Chapter CDLXIV: Prologue (115)

1. Of or pertaining to a place; limited; logical application; as, a topical remedy; a topical claim or privilege.

2. (Rhet. & logic)

Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, a topic or topics; according to topics.

3. Resembling a topic, or general maxim; hence, not demonstrative, but merely probable, as an argument. Evidences of fact can be no more than topical and probable. Sir M. Hale.

TOPICALLY Top"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a topical manner; with application to, or limitation of, a particular place or topic.

TOPKNOT Top"knot`, n.

1. A crest or knot of feathers upon the head or top, as of a bird; also, an orgamental knot worn on top of the head, as by women. A great, stout servant girl, with cheeks as red as her topknot. Sir W. Scott.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small Europen flounder (Rhoumbus punctatus). The name is also applied to allied species.

TOPLESS Top"less, a.

Defn: Having no top, or no visble fop; hence, fig.: very lofty; supreme; unequaled. " The topless Apennines." "Topless fortunes." Beau. & Fl.

TOP-LIGHT Top"-light`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A lantern or light on the top of a vessel.

TOPMAN Top"man, n.; pl. Topmem (.

1. See Topsman, 2.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A man stationed in the top.

TOPMAST Top"mast, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The second mast, or that which is next above the lower mast, and below the topgallant mast.

TOPMOST Top"most`, a.

Defn: Highest; uppermost; as, the topmost cliff; the topmost branch of a tree. The nightngale may claim the topmost bough. Cowper.

TOPOGRAPHER To*pog"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Cf. F. topographe, Cr.

Defn: One who is skilled in the science of topography; one who describes a particular place, town, city, or tract of land. Dante is the one authorized topographer of the mediæval hell. Milman.

TOPOGRAPHIC; TOPOGRAPHICAL Top`o*graph"ic, a. Top`o*graph"ic*al,Etym: [Cf. F. topographique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to topography; descriptive of a place. -- Top`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. Topographical map. See under Cadastral. -- Topographical surveying. See under Surveying.

TOPOGRAPHIST To*pog"ra*phist, n.

Defn: A topographer.

TOPOGRAPHY To*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [F. topographie, Gr.

Defn: The description of a particular place, town, manor, parish, or tract of land; especially, the exact and scientific delineation and description in minute detail of any place or region.

Note: Topography, as the description of particular places, is distinguished from chorography, the description of a region or a district, and for geography, the description of the earth or of countries. Brande & C.

TOPOLOGY To*pol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The art of, or method for, assisting the memory by associating the thing or subject to be remembered with some place. [R.]

TOPONOMY To*pon"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The designation of position and direction. B. G. Wilder.

TOPONYM Top"o*nym, n.

Defn: A name of a place; more broadly, a name, as in the binomial name of a plant, based on, or derived from, a place name, or based on the location of the thing named.

TOPONYMY To*pon"y*my, n.

Defn: A system of toponyms; the use of toponyms. -- To*pon"y*mal (#), Top`o*nym"ic (#), Top`o*nym"ic*al (#), a.

TOPOPHONE Top"o*phone, n. [Gr. place + Gr. sound.]

Defn: A double ear trumpet for estimating the direction from which sounds proceed, esp. for the use of navigators.

TOP OUT Top out. (Building)

Defn: To top off; to finish by putting on a cap of top (uppermost) course (called a top`ping-out" course).

TOPPER Top"per, n.

1. One that tops, in any sense of the verb; specif.: (a) A cover of a top layer or part. [Colloq.] (b) One that excels, surpasses, or is extraordinary of its kind. [Slang] (c) Any device for cutting off tops; as, a turnip topper. (d) One who tops steel ingots. (e) A three-square float (file) used by comb makers.

2. A top hat. [Slang or Colloq.]

3. Tobacco left in the bottom of a pipe bowl; -- so called from its being often taken out and placed on top of the newly filled bowl. Also, a cigar stump. [Slang]

TOPPIECE Top"piece`, n.

Defn: A small wig for the top of the head; a toupee.

TOPPING Top"ping, a.

1. Rising above; surpassing.

2. Hence, assuming superiority; proud. The great and flourishing condition of some of the topping sinners of the world. South.

3. Fine; gallant. [Slang] Johnson.

TOPPING Top"ping, n.

1. The act of one who tops; the act of cutting off the top.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: The act of raising one extremity of a spar higher than the other.

3. pl.

Defn: That which comes from hemp in the process of hatcheling. Topping lift (Naut.), a large, strong tackle employed to raise or top the end of a gaff, or of a boom.

TOPPINGLY Top"ping*ly, adv.

Defn: In a topping or proud manner.

TOPPINGLY Top"ping*ly, a.

Defn: Same as Topping, a., 3. [Obs.] "Topping quests." Tusser.

TOPPLE Top"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Toppled; p. pr. & vb. n. Toppling.] Etym: [From Top summit.]

Defn: To fall forward; to pitch or tumble down. Though castles topple on their warders' heads. Shak.

TOPPLE Top"ple, v. t.

Defn: To throw down; to overturn. He topple crags from the precipice. Longfellow.

TOP-PROUD Top"-proud`, a.

Defn: Proud to the highest degree. [R.] "This top-proud fellow." Shak.

TOP RAKE Top rake. (Mech.)

Defn: The angle that the front edge of the point of a tool is set back from the normal to the surface being cut.

TOP-ROPE Top"-rope`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A rope used for hoisting and lowering a topmast, and for other purposes.

TOPSAIL Top"sail`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: In a square-rigged vessel, the sail next above the lowermost sail on a mast. This sail is the one most frequently reefed or furled in working the ship. In a fore-and-aft rigged vessel, the sail set upon and above the gaff. See Cutter, Schooner, Sail, and Ship. Topsail schooner. (Naut.) See Schooner, and Illustration in Appendix.

TOPS-AND-BOTTOMS Tops"-and-bot`toms, n. pl.

Defn: Small rolls of dough, baked, cut in halves, and then browned in an oven, -- used as food for infants. 'T is said that her top-and-bottoms were gilt. Hood.

TOP-SHAPED Top"-shaped`, a.

Defn: Having the shape of a top; (Bot.) cone-shaped, with the apex downward; turbinate.

TOP-SHELL Top"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of marine top_shaped shells of the genus Thochus, or family Trochidæ.

TOPSMAN Tops"man, n.; pl. Topsmen (.

1. The chief drover of those who drive a herd of cattle. P. Cyc.

2. The uppermost sawyer in a saw pit; a topman. Simmonds.

TOPSOIL Top"soil`, n.

Defn: The upper layer of soil; surface soil.

TOPSOILING Top"soil`ing, n. (Engin.)

Defn: The act or art of taking off the top soil of land before an excavation or embankment is begun.

TOPSTONE Top"stone`, n.

Defn: A stone that is placed on the top, or which forms the top.

TOPSY-TURVY Top"sy-*tur"vy, adv. Etym: [Earlier topside-turvey, topsy-tervy; probably for top so turvy; that is, the top as turvy, as it were turvy; where turvy probably means, overturned, fr. AS. torfian to throw.]

Defn: In an inverted posture; with the top or head downward; upside down; as, to turn a carriage topsy-turvy.

TOP-TACKLE Top"-tac`kle, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A tackle used in hoisting and lowering the topmast.

TOP-TIMBERS Top"-tim`bers, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The highest timbers on the side of a vessel, being those above the futtocks. R. H. Dana, Jr.

TOP-TOOL Top"-tool`, n. (Blacksmithing.)

Defn: A tool applied to the top of the work, in distinction from a tool inserted in the anvil and on which the work is placed.

TOQUE Toque, n. Etym: [F. toque; of Celtic origin; cf. W.toc.]

1. A kind of cap worn in the 16th century, and copied in modern fashions; -- called also toquet. His velvet toque stuck as airily as ever upon the side of his head. Motley.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A variety of the bonnet monkey.

TOQUET To*quet", n.

Defn: See Toque, 1.

TOR Tor, n. Etym: [AS. torr; cf. Gael. torr. Cf. Tower.]

1. A tower; a turret. [R.] Ray.

2. High-pointed hill; a rocky pinnacle. [Prov. Eng.] A rolling range of dreary moors, unbroken by tor or tree. C. Kingsley.

TORACE; TORASE To*race", To*rase", v. t. Etym: [Pref. to- + OE. r to rage.]

Defn: To scratch to pieces. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TORAH; TORA To"rah, To"ra, n.; pl. Toroth (#). [Heb. torah.] (Jewish Lit.) (a) A law; a precept.

A considerable body of priestly Toroth. S. R. Driver.

(b) Divine instruction; revelation.

Tora, . . . before the time of Malachi, is generally used of the revelations of God's will made through the prophets. T. K. Cheyne.

(c) The Pentateuch or "Law of Moses."

The Hebrew Bible is divided into three parts: (1) The Torah, "Law," or Pentateuch. (2) The Prophets . . . (3) The Kethubim, or the "Writings," generally termed Hagiographa. C. H. H. Wright.

TORAN; TORANA To"ran, To"ra*na, n. [Skr. toransa an arch, a gate.] (Indian Arch.)

Defn: A gateway, commonly of wood, but sometimes of stone, consisting of two upright pillars carrying one to three transverse lintels. It is often minutely carved with symbolic sculpture, and serves as a monumental approach to a Buddhist temple.

TORBERNITE Tor"bern*ite, n. Etym: [So named after Torber Bergmann, a Swedish chemist.] (Min.)

Defn: A mineral occurring in emerald-green tabular crystals having a micaceous structure. It is a hydrous phosphate of uranium and copper. Called also copper uranite, and chalcolite.

TORC Torc, n.

Defn: Same as Torque, 1.

TORCH Torch, n. Etym: [OE. torche, F. torche a torch, rag, wisp, pad; probably from a derivative of L. torquere, tortum, to twist, because twisted like a rope; cf. F. torcher to rub, wipe, It. topcia a torch, torciare to wrap, twist, OF. torse a torse. Cf. Torture.]

Defn: A light or luminary formed of some combustible substance, as of resinous wood; a large candle or flambeau, or a lamp giving a large, flaring flame. They light the nuptial torch. Milton. Torch thistle. (Bot.) See under Thistle.

TORCHBEARER Torch"bear`er, n.

Defn: One whose office it is to carry a torch.

TORCHER Torch"er, n.

Defn: One who gives light with a torch, or as if with a torch. [Obs.] Shak.

TORCHLIGHT Torch"light`, n.

Defn: The light of a torch, or of torches. Also adjectively; as, a torchlight procession.

TORCHON LACE Tor"chon lace` Etym: [F. torchon a kind of coarse napkin.]

Defn: a simple thread lace worked upon a pillow with coarse thread; also, a similar lace made by machinery.

TORCHON PAPER Tor"chon pa"per. [F. papier torchon.]

Defn: Paper with a rough surface; esp., handmade paper of great hardness for the use of painters in water colors.

TORCH RACE Torch race.

Defn: A race by men carrying torches, as in ancient Greece.

TORCHWOOD Torch"wood`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The inflammable wood of certain trees (Amyris balsamifera, A. Floridana, etc.); also, the trees themselves.

TORCHWORT Torch"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The common mullein, the stalks of which, dipped in suet, anciently served for torches. Called also torch, and hig-taper.

TORE Tore,

Defn: imp. of Tear.

TORE Tore, n. Etym: [Probably from the root of tear; cf. W. tór a break, cut, tóri to break, cut.]

Defn: The dead grass that remains on mowing land in winter and spring. [Prov. Eng.] Mortimer.

TORE Tore, n. Etym: [See Torus.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: Same as Torus.

2. (Geom.) (a) The surface described by the circumference of a circle revolving about a straight line in its own plane. (b) The solid inclosed by such a surface; -- sometimes called an anchor ring.

TOREADOR To"re*a*dor`, n. Etym: [Sp.,fr. torear to fight bulls, fr.L. taurus a bull.]

Defn: A bullfighter.

TO-REND To-rend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. To-rent.] Etym: [Pref. to- + rend.]

Defn: To rend in pieces. [Obs.] The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent. Chaucer.

TORET Tor"et, n. Etym: [Probably dim. fr. tore, torus.]

Defn: A Turret. [Obs.]

TORET Tor"et, n.

Defn: A ring for fastening a hawk's leash to the jesses; also, a ring affixed to the collar of a dog, etc. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TOREUMATOGRAPHY To"reu`ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]

Defn: A description of sculpture such as bas-relief in metal.

TOREUMATOLOGY To*reu`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]

Defn: The art or the description of scupture such as bas-relief in metal; toreumatography.

TOREUTIC To*reu"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Sculp.)

Defn: In relief; pertaining to sculpture in relief, especially of metal; also, pertaining to chasing such as surface ornamentation in metal.

TORGOCH Tor"goch, n.

Defn: The saibling. [Prov. Eng.]

TORILTO To*ril"to, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. torillo a little bull.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A species of Turnix (Turnix sylvatica) native of Spain and Northen Africa.

TORINESE To`rin*ese", a. Etym: [It.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Turin. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Turin; collectively, the people of Turin.

TORMENT Tor"ment, n. Etym: [OF. torment, F. tourment, fr. L. tormentum an engine for hurling missiles, an instrument of torture, a rack, torture, fr. torquere to turn, to twist, hurl. See Turture.]

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: An engine for casting stones. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

2. Extreme pain; anguish; torture; the utmost degree of misery, either of body or mind. Chaucer. The more I see Pleasures about me, so much more I feel Torment within me. Milton.

3. That which gives pain, vexation, or misery. They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments. Matt. iv. 24.

TORMENT Tor*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. tormented; p. pr. & vb. n. tormenting.] Etym: [OF. tormenter, F. tourmenter.]

1. To put to extreme pain or anguish; to inflict excruciating misery upon, either of body or mind; to torture. " Art thou come hither to torment us before our time " Matt. viii. 29.

2. To pain; to distress; to afflict. Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. Matt. viii. 6.

3. To tease; to vex; to harass; as, to be tormented with importunities, or with petty annoyances. [Colloq.]

4. To put into great agitation. [R.] "[They], soaring on main wing, tormented all the air." Milton.

TORMENTER Tor*ment"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, torments; a tormentor.

2. An executioner. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TORMENTFUL Tor*ment"ful, a.

Defn: Full of torment; causing, or accompainied by, torment; excruciating. [R.] Tillotson.

TORMENTIL Tor"men*til, n. Etym: [F. tormentille; cf. Pr., It., & NL. tormentilla, Sp. tormentila; all fr. L. tormentum pain. So called because it is said to allay pain. See Torment.] (Bot.)

Defn: A rosaceous herb (Potentilla Tormentilla), the root of which is used as a powerful astringent, and for alleviating gripes, or tormina, in diarrhea.

TORMENTING Tor*ment"ing, a.

Defn: Causing torment; as, a tormenting dream. -- Tor*ment"ing*ly, adv.

TORMENTISE Tor"ment*ise, n. Etym: [See Torment.]

Defn: Torture; torment. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TORMENTOR Tor*ment"or, n.

1. One who, or that which, torments; one who inflicts penal anguish or tortures. Jer. Taylor. Thoughts, my tormentors, armed with deadly stings. Milton.

2. (Agric.)

Defn: An implement for reducing a stiff soil, resembling a harrow, but running upon wheels. Hebert.

TORMENTRESS Tor*ment"ress, n.

Defn: A woman who torments. Fortune ordinarily cometh after to whip and punish them, as the scourge and tormentress of glory and honor. Holland.

TORMENTRY Tor"ment*ry, n.

Defn: Anything producing torment, annoyance, or pain. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TORMINA Tor"mi*na, n. pl. Etym: [L., a griping in the belly.] (Med.)

Defn: acute, colicky pains; gripes.

TORMINOUS Tor"mi*nous, a. (Med.)

Defn: Affected with tormina; griping.

TORN Torn,

Defn: p. p. of Tear.

TORNADO Tor*na"do, n.; pl. Tornadoes. Etym: [From Sp. or Pg. tornar to turn, return, L. tornare to turn, hence, a whirling wind. The Sp. & Pg. tornada is a return. See Turn.]

Defn: A violent whirling wind; specifically (Meteorol.), a tempest distinguished by a rapid whirling and slow progressive motion, usually accompaned with severe thunder, lightning, and torrents of rain, and commonly of short duration and small breadth; a small cyclone.

TORNARIA Tor*na"ri*a, n.; pl. Tornariæ . Etym: [NL., fr. L. tornare to turn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The peculiar free swimming larva of Balanoglossus. See Illust. in Append.

TOROSE To*rose", a. Etym: [L. torosus full of muscle, brawny, fleshy. See Torus.]

Defn: Cylindrical with alternate swellings and contractions; having the surface covered with rounded prominences.

TOROSITY To*ros"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being torose.

TOROUS Torous, a.

Defn: Torose.

TORPEDINOUS Tor*ped"i*nous, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a torpedo; resembling a torpedo; exerting a benumbing influence; stupefying; dull; torpid. Fishy were his eyes; torpedinous was his manner. De Quincey.

TORPEDO Tor*pe"do, n.; pl. Torpedoes. Etym: [L. torpedo, -inis, from torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid. See Torpid.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of elasmobranch fishes belonging to Torpedo and allied genera. They are related to the rays, but have the power of giving electrical shocks. Called also crampfish, and numbfish. See Electrical fish, under Electrical.

Note: The common European torpedo (T. vulgaris) and the American species (T. occidentalis) are the best known.

2. An engine or machine for destroying ships by blowing them up. Specifically: -- (a) A quantity of explosives anchored in a channel, beneath the water, or set adrift in a current, and so arranged that they will be exploded when touched by a vessel, or when an electric circuit is closed by an operator on shore. (b) A kind of small submarine boat carrying an explosive charge, and projected from a ship against another ship at a distance, or made self-propelling, and otherwise automatic in its action against a distant ship.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: A kind of shell or cartridge buried in earth, to be exploded by electricity or by stepping on it.

4. (Railroad)

Defn: A kind of detonating cartridge or shell placed on a rail, and exploded when crushed under the locomotive wheels, -- used as an alarm signal.

5. An explosive cartridge or shell lowered or dropped into a bored oil well, and there exploded, to clear the well of obstructions or to open communication with a source of supply of oil.

6. A kind of firework in the form of a small ball, or pellet, which explodes when thrown upon a hard object. Fish torpedo, a spindle- shaped, or fish-shaped, self-propelling submarine torpedo. -- Spar torpedo, a canister or other vessel containing an explosive charge, and attached to the end of a long spar which projects from a ship or boat and is thrust against an enemy's ship, exploding the torpedo. -- Torpedo boat, a vessel adapted for carrying, launching, operating, or otherwise making use of, torpedoes against an enemy's ship. -- Torpedo nettings, nettings made of chains or bars, which can be suspended around a vessel and allowed to sink beneath the surface of the water, as a protection against torpedoes.

TORPEDO Tor*pe"do, v. t.

Defn: to destroy by, or subject to the action of, a torpedo. London Spectator.

TORPEDO-BOAT DESTROYER Tor*pe"do-boat` de*stroy"er.

Defn: A larger, swifter, and more powerful armed type of torpedo boat, originally intended principally for the destruction of torpedo boats, but later used also as a more formidable torpedo boat.

TORPEDO BODY Tor*pe"do body.

Defn: An automobile body which is built so that the side surfaces are flush. [Cant]

TORPEDO BOOM Tor*pe"do boom.

Defn: A spar formerly carried by men-of-war, having a torpedo on its end.

TORPEDO CATCHER Tor*pe"do catch"er.

Defn: A small fast vessel for pursuing and destroying torpedo boats.

TORPEDOIST Tor*pe"do*ist, n. (Nav.)

Defn: One skilled in the theory or use of torpedoes; also, one who favors the use of torpedoes.

TORPEDO SHELL Torpedo shell. (Ordnance)

Defn: A shell longer than a deck-piercing shell, with thinner walls and a larger cavity for the bursting charge, which consists of about 130 pounds of high explosive. It has no soft cap, and is intended to effect its damage by the powerful explosion which follows on slight resistance. It is used chiefly in 12-inch mortars.

TORPEDO STATION Torpedo station.

Defn: A headquarters for torpedo vessels and their supplies, usually having facilities for repairs and for instruction and experiments. The principal torpedo station of the United States is at Newport, R.I.

TORPEDO STERN Torpedo stern.

Defn: A broad stern without overhang, flattened on the bottom, used in some torpedo and fast power boats. It prevents settling in the water at high speed.

TORPEDO TUBE Torpedo tube. (Nav.)

Defn: A tube fixed below or near the water line through which a torpedo is fired, usually by a small charge of gunpowder. On torpedo vessels the tubes are on deck and usually in broadside, on larger vessels usually submerged in broadside and fitted with a movable shield which is pushed out from the vessel's side to protect the torpedo until clear, but formerly sometimes in the bow. In submarine torpedo boats they are in the bow.

TORPENT Tor"pent, a. Etym: [L. torpens, p. pr. of torpere to be numb.]

Defn: Having no motion or activity; incapable of motion; benumbed; torpid. [Obs.] Evelyn.

TORPESCENCE Tor*pes"cence, n.

Defn: The quality or state or being torpescent; torpidness; numbness; stupidity.

TORPESCENT Tor*pes"cent, a. Etym: [L. torpescens, p. pr. of torpescere to grow stiff, numb, or torpid, incho. fr. torpere. See Torpid.]

Defn: Becoming torpid or numb. Shenstone.

TORPID Tor"pid, a. Etym: [L. torpidus, fr. torpere to be stiff, numb, or torpid; of uncertain origin.]

1. Having lost motion, or the power of exertion and feeling; numb; benumbed; as, a torpid limb. Without heat all things would be torpid. Ray.

2. Dull; stupid; sluggish; inactive. Sir M. Hale.

TORPIDITY Tor*pid"i*ty, n.

Defn: Same as Torpidness.

TORPIDLY Tor"pid*ly, adv.

Defn: In a torpid manner.

TORPIDNESS Tor"pid*ness, n.

Defn: The qualityy or state of being torpid.

TORPIFY Tor"pi*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Torpified; p. pr. & vb. n. Torpifying. (.] Etym: [L. torpere to be torpid + -fy.]

Defn: To make torpid; to numb, or benumb.

TORPITUDE Tor"pi*tude, n.

Defn: Torpidness. [Obs.] "In a kind of torpitude, or sleeping state." Derham.

TORPOR Tor"por, n. Etym: [L., from torpere, to be torpid.]

1. Loss of motion, or of the motion; a state of inactivity with partial or total insensibility; numbness.

2. Dullness; sluggishness; inactivity; as, a torpor of the mental faculties.

TORPORIFIC Tor`por*if"ic, a. Etym: [L. torpor torpor + facere to make.]

Defn: Tending to produce torpor.

TORQUATE Tor"quate, a. Etym: [L. torquatus wearing a collar.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Collared; having a torques, or distinct colored ring around the neck.

TORQUATED tor"qua*ted, a. Etym: [L. Torqyatus.]

Defn: Having or wearing a torque, or neck chain.

TORQUE Torque, n. Etym: [L. torques a twisted neck chain, fr. torquere to twist.]

1. A collar or neck chain, usually twisted, especially as worn by ancient barbaric nations, as the Gauls, Germans, and Britons.

2. Etym: [L. torquere to twist.] (Mech.)

Defn: That which tends to produce torsion; a couple of forces. J. Thomson.

3. (Phys. Science)

Defn: A turning or twisting; tendency to turn, or cause to turn, about an axis.

TORQUED Torqued, a. Etym: [L. torquere to twist, to turn, to wind.]

1. Wreathed; twisted. [R.]

2. (Her.)

Defn: Twisted; bent; -- said of a dolphin haurient, which forms a figure like the letter S.

TORQUES Tor"ques, n. Etym: [L., a necklace. See Torque, 1.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A cervical ring of hair or feathers, distinguished by its color or structure; a collar.

TORREFACTION Tor`re*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L.torrefacere,torrefactum, to torrefy: cf. F. torréfaction. See Torrefy.]

Defn: The act or process of torrefying, or the state of being torrefied. Bp. Hall.

TORREFY Tor"re*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Torrefied; p. pr. & vb. n. Torrefying.] Etym: [L. torrere to parch + -fy: cf. F. torréfier, L. torrefacere.] [Written also torrify.]

1. To dry by a fire. Sir T. Browne.

2. (Metal.)

Defn: To subject to scorching heat, so as to drive off volatile ingredients; to roast, as ores.

3. (Pharm.)

Defn: To dry or parch, as drugs, on a metallic plate till they are friable, or are reduced to the state desired.

TORRENS SYSTEM Tor"rens sys`tem.

Defn: A system of registration of titles to land (as distinct from registration of deeds) introduced into South Australia by the Real Property (or Torrens) Act (act 15 of 1857-58), drafted by Sir Robert Torrens (1814-84). Its essential feature is the guaranty by the government of properly registered titles. The system has been generally adopted in Australia and British Columbia, and in its original or a modified form in some other countries, including some States of the United States. Hence Torrens title, etc.

TORRENT Tor"rent, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. torrens, -entis, fr. torrens burning, roaring, boiling, p. pr. of torrere to dry by heat, to burn. See Torrid.]

1. A violent stream, as of water, lava, or the like; a stream suddenly raised and running rapidly, as down a precipice. The roaring torrent is deep and wide. Longfellow.

2. Fig.: A violent or rapid flow; a strong current; a flood; as, a torrent of vices; a torrent of eloquence. At length, Erasmus, that great injured name, . . . Stemmed the wild torrent of a barbarous age. Pope.

TORRENT Tor"rent, a. Etym: [See Torrent, n.]

Defn: Rolling or rushing in a rapid stream. "Waves of torrent fire." Milton.

TORRENTIAL; TORRENTINE Tor*ren"tial, Tor*ren"tine, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a torrent; having the character of a torrent; caused by a torrent . [R.]

TORRICELLIAN Tor`ri*cel"li*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Torricelli, an Italian philosopher and mathematician, who, in 1643, discovered that the rise of a liquid in a tube, as in the barometer, is due to atmospheric pressure. See Barometer. Torricellian tube, a glass tube thirty or more inches in length, open at the lower end and hermetically sealed at the upper, such as is used in the barometer. -- Torricellian vacuum (Physics), a vacuum produced by filling with a fluid, as mercury, a tube hermetically closed at one end, and, after immersing the other end in a vessel of the same fluid, allowing the inclosed fluid to descend till it is counterbalanced by the pressure of the atmosphere, as in the barometer. Hutton.

TORRID Tor"rid, a. Etym: [L. torridus, fr. torrere to parch, to burn, akin to E. Thist: cf. F. torride. See Thirst.]

1. Parched; dried with heat; as, a torrid plain or desert. "Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil." Milton.

2. Violenty hot; drying or scorching with heat; burning; parching. "Torrid heat." Milton. Torrid zone (Geog.), that space or board belt of the earth, included between the tropics, over which the sun is vertical at some period of every year, and the heat is always great.

TORRIDITY Tor*rid"i*ty, n.

Defn: Torridness. [R.]

TORRIDNESS Tor"rid*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being torrid or parched.

TORRIL Tor"ril, n.

Defn: A worthless woman; also, a worthless horse. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

TORROCK Tor"rock, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gull. [Prov. Eng.]

TORSADE Tor*sade", n. [F.]

Defn: A twisted cord; also, a molded or worked ornament of similar form.

The crown decked with torsades of pearls. Harper's Mag.

TORSAL Tor"sal, n. (Carp.)

Defn: A torsel. Knight.

TORSE Torse, n. Etym: [OF., fr. OF. & F. tors, torse, twisted, wreathed, p. p. of tordre to twist, L. torquere. See Torture.]

1. (Her.)

Defn: A wreath.

2. Etym: [F. tors, torse, twisted.] (Geom.)

Defn: A developable surface. See under Developable.

TORSEL Tor"sel, n. (Carp.)

Defn: A plate of timber for the end of a beam or joist to rest on. Gwilt

TORSIBILLTY Tor`si*bil"l*ty, n.

Defn: The tendency, as of a rope, to untwist after being twisted.

TORSION Tor"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. torsio, fr. L. torquere, tortum, to twist. See Torture.]

1. The act of turning or twisting, or the state of being twisted; the twisting or wrenching of a body by the exertion of a lateral force tending to turn one end or part of it about a longitudinal axis, while the other is held fast or turned in the opposite direction.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: That force with which a thread, wire, or rod of any material, returns, or tends to return, to a state of rest after it has been twisted; torsibility. Angle of torsion (of a curve) (Geom.), the indefinitely small angle between two consecutive osculating planes of a curve of double curvature. -- Moment of torsion (Mech.) the moment of a pair of equal and opposite couples which tend to twist a body. -- Torsion balance (Physics.), an instrument for estimating very minute forces, as electric or magnetic attractions and repulsions, by the torsion of a very slender wire or fiber having at its lower extremity a horizontal bar or needle, upon which the forces act. -- Torsion scale, a scale for weighing in which the fulcra of the levers or beams are strained wires or strips acting by torsion.

TORSIONAL Tor"sion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to torsion; resulting from torsion, or the force with which a thread or wire returns to a state of rest after having been twisted round its axis; as, torsional force.

TORSION ELECTROMETER Tor"sion e*lec*trom"e*ter. (Elec.)

Defn: A torsion balance used for measuring electric attraction or repulsion.

TORSION GALVANOMETER Torsion galvanometer. (Elec.)

Defn: A galvanometer in which current is measured by torsion.

TORSION HEAD Torsion head.

Defn: That part of a torsion balance from which the wire or filament is suspended.

TORSION INDICATOR Torsion indicator.

Defn: An autographic torsion meter.

TORSION METER Torsion meter. (Mech.)

Defn: An instrument for determining the torque on a shaft, and hence the horse power of an engine, esp. of a marine engine of high power, by measuring the amount of twist of a given length of the shaft. Called also torsimeter, torsiometer, torsometer.

TORSK Torsk, n. Etym: [Dan.; akin to Icel. þorskr a codfish, G. dorsch.] (Zoöl.) (a) The cusk. See Cusk. (b) The codfish. Called also tusk.

TORSO Tor"so, n.; pl. E. Torsos, It. Torsi. Etym: [It. torso, probably fr. L. thyrsus a stalk, stem, thyrsus, Gr. torso, turso, a stalk, stem, G. dorsche a cabbage stalk. Cf. Thyrsus, Truss.]

Defn: The human body, as distinguished from the head and limbs; in sculpture, the trunk of a statue, mutilated of head and limbs; as, the torso of Hercules.

TORT Tort, n. Etym: [F., from LL. tortum, fr. L. tortus twisted, crooked, p. p. of torqure to twist, bend. See Torture.]

1. Mischief; injury; calamity. [Obs.] That had them long opprest with tort. Spenser.

2. (Law)

Defn: Any civil wrong or injury; a wrongful act (not involving a breach of contract) for which an action will lie; a form of action, in some parts of the United States, for a wrong or injury. Executor de son tort. See under Executor. -- Tort feasor (Law), a wrongdoer; a trespasser. Wharton.

TORT Tort, a.

Defn: Stretched tight; taut. [R.] Yet holds he them with tortestrein. Emerson.

TORTA Tor"ta, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. torta a cake.] (Metal.)

Defn: a flat heap of moist, crushed silver ore, prepared for the patio process.

TORTEAU Tor"teau, n.; pl. Torteaus Etym: [Of. torteau, tortel, from L.tortus twisted. See Tort.] (Her.)

Defn: A roundel of a red color.

TORTICOLLIS Tor`ti*col"lis, n. Etym: [F. toricolis; L. torquere, tortum, to twist + collum the neck.] (Med.)

Defn: See Wryneck.

TORTILE Tor"tile, a. Etym: [L. tortilis, fr. torquere, tortum, to twist: cf. F. tortile.]

Defn: Twisted; wreathed; coiled.

TORTILITY Tor*til"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being tortile, twisted, or wreathed.

TORTILLA Tor*til"la, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: An unleavened cake, as of maize flour, baked on a heated iron or stone.

TORTION Tor"tion, n. Etym: [LL. tortio. See Torsion.]

Defn: Torment; pain. [Obs.] Bacon.

TORTIOUS Tor"tious, a. Etym: [From Tort.]

1. Injurious; wrongful. [Obs.] "Tortious power." Spenser.

2. (Law)

Defn: Imploying tort, or privat injury for which the law gives damages; involing tort.

TORTIOUSLY Tor"tious*ly, adv. (Law)

Defn: In a tortous manner.

TORTIVE Tor"tive, a. Etym: [L. tortus, p.p. of torquere to twist, wind.]

Defn: Twisted; wreathed. Shak.

TORTOISE Tor"toise, n. Etym: [OE. tortuce, fr. OF. tortis crooked, fr. L. tortus isted, crooked, contorted, p.p. of torquere, tortum, to wind; cf. F. tortue tortoise, LL. tortuca, tartuca, Pr. tortesa crookedness, tortis crooked. so called in allusion to its crooked feet. See Torture.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of reptiles of the order Testudinata.

Note: The term is applied especially to the land and fresh-water species, while the marine species are generally called turtles, but the terms tortoise and turtle are used synonymously by many writers. see Testudinata, Terrapin, and Turtle.

2. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: Same as Testudo, 2. Box tortoise, Land tortoise, etc. See under Box, Land, etc. -- Painted tortoise. (Zoöl.) See Painted turtle, under Painted. -- Soft-shell tortoise. (Zoöl.) See Trionyx. -- Spotted tortoise. (Zoöl.) A small American fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus, or Nanemys, quttatus) having a blackish carapace on which are scattered round yellow spots. -- Tortoise beetle (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small tortoise-shaped beetles. Many of them have a brilliant metallic luster. the larvæ feed upon the leaves of various plants, and protect themselves beneath a mass of dried excrement held over the back by means of the caudal spines. The golden tortoise beetle (Cassida aurichalcea) is found on the morning-glory vine and allied plants. -- Tortoise plant. (Bot.) See Elephant's foot, under Elephant. -- Tortoise shell, the substance of the shell or horny plates of several species of sea turtles, especially of the hawkbill turtle. It is used in inlaying and in the manufacture of various ornamental articles. -- Tortoise-shell butterfly (Zoöl.), any one of several species of handsomely colored butterflies of the genus Aglais, as A. Milberti, and A. urticæ, both of which, in the larva state, feed upon nettles. -- Tortoise-shell turtle (Zoöl.), the hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill.

Defn: having a color like that aof a toroise's shell, black with white and orange spots; -- used mostly to describe cats of that color. n.

Defn: a tortoise-shell cat.

TORTRICID Tor"tri*cid, a. Etym: [See Tortrix.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Tortix, or the family Tortricidæ.

TORTRIX Tor"trix, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. torquere, tortum, to twist.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of small moths of the family Tortricidæ, the larvæ of which usually roll up the leaves of plants on which they live; -- also called leaf roller.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of tropical short-tailed snakes, which are not venomous. One species (Tortrix scytalæ) is handsomely banded with black, and is sometimes worn alive by the natives of Brazil for a necklace.

TORTULOUS Tor"tu*lous, a. (Nat. Hist.)

Defn: Swelled out at intervals like a knotted cord.

TORTUOSE Tor"tu*ose`, a. Etym: [See Tortuous.]

Defn: Wreathed; twisted; winding. Loudon

TORTUOSLTY Tor`tu*os"l*ty, n. Etym: [L.tortuositas: cf. F.tortuosite.]

Defn: the quality or state of being tortuous.

TORTUOUS Tor"tu*ous, a. Etym: [OE. tortuos, L.tortuosus, fr.tortus a twisting, winding, fr. torquere, tortum, to twist: cf. F. tortueux. See Torture.]

1. Bent in different directions; wreathed; twisted; winding; as, a tortuous train; a tortuous train; a tortuous leaf or corolla. The badger made his dark and tortuous hole on the side of every hill where the copsewood grew thick. Macaulay.

2. Fig.: Deviating from rectitude; indirect; erroneous; deceitful. That course became somewhat lesstortuous, when the battle of the Boyne had cowed the spirit of the Jakobites. Macaulay.

3. Injurious: tortious. [Obs.]

4. (Astrol.)

Defn: Oblique; -- applied to the six signs of the zodiac (from Capricorn to Gemini) which ascend most rapidly and obliquely. [Obs.] Skeat. Infortunate ascendent tortuous. Chaucer. --Tor"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- Tor"tu*ous*ness, n.

TORTURABLE Tor"tur*a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being tortured.

TORTURE Tor"ture, n. Etym: [F.,fr.L. tortura, fr. torquere, tortum, to twist, rack, torture; probably akin to Gr. tre`pein to turn, G. drechsein to turn on a lathe, and perhaps to E. queer. Cf. Contort, Distort, Extort, Retort, Tart, n., Torch, Torment, Tortion, Tort, Trope.]

1. Extreme pain; anguish of body or mind; pang; agony; torment; as, torture of mind. Shak. Ghastly spasm or racking torture. Milton.

2. Especially, severe pain inflicted judicially, either as punishment for a crime, or for the purpose of extorting a confession from an accused person, as by water or fire, by the boot or thumbkin, or by the rack or wheel.

3. The act or process of torturing. Torture, whitch had always been deciared illegal, and which had recently been declared illegal even by the servile judges of that age, was inflicted for the last time in England in the month of May, 1640. Macaulay.

TORTURE Tor"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tortured (; p. pr. & vb. n. Torturing.] Etym: [Cf. F. Torturer. ]

1. To put to torture; to pain extremely; to harass; to vex.

2. To punish with torture; to put to the rack; as, to torture an accused person. Shak.

3. To wrest from the proper meaning; to distort. Jar. Taylor.

4. To keep on the stretch, as a bow. [Obs.] The bow tortureth the string. Bacon.

TORTURER Tor"tur*er, n.

Defn: One who tortures; a tormentor.

TORTURINGLY Tor"tur*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to torture. Beau. & Fl.

TORTUROUS Tor"tur*ous, a.

Defn: Involving, or pertaining to, torture. [R.] "The torturous crucifixion." I. Disraeli.

TORULA Tor"u*la, n.; pl. Torulæ ( Etym: [NL., dim. of L. torus a semicircular molding.] (Biol.) (a) A chain of special bacteria. (b) A genus of budding fungi. Same as Saccharomyces. Also used adjectively.

TORULAFORM Tor"u*la*form`, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Having the appearance of a torula; in the form of a little chain; as, a torulaform string of micrococci.

TORULOSE Tor"u*lose, a. Etym: [L. torulus, dim. of torus: cf. F. toruleux. See Torus] (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Torose.

TORULOUS Tor"u*lous, a.

Defn: Same as Torose.

TORUS To"rus, n.; pl. Tori. Etym: [L., a round, swelling, or bulging place, an elevation. Cf. 3d Tore.]

1. (Arch.)

Defn: A lage molding used in the bases of columns. Its profile is semicircular. See Illust. of Molding. Brande&C.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the ventral parapodia of tubicolous annelids. It usually has the form of an oblong thickening or elevation of the integument with rows of uncini or hooks along the center. See Illust. under Tubicolæ.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The receptacle, or part of the flower on which the carpels stand.

4. (Geom.)

Defn: See 3d Tore, 2.

TORVED Torved, a.

Defn: Stern; grim. See Torvous. [Obs.] But yesterday his breath Awed Rome, and his least torved frown was death. J. Webster (1654).

TORVITY Tor"vi*ty, a. Etym: [L. torvitas. See Torvous.]

Defn: Sourness or severity of countenance; sterness. [Obs.]

TORVOUS Tor"vous, a. Etym: [L. torvus. ]

Defn: Sour of aspect; of a severe countenance; stern; grim. [Obs.] That torvous, sour look produced by anger. Derham.

TORY To"ry, n.; pl. Tories. Etym: [ Properly used of the Irish bogtrotters who robbed and plundered during the English civil wars, professing to be in sympathy with the royal cause; hence transferred to those who sought to maintain the extreme prerogatives of the crown; probably from Ir. toiridhe, tor, a pursuer; akin to Ir. & Gael. toir a pursuit.]

1. (Eng.Politics)

Defn: A member of the conservative party, as opposed to the progressive party which was formerly called the Whig, and is now called the Liberal, party; an earnest supporter of exsisting royal and ecclesiastical authority.

Note: The word Tory first occurs in English history in 1679, during the struggle in Parliament occasioned by the introduction of the bill for the exclusion of the duke of York from the line of succession, and was applied by the advocates of the bill to its opponents as a title of obloquy or contempt. The Tories subsequently took a broader ground, and their leading principle became the maintenance of things as they were. The name, however, has for several years ceased to designate an existing party, but is rather applied to certain traditional maxims of public policy. The political successors of the Tories are now commonly known as Conservatives. New Am. Cyc.

2. (Amer. Hist.)

Defn: One who, in the time of the Revolution, favored submitting tothe claims of Great Britain against the colonies; an adherent tothe crown.

TORY To"ry, a.

Defn: Of ro pertaining to the Tories.

TORYISM To"ry*ism, n.

Defn: The principles of the Tories.

TOSCATTER To*scat"ter, v. t. Etym: [Pref.to- + scatter.]

Defn: To scatter in pieces; to divide. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TOSE Tose, v. t. Etym: [ See Touse ]

Defn: To tease, or comb, as wool. [Obs.or Prov. Eng.]

TOSH Tosh, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. tonce shorn, clipped, and E. tonsure.]

Defn: Neat; trim. [Scot.] Jomieson.

TOSHRED To*shred", v. t. Etym: [Pref. to- + shred. ]

Defn: To cut into shreads or pieces. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TOSS Toss

Defn: , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tossed (; (less properly Tost ); p. pr. & vb. n. Tossing.] Etym: [ W. tosiaw, tosio, to jerk, toss, snatch, tosa quick jerk, a toss, a snatch. ]

1. To throw with the hand; especially, to throw with the palm of the hand upward, or to throw upward; as, to toss a ball.

2. To lift or throw up with a sudden or violent motion; as, to toss the head. He tossed his arm aloft, and proudly told me, He would not stay. Addison.

3. To cause to rise and fall; as, a ship tossed on the waves in a storm. We being exceedingly tossed with a tempeat. Act xxvii. 18.

4. To agitate; to make restless. Calm region once, And full of peace, now tossed and turbulent. Milton.

5. Hence, to try; to harass. Whom devils fly, thus is he tossed of men. Herbert.

6. To keep in play; to tumble over; as, to spend four years in tossing the rules of grammar. [Obs.] Ascham. To toss off, to drink hastily. -- To toss the cars.See under Oar, n.

TOSS Toss, v. i.

1. To roll and tumble; to be in violent commotion; to write; to fling. To toss and fling, and to be restless, only frets and enreges our pain. Tillotson.

2. To be tossed, as a fleet on the ocean. Shak. To toss for, to throw dice or a coin to determine the possession of; to gamble for. -- To toss up, to throw a coin into the air, and wager on which side it will fall, or determine a question by its fall. Bramsion.

TOSS Toss, n.

1. A throwing upward, or with a jerk; the act of tossing; as, the toss of a ball.

2. A throwing up of the head; a particular manner of raising the head with a jerk. Swift.

TOSSEL Tos"sel, n.

Defn: See Tassel.

TOSSER Toss"er, n.

Defn: Ohe who tosser. J. Fletcher.

TOSSILY Toss"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a tossy manner. [R.]

TOSSING Toss"ing, n.

1. The act of throwing upward; a rising and falling suddenly; a rolling and tumbling.

2. (Mining) (a) A process which consists in washing ores by violent agitation in water, in order to separate the lighter or earhy particles; -- called also tozing, and treloobing, in Cornwall. Pryce. (b) A process for refining tin by dropping it through the air while melted.

TOSSPOT Toss"pot`, n.

Defn: A toper; one habitually given to strong drink; a drunkard. Shak.

TOSSY Toss"y, a.

Defn: Tossing the head, as in scorn or pride; hence, proud; contemptuous; scornful; affectedly indifferent; as, a tossy commonplace. [R.] C. Kingsley.

TOST Tost,

Defn: imp. & p. p. of Toss.

TOSTO Tos"to, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Quick; rapid. Pui tosto ( Etym: [It.] (Mus.), faster; more rapid.

TOSWINK To*swink", v. i. Etym: [Pref. to- + swink.]

Defn: To labor excessively. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TOT Tot, n. Etym: [Cf. Toddle, Tottle, Totter.]

1. Anything small; -- frequently applied as a term of endearment to a little child.

2. A drinking cup of small size, holding about half a pint. [Prov.Eng.] Halliwell.

3. A foolish fellow. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

TOTA To"ta, n. Etym: [From the native name in Egypt.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The grivet.

TOTAL To"tal, a. Etym: [F., fr. LL. totalis, fr. L. tolus all,whole. Cf. Factotum, Surtout, Teetotum.]

Defn: Whole; not divided; entire; full; complete; absolute; as, a total departure from the evidence; a total loss. " Total darkness." "To undergo myself the total crime." Milton. Total abstinence. See Abstinence, n., 1. -- Total depravity. (Theol.) See Original sin, under Original.

Syn: Whole; entire; complete. See Whole.

TOTAL To"tal, n.

Defn: The whole; the whole sum or amount; as, these sums added make the grand total of five millions.

TOTALIS To"tal*is, n. [See Total, a.]

Defn: The total.

I look on nothing but totalis. B. Jonson.

TOTALISATOR To"tal*i*sa`tor, n.

Defn: Same as Totalizator.

TOTALITY To*tal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. totalite, LL. totalitas.]

1. The quality or state of being total; as, the totality of an eclipse.

2. The whole sum; the whole quantity or amount; the entirety; as, the totalityof human knowledge. Buckle. The totality of a sentence or passage. Coleridge.

TOTALIZATION To`tal*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: Act of totalizing, or state of being totalized.

TOTALIZATOR To"tal*i*za`tor, n. [From Totalize: cf. F. totalisateur.]

Defn: A machine for registering and indicating the number and nature of bets made on horse races, as in Australia and South Africa. Called also totalizer.

TOTALIZE To"tal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To make total, or complete;to reduce to completeness. Coleridge.

TOTALIZER To"tal*i`zer, n.

Defn: Same as Totalizator.

TOTALLY To"tal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a total manner; wholly; entirely.

TOTALNESS To"tal*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being total; entireness; totality.

TOTARA To"ta*ra, n. [Maori.]

Defn: A coniferous tree (Podocarpus totara), next to the kauri the most valuable timber tree of New Zeland. Its hard reddish wood is used for furniture and building, esp. in wharves, bridges, etc. Also mahogany pine.

TOTE Tote, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Toted; p. pr. & vb. n. Toting.] Etym: [Said to be of African origin.]

Defn: To carry or bear; as, to tote a child over a stream; -- a colloquial word of the Southern States, and used esp. by negroes.

TOTE Tote, n. Etym: [L. totum, fr.totus all, whole.]

Defn: The entire body, or all; as, the whole tote. [Colloq.]

TOTEAR To*tear", v. t. Etym: [Pref. to- + tear. ]

Defn: To tear or rend in pieces. [Obs.] Chaucer.

TOTEM To"tem, n. Etym: [Massachusetts Indian wutohtimoin that to which a person or place belongs.]

Defn: A rude picture, as of a bird, beast, or the like, used by the Nord American Indians as a symbolic designation, as of a family or a clan. And they painted on the grave posts Of the graves, yet unforgotten, Each his own ancestral totem Each the symbol of his household; Figures of the bear and reindeer, Of the turtle, crane, and beaver. Longfellow. The totem,the clan deity, the beast or bird who in some supernatural way attends tothe clan and watches over it. Bagehot.

TOTEMIC To*tem"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a totem, or totemism.

TOTEMISM To"tem*ism, n.

1. The system of distinguishing families, clans, etc., in a tribe by the totem.

2. Superstitious regard for a totem; the worship of any real or imaginary object; nature worship. Tylor.

TOTEMIST To"tem*ist, n.

Defn: One belonging to a clan or tribe having a totem. -- To`tem*is"tic, a.

TOTEM POLE; TOTEM POST To"tem pole or post.

Defn: A pole or pillar, carved and painted with a series of totemic symbols, set up before the house of certain Indian tribes of the northwest coast of North America, esp. Indians of the Koluschan stock.

TOTER Tot"er, n. Etym: [See Tote to carry.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The stone roller. See Stone roller (a), under Stone.

T'OTHER T'oth"er.

Defn: A colloquial contraction of the other, and formerly a contraction for that other. See the Note under That, 2. The tothir that was crucifield with him. Wyclif(John xix. 32)

TOTIPALMATE To`ti*pal"mate, a. Etym: [L. totus all, whole + E.palmate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having all four toes united by a web;-said of certain sea birds, as the pelican and the gannet. See Illust. under Aves.

TOTIPALMI To`ti*pal"mi, n.pl. Etym: [NL.,from L. totus all, whole + palmus palm.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of swimming birds including those that have totipalmate feet.

TOTIPRESENCE To`ti*pres"ence, n. Etym: [L. totus all, whole + E.presence.]

Defn: Omnipresence. [Obs.] A. Tucker.

TOTIPRESENT To`ti*pres"ent, a. Etym: [L. totus all, whole + E. present.]

Defn: Omnipresence. [Obs.] A. Tucker.

TOTTER Tot"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tottered; p. pr. & vb. n. Tottering.] Etym: [Probably for older tolter; cf. AS. tealtrian to totter, vacillate. Cf.Tilt to incline, Toddle, Tottle, Totty.]

1. To shake so as to threaten a fall; to vacillate; to be unsteady; to stagger; as,an old man totters with age. "As a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence." Ps. lxii. 3.

2. To shake; to reel; to lean; to waver. Troy nods from high, and totters to her fall. Dryden.

TOTTERER Tot"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who totters.

TOTTERINGLY Tot"ter*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a tottering manner.

TOTTERY Tot"ter*y, a.

Defn: Trembling or vaccilating, as if about to fall; unsteady; shaking. Johnson.

TOTTLE Tot"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tottled; p. pr. & vb. n. Tottling.] Etym: [See Toddle, Totter.]

Defn: To walk in a wavering, unsteady manner; to toddle; to topple. [Colloq.]

TOTTLISH Tot"tlish, a.

Defn: Trembling or tottering, as if about to fall; un steady. [Colloq. U.S.]

TOTTY Tot"ty, a. Etym: [OE. toti. Cf. Totter.]

Defn: Unsteady; dizzy; tottery. [Obs.or Prov. Eng.] Sir W. Scott. For yet his noule [head] was totty of the must. Spenser.

TOTY Tot"y, a.

Defn: Totty. [Obs.] My head is totty of my swink to-night. Chaucer.

TOTY To"ty, n.

Defn: A sailor or fisherman;-so called in some parts of the Pacific.

TOUCAN Tou"can, n. Etym: [F., fr. Pg. tucano; from Brazilian name. ]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of fruit-eating birds of tropical America belonging to Ramphastos, Pteroglossus, and allied genera of the family Ramphastidæ. They have a very large, but light and thin, beak, often nearly as long as the body itself. Most of the species are brilliantly colored with red, yellow, white, and black in striking contrast.

2. (Astronom.)

Defn: A modern constellation of the southern hemisphere.

TOUCANET Tou"can*et, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small toucan.

TOUCH Touch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Touched; p. pr. & vb. n. Touching.] Etym: [F. toucher, OF. touchier, tuchier; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. zucchen, zukken, to twitch, pluck, draw, G. zukken, zukken, v. intens. fr. OHG. ziohan to draw, G. ziehen, akin to E. tug. See Tuck, v. t., Tug, and cf. Tocsin, Toccata.]

1. To come in contact with; to hit or strike lightly against; to extend the hand, foot, or the like, so as to reach or rest on. Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly. Milton.

2. To perceive by the sense of feeling. Nothing but body can be touched or touch. Greech.

3. To come to; to reach; to attain to. The god, vindictive, doomed them never more-Ah, men unblessed! -- to touch their natal shore. Pope.

4. To try; to prove, as with a touchstone. [Obs.] Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed. Shak.

5. To relate to; to concern; to affect. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone. Shak.

6. To handle, speak of, or deal with; to treat of. Storial thing that toucheth gentilesse. Chaucer.

7. To meddle or interfere with; as, I have not touched the books. Pope.

8. To affect the senses or the sensibility of; to move; to melt; to soften. What of sweet before Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this and harsh. Milton. The tender sire was touched with what he said. Addison.

9. To mark or delineate with touches; to add a slight stroke to with the pencil or brush. The lines, though touched but faintly, are drawn right. Pope.

10. To infect; to affect slightly. Bacon.

11. To make an impression on; to have effect upon. Its face . . . so hard that a file will not touch it. Moxon.

12. To strike; to manipulate; to play on; as, to touch an instrument of music. [They] touched their golden harps. Milton.

13. To perform, as a tune; to play. A person is the royal retinue touched a light and lively air on the flageolet. Sir W. Scott.

14. To influence by impulse; to impel forcibly. " No decree of mine, . . . [to] touch with lightest moment of impulse his free will," Milton.

15. To harm, afflict, or distress. Let us make a covenant with thee, that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee. Gen. xxvi. 28, 29.

16. To affect with insanity, especially in a slight degree; to make partially insane; -- rarely used except in the past participle. She feared his head was a little touched. Ld. Lytton.

17. (Geom.)

Defn: To be tangent to. See Tangent, a.

18. To lay a hand upon for curing disease. To touch a sail (Naut.), to bring it so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes. -- To touch the wind (Naut.), to keep the ship as near the wind as possible. -- To touch up, to repair; to improve by touches or emendation.

TOUCH Touch, v. i.

1. To be in contact; to be in a state of junction, so that no space is between; as, two spheres touch only at points. Johnson.

2. To fasten; to take effect; to make impression. [R.] Strong waters pierce metals, and will touch upon gold, that will not touch upon silver. Bacon.

3. To treat anything in discourse, especially in a slight or casual manner; -- often with on or upon. If the antiquaries have touched upon it, they immediately quitted it. Addison.

4. (Naut)

Defn: To be brought, as a sail, so close to the wind that its weather leech shakes. To touch and go (Naut.), to touch bottom lightly and without damage, as a vessel in motion. -- To touch at, to come or go to, without tarrying; as, the ship touched at Lisbon. -- To touch on or upon, to come or go to for a short time. [R.] I made a little voyage round the lake, and touched on the several towns that lie on its coasts. Addison.

TOUCH Touch, n. Etym: [Cf. F. touche. See Touch, v. ]