Chapter LXIX: Appendix: Vermiformis (48)

15. A motion or turn, as of the eye; direction; look; glance; squint. The cast of the eye is a gesture of aversion. Bacon. And let you see with one cast of an eye. Addison. This freakish, elvish cast came into the child's eye. Hawthorne.

16. A tube or funnel for conveying metal into a mold.

17. Four; that is, as many as are thrown into a vessel at once in counting herrings, etc; a warp.

18. Contrivance; plot, design. [Obs.] Chaucer. A cast of the eye, a slight squint or strabismus. -- Renal cast (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of persons affected with disease of the kidneys; -- so called because they are formed of matter deposited in, and preserving the outline of, the renal tubes. -- The last cast, the last throw of the dice or last effort, on which every thing is ventured; the last chance.

CASTALIAN Cas*ta"li*an, a. Etym: [L. Castalius]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Castalia, a mythical fountain of inspiration on Mt. Parnassus sacred to the Muses. Milton.

CASTANEA Cas*ta"ne*a, n. Etym: [L., a chestnut, fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of nut-bearing trees or shrubs including the chestnut and chinquapin.

CASTANET Cas"ta*net, n.

Defn: See Castanets.

CASTANETS Cas"ta*nets, n. pl. Etym: [F. castagnettes, Sp. castañetas, fr. L. castanea (Sp. castaña) a chestnut. So named from the resemblance to two chestnuts, or because chestnuts were first used for castanets. See Chestnut.]

Defn: Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle finger; -- used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to their dance and guitars.

Note: The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or, sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument. The dancer, holding a castanet in each hand, rattles then to the motion of his feet. Moore (Encyc. of Music).

CASTAWAY Cast"a*way, n.

1. One who, or that which, is cast away or shipwrecked.

2. One who is ruined; one who has made moral shipwreck; a reprobate. Lest . . . when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Cor. ix. 27.

CASTAWAY Cast"a*way, a.

Defn: Of no value; rejected; useless.

CASTE Caste, n. Etym: [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste: cf. F. caste, of same origin.]

1. One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindoos are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism.

Note: The members of the same caste are theoretically of equal rank, and same profession or occupation, and may not eat or intermarry with those not of their own caste. The original are four, viz., the Brahmans, or sacerdotal order; the Kshatriyas, or soldiers and rulers; the Vaisyas, or husbandmen and merchants; and the Sudras, or laborers and mechanics. Men of no caste are Pariahs, outcasts. Numerous mixed classes, or castes, have sprung up in the progress of time.

2. A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves. The tinkers then formed an hereditary caste. Macaulay. To lose caste, to be degraded from the caste to which one has belonged; to lose social position or consideration.

CASTELLAN Cas"tel*lan, n. Etym: [OF. castelain, F. châtelain, L. castellanus pertaining to a castle, an occupant of a caste, LL., a governor of a castle, fr. L. catellum castle, citadel, dim. of castrum fortifled place. See Castle, and cf. Chatelaine.]

Defn: A goveror or warden of a castle.

CASTELLANY Cas"tel*la*ny, n.; pl. Castellanies. Etym: [LL. castellania.]

Defn: The lordship of a castle; the extent of land and jurisdiction appertaining to a castle.

CASTELLATED Cas"tel*la`ted, a. Etym: [LL. castellatus, fr. castellare. See Castle.]

1. Inclosed within a building; as, a fountain or cistern castellated. [Obs.] Johnson.

2. Furnished with turrets and battlements, like a castle; built in the style of a castle.

CASTELLATION Cas`tel*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. castellation, fr. castellare, fr. L. castellum. See Castle.]

Defn: The act of making into a castle.

CASTER Cast"er, n.

1. One who casts; as, caster of stones, etc. ; a caster of cannon; a caster of accounts.

2. A vial, cruet, or other small vessel, used to contain condiments at the table; as, a set of casters.

3. A stand to hold a set of cruets.

4. A small wheel on a swivel, on which furniture is supported and moved.

CASTIGATE Cas"ti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Castigating.] Etym: [L. castigatus, p. p. of castigare to correct, punish; castus pure, chaste + agere to move, drive. See Caste, and cf. Chasten.]

1. To punish by stripes; to chastise by blows; to chasten; also, to chastise verbally; to reprove; to criticise severely.

2. To emend; to correct. [Obs.]

CASTIGATION Cas`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. catigatio.]

1. Corrective punishment; chastisement; reproof; pungent criticism. The keenest castigation of her slanderers. W. Irving.

2. Emendation; correction. [Obs.]

CASTIGATOR Cas`ti*ga"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who castigates or corrects.

CASTIGATORY Cas`ti*ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. castigatorius.]

Defn: Punitive in order to amendment; corrective.

CASTIGATORY Cas"ti*ga*to*ry, n.

Defn: An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant scolds; -- called also a ducking stool, or trebucket. Blacktone.

CASTILE SOAP Cas"tile soap". Etym: [From Castile, or Castilia, a province in Spain, from which it originally came.]

Defn: A kind of fine, hard, white or mottled soap, made with olive and soda; also, a soap made in imitation of the above-described soap.

CASTILIAN Cas*til"ian, n. Etym: [Sp. castellano, from Castila, NL. Castilia, Castella. Castile, which received its name from the castles erected on the frontiers as a barrier against the Moors.]

1. An inhabitant or native of Castile, in Spain.

2. The Spanish language as spoken in Castile.

CASTILLAN Cas*til"lan, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Castile, in Spain.

CASTING Cast"ing, n.

1. The act of one who casts or throws, as in fishing.

2. The act or process of making cast or impressions, or of shaping metal or plaster in a mold; the act or the process of pouring molten metal into a mold.

3. That which is cast in a mold; esp. the mass of metal so cast; as, a casting in iron; bronze casting.

4. The warping of a board. Brande & C.

5. The act of casting off, or that which is cast off, as skin, feathers, excrement, etc. Casting of draperies, the proper distribution of the folds of garments, in painting and sculpture. -- Casting line (Fishing), the leader; also, sometimes applied to the long reel line. Casting net, a net which is cast and drawn, in distinction from a net that is set and left. -- Casting voice, Casting vote, the decisive vote of a presiding officer, when the votes of the assembly or house are equally divided. "When there was an equal vote, the governor had the casting voice." B. Trumbull. -- Casting weight, a weight that turns a balance when exactly poised.

CAST IRON Cast" i`ron.

Defn: Highly carbonized iron, the direct product of the blast furnace; -- used for making castings, and for conversion into wrought iron and steel. It can not be welded or forged, is brittle, and sometimes very hard. Besides carbon, it contains sulphur, phosphorus, silica, etc.

CAST-IRON Cast"-i`ron, a.

Defn: Made of cast iron. Hence, Fig.: like cast iron; hardy; unyielding.

CASTLE Cas"tle, n. Etym: [AS. castel, fr. L. castellum, dim. of castrum a fortified place, castle.]

1. A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress. The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke. Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn. Shak.

Note: Originally the mediæval castle was a single strong tower or keep, with a palisaded inclosure around it and inferior buidings, such as stables and the like, and surrounded by a moat; then such a keep or donjon, with courtyards or baileys and accessory buildings of greater elaboration a great hall and a chapel, all surrounded by defensive walls and a moat, with a drawbridge, etc. Afterwards the name was retained by large dwellings that had formerly been fortresses, or by those which replaced ancient fortresses. A Donjon or Keep, an irregular building containing the dwelling of the lord and his family; B C Large round towers ferming part of the donjon and of the exterior; D Square tower, separating the two inner courts and forming part of the donjon; E Chapel, whose apse forms a half-round tower, F, on the exterior walls; G H Round towers on the exterior walls; K Postern gate, reached from outside by a removable fight of steps or inclined plane for hoisting in stores, and leading to a court, L (see small digagram) whose pavement is on a level with the sill of the postern, but below the level of the larger court, with which it communicates by a separately fortified gateway; M Turret, containing spiral stairway to all the stories of the great tower, B, and serving also as a station for signal fire, banner, etc.; N Turret with stairway for tower, C; O Echauguettes; P P P Battlemants consisting of merlons and crenels alternately, the merlons being pierced by loopholes; Q Q Machicolations (those at Q defend the postern K); R Outwork defending the approach, which is a road ascending the hill and passing under all four faces of the castle; S S Wall of the outer bailey. The road of approach enters the bailey at T and passes thence into the castle by the main entrance gateway (which is in the wall between, and defended by the towers, C H) and over two drawbridges and through fortified passages to the inner court.

2. Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.

3. A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.

4. A piece, made to represent a castle, used in the game of chess; a rook. Castle in the air, a visionary project; a baseless scheme; an air castle; -- sometimes called a castle in Spain (F. Château en Espagne).

Syn. -- Fortress; fortification; citadel; stronghold. See Fortress.

CASTLE Cas"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Castled (. p. pr. & vb. n. Castling.] (Chess)

Defn: To move the castle to the square next to king, and then the king around the castle to the square next beyond it, for the purpose of covering the king.

CASTLEBUILDER Cas"tle*build`er, n.

Defn: Fig.: one who builds castles in the air or forms visionary schemes. -- Cas"tle*build`ing, n.

CASTLED Cas"tled, a.

Defn: Having a castle or castles; supporting a castle; as, a castled height or crag.

2. Fortified; turreted; as, castled walls.

CASTLE-GUARD Cas"tle-guard`, n.

1. The guard or defense of a castle.

2. (O. Eng. Law)

Defn: A tax or imposition an a dwelling within a certain distance of a castle, for the purpose of maintaining watch and ward in it; castle-ward.

3. A feudal tenure, obliging the tenant to perform service within the realm, without limitation of time.

CASTLERY Cas"tle*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. castelerie. See Castle.]

Defn: The government of a castle. Blount.

CASTLET Cas"tlet, n.

Defn: A small castle. Leland.

CASTLEWARD Cas"tle*ward`, n.

Defn: Same as Castleguard.

CASTLING Cast"ling, n.

Defn: That which is cast or brought forth prematurely; an abortion. Sir T. Browne.

CASTLING Cas"tling, n. (Chess)

Defn: A compound move of the king and castle. See Castle, v. i.

CAST-OFF Cast"-off`, a.

Defn: Cast or laid aside; as, cast-off clothes.

CASTOR Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L. castor the beaver, Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of rodents, including the beaver. See Beaver.

2. Castoreum. See Castoreum.

3. A hat, esp. one made of beaver fur; a beaver. I have always been known for the jaunty manner in which I wear my castor. Sir W. Scott.

4. A heavy quality of broadcloth for overcoats.

CASTOR Cast"or, n.

Defn: See Caster, a small wheel.

CASTOR Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L.] (Astron.)

Defn: the northernmost of the two bright stars in the constellation Gemini, the other being Pollux.

CASTOR; CASTORITE Cas"tor, Cas"tor*ite, n. Etym: [The minerals castor and pollux were so named because found together on the island of Elba. See Castor and Pollux.] (Min.)

Defn: A variety of the mineral called petalite, from Elba.

CASTOR AND POLLUX Cas"tor and Pol"lux. Etym: [Castor and Pollux were twin sons of Jupiter and Leda.] (Naut.)

Defn: See Saint Elmo's fire, under Saint.

CASTOR BEAN Cas"tor bean". (Bot.)

Defn: The bean or seed of the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi.)

CASTOREUM Cas*to"re*um, n. Etym: [L. See Castor.]

Defn: A peculiar bitter orange-brown substance, with strong, penetrating odor, found in two sacs between the anus and external genitals of the beaver; castor; -- used in medicine as an antispasmodic, and by perfumers.

CASTORIN Cas"to*rin, n. Etym: [From 1st Castor.] (Chem.)

Defn: A white crystalline substance obtained from castoreum.

CASTOR OIL Cas"tor oil.

Defn: A mild cathartic oil, expressed or extracted from the seeds of the Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi. When fresh the oil is inodorus and insipid. Castor-oil plant. Same as Palma Christi.

CASTRAMETATION Cas`tra*me*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. castramétation, fr. L. castra camp + metari to measure off, fr. meta limit.] (Mil.)

Defn: The art or act of encamping; the making or laying out of a camp.

CASTRATE Cas"trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Castrating.] Etym: [L. castrarus, p; p. of castrare to castrate, asin to Skr. çastra knife.]

1. To deprive of the testicles; to emasculate; to geld; to alter.

2. To cut or take out; esp. to remove anything erroneous, or objectionable from, as the obscene parts of a writing; to expurgate. My . . . correspondent . . . has sent me the following letter, which I have castrated in some places. Spectator.

CASTRATION Cas*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. castratio; cf. F. castration.]

Defn: The act of castrating.

CASTRATO Cas*tra"to, n. Etym: [L., properly p. p. of castrare. See Castrate.]

Defn: A male person castrated for the purpose of improving his voice for singing; an artificial, or male, soprano. Swift.

CASTREL Cas"trel, n. Etym: [Cf. F. crécerelle, cristel, OF. crecel, cercele. Cf. Kestrel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Kestrel.

CASTRENSIAL Cas*tren"sial, a. Etym: [L. castrensis, fr. castra camp.]

Defn: Belonging to a camp. Sir T. Browne.

CASTRENSIAN Cas*tren"sian, a.

Defn: Castrensial. [R.]

CAST STEEL Cast" steel".

Defn: See Cast steel, under Steel.

CASUAL Cas"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. casuel, F. casuel, fr. L. casualis, fr. casus fall, accident, fr. cadere to fall. See Case.]

1. Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance. Casual breaks, in the general system. W. Irving.

2. Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual expenses. A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture. Hawthorne.

Syn. -- Accidental; fortutious; incidental; occasional; contingent; unforeseen. See Accidental.

CASUAL Cas"u*al, n.

Defn: One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he does not belong; a vagrant.

CASUALISM Cas"u*al*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine that all things exist or are controlled by chance.

CASUALIST Cas"u*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in casualism.

CASUALLY Cas"u*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Without design; accidentally; fortuitously; by chance; occasionally.

CASUALNESS Cas"u*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being casual.

CASUALTY Cas"u*al*ty, n.; pl. Casualties. Etym: [F. casualité, LL. casualitas.]

1. That which comes without design or without being foreseen; contingency. Losses that befall them by mere casualty. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Any injury of the body from accident; hence, death, or other misfortune, occasioned by an accident; as, an unhappy casualty.

3. pl. (Mil. & Naval)

Defn: Numerical loss caused by death, wounds, discharge, or desertion. Casualty ward, A ward in a hospital devoted to the treatment of injuries received by accident.

Syn. -- Accident; contingency; fortuity; misfortune.

CASUARINA Cas`u*a*ri"na, n. Etym: [NL., supposed to be named from the resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the genus Casuarius.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of leafles trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of Australia. Some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.

CASUIST Cas"u*ist, n. Etym: [L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See Casual.]

Defn: One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry. The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence. South.

CASUIST Cas"u*ist, v. i.

Defn: To play the casuist. Milton.

CASUISTIC; CASUISTICAL Cas`u*is"tic, Cas`u*is"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to casuists or casuistry.

CASUISTRY Cas"u*ist*ry, a.

1. The science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and principles drawn from the Scriptures, from the laws of society or the church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general moral rules to particular cases. The consideration of these nice and puzzling question in the science of ethics has given rise, in modern times, to a particular department of it, distinguished by the title of casuistry. Stewart. Casuistry in the science of cases (i.e., oblique deflections from the general rule). De Quincey.

2. Sophistical, equivocal, or false reasoning or teaching in regard to duties, obligations, and morals.

CASUS Ca"sus, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: An event; an occurrence; an occasion; a combination of circumstances; a case; an act of God. See the Note under Accident. Casus belli, an event or combination of events which is a cause war, or may be alleged as a justification of war. -- Casus fortuitus, an accident against which due prudence could not have provided. See Act of God, under Act. -- Casus omissus, a case not provided for by the statute.

CAT Cat, n. Etym: [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel. köttr, G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL. catus, Bisc. catua, NGr cot, Turk. kedi, Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. Ketten.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An animal of various species of the genera Felis and Lynx. The domestic cat is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis catus) is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (Lynx rufus) See Wild cat, and Tiger cat.

Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from their place of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the Angora cat; the Maltese cat; the Manx cat.

Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals, from some fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher cat, catbird, catfish shark, sea cat.

2. (Naut.) (a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and deep waist. It is employed in the coal and timber trade. (b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the cathead of a ship. Totten.

3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of which three rest on the ground, in whatever position in is placed.

4. An old game; (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which it is played. See Tipcat. (c) A game of ball, called, according to the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.

5. A cat o' nine tails. See below. Angora cat, blind cat, See under Angora, Blind. -- Black cat the fisher. See under Black. -- Cat and dog, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonius. "I am sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it." Coleridge. -- Cat block (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook, part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead. -- Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block. -- Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] -- Cat o' nine tails, an instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the bare back. -- Cat's cradle, game played, esp. by children, with a string looped on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The string is transferred from the fingers of one to those of another, at each transfer with a change of form. See Cratch, Cratch cradle. -- To let the cat out of the bag, to tell a secret, carelessly or willfully. [Colloq.] -- Bush cat, the serval. See Serval.

CAT Cat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. tted; p. pr. & vb. n. Catting.] (Naut.)

Defn: To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See Anchor. Totten.

CATA Cat"a. Etym: [Gr. kata`.]

Defn: The Latin and English form of a Greek preposition, used as a prefix to signify down, downward, under, against, contrary or opposed to, wholly, completely; as in cataclysm, catarrh. It sometimes drops the final vowel, as in catoptric; and is sometimes changed to cath, as in cathartic, catholic.

CATABAPTIST Cat`a*bap"tist, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + aptist. See Baptist.] (Eccl.)

Defn: One who opposes baptism, especially of infants. [Obs.] Featley.

CATABASION Cat`a*ba"sion, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: A vault under altar of a Greek church.

CATABIOTIC Cat`a*bi*ot"ic, a.

Defn: Aee under Force.

CATACAUSTIC Cat`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + caustic.] (Physics)

Defn: Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol.

CATACAUSTIC Cat`a*caus"tic, n. (Physics)

Defn: A caustic curve formed by reflection of light. Nichol.

CATACHRESIS Cat`a*chre"sis, n. Etym: [L. fr. Gr. (Rhel.)

Defn: A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, "To take arms against a sea of troubles. " Shak. "Her voice was but the shadow of a sound." Young.

CATACHRESTIC; CATACHRESTICAL Cat`a*chres"tic, Cat"a*chres"tic*al, a.

Defn: Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; wrested from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fatched. -- Cat`a*chres"tic*al*ly, adv. [A] catachrestical and improper way of speaking. Jer. Taylor.

CATACLASM Cat"a*clasm, n. [Gr. ; down + to break.]

Defn: A breaking asunder; disruption.

CATACLYSM Cat"a*clysm, n. Etym: [L. cataclysmos, Gr. cataclysme.]

1. An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface.

CATACLYSMAL; CATACLYSMIC Cat`a*clys"mal, Cat"a*clys"mic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a cataclysm.

CATACLYSMIST Cat`a*clys"mist, n.

Defn: One who believes that the most important geological phenomena have been produced by cataclysms.

CATACOMB Cat"a*comb, n. Etym: [It. catacomba, fr. L. catacumba perh. from Gr.

Defn: A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; -- commonly in the plural.

Note: The terms is supposed to have been applied originally to the tombs under the church of St. Sebastain in Rome. The most celebrated catacombs are those near Rome, on the Appian Way, supposed to have been the place or refuge and interment of the early Chrictians; those of Egypt, extending for a wide distance in the vicinity of Cairo; and those of Paris, in abandoned stone quarries, excavated under a large portion of the city.

CATACOUSTIC Cat`a*cous"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. cata _ acoustics: cf. F. caraconstique.] (Physics)

Defn: That part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes See Acoustics. Hutton.

CATACROTIC Cat`a*crot"ic, a. [Cata- + Gr. a beating.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Designating, pertaining to, or characterized by, that form of pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the curve is marked by secondary elevations due to two or more expansions of the artery in the same beat. -- Ca*tac"rotism (#), n.

CATADICROTISM Cat`a*di"cro*tism, n. [Cata-+ dicrotism.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Quality or state of being catacrotic. -- Cat`a*di*crot"ic (#), a.

CATADIOPTRIC; CATADIOPTRICAL Cat`a*di*op"tric, Cat`a*di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + dioptric: cf. F. catadioptrique.] (Physics)

Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light. Hutton.

CATADIOPTRICS Cat`a*di*op"trics, n.

Defn: The science which treats of catadioptric phenomena, or of the used of catadioptric instruments.

CATADROME Cat"a*drome, n. Etym: [Gr.

1. A race course.

2. (Mach.)

Defn: A machine for raising or lowering heavy weights.

CATADROMOUS Ca*tad"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis than the lowest superior one; -- said of a mode of branching in ferns, and opposed to anadromous.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Living in fresh water, and going to the sea to spawn; -- opposed to anadromous, and of the eel.

CATAFALCO Cat`a*fal"co, n. Etym: [It.]

Defn: See Catafalque.

CATAFALQUE Cat"a*falque`, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. catafalco, scaffold, funeral canopy; of uncertain origin; cf. Sp. catafalso, cadahalso, cadalso, Pr. casafalc, OF. chafaut. Cf. Scaffold.]

Defn: A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or their conveyance to the place of burial.

CATAGMATIC Cat`*ag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. catagmatique.] (Med.)

Defn: Having the quality of consolidating broken bones.

CATAIAN Ca*ta"ian, n.

Defn: A native of Cathay or China; a foreigner; -- formerly a term of reproach. Shak.

CATALAN Cat"a*lan, a.

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

Defn: A native or inbabitant of Catalonia; also, the language of Catalonia. Catalan furnace, Catalan forge (Metal.), a kind of furnace for producing wrought iron directly from the ore. It was formerly much used, esp. in Catalonia, and is still used in some parts of the United States and elsewhere.

CATALECTIC Cat`a*lec"tic, a. Etym: [L. catalecticus, Gr.

1. (Pros.)

Defn: Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect foot; as, a catalectic verse.

2. (Photog. & Chem.)

Defn: Incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance. Abney.

CATALEPSY; CATALEPSIS Cat"a*lep`sy, Cat`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL. catalepsis, fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the action of the heart and lungs continues.

CATALEPTIC Cat`a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy; affected with catalepsy; as, a cataleptic fit.

CATALLACTA Cat`al*lac"ta, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Catallactics.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Protozoa, of which Magosphæra is the type. They exist both in a myxopod state, with branched pseudopodia, and in the form of ciliated bodies united in free, spherical colonies.

CATALLACTICS Cat`al*lac"tics n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: The science of exchanges, a branch of political economy.

CATALOG Cat"a*log, n. & v.

Defn: Catalogue.

CATALOGIZE Cat"a*lo*gize, v. t.

Defn: To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue. [R.] Coles.

CATALOGUE Cat"a*logue, n. Etym: [F., fr. catalogus, fr. Gr.

Defn: A list or enumeration of names, or articles arranged methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the students of a college, or of books, or of the stars. Card catalogue, a catalogue, as of books, having each item entered on a separate card, and the cards arranged in cases by subjects, or authors, or alphabetically. -- Catalogue raisonné Etym: [F.], a catalogue of books, etc., classed according to their subjects. Syn. -- List; roll; index; schedule; enumeration; inventory. See List.

CATALOGUE Cat"a*logue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catalogued; p. pr. & vb. n. Cataloguing.]

Defn: To make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.

CATALOGUER Cat"a*log`uer, n.

Defn: A maker of catalogues; esp. one skilled in the making of catalogues.

CATALPA Ca*tal"pa, n. Etym: [From the language of the Indians of Carolina, where Catesby discovered this tree in the year 1726.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of American and East Indian trees, of which the best know species are the Catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental North American tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods, and the C. speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; -- called also Indian bean.

CATALYSIS Ca*tal"y*sis, n.; pl. Catalyse. Etym: [ML., fr. Gr.

1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.] Sad catalysis and declension of piety. Evelyn.

2. (Chem.) (a) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as diastase, or ptyalin) on starch. (b) The catalytic force.

CATALYTIC Cat`a*ly"tic, a.

Defn: Relating to, or causing, catalysis. "The catalytic power is ill understood." Ure. Catalytic force, that form of chemical energy formerly supposed to determine catalysis.

CATALYTIC Cat`a*lyt"ic, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium chloride, etc.

CATAMARAN Cat`a*ma*ran", n. Etym: [The native East Indian name.]

1. A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; -- used as a surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.

2. Any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by steam; esp., one of a class of double-hulled pleasure boats remarkable for speed.

3. A kind of fire raft or torpedo bat. The incendiary rafts prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the French flotilla at Boulogne, 1804, were called catamarans. Knight.

4. A quarrelsome woman; a scold. [Colloq.]

CATAMENIA Cat`a*me"nia, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.

CATAMENIAL Cat`a*me"ni*al, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.

CATAMITE Cat"a*mite, n. Etym: [L. Catamitus, an old form of Ganymedes Ganymede, Gr.

Defn: A boy kept for unnatural purposes.

CATAMOUNT Cat"a*mount, n. Etym: [Cat + mount; cf. Sp. gato mentes mountain cat.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The cougar. Applied also, in some parts of the United States, to the lynx.

CATANADROMOUS Cat"a*nad`ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous. [R.]

CATAPASM Cat"a*pasm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc. Dunglison.

CATAPELTIC Cat`a*pel"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catapult.

CATAPETALOUS Cat`a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + petalous.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.

CATAPHONIC Cat`a*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.

CATAPHONICS Cat`a*phon"ics, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + phonic: cf. F. cataphonique.] (Physics)

Defn: That branch of acoustics which treats of reflested sounds; catacoustics.

CATAPHRACT Cat"a*phract, n. Etym: [L. cataphractes, Gr.

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: Defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern nations.

2. A horseman covered with a cataphract. Archers and slingers, cataphracts, and spears. Milton.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The armor or plate covering some fishes.

CATAPHRACTED Cat"a*phract`ed, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.

CATAPHRACTIC Cat`a*phrac"tic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.

CATAPHYSICAL Cat`a*phys"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + physical.]

Defn: Unnatural; contrary to nature. [R.] Some artists . . . have given to Sir Walter Scott a pile of forehead which is unpleassing and cataphysical. De Quincey.

CATAPLASM Cat"a*plasm, n. Etym: [L. cataplasma, Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice. Dunglison.

CATAPLEXY Cat"a*plex`y, n. [Gr. amazement: cf. Apoplexy.] (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles. -- Cat`a*plec"tic (#), a.

CATAPUCE Cat"a*puce, n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)

Defn: Spurge. [Obs.]

CATAPULT Cat"a*pult, n. Etym: [L. catapulta, Gr.

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Defn: An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.

2. A forked stick with elasti band for throwing small stones, etc.

CATARACT Cat"a*ract, n. Etym: [L. cataracta, catarracles, a waterfall, Gr.

1. A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.

2. (Surg.)

Defn: An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight.

3. (Mach.)

Defn: A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.

CATARACTOUS Cat`a*rac"tous, a.

Defn: Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.

CATARRH Ca*tarrh", n. Etym: [L. catarrhus, Gr. Stream.] (Med.)

Defn: An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.

Note: In America, the term catarrh is applied especially to a chronic inflammation of, and hypersecretion fron, the membranes of the nose or air passages; in England, to an acute influenza, resulting a cold, and attended with cough, thirst, lassitude, and watery eyes; also, to the cold itself.

CATARRHAL Ca*tarrh"al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.

CATARRHINE Cat"ar*rhine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See Monkey.

CATARRHOUS Ca*tarrh"ous, a.

Defn: Catarrhal. [R.]

CATASTALTIC Cat`a*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Checking evacutions through astringent or styptic qualities.

CATASTASIS Ca*tas"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Rhet.)

Defn: That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.

CATASTERISM Ca*tas"ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars. The catasterisms of Eratosthenes. Whewell.

CATASTROPHE Ca*tas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L. catastropha, Gr.

1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune. The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. Bp. Buret. The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw. Woodward.

2. The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes. Whewell.

CATASTROPHIC Cat`a*stroph"ic, a.

Defn: Of a pertaining to a catastrophe. B. Powell.

CATASTROPHISM Ca*tas"tro*phism, n. (Geol.)

Defn: The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.

CATASTROPHIST Ca*tas"tro*phist, n. (Geol.)

Defn: One who holds the theory or catastrophism.

CATAWBA Ca*taw"ba, n.

1. A well known light red variety of American grape.

2. A light-colored, sprightly American wine from the Catawba grape.

CATAWBAS Ca*taw"bas, n. pl.

Defn: ; sing. Catawba. (Ethnol.) An appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.

CATBIRD Cat"bird, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.

CATBOAT Cat"boat`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a graff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.

CATCALL Cat"call`, n.

Defn: A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise. Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the great consort of catcalls which was exhibited. Addison.

CATCH Catch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caught or Catched (; p. pr. & vb. n. Catching. Catched is rarely used.] Etym: [OE. cacchen, OF. cachier, dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL. captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See Capacious, and cf. Chase, Case a box.]

1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.

2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They pursued . . . and caught him." Judg. i. 6.

3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.

4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words". Mark xii. 13.

5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. "Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue." Tennyson.

6. To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.

7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm. The soothing arts that catch the fair. Dryden.

8. To get possession of; to attain. Torment myself to catch the English throne. Shak.

9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.

10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.

11. To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train. To catch fire, to become inflamed or ignited. -- to catch it to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment. [Colloq.] -- To catch one's eye, to interrupt captiously while speaking. [Colloq.] "You catch me up so very short." Dickens. -- To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.

CATCH Catch, v. i.

1. To attain possession. [Obs.] Have is have, however men do catch. Shak.

2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.

3. To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.

4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate. Does the sedition catch from man to man Addison. To catch at, to attempt to seize; to be egger to get or use. "[To] catch at all opportunities of subverting the state." Addison. -- To catch up with, to come up with; to overtake.

CATCH Catch, n.

1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney.

2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.

3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic] Addison. The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. T. Fuller.

4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish. Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains. Shak.

5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. [Colloq.] Marryat.

6. pl.

Defn: Passing opportunities seized; snatches. It has been writ by catches with many intervals. Locke.

7. A slight remembrance; a trace. We retain a catch of those pretty stories. Glanvill.

8. (Mus.)

Defn: A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.

CATCHABLE Catch"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being caught. [R.]

CATCH-BASIN Catch"-ba`sin, n.

Defn: A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to oatch bulky matters which would not pass readly throught the sewer. Knight.

CATCH CROP Catch crop.

Defn: Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time. -- Catch"- crop`ping, n.

Radishes . . . are often grown as a catch crop with other vegetables. L. H. Bailey.

CATCHDRAIN Catch"drain`, n.

Defn: A dich or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.

CATCHER Catch"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, catches.

2. (Baseball)

Defn: The player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball.

CATCHFLY Catch"fly, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.

CATCHING Catch"ing a.

1. Infections; contagious.

2. Captavating; alluring.

CATCHING Catch"ing, n.

Defn: The act of seizing or taking hold of Catching bargain (Law), a bargain made with an heir expectant for the purchase of his expectancy at an inadequate price. Bouvier.

CATCH-MEADOW Catch"-mead`ow, n.

Defn: meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.

CATCHMENT Catch"ment, n.

Defn: A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.

CATCHPENNY Catch"pen*ny, a.

Defn: Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. -- n.

Defn: Some worthless catchpenny thing.

CATCHPOLL Catch"poll`, n. Etym: [OF. chacepol, chacipol.]

Defn: A bailiff's assistant.

CATCH TITLE Catch title.

Defn: A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.

CATCHUP; CATSUP Catch"up, Cat"sup, n. Etym: [Probably of East Indian origin, because it was originally a kind of East Indian pickles.]

Defn: A table sauce made from mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, etc. [Written also ketchup.]

CATCHWATER Catch"wa`ter, n.

Defn: A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.

CATCHWEED Catch"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Cleavers.

CATCHWEIGHT Catch"weight`, adv. (Horseracing)

Defn: Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as, to ride catchweight.

CATCHWORD Catch"word`, n.

1. Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.

2. (Print.)

Defn: The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing.

3. A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as, the catchword of a political party, etc.

CATCHWORK Catch"work`, n.

Defn: A work or artificial watercourse for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.

CATCHY Catch"y, a.

1. Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking; as, catchy music.

2. Tending to catch or insnare; entangling; -- usually used fig.; as, a catchy question.

3. Consisting of, or occuring in, disconnected parts or snatches; changeable; as, a catchy wind.

It [the fox's scent] is . . . flighty or catchy, if variable. Encyc. of Sport.

CATE Cate, n.

Defn: Food. [Obs.] See Cates.

CATECHETIC; CATECHETICAL Cat`e*chet"ic, Cat`e*chet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catechise.]

Defn: Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching. Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.

CATECHETICALLY Cat`e*chet"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.

CATECHETICS Cat`e*chet"ics, n.

Defn: The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers.

CATECHIN Cat"e*chin, n. (Chem.)

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

CATECHISATION Cat`e*chi*sa"tion, n. Etym: [LL. catechizatio.]

Defn: The act of catechising.

CATECHISE Cat"e*chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catechised; p. pr. & vb. n. Catechising.] Etym: [L. catechizare, Gr.

1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving answeres, and offering explanations and corrections, -- esp. in regard to points of religious faith.

2. To question or interrogate; to examine or try by questions; -- sometimes with a view to reproof, by eliciting from a person answers which condemn his own conduct. Swift.

CATECHISER Cat"e*chi`ser, n.

Defn: One who catechises.

CATECHISM Cat"e*chism, n. Etym: [L. catechismus, fr. Gr. See Catechise.]

1. A form of instruction by means of questions answers.

2. A book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers. The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms. Hooker. The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

CATECHISMAL Cat`e*chis"mal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions and answers; catechical.

CATECHIST Cat"e*chist, n. Etym: [L. catechista, fr. Gr.]

Defn: One who instructs by question and answer, especially in religions matters.

CATECHISTIC; CATECHISTICAL Cat`e*chis"tic, Cat`e*chis"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechist or to a catechism. Dr. H. More.

CATECHIZE Cat"e*chize, v. t.

Defn: See Catechise.

CATECHU Cat"e*chu, n. Etym: [See Cashoo.] (Chem.)

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

CATECHUIC Cat`e*chu"ic, a.

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

CATECHUMEN Cat"e*chu`men, n. Etym: [L. catechunenus, Gr. Catechise.] (Eccl.)

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

CATECHUMENATE Cat`e*chu"men*ate, n.

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

CATECHUMENICAL Cat`e*chu*men"i*cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical instructions.

CATECHUMENIST Cat`e*chu"men*ist, n.

Defn: A catechumen. Bp. Morton.

CATEGOREMATIC Cat`e*gor`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Category.] (Logic.)

Defn: Capable of being employed by itself as a term; -- said of a word.

CATEGORICAL Cat`e*gor"ic*al, a.

1. Of or pertaining to a category.

2. Not hypothetical or relative; admitting no conditions or exceptions; declarative; absolute; positive; express; as, a categorical proposition, or answer. The scriptures by a multitude of categorical and intelligible decisions . . . distinguish between the things seen and temporal and those that are unseen and eternal. I. Taylor.

CATEGORICALLY Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: Absolutely; directly; expressly; positively; as, to affirm categorically.

CATEGORICALNESS Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being categorical, positive, or absolute. A. Marvell.

CATEGORIST Cat"e*go*rist, n.

Defn: One who inserts in a category or list; one who classifies. Emerson.

CATEGORIZE Cat"e*go*rize, v. t.

Defn: To insert in a category or list; to class; to catalogue.

CATEGORY Cat"e*go*ry, n.; pl. Categories Etym: [L. categoria, Gr.

1. (Logic.)

Defn: One of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament. The categories or predicaments -- the former a Greek word, the latter its literal translation in the Latin language -- were intended by Aristotle and his followers as an enumeration of all things capable of being named; an enumeration by the summa genera i.e., the most extensive classes into which things could be distributed. J. S. Mill.

2. Class; also, state, condition, or predicament; as, we are both in the same category. There is in modern literature a whole class of writers standing within the same category. De Quincey.

CATEL Cat"el, n. Etym: [See Chattel.]

Defn: Property; -- often used by Chaucer in contrast with rent, or income. "For loss of catel may recovered be, But loss of tyme shendeth us," quod he. Chaucer.

CATELECTRODE Cat`e*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + elecrode.] (Physics)

Defn: The negative electrode or pole of a voltaic battery. Faraday.

CATELECTROTONIC Cat`e*lec`tro*ton"ic, a. (Physics)

Defn: Relating to, or characterized by, catelectrotonus.

CATELECTROTONUS Cat`e*lec*trot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Electro-) + (Physics)

Defn: The condition of increased irritability of a nerve in the region of the cathode or negative electrode, on the passage of a current of electricity through it.

CATENA Ca*te"na, n.; pl. Catene. Etym: [L., a chain.]

Defn: A chain or series of things connected with each other. I have . . . in no case sought to construct those catenæ of games, which it seems now the fashion of commentators to link together. C. J. Ellicott.

CATENARY; CATENARIAN Cat"e*na*ry, Cat`e*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. catenarius, fr. catena a chain. See Chain.]

Defn: Relating to a chain; like a chain; as, a catenary curve.

CATENARY Cat"e*na*ry, n.; pl. Catenaries (. (Geol.)

Defn: The curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension, not in the same vertical line.

CATENATE Cat"e*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catenated; p. pr. & vb. n. Catenating.] Etym: [L. catenatus, p. p. of catenare, fr. catena chain. See Chain.]

Defn: To connect, in a series of links or ties; to chain. E. Darwin.

CATENATION Cat`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. catenatio.]

Defn: Connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular or connected series. See Concatenation. Sir T. Browne.

CATENULATE Ca*ten"u*late, a. Etym: [L. catenuia, dim. of catena chain.]

1. Consisting of little links or chains.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Chainlike; -- said both or color marks and of indentations when arranged like the links of a chain, as on shells, etc.

CATER Ca"ter, n. Etym: [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr. acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad + captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to take, seize. Cf. Acater, Capacious.]

Defn: A provider; a purveyor; a caterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CATER Ca"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Catered; p. pr. & vb. n. Catering.] Etym: [From Cater, n.]

1. To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions. [He] providently caters for the sparrow. Shak.

2. By extension: To supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical or musical entertainments; -- followed by for or to.

CATER Ca"ter, n. Etym: [F. quatre four.]

Defn: The four of cards or dice.

CATER Ca"ter, v. t.

Defn: To cut diagonally. [Obs.] Halliwell.

CATERAN Cat"e*ran, n. Etym: [Gael. ceatharnach. Cf. Kern Irish foot soldier.]

Defn: A Highland robber: a kind of irregular soldier. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

CATER-CORNERED Ca"ter-cor"nered, a. Etym: [Cf. Cater to cut diagonally.]

Defn: Diagonal. [Colloq.]

CATER-COUSIN Ca"ter-cous`in, n.

Defn: A remote relation. See Quater-cousin. Shak.

CATERER Ca"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who caters. The little fowls in the air have God for Their provider and caterer. Shelton.

CATERESS Ca"ter*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who caters. Milton.

CATERPILLAR Cat"er*pil`lar, n. Etym: [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF. chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus hair. See Cat, and Pile hair.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect; sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy, others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm, silkworm.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling caterpillars. Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater (Zoöl.), a bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars. The name is also given to several other birds. -- Caterpillar hunter (Zoöl.), any species of beetles of the genus Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed habitually upon caterpillars.

CATERWAUL Cat"er*waul, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caterwauled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caterwauling.] Etym: [Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a cat.]

Defn: To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive noise. Coleridge.

CATERWAUL Cat"er*waul, n.

Defn: A caterwauling.

CATERWAULING Cat"er*waul`ing, n.

Defn: The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the cry of cats. Shak.

CATERY Ca"ter*y, n. Etym: [See Cater, n.]

Defn: The place where provisions are deposited. [Obs.]

CATES Cates, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Acates, and see Cater, n.]

Defn: Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food; delicacies; dainties. Shak. Cates for which Apicius could not pay. Shurchill. Choicest cates and the fiagon's best spilth. R. Browning.

CAT-EYED Cat"-eyed`, a.

Defn: Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.

CATFALL Cat"fall`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead. Totten.

CATFISH Cat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A name given in the United States to various species of siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat (Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhead.

CATGUT Cat"gut`, n. Etym: [Cat + gut.]

1. A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals, esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.

2. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.

CATHARINE WHEEL Cath"a*rine wheel`.

Defn: See catherine wheel.

CATHARIST Cath"a*rist, n. Etym: [LL. catharista, fr. Gr.

Defn: One aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than others about him; -- applied to persons of various sects. See Albigenses.

CAT-HARPIN Cat"-harp`in, n.

Defn: See Cat-harping.

CAT-HARPING Cat"-harp`ing n. (Naut.)

Defn: One of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.

CATHARSIS Ca*thar"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)