2. One of the portions into which the Psalter was divided, each consisting of nine psalms, designed to be used at a night service. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having a habit of seeking food or moving about at night; as, nocturnal birds and insects; raccoons are nocturnal.; -- of animals. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. To subvert; to destroy; to overthrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To overpower; to conquer. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To demolish; overthrow. See Demolish. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both fled attonce, ne ever back returned eye. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To repay; as, to return borrowed money. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give in requital or recompense; to requite. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head. 1 Kings ii. 44. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To give back in reply; as, to return an answer; to return thanks. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To retort; to throw back; as, to return the lie. [ 1913 Webster ]

If you are a malicious reader, you return upon me, that I affect to be thought more impartial than I am. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To report, or bring back and make known. [ 1913 Webster ]

And all the people answered together, . . . and Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. Ex. xix. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. To render, as an account, usually an official account, to a superior; to report officially by a list or statement; as, to return a list of stores, of killed or wounded; to return the result of an election. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Hence, to elect according to the official report of the election officers. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To bring or send back to a tribunal, or to an office, with a certificate of what has been done; as, to return a writ. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. To convey into official custody, or to a general depository. [ 1913 Webster ]

Instead of a ship, he should levy money, and return the same to the treasurer for his majesty's use. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

11. (Tennis) To bat (the ball) back over the net. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. (Card Playing) To lead in response to the lead of one's partner; as, to return a trump; to return a diamond for a club. [ 1913 Webster ]

To return a lead (Card Playing), to lead the same suit led by one's partner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To restore; requite; repay; recompense; render; remit; report. [ 1913 Webster ]

At the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. 1 Kings xx. 22. [ 1913 Webster ]

His personal return was most required and necessary. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of returning (transitive), or sending back to the same place or condition; restitution; repayment; requital; retribution; as, the return of anything borrowed, as a book or money; a good return in tennis. [ 1913 Webster ]

You made my liberty your late request:
Is no return due from a grateful breast? Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is returned. Specifically: (a) A payment; a remittance; a requital. [ 1913 Webster ]

I do expect return
Of thrice three times the value of this bond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) An answer; as, a return to one's question. (c) An account, or formal report, of an action performed, of a duty discharged, of facts or statistics, and the like; as, election returns; a return of the amount of goods produced or sold; especially, in the plural, a set of tabulated statistics prepared for general information. (d) The profit on, or advantage received from, labor, or an investment, undertaking, adventure, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fruit from many days of recreation is very little; but from these few hours we spend in prayer, the return is great. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Arch.) The continuation in a different direction, most often at a right angle, of a building, face of a building, or any member, as a molding or mold; -- applied to the shorter in contradistinction to the longer; thus, a facade of sixty feet east and west has a return of twenty feet north and south. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Law) (a) The rendering back or delivery of writ, precept, or execution, to the proper officer or court. (b) The certificate of an officer stating what he has done in execution of a writ, precept, etc., indorsed on the document. (c) The sending back of a commission with the certificate of the commissioners. (d) A day in bank. See Return day, below. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mil. & Naval) An official account, report, or statement, rendered to the commander or other superior officer; as, the return of men fit for duty; the return of the number of the sick; the return of provisions, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. pl. (Fort. & Mining) The turnings and windings of a trench or mine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Return ball, a ball held by an elastic string so that it returns to the hand from which it is thrown, -- used as a plaything. --
Return bend, a pipe fitting for connecting the contiguous ends of two nearly parallel pipes lying alongside or one above another. --
Return day (Law), the day when the defendant is to appear in court, and the sheriff is to return the writ and his proceedings. --
Return flue, in a steam boiler, a flue which conducts flame or gases of combustion in a direction contrary to their previous movement in another flue. --
Return pipe (Steam Heating), a pipe by which water of condensation from a heater or radiator is conveyed back toward the boiler. [ 1913 Webster ]

On their embattled ranks the waves return. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

If they returned out of bondage, it must be into a state of freedom. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen. iii. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To come back, or begin again, after an interval, regular or irregular; to appear again. [ 1913 Webster ]

With the year
Seasons return; but not me returns
Day or the sweet approach of even or morn. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To speak in answer; to reply; to respond. [ 1913 Webster ]

He said, and thus the queen of heaven returned. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To revert; to pass back into possession. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David. 1Kings xii. 26. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To go back in thought, narration, or argument. “But to return to my story.” Fielding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Legally required to be returned, delivered, given, or rendered; as, a writ or precept returnable at a certain day; a verdict returnable to the court. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) One of the planets of the solar system, next in magnitude to Jupiter, but more remote from the sun. Its diameter is seventy thousand miles, its mean distance from the sun nearly eight hundred and eighty millions of miles, and its year, or periodical revolution round the sun, nearly twenty-nine years and a half. It is surrounded by a remarkable system of rings, and has eight satellites. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Alchem.) The metal lead. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: A period or occasion of general license, in which the passions or vices have riotous indulgence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of unrestrained and intemperate jollity; riotously merry; dissolute. “Saturnalian amusement.” Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Resembling the golden age; distinguished for peacefulness, happiness, contentment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Augustus, born to bring Saturnian times. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Astron.) Of or pertaining to the planet Saturn; as, the Saturnian year. [ 1913 Webster ]

Saturnian verse (Pros.), a meter employed by early Roman satirists, consisting of three iambics and an extra syllable followed by three trochees, as in the line: -- Th&ebreve_; quēen | wăs īn | th&ebreve_; kītch | &ebreve_;n ‖ ēat&ibreve_;ng | brēad ănd | hōn&ebreve_;y. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Heavy; grave; gloomy; dull; -- the opposite of mercurial; as, a saturnine person or temper. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Old Chem.) Of or pertaining to lead; characterized by, or resembling, lead, which was formerly called Saturn. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Saturnine colic (Med.), lead colic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Silent; reserved. Taciturn, Silent. Silent has reference to the act; taciturn, to the habit. A man may be silent from circumstances; he is taciturn from disposition. The loquacious man is at times silent; one who is taciturn may now and then make an effort at conversation. [1913 Webster]

The cause of Addison's taciturnity was a natural diffidence in the company of strangers. V. Knox. [ 1913 Webster ]

The taciturnity and the short answers which gave so much offense. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Change of direction, course, or tendency; different order, position, or aspect of affairs; alteration; vicissitude; as, the turn of the tide. [ 1913 Webster ]

At length his complaint took a favorable turn. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The turns and varieties of all passions. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Too well the turns of mortal chance I know. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One of the successive portions of a course, or of a series of occurrences, reckoning from change to change; hence, a winding; a bend; a meander. [ 1913 Webster ]

And all its [ the river's ] thousand turns disclose.
Some fresher beauty varying round. Byron. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A circuitous walk, or a walk to and fro, ending where it began; a short walk; a stroll. [ 1913 Webster ]

Come, you and I must walk a turn together. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

I will take a turn in your garden. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Successive course; opportunity enjoyed by alternation with another or with others, or in due order; due chance; alternate or incidental occasion; appropriate time. “Nobleness and bounty . . . had their turns in his [ the king's ] nature.” [ 1913 Webster ]

His turn will come to laugh at you again. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every one has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases. Collier. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Incidental or opportune deed or office; occasional act of kindness or malice; as, to do one an ill turn. [ 1913 Webster ]

Had I not done a friendes turn to thee? Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

thanks are half lost when good turns are delayed. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Convenience; occasion; purpose; exigence; as, this will not serve his turn. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have enough to serve mine own turn. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Form; cast; shape; manner; fashion; -- used in a literal or figurative sense; hence, form of expression; mode of signifying; as, the turn of thought; a man of a sprightly turn in conversation. [ 1913 Webster ]

The turn of both his expressions and thoughts is unharmonious. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Roman poets, in their description of a beautiful man, often mention the turn of his neck and arms. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. A change of condition; especially, a sudden or recurring symptom of illness, as a nervous shock, or fainting spell; as, a bad turn. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

10. A fall off the ladder at the gallows; a hanging; -- so called from the practice of causing the criminal to stand on a ladder which was turned over, so throwing him off, when the signal was given. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

11. A round of a rope or cord in order to secure it, as about a pin or a cleat. [ 1913 Webster ]

12. (Mining) A pit sunk in some part of a drift. [ 1913 Webster ]

13. (Eng. Law) A court of record, held by the sheriff twice a year in every hundred within his county. Blount. [ 1913 Webster ]

14. pl. (Med.) Monthly courses; menses. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

15. (Mus.) An embellishment or grace (marked thus, &unr_;), commonly consisting of the principal note, or that on which the turn is made, with the note above, and the semitone below, the note above being sounded first, the principal note next, and the semitone below last, the three being performed quickly, as a triplet preceding the marked note. The turn may be inverted so as to begin with the lower note, in which case the sign is either placed on end thus &unr_;, or drawn thus &unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

By turns. (a) One after another; alternately; in succession. (b) At intervals. “[ They ] feel by turns the bitter change.” Milton. --
In turn, in due order of succession. --
To a turn, exactly; perfectly; as, done to a turn; -- a phrase alluding to the practice of cooking on a revolving spit. --
To take turns, to alternate; to succeed one another in due order. --
Turn and turn about, by equal alternating periods of service or duty; by turns. --
Turn bench, a simple portable lathe, used on a bench by clock makers and watchmakers. --
Turn buckle. See Turnbuckle, in Vocabulary. --
Turn cap, a sort of chimney cap which turns round with the wind so as to present its opening to the leeward. G. Francis. --
Turn of life (Med.), change of life. See under Change. --
Turn screw, a screw driver. [ 1913 Webster ]

Turn the adamantine spindle round. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The monarch turns him to his royal guest. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to present a different side uppermost or outmost; to make the upper side the lower, or the inside to be the outside of; to reverse the position of; as, to turn a box or a board; to turn a coat. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To give another direction, tendency, or inclination to; to direct otherwise; to deflect; to incline differently; -- used both literally and figuratively; as, to turn the eyes to the heavens; to turn a horse from the road, or a ship from her course; to turn the attention to or from something. “Expert when to advance, or stand, or, turn the sway of battle.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thrice I deluded her, and turned to sport
Her importunity. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

My thoughts are turned on peace. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To change from a given use or office; to divert, as to another purpose or end; to transfer; to use or employ; to apply; to devote. [ 1913 Webster ]

Therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David. 1 Chron. x. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

God will make these evils the occasion of a greater good, by turning them to advantage in this world. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

When the passage is open, land will be turned most to cattle; when shut, to sheep. Sir W. Temple. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To change the form, quality, aspect, or effect of; to alter; to metamorphose; to convert; to transform; -- often with to or into before the word denoting the effect or product of the change; as, to turn a worm into a winged insect; to turn green to blue; to turn prose into verse; to turn a Whig to a Tory, or a Hindu to a Christian; to turn good to evil, and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee. Deut. xxx. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 2 Sam. xv. 31. [ 1913 Webster ]

Impatience turns an ague into a fever. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To form in a lathe; to shape or fashion (anything) by applying a cutting tool to it while revolving; as, to turn the legs of stools or tables; to turn ivory or metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Hence, to give form to; to shape; to mold; to put in proper condition; to adapt. “The poet's pen turns them to shapes.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

His limbs how turned, how broad his shoulders spread ! Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was perfectly well turned for trade. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. Specifically: -- (a) To translate; to construe; as, to turn the Iliad. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who turns a Persian tale for half a crown. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To make acid or sour; to ferment; to curdle, etc.: as, to turn cider or wine; electricity turns milk quickly. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To sicken; to nauseate; as, an emetic turns one's stomach. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. To make a turn about or around (something); to go or pass around by turning; as, to turn a corner.

The ranges are not high or steep, and one can turn a kopje instead of cutting or tunneling through it. James Bryce.

To be turned of, to be advanced beyond; as, to be turned of sixty-six. --
To turn a cold shoulder to, to treat with neglect or indifference. --
To turn a corner, (a) to go round a corner. (b) [ Fig. ] To advance beyond a difficult stage in a project, or in life. --
To turn adrift, to cast off, to cease to care for. --
To turn a flange (Mech.), to form a flange on, as around a metal sheet or boiler plate, by stretching, bending, and hammering, or rolling the metal. --
To turn against. (a) To direct against; as, to turn one's arguments against himself. (b) To make unfavorable or hostile to; as, to turn one's friends against him. --
To turn a hostile army,
To turn the enemy's flank, or the like (Mil.), to pass round it, and take a position behind it or upon its side. --
To turn a penny, or
To turn an honest penny, to make a small profit by trade, or the like. --
To turn around one's finger, to have complete control of the will and actions of; to be able to influence at pleasure. --
To turn aside, to avert. --
To turn away. (a) To dismiss from service; to discard; as, to turn away a servant. (b) To avert; as, to turn away wrath or evil. --
To turn back. (a) To give back; to return. [ 1913 Webster ] We turn not back the silks upon the merchants,
When we have soiled them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] (b) To cause to return or retrace one's steps; hence, to drive away; to repel. Shak. --
To turn down. (a) To fold or double down. (b) To turn over so as to conceal the face of; as, to turn down cards. (c) To lower, or reduce in size, by turning a valve, stopcock, or the like; as, turn down the lights. --
To turn in. (a) To fold or double under; as, to turn in the edge of cloth. (b) To direct inwards; as, to turn the toes in when walking. (c) To contribute; to deliver up; as, he turned in a large amount. [ Colloq. ] --
To turn in the mind, to revolve, ponder, or meditate upon; -- with about, over, etc. “ Turn these ideas about in your mind.” I. Watts. --
To turn off. (a) To dismiss contemptuously; as, to turn off a sycophant or a parasite. (b) To give over; to reduce. (c) To divert; to deflect; as, to turn off the thoughts from serious subjects; to turn off a joke. (d) To accomplish; to perform, as work. (e) (Mech.) To remove, as a surface, by the process of turning; to reduce in size by turning. (f) To shut off, as a fluid, by means of a valve, stopcock, or other device; to stop the passage of; as, to turn off the water or the gas. --
To turn on, to cause to flow by turning a valve, stopcock, or the like; to give passage to; as, to turn on steam. --
To turn one's coat, to change one's uniform or colors; to go over to the opposite party. --
To turn one's goods or
To turn one's money, and the like, to exchange in the course of trade; to keep in lively exchange or circulation; to gain or increase in trade. --
To turn one's hand to, to adapt or apply one's self to; to engage in. --
To turn out. (a) To drive out; to expel; as, to turn a family out of doors; to turn a man out of office. [ 1913 Webster ] I'll turn you out of my kingdom. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] (b) to put to pasture, as cattle or horses. (c) To produce, as the result of labor, or any process of manufacture; to furnish in a completed state. (d) To reverse, as a pocket, bag, etc., so as to bring the inside to the outside; hence, to produce. (e) To cause to cease, or to put out, by turning a stopcock, valve, or the like; as, to turn out the lights. --
To turn over. (a) To change or reverse the position of; to overset; to overturn; to cause to roll over. (b) To transfer; as, to turn over business to another hand. (c) To read or examine, as a book, while, turning the leaves. “We turned o'er many books together.” Shak. (d) To handle in business; to do business to the amount of; as, he turns over millions a year. [ Colloq. ] --
To turn over a new leaf. See under Leaf. --
To turn tail, to run away; to retreat ignominiously. --
To turn the back, to flee; to retreat. --
To turn the back on or
To turn the back upon, to treat with contempt; to reject or refuse unceremoniously. --
To turn the corner, to pass the critical stage; to get by the worst point; hence, to begin to improve, or to succeed. --
To turn the die or
To turn the dice, to change fortune. --
To turn the edge of or
To turn the point of, to bend over the edge or point of so as to make dull; to blunt. --
To turn the head of or
To turn the brain of, to make giddy, wild, insane, or the like; to infatuate; to overthrow the reason or judgment of; as, a little success turned his head. --
To turn the scale or
To turn the balance, to change the preponderance; to decide or determine something doubtful; to tip the balance. --
To turn the stomach of, to nauseate; to sicken. --
To turn the tables, to reverse the chances or conditions of success or superiority; to give the advantage to the person or side previously at a disadvantage. --
To turn tippet, to make a change. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. --
To turn to profit,
To turn to advantage, etc., to make profitable or advantageous. --
To turn turtle, to capsize bottom upward; -- said of a vessel. [ Naut. slang ] --
To turn under (Agric.), to put, as soil, manure, etc., underneath from the surface by plowing, digging, or the like. --
To turn up. (a) To turn so as to bring the bottom side on top; as, to turn up the trump. (b) To bring from beneath to the surface, as in plowing, digging, etc. (c) To give an upward curve to; to tilt; as, to turn up the nose. --
To turn upon, to retort; to throw back; as, to turn the arguments of an opponent upon himself. --
To turn upside down, to confuse by putting things awry; to throw into disorder. [ 1913 Webster ] This house is turned upside down since Robin Ostler died. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gate . . . on golden hinges turning. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, to revolve as if upon a point of support; to hinge; to depend; as, the decision turns on a single fact. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conditions of peace certainly turn upon events of war. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To result or terminate; to come about; to eventuate; to issue. [ 1913 Webster ]

If we repent seriously, submit contentedly, and serve him faithfully, afflictions shall turn to our advantage. Wake. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be deflected; to take a different direction or tendency; to be directed otherwise; to be differently applied; to be transferred; as, to turn from the road. [ 1913 Webster ]

Turn from thy fierce wrath. Ex. xxxii. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways. Ezek. xxxiii. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

The understanding turns inward on itself, and reflects on its own operations. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be changed, altered, or transformed; to become transmuted; also, to become by a change or changes; to grow; as, wood turns to stone; water turns to ice; one color turns to another; to turn Muslim. [ 1913 Webster ]

I hope you have no intent to turn husband. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cygnets from gray turn white. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To undergo the process of turning on a lathe; as, ivory turns well. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ]

(a) To become acid; to sour; -- said of milk, ale, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) To become giddy; -- said of the head or brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

(c) To be nauseated; -- said of the stomach. [ 1913 Webster ]

(d) To become inclined in the other direction; -- said of scales. [ 1913 Webster ]

(e) To change from ebb to flow, or from flow to ebb; -- said of the tide. [ 1913 Webster ]

(f) (Obstetrics) To bring down the feet of a child in the womb, in order to facilitate delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Print.) To invert a type of the same thickness, as temporary substitute for any sort which is exhausted. [ 1913 Webster ]

To turn about, to face to another quarter; to turn around. --
To turn again, to come back after going; to return. Shak. --
To turn against, to become unfriendly or hostile to. --
To turn aside or
To turn away. (a) To turn from the direct course; to withdraw from a company; to deviate. (b) To depart; to remove. (c) To avert one's face. --
To turn back, to turn so as to go in an opposite direction; to retrace one's steps. --
To turn in. (a) To bend inward. (b) To enter for lodgings or entertainment. (c) To go to bed. [ Colloq. ] --
To turn into, to enter by making a turn; as, to turn into a side street. --
To turn off, to be diverted; to deviate from a course; as, the road turns off to the left. --
To turn on or
To turn upon. (a) To turn against; to confront in hostility or anger. (b) To reply to or retort. (c) To depend on; as, the result turns on one condition. --
To turn out. (a) To move from its place, as a bone. (b) To bend or point outward; as, his toes turn out. (c) To rise from bed. [ Colloq. ] (d) To come abroad; to appear; as, not many turned out to the fire. (e) To prove in the result; to issue; to result; as, the crops turned out poorly. --
To turn over, to turn from side to side; to roll; to tumble. --
To turn round. (a) To change position so as to face in another direction. (b) To change one's opinion; to change from one view or party to another. --
To turn to, to apply one's self to; to have recourse to; to refer to. “Helvicus's tables may be turned to on all occasions.” Locke. --
To turn to account,
profit,
advantage, or the like, to be made profitable or advantageous; to become worth the while. --
To turn under, to bend, or be folded, downward or under. --
To turn up. (a) To bend, or be doubled, upward. (b) To appear; to come to light; to transpire; to occur; to happen. [ 1913 Webster ]