy surface produced by the application of the above. -- French purple, a dyestuff obtained from lichens and used for coloring woolen and silken fabrics, without the aid of mordants. Ure. -- French red rouge. -- French rice, amelcorn. -- French roof (Arch.), a modified form of mansard roof having a nearly flat deck for the upper slope. -- French tub, a dyer's mixture of protochloride of tin and logwood; -- called also plum tub. Ure. -- French window. See under Window.

FRENCH French, n.