Chapter LXX: Appendix: Vermiformis (49)

Defn: A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the mouth, bowels, etc.

CATHARTIC; CATHARICAL Ca*thar"tic, Ca*thar"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. chaste.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool; purgative.

2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic acid.

CATHARTIC Ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a purgative of moderate activity.

Note: The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges, which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Ca*thar"tic*al*ness, n.

CATHARTIN ca*thar"tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The bitter, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid, and cathartina.

CATHAY Ca*thay", n.

Defn: China; -- an old name for the Celestial Empire, said have been introduced by Marco Polo and to be a corruption of the Tartar name for North China (Khitai, the country of the Khitans.) Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay. Tennyson.

CATHEAD Cat"head`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: A projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to which the anchor is hoisted and secured.

CATHEDRA Cath"e*dra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Chair.]

Defn: The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in high authority. Ex cathedra Etym: [L., from the chair], in the exercise of one's office; with authority. The Vatican Council declares that the Pope, is infallible "when he speaks ex cathedra." Addis & Arnold's Cath. Dict.

CATHEDRAL Ca*the"dral, n. Etym: [LL. cathedralis (sc. ecclesia): cf. F. cathédrale. See Cathedra.]

Defn: The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.

CATHEDRAL Ca*the"dral, a. Etym: [LL. cathedralis: cf. F. cathédral.]

1. Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral church; cathedral service.

2. Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop; official; authoritative. Now, what solemnity can be more required for the pope to make a cathedral determination of an article! Jer. Taylor.

3. Resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks. Pope.

CATHEDRALIC Cath`e*dral"ic, a.

Defn: Cathedral. [R.]

CATHEDRATED Cath`e*dra"ted, a. Etym: [From Cathedra.]

Defn: Relating to the chair or office of a teacher. [Obs.]

CATHERETIC Cath`e*ret"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)

Defn: A mild kind caustic used to reduce warts and other excrescences. Dunglison.

CATHERINE WHEEL Cath"er*ine wheel`. Etym: [So called from St. Catherine of Alexandria, who is represented with a wheel, in allusion to her martyrdom.]

1. (Geoth.Arth.)

Defn: Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine- wheel window.

2. (Pyrotechny)

Defn: A revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of the same name. [Written also Catharine wheel.]

CATHETER Cath"e*ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The name of various instruments for passing along mucous canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine. Eustachian catheter. See under Eustachian. -- Prostatic catheter, one adapted for passing an enlarged prostate.

CATHETERISM; CATHETERIZATION Cath"e*ter*ism, Cath`e*ter*i*za"tion, n. (Med.)

Defn: The operation of introducing a catheter.

CATHETERIZE Cath"e*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catheterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Catheterizing.] (Med.)

Defn: To operate on with a catheter. Dunglison.

CATHETOMETER Cath`e*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [From Gr. -meter.]

Defn: An instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same column at different times. It consists of a telescopic leveling apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic standard very finely graduated (bb). The telescope is raised or depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated standard. [Written also kathetometer.]

CATHETUS Cath"e*tus, n.; pl. catheti. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Catheter.] (Geom.)

Defn: One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that include the right angle. Barlow.

CATHODE Cath"ode, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)

Defn: The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative pole; -- opposed to anode. Faraday. Cathode ray (Phys.), a kind of ray generated at the cathode in a vacuum tube, by the electrical discharge.

CATHODIC Ca*thod"ic, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: A term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent course of the nervous infuence. Marshall Hall.

CATHODOGRAPH; CATHODEGRAPH Ca*thod"o*graph, n. Also Ca*thod"e*graph. [Cathode + -graph.] (Physics)

Defn: A picture produced by the Röntgen rays; a radiograph.

CAT-HOLE Cat"-hole`, n. (Naut.)

Defn: One of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through which hawsers may be passed.

CATHOLIC Cath"o*lic, a. Etym: [L. catholicus, Gr. solid: cf. F. catholique.]

1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith. Men of other countries [came] to bear their part in so great and catholic a war. Southey.

Note: This epithet, which is applicable to the whole Christian church, or its faith, is claimed by Roman Catholics to belong especially to their church, and in popular usage is so limited.

2. Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes.

3. Of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the Catholic emancipation act. Catholic epistles, the espistles of the apostles which are addressed to all the faithful, and not to a particular church; being those of James, Peter, Jude, and John.

CATHOLIC Cath"o*lic, n.

1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church.

2. An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic. Old Catholic, the name assumed in 1870 by members of the Roman Catholic church, who denied the ecumenical character of the Vatican Council, and Rejected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith.

CATHOLICAL Ca*thol"i*cal, a.

Defn: Catholic. [Obs.]

CATHOLICISM Ca*thol"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catholicisme.]

1. The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity. Jer. Taylor.

2. Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view.

3. The faith of the whole orthodox Christian church, or adherence thereto.

4. The doctrines or faith of the Roman Catholic church, or adherence thereto.

CATHOLICITY Cath`o*lic"i*ty, n.

1. The state or quality of being catholic; universality.

2. Liberality of sentiments; catholicism.

3. Adherence or conformity to the system of doctrine held by all parts of the orthodox Christian church; the doctrine so held; orthodoxy.

4. Adherence to the doctrines of the church of Rome, or the doctrines themselves.

CATHOLICIZE Ca*thol"i*cize, v. t. & i.

Defn: To make or to become catholic or Roman Catholic.

CATHOLICLY Cath"o*lic*ly, adv.

Defn: In a catholic manner; generally; universally. Sir L. Cary.

CATHOLICNESS Cath"o*lic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being catholic; universality; catholicity.

CATHOLICON Ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Gr. Catholic.] (Med.)

Defn: A remedy for all diseases; a panacea.

CATHOLICOS Ca*thol"i*cos, n. Etym: [NL. See Catholic.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who resides at Etchmiadzin, Russia, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over, and consecrates the holy oil for, the Armenians of Russia, Turkey, and Persia, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Sis.

Note: The Patriarch of Constantinople is the civil head of the Armenians in Turkey.

CATILINARIAN Cat`i*li*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Catilinarius.]

Defn: Pertaining to Catiline, the Roman conspirator; resembling Catiline's conspiracy.

CATION Cat"i*on, n. Etym: [Gr. p. pr. of (Chem.)

Defn: An electro-positive substance, which in electro-decomposition is evolved at the cathode; -- opposed to anion. Faraday.

CATKIN Cat"kin, n. Etym: [Cat + -kin.] (Bot.)

Defn: An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut, oak, hickory, etc. -- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of Ament.

CATLIKE Cat"like`, a.

Defn: Like a cat; stealthily; noiselessly.

CATLING Cat"ling, n. Etym: [Cat + -ing.]

1. A little cat; a kitten. "Cat nor catling." Drummond.

2. Catgut; a catgut string. [R.] Shak.

3. (Surg.)

Defn: A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife. [Spelt also catlin.] Crobb.

CATLINITE Cat"lin*ite, n. Etym: [From George Catlin, an American traveler.]

Defn: A red clay from the Upper Missouri region, used by the Indians for their pipes.

CATNIP; CATMINT Cat"nip`, Cat"mint`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A well-know plant of the genus Nepeta (N. Cataria), somewhat like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.

CATO-CATHARTIC Cat`o-ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)

Defn: A remedy that purges by alvine discharges.

CATONIAN Ca*to"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Catonionus.]

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the stern old Roman, Cato the Censor; severe; inflexible.

CAT O' NINE TAILS Cat" o' nine" tails`.

Defn: See under Cat.

CATOPRON Ca*top"ron, n. [Obs.]

Defn: See Catopter.

CATOPTER; CATOPTRON Ca*top"ter, Ca*top"tron, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A reflecting optical glass or instrument; a mirror. [Obs.]

CATOPTRIC; CATOPTRICAL Ca*top"tric, Ca*top"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catopter.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to catoptrics; produced by reflection. Catoptric light, a light in which the rays are concentrated by reflectors into a beam visible at a distance.

CATOPTRICS Ca*top"trics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catoptrique. See Catropric.] (Physics)

Defn: That part of optics which explants the properties and phenomena of reflected light, and particularly that which is reflected from mirrors or polished bodies; --- formerly caled anacamptics.

CATOPTROMANCY Ca*top"tro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy. See Catopter.] (Antiq.)

Defn: A species of divination, which was perforned by letting down a mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen; if fresh and healthy, it was favorable.

CATPIPE Cat`pipe", n.

Defn: See Catcall.

CAT-RIGGED Cat"-rigged`, a.

Defn: Rigged like a catboat.

CAT-SALT Cat"-salt`, n.

Defn: A sort of salt, finely granulated, formed out of the bittern or leach brine.

CAT'S-EYE Cat's"-eye`, n. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. The mane is given to other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.

CAT'S-FOOT Cat's`-foot, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Nepeta Glechoma) of the same genus with catnip; ground ivy.

CAT-SILVER Cat"-sil`ver, n.

Defn: Mica. [Archaic]

CATSKILL PERIOD Cats"kill pe`ri*od. (Geol.)

Defn: The closing subdivision of the Devonian age in America. The rocks of this period are well developed in the Catskill mountains, and extend south and west under the Carboniferous formation. See the Diagram under Geology.

CATSO Cat"so, n.; pl. Catsos. Etym: [It. cazzo.]

Defn: A base fellow; a rogue; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CAT'S-PAW Cat's"-paw`, n.

1. (Naut.) (a) A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air. (b) A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a tackle may be hooked.

2. A dupe; a tool; one who, or that which, is used by another as an instrument to a accomplish his purposes.

Note: In this sense the term refers to the fable of the monkey using the cat's paw to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire.

CAT'S-TAIL Cat's"-tail, n.

Defn: See Timothy, Cat-tail, Cirrus.

CATSTICK Cat"stick`, n.

Defn: A stick or club employed in the game of ball called cat or tipcat. Massinger.

CATSTITCH Cat"stitch, v. t. (Needlework)

Defn: To fold and sew down the edge of with a coarse zigzag stitch.

CATSUP Cat"sup, n.

Defn: Same as Catchup, and Ketchup.

CAT-TAIL Cat"-tail, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A tall rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing in marshes, with long, glat leaves, and having its flowers in a close cylindrical spike at the top of the stem. The leaves are frequently used for seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.

Note: The lesser cat-tail is Typha angustifolia.

CATTISH Cat"tish, a.

Defn: Catlike; feline Drummond.

CATTLE Cat"tle, n. pl. Etym: [OE. calet, chatel, goods, property, OF. catel, chatel, LL. captale, capitale, goods, property, esp. cattle, fr. L. capitals relating to the head, chief; because in early ages beasts constituted the chief part of a man's property. See Capital, and cf. Chattel.]

Defn: Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and swine. Belted cattle, Black cattle. See under Belted, Black. -- Cattle guard, a trench under a railroad track and alongside a crossing (as of a public highway). It is intended to prevent cattle from getting upon the track. -- cattle louse (Zoöl.), any species of louse infecting cattle. There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and H. vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris eats the hair. -- Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague. -- Cattle range, or Cattle run, an open space through which cattle may run or range. [U. S.] Bartlett. -- Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for the encouragement of stock breeding; -- usually accompanied with the exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of implements.

CATTY Cat"ty, n. Etym: [Malay kati. See Caddy.]

Defn: An East Indian Weight of 11/3 pounds.

CAUCASIAN Cau*ca"sian, a.

1. Of or pertaining to the Caucasus, a mountainous region between the Black and Caspian seas.

2. Of or pertaining to the white races of mankind, of whom the people about Mount Caucasus were formerly taken as the type.

CAUCASIAN Cau*ca"sian, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of the Caucasus, esp. a Circassian or Georgian.

2. A member of any of the white races of mankind.

CAUCUS Cau"cus, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain. Mr. J. H. Trumbull finds the origin of caucus in the N. A. Indian word cawcawwassough or caú cau- as'u one who urges or pushes on, a promoter. See citation for an early use of the word caucus.]

Defn: A meeting, especially a preliminary meeting, of persons belonging to a party, to nominate candidates for public office, or to select delegates to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding measures of party policy; a political primary meeting. This day learned that the caucus club meets, at certain times, in the garret of Tom Dawes, the adjutant of the Boston regiment. John Adams's Diary [Feb. , 1763].

CAUCUS Cau"cus, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caucused; p. pr. & vb. n. Caucusing.]

Defn: To hold, or meet in, a caucus or caucuses.

CAUDAD Cau"dad, adv. Etym: [L. cauda tail + ad to.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Backwards; toward the tail or posterior part.

CAUDA GALLI Cau"da gal*li, (. Etym: [L., tail of a cock.] (Paleon.)

Defn: A plume-shaped fossil, supposed to be a seaweed, characteristic of the lower Devonian rocks; as, the cauda galli grit. Gauda galli epoch (Geol.), an epoch at the begining of the Devonian age in eastern America, so named from the characteristic gritty sandstone marked with impressions of cauda galli. See the Diagram under Geology.

CAUDAL Cau"dal, a. Etym: [L. Cauda tail. Cf. Coward.]

Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a tail; having a tail-like appendage. The male widow-bird, remarkable for his caudal plumes. Darwin. Caudal fin (Zoöl.), the terminal fin (or "tail") of a fish.

CAUDATA Cau*da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cauda tail.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Urodela.

CAUDATE; CAUDATED Cau"date, Cau"da*ted. a. Etym: [L. cauda tail.]

Defn: Having a taill; having a termination like a tail.

CAUDEX Cau"dex, n.; pl. L. Caudices, E. Caudexes. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)

Defn: The sterm of a tree., esp. a sterm without a branch, as of a palm or a tree fern; also, the pernnial rootstock of an herbaceous plant.

CAUDICLE; CAUDICULA Cau"di*cle, Cau*dic"u*la, n. Etym: [Dim. of L. cauda tail, appendage.] (Bot.)

Defn: A slender, elastic process, to which the masses of pollen in orchidaceous plants are attached.

CAUDLE Cau"dle, n. Etym: [OF. caudel, F. chaudeau, dim. of LL calidum a sweet drink, fr. L. caidus warm. See Caldron.]

Defn: A kind of warm drink for sick persons, being a mixture of wine with eggs, bread, sugar, and spices.

CAUDLE Cau"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caudled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caudling.]

1. To make into caudle.

2. Too serve as a caudle to; to refresh. [R.] Shak.

CAUF Cauf, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to Celtic caff, cav, cau, L. cavus hollow, or to L. caphinus, Gr.

Defn: A chest with holes for keeping fish alive in water. Philips.

CAUFLE Cau"fle, n.

Defn: A gung of slaves. Same as Coffle.

CAUGHT Caught, imp. & p. p.

Defn: f Catch.

CAUK; CAUKER Cauk, n., Cauk"er, n.

Defn: See Cawk, Calker.

CAUL Caul, n. Etym: [OE. calle, kelle, prob. fr. F. cale; cf. Ir. calla a veil.]

1. A covering of network for the head, worn by women; also, a net. Spenser.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: The fold of membrane loaded with fat, which covers more or less of the intestines in mammals; the great omentum See Omentum. The caul serves for warming of the lower belly. Ray.

3. A part of the amnion, one of the membranes enveloping the fetus, which sometimes is round the head of a child at its birth. It is deemed lucky to be with a caul or membrane over the face. This caul is esteemed an infallible preservative against drowning . . . According to Chysostom, the midwives frequently sold it for magic uses. Grose. I was born with a caul, which was advertised for sale, in the newspapers, at the low price of fifteen guineas. Dickens.

CAULESCENT Cau*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. caulis stalk, stem: cf. F. caulescent.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having a leafy stem.

CAULICLE Cau"li*cle, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A short caulis or stem, esp. the rudimentary stem seen in the embryo of seed; -- otherwise called a radicle.

CAULICULUS Cau*lic"u*lus, n.; pl. Cauliculi Etym: [L. caulculus little stalk, dim. of caulis.] (Arch.)

Defn: In the Corinthian capital, one of the eight stalks rising out of the lower leafage and terminating in leaves which seem to suport the volutes. See Illust. of Corinthian order, under Corinthian.

CAULIFLOWER Cau"li*flow`er, n. Etym: [F. choufleur, modified by E. Cole. L. caulis, and by E. flower; F. chou cabbage is fr. L. caulis stalk, cabbage, and fleur flower is fr. L. flos flower. See Cole, and Flower.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage of which the cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.

2. The edible head or "curd" of a caulifower plant.

CAULIFORM Cau"li*form, a. Etym: [L. caulis + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having the form of a caulis.

CAULINE Cau"line, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Growing immediately on a caulis; of or pertaining to a caulis.

CAULIS Cau"lis, n.; L. pl. Caules. Etym: [L., a stem.] (Bot.)

Defn: An herbaceous or woody stem which bears leaves, and may bear flowers.

CAULK Caulk, v. t. & n.

Defn: See Calk.

CAULOCARPOUS Cau`lo*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having stems which bear flowers and fruit year after year, as most trees and shrubs.

CAULOME Cau"lome, n. [Gr. kalo`s stem + -ome as in rhizome.] (Bot.)

Defn: A stem structure or stem axis of a plant, viewed as a whole. -- Cau*lom"ic (#), a.

CAUMA Cau"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Great heat, as of the body in fever.

CAUPONIZE Cau"po*nize, v. i. Etym: [L. cauponari, fr. caupo huckster, innkeeper.]

Defn: To sell wine or victuals. [Obs.] Warburfon.

CAUSABLE Caus"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being caused.

CAUSAL Caus"al, a. Etym: [L. causalis. See Cause.]

Defn: Relating to a cause or causes; inplying or containing a cause or causes; expressing a cause; causative. Causal propositions are where two propositions are joined by causal words. Watts.

CAUSAL Caus"al, n.

Defn: A causal word or form of speech. Anglo-Saxon drencan to drench, causal of Anglo-Saxon drincan to drink. Skeat.

CAUSALITY Cau*sal"i*ty, n.; pl. Causalities (.

1. The agency of a cause; the action or power of a cause, in producing its effect. The causality of the divine mind. Whewell.

2. (Phren.)

Defn: The faculty of tracing effects to their causes. G. Combe.

CAUSALLY Caus"al*ly, adv.

Defn: According to the order or series of causes; by tracing effects to causes.

CAUSALLY Caus"al*ly, n. (Mining.)

Defn: The lighter, earthy parts of ore, carried off washing.

CAUSATION Cau*sa"tion, n.

Defn: The act of causing; also the act or agency by which an effect is produced. The kind of causation by which vision is produced. Whewell. Law of universal causation, the theoretical or asserted law that every event or phenomenon results from, or is the sequel of, some previous event or phenomenon, which being present, the other is certain to take place.

CAUSATIONIST Cau*sa"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in the law of universal causation.

CAUSATIVE Caus"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. causativus pertaining to a lawsuit (causa), but in the English sense from E. cause.]

1. Effective, as a cause or agent; causing. Causative in nature of a number of effects. Bacon.

2. Expressing a cause or reason; causal; as, the ablative is a causative case.

CAUSATIVE Caus"a*tive, n.

Defn: A word which expresses or suggests a cause.

CAUSATIVELY Caus"a*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a causative manner.

CAUSATOR Cau*sa"tor, n. Etym: [See Cause.]

Defn: One who causes. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

CAUSE Cause, n. Etym: [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. Cause, v., Kickshaw.]

1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything proceeds, and without which it would not exist. Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing begin to be. Locke.

2. That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason; motive; as, cause for rejoicing.

3. Sake; interest; advantage. [Obs.] I did it not for his cause. 2 Cor. vii. 12.

4. (Law)

Defn: A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case; ground of action.

5. Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in general. What counsel give you in this weighty cause! Shak.

6. The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a person or party seeks to attain. God befriend us, as our cause is just. Shak. The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause. Burke. Efficient cause, the agent or force that produces a change or redult. -- Final cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is done. -- Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea viewed as a formative principle and coöperating with the matter. -- Material cause, that of which anything is made. -- Proximate cause. See under Proximate. -- To make common cause with, to join with in purposes and aims. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Origin; source; mainspring; motive; reason; incitement; inducement; purpose; object; suit; action.

CAUSE Cause, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caused; p. pr. & v. n. Causing.] Etym: [F. causer, fr. cause, fr. L. causa. See Cause, n., and cf. Acouse.]

Defn: To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to bring about; to bring into existence; to make; -- usually followed by an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb. I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days. Gen. vii. 4. Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. Col. iv. 16.

Syn. -- To create; produce; beget; effect; occasion; originate; induce; bring about.

CAUSE Cause, v. i.

Defn: To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse. [Obs.] Spenser.

CAUSE Cause, conj.

Defn: Abbreviation of Because. B. Jonson.

CAUSEFUL Cause"ful, n.

Defn: Having a cause. [Obs.]

CAUSELESS Cause"less, a.

Defn: 1. Self-originating; uncreated.

2. Without just or sufficient reason; groundless. My fears are causeless and ungrounded. Denham.

CAUSELESS Cause"less, adv.

Defn: Without cause or reason.

CAUSELESSNESS Cause"less*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being causeless.

CAUSER Caus"er, n.

Defn: One who or that which causes.

CAUSERIE Cause`rie", n. [F., fr. causer to chat.]

Defn: Informal talk or discussion, as about literary matters; light conversation; chat.

CAUSEUSE Cau`seuse", n. Etym: [F., fr. causer to talk.]

Defn: A kind of sofa for two person. A tête-a-tête.

CAUSEWAY; CAUSEY Cause"way, Cau"sey, n. Etym: [OE. cauci, cauchie, OF. cauchie, F. chaussée, from LL. (via) calciata, fr calciare to make a road, either fr. L. calx lime, hence, to pave with limestone (cf. E. chalk), or from L. calceus shoe, from calx heel, hence, to shoe, pave, or wear by treading.]

Defn: A way or road rasid above the natural level of the ground, serving as a dry passage over wet or marshy ground. But that broad causeway will direct your way. Dryden. The other way Satan went down The causey to Hell-gate. Milton.

CAUSEWAYED; CAUSEYED Cause"wayed, Cau"seyed. a.

Defn: Having a raised way (causeway or causey); paved. Sir W. Scott. C. Bronté.

CAUSIDICAL Cau*sid"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. causidicakis; causa a cause in law + dicare to say.]

Defn: Pertaining to an advocate, or to the maintenance and defense of suits.

CAUSTIC; CAUSTICAL Caus"tic, Caus"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. caustucs, Ge. Calm, Ink.]

1. Capable of destroying the texture of anything or eating away its substance by chemical action; burning; corrosive; searing.

2. Severe; satirical; sharp; as, a caustic remark. Caustic curve (Optics), a curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve and the luminous point being in one plane. -- Caustic lime. See under Lime. -- Caustic potash, Caustic soda (Chem.), the solid hydroxides potash, KOH, and soda, NaOH, or solutions of the same. -- Caustic silver, nitrate of silver, lunar caustic. -- Caustic surface (Optics), a surface to which rays reflected or refracted by another surface are tangents. Caustic curves and surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and diacaustic when formed by refraction.

Syn. -- Stinging; cutting; pungent; searching.

CAUSTIC Cau"stic, n. Etym: [L. causticum (sc. medicamentum). See Caustic, a.]

1. Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an escharotic.

2. (Optics)

Defn: A caustic curve or caustic surface.

CAUSTICALLY Caus"tic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a caustic manner.

CAUSTICILY Caus*tic"i*ly, n.

1. The quality of being caustic; corrosiveness; as, the causticity of potash.

2. Severity of language; sarcasm; as, the causticity of a reply or remark.

CAUSTICNESS Caus"tic*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being caustic; causticity.

CAUTEL Cau"tel, n. Etym: [F. cautèle, L. cautela, fr. cavere to be on one's guard, to take care.]

1. Caution; prudence; wariness. [Obs.] Fulke.

2. Craft; deceit; falseness. [Obs.] Shak.

CAUTELOUS Cau"te*lous, a. Etym: [F. cauteleux, LL. cautelosus. See Cautel.]

1. Caution; prudent; wary. [Obs.] "Cautelous, though young." Drayton.

2. Crafty; deceitful; false. [Obs.] Shak. -- Cau"te*lous*ly, adv. -- Cau"te*lous*ness, n. [Obs.]

CAUTER Cau"ter, n. Etym: [F. cautère, L. cauterium, fr. Gr. Caustic, Cautery.]

Defn: A hot iron for searing or cauterizing. Minsheu.

CAUTERANT Cau"ter*ant, n.

Defn: A cauterizing substance.

CAUTERISM Cau"ter*ism, n.

Defn: The use or application of a caustic; cautery. Ferrand.

CAUTERIZATION Cau`ter*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cautèrisation.] (Med.)

Defn: The act of searing some morbid part by the application of a cautery or caustic; also, the effect of such application.

CAUTERIZE Cau"ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cauterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Cauterizing.] Etym: [L. cauterizare, Gr. cautérised.. See cauter.]

1. To burn or sear with a cautery or caustic. Dunglison.

2. To sear, as the conscience. Jer. Taylor.

CAUTERY Cau"ter*y, n.; pl. Cauteries. Etym: [L. cauterium, Gr. Cauter.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a hot iron, or by application of a caustic that will burn, corrode, or destroy animal tissue.

2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing. Actual cautery, a substance or agent (as a hot iron) which cauterizes or sears by actual heat; or the burning so effected. -- Potential cautery, a substance which cauterizes by chemical action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced by such substance.

CAUTION Cau"tion, n. Etym: [F. caution a security, L. cautio, fr. cavere (For scavere) to be on one's guard, to take care (orig.) to be on the watch, see; akin to E. show.]

1. A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger; provident care; wariness.

2. Security; guaranty; bail. [R.] The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the war should be prosecuted. Clarendon.

3. Precept or warning against evil of any kind; exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction. In way of caution I must tell you. Shak. Caution money, money deposited by way of security or guaranty, as by a student at an English university.

Syn. -- Care; forethought; forecast; heed; prudence; watchfulness; vigilance; circumspection; anxiety; providence; counsel; advice; warning; admonition.

CAUTION Cau"tion v. t. [imp & p. p. Cautioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cautioning.]

Defn: To give notice of danger to; to warn; to exhort [one] to take heed. You cautioned me against their charms. Swift.

CAUTIONARY Cau"tion*a*ry, a.

1. Conveying a caution, or warning to avoid danger; as, cautionary signals.

2. Given as a pledge or as security. He hated Barnevelt, for his getting the cautionary towns out of his hands. Bp. Burnet.

3. Wary; cautious. [Obs.] Bacon.

CAUTIONARY BLOCK Cau"tion*a*ry block. (Railroads)

Defn: A block in which two or more trains are permitted to travel, under restrictions imposed by a caution card or the like.

CAUTIONER Cau"tion*er, n.

1. One who cautions or advises.

2. (Scots Law)

Defn: A surety or sponsor.

CAUTIONRY Cau"tion*ry, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: Suretyship.

CAUTIOUS Cau"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. L. cautus, fr. caver. See Caution.]

Defn: Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect; wary; watchful; as, a cautious general. Cautious feeling for another's pain. Byron. Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. Watts.

Syn. -- Wary; watchful; vigilant; prudent; circumspect; discreet; heedful; thoughtful; scrupulous; anxious; careful. -- Cautious, Wary, Circumspect. A man is cautious who realizes the constant possibility of danger; one may be wary, and yet bold and active; a man who is circumspect habitually examines things on every side in order to weigh and deliberate. It is necessary to be cautious at all times; to be wary in cases of extraordinary danger; to be circumspect in matters of peculiar delicacy and difficulty.

CAUTIOUSLY Cau"tious*ly, adv.

Defn: In a cautious manner.

CAUTIOUSNESS Cau"tious*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being cautious.

CAVALCADE Cav"al*cade`, n. Etym: [F. cavalcade, fr. It. cavalcata, fr. cavalcare to go on horseback, fr. LL. caballicare, fr. L. caballus an inferior horse, Gr. Cavalier, Cavalry.]

Defn: A procession of persons on horseback; a formal, pompous march of horsemen by way of parade. He brought back war-worn cavalcade to the city. Prescott.

CAVALERO; CAVALIERO Cav`a*le"ro, Cav`a*lie"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. caballero. See Cavalier.]

Defn: A cavalier; a gallant; a libertine. Shak.

CAVALIER Cav`a*lier", n. Etym: [F. cavalier, It. cavaliere, LL. caballarius, fr. L. caballus. See Cavalcade, and cf. Cavallier, Caballine.]

1. A military man serving on horseback; a knight.

2. A gay, sprightly, military man; hence, a gallant.

3. One of the court party in the time of king Charles L. as contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament. Clarendon.

4. (Fort.)

Defn: A work of more that ordinary heigh, rising from the level ground of a bastion, etc., and overlooking surrounding parts.

CAVALIER Cav`a*lier", a.

Defn: Gay; easy; offhand; frank. The plodding, persevering scupulous accuracy of the one, and the easy, cavalier, verbal fluency of the other, from a complete contrast. Hazlitt.

2. High-spirited. [Obs.] "The people are naturally not valiant, and not much cavalier." Suckling.

3. Supercilious; haughty; disdainful; curt; brusque.

4. Of or pertaining to the party of King Charles I. "An old Cavalier family." Beaconsfleld.

CAVALIERISH Cav`a*lier"ish, a.

Defn: Somewhat like a cavalier.

CAVALIERISM Cav`a*lier"ism, n.

Defn: The practice or principles of cavaliers. Sir. W. Scott.

CAVALIERLY Cav`a*lier"ly, adv.

Defn: In a supercilious, disdainful, or haughty manner; arroganty. Junius.

CAVALIERNESS Cav`a*lier"ness, n.

Defn: A disdanful manner.

CAVALLY Ca*val"ly, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. cavalla a kind of fish; Sp. caballa; prob. fr. Pg. cavallo horse, Sp. caballa.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A carangoid fish of the Atlantic coast (Caranx hippos): -- called also horse crevallé.

Note: [See Illust. under Carangoid.]

CAVALRY Cav"al*ry, n. Etym: [F. cavalerie, fr. It. cavalleria. See Cavalier, and cf. chivalry.] (Mil.)

Defn: That part of military force which serves on horseback.

Note: Heavy cavalry and light cavalry are so distinguished by the character of their armament, and by the size of the men and horses.

CAVALRYMAN Cav"al*ry*man, n.; pl. Cavalrymen (.

Defn: One of a body of cavalry.

CAVATINA Ca`va*ti"na, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Originally, a melody of simpler form than the aria; a song without a second part and a da capo; -- a term now variously and vaguely used.

CAVE Cave, n. Etym: [F. cave, L. cavus hollow, whence cavea cavity. Cf. Cage.]

1. A hollow place in the earth, either natural or artificial; a subterraneous cavity; a cavern; a den.

2. Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. [Obs.] "The cave of the ear." Bacon. Cave bear (Zoöl.), a very large fossil bear (Ursus spelæus) similar to the grizzly bear, but large; common in European caves. -- Cave dweller, a savage of prehistoric times whose dwelling place was a cave. Tylor. -- Cave hyena (Zoöl.), a fossil hyena found abundanty in British caves, now usually regarded as a large variety of the living African spotted hyena. -- Cave lion (Zoöl.), a fossil lion found in the caves of Europe, believed to be a large variety of the African lion. -- Bone cave. See under Bone.

CAVE Cave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caved; p. pr. & vb. n. Caving.] Etym: [Cf. F. caver. See Cave, n.]

Defn: To make hollow; to scoop out. [Obs.] The mouldred earth cav'd the banke. Spenser.

CAVE Cave, v. i.

1. To dwell in a cave. [Obs.] Shak.

2. Etym: [See To cave in, below.]

Defn: To fall in or down; as, the sand bank caved. Hence (Slang), to retreat from a position; to give way; to yield in a disputed matter. To cave in. Etym: [Flem. inkalven.] (a) To fall in and leave a hollow, as earth on the side of a well or pit. (b) To submit; to yield. [Slang] H. Kingsley.

CAVEAT Ca"ve*at, n. Etym: [L. caved let him beware, pres. subj. of cavere to be on one's guard to, beware.]

1. (Law)

Defn: A notice given by an interested party to some officer not to do a certain act until the party is heard in opposition; as, a caveat entered in a probate court to stop the proving of a will or the taking out of letters of administration, etc. Bouvier.

2. (U. S. Patent Laws)

Defn: A description of some invention, designed to be patented, lodged in the patent office before the patent right is applied for, and operating as a bar to the issue of letters patent to any other person, respecting the same invention.

Note: A caveat is operative for one year only, but may be renewed.

3. Intimation of caution; warning; protest. We think it right to enter our caveat against a conclusion. Jeffrey. Caveat emptor Etym: [L.] (Law), let the purchaser beware, i. e., let him examine the article he is buying, and act on his own judgment.

CAVEATING Ca"ve*a`ting, n. (Fencing)

Defn: Shifting the sword from one side of an adversary's sword to the other.

CAVEATOR Ca"ve*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who enters a caveat.

CAVENDISH Cav"en*dish, n.

Defn: Leaf tobacco softened, sweetened, and pressed into plugs or cakes. Cut cavendish, the plugs cut into long shreds for smoking.

CAVERN Cav"ern, n. Etym: [L. caverna, fr. cavus hollow: cf. F. caverne.]

Defn: A large, deep, hollow place in the earth; a large cave.

CAVERNED Cav"erned, a.

1. Containing caverns. The wolves yelled on the caverned hill. Byron.

2. Living in a cavern. "Caverned hermit." Pope.

CAVERNOUS Cav"ern*ous, a. Etym: [L. cavernosus: cf. F. caverneux.]

1. Full of caverns; resembling a cavern or large cavity; hollow.

2. Filled with small cavities or cells.

3. Having a sound caused by a cavity. Cavernous body, a body of erectile tissue with large interspaces which may be distended with blood, as in the penis or clitoris. -- Cavernous respiration, a peculiar respiratory sound andible on auscultation, when the bronchial tubes communicate with morbid cavities in the lungs.

CAVERNULOUS Ca*ver"nu*lous, a.Etym: [L. cavernula, dim. of caverna cavern.]

Defn: Full of little cavities; as, cavernulous metal. Black.

CAVESSON; CAVEZON Cav"es*son, Cav"e*zon, n. Etym: [F. caveçon, augm. fr. LL. capitium a head covering hood, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Caberzon.] (Man.)

Defn: A kind of noseband used in breaking and training horses. [Written also caveson, causson.] White.

CAVETTO Ca*vet"to, n. Etym: [It. cavetto, fr. cavo hollow, L. cavus.] (Arch.)

Defn: A concave molding; -- used chiefly in classical architecture. See Illust. of Calumn.

CAVIARE; CAVIAR Ca*viare", Cav"i*ar, n. Etym: [F. caviar, fr. It. caviale, fr. Turk. Havi\'ber.]

Defn: The roes of the sturgeon, prepared and salted; -- used as a relish, esp. in Russia.

Note: Caviare was considered a delicacy, by some, in Shakespeare's time, but was not relished by most. Hence Hamlet says of a certain play. "'T was caviare to the general," i. e., above the taste of the common people.

CAVICORN Cav"i*corn, a. Etym: [L. cavus hollow + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having hollow horns.

CAVICORNIA Cav`i*cor"ni*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group of ruminants whose horns are hollow, and planted on a bony process of the front, as the ox.

CAVIL Cav"il, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling.] Etym: [L. cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]

Defn: To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason. You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak.

CAVIL Cav"il, v. t.

Defn: To cavil at. [Obs.] Milton.

CAVIL Cav"il, n.

Defn: A captious or frivolous objection. All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak.

CAVIL; CAVILER; CAVILLER Cav"il or Cav"il*er, n.

Defn: One who cavils. Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle.

CAVILING Cav"il*ing, a.

Defn: Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See Captious. His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis.

CAVILINGLY Cav"il*ing*ly, adb.

Defn: In a caviling manner.

CAVILLATION Cav`il*la"tion, n.Etym: [F. cavillation, L. cavillatio.]

Defn: Frivolous or sophistical objection. [Obs.] Hooker.

CAVILOUS; CAVILLOUS Cav"il*ous or Cav"il*lous, a. Etym: [L. cavillosus.]

Defn: Characterized by caviling, or disposed to cavil; quibbing. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ly, adv. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ness, n. [R.]

CAVIN Cav"in, n. Etym: [F. See Cave.] (Mil.)

Defn: A hollow way, adapted to cover troops, and facilitate their aproach to a place. Farrow.

CAVITARY Cav"i*ta*ry, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Containing a body cavity; as, the cavitary or nematoid worms.

CAVITY Cav"i*ty, n.; pl. Cavities. Etym: [L. cavus hollow: cf. F. cavité.]

1. Hollowness. [Obs.] The cavity or hollowness of the place. Goodwin.

2. A hollow place; a hollow; as, the abdominal cavity. An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon. Arbuthot. Abnormal spaces or excavations are frequently formed in the lungs, which are designated cavities or vomicæ. Quain. Body cavity, the coelum. See under Body.

CAVO-RELIEVO Ca"vo-re*lie"vo, n.

Defn: Cavo-rilievo.

CAVO-RILIEVO Ca"vo-ri*lie"vo, n. Etym: [It.] (Sculp.)

Defn: Hollow relief; sculpture in relief within a sinking made for the purpose, so no part of it projects beyond the plain surface around.

CAVORT Ca*vort", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cavorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Cavorting.]

Defn: To prance ostentatiously; -- said of a horse or his rider. [Local slang U. S.]

CAVY Ca"vy, n.; pl. Cavies (. Etym: [NL. cavia, fr. Brazilian cabiai: cf. F. cabiai.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rodent of the genera cavia and Dolichotis, as the guinea pig (Cavia cabaya). Cavies are natives of South America. Water cavy (Zoöl.), The capybara.

CAW Caw, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cawing.] Etym: [Imitative. *22 Cf. Chough.]

Defn: To cry like a crow, rook, or raven. Rising and cawing at the gun's report. Shak.

CAW Caw, n.

Defn: The cry made by the crow, rook, or raven.

CAWK Cawk, n. Etym: [Prov. E. cauk limestone. A doublet of chalk.] (Min.)

Defn: An opaque, compact variety of barite, or heavy spar. [Also written cauk.]

CAWKER Cawk"er, n.

Defn: See Calker.

CAWKY Cawk"y, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to cawk; like cawk.

CAXON Cax"on, n.

Defn: A kind of wig. [Obs.] Lamb.

CAXTON Cax"ton, n. (Bibliog.)

Defn: Any book printed by William Caxton, the first English printer. Hansard.

CAY Cay, n.

Defn: See Key, a ledge.

CAYENNE Cay*enne, n. Etym: [From Cayenne, a town and island in French Guiana, South America.]

Defn: Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper. (a) (Bot.) A species of capsicum (C. frutescens) with small and intensely pungent fruit. (b) A very pungent spice made by drying and grinding the fruits or seeds of several species of the genus Capsicum, esp. C. annuum and C. Frutescens; -- Called also red pepper. It is used chiefly as a condiment.

CAYMAN Cay"man, n. Etym: [From the language of Guiana: cf. Sp. caiman.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The south America alligator. See Alligator. [Sometimes written caiman.]

CAYO Ca"yo, n.; pl. -yos (#). [Sp.]

Defn: A small island or ledge of rock in the water; a key. [Sp. Am.]

CAYUGAS Ca*yu"gas, n. pl.

Defn: ; sing Cayuga. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians formerly inbabiting western New-York, forming part of the confederacy called the Five Nations.

CAYUSE Cay*use", n.

Defn: An Indian pony. [Northw. U. S.]

CAZIQUE; CAZIC Ca*zique", Cazic", n. Etym: [Sp. Cacique, fr. the language of Hayti.]

Defn: A chief or petty king among some tribes of Indians in America.