%cala%

a. Pertaining to a bachelor of arts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Baccalaureate sermon, in some American colleges, a sermon delivered as a farewell discourse to a graduating class. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a West Indian tree (Calophyllum calaba) having racemes of fragrant white flowers and yielding a durable timber and resinous juice.
Syn. -- Santa Maria tree. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A district on the west coast of Africa. [ 1913 Webster ]

Calabar bean, The of a climbing legumious plant (Physostigma venenosum), a native of tropical Africa. It is highly poisonous. It is used to produce contraction of the pupil of the eye; also in tetanus, neuralgia, and rheumatic diseases; -- called also ordeal bean, being used by the negroes in trials for witchcraft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) An alkaloid resembling physostigmine and occurring with it in the calabar bean. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. calabaza, or Pg. calabaça, cabaça (cf. F. Calebasse), lit., a dry gourd, fr. Ar. qar', fem., a kind of gourd + aibas dry. ] 1. The common gourd (plant or fruit). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The fruit of the calabash tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A water dipper, bottle, bascket, or other utensil, made from the dry shell of a calabash or gourd. [ 1913 Webster ]

Calabash tree. (Bot.), a tree of tropical America (Crescentia cujete), producing a large gourdlike fruit, containing a purgative pulp. Its hard shell, after the removal of the pulp, is used for cups, bottles, etc. The African calabash tree is the baobab. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ A corruption of Sp. calabozo dungeon. ] A prison; a jail. [ Local, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. ] A jail. See Calaboose. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a fast-growing tropical American evergreen (Muntingia calabura) having white flowers and white fleshy edible fruit; bark yields a silky fiber used in cordage and wood is valuable for staves.
Syn. -- Jamaican cherry, calabur tree, silkwood. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ F. ] A slope or declivity in a manege ground down which a horse is made to gallop, to give suppleness to his haunches. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of various orchids of the genus Caladenia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ NL. ] A genus of aroideous plants, of which some species are cultivated for their immense leaves (which are often curiously blotched with white and red), and others (in Polynesia) for food. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. callaïs, Gr. ka`lai:s, ka`llai:s; cf. F. calaïte. ] A mineral. See Turquoise. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. calamancus, calamacus; cf. camelaucum; a head covering made of camel's hair, NGr. kamelay`kion, and F. calmande a woolen stuff. ] A glossy woolen stuff, plain, striped, or checked. “A gay calamanco waistcoat.” Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

A valuable furniture wood from India and Ceylon, of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes, very hard in texture. It is a species of ebony, and is obtained from the Diospyros quæsita. Called also Coromandel wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. calamari, fr. LL. calamarium inkstand, fr. L. calamus a reed pen: cf. F. calmar, calemar, pen case, calamar. ] (Cookery) Squid, used as a food; -- from the Italian word. See Squid. [ PJC ]

n. [ F. calambac, calambour, from Malay Kalambaq a king of fragrant wood. ] (Bot.) A fragrant wood; agalloch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Calambac. ] A species of agalloch, or aloes wood, of a dusky or mottled color, of a light, friable texture, and less fragrant than calambac; -- used by cabinetmakers. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. calamus reed + ferous. ] Producing reeds; reedy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. calamine, LL. calamina, fr. L. Cadmia. See Cadmia. ] (min.) A mineral, the hydrous silicate of zinc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name was formerly applied to both the carbonate and silicate of zinc each of which is valuabic as an ore; but it is now usually restricted to the latter, the former being called smithsonite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. calamint, calemente (cf. F. calament) fr. L. calamintha, Gr. kalami`nqh, kala`minqos. See 1st Mint. ] (Bot.) A genus of perennial plants (Calamintha) of the Mint family, esp. the Calamintha Nepeta and Calamintha Acinos, which are called also basil thyme. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calamus a reed. ] One who plays upon a reed or pipe. [ Obs. ] Blount. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ L. calamistratus, curled with the curling iron, fr. calamistrum curling iron, fr. calamus a reed. ] To curl or friz, as the hair. [ Obs. ] Cotgrave.

n. The act or process of curling the hair. [ Obs. ] Burton. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., a curling iron. ] (Zool.) A comblike structure on the metatarsus of the hind legs of certain spiders (Ciniflonidæ), used to curl certain fibers in the construction of their webs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. calamus a reed: cf. F. calamite. ] (Paleon.) A fossil plant of the coal formation, having the general form of plants of the modern Equiseta (the Horsetail or Scouring Rush family) but sometimes attaining the height of trees, and having the stem more or less woody within. See Acrogen, and Asterophyllite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Calamitosus; cf. F. calamiteux. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Suffering calamity; wretched; miserable. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Ten thousands of calamitous persons. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Producing, or attended with distress and misery; making wretched; wretched; unhappy. “This sad and calamitous condition.” South. “A calamitous prison” Milton.

Syn. -- Miserable; deplorable; distressful; afflictive; wretched; grievous; baleful; disastrous; adverse; unhappy; severe; sad; unfortunate.

-- Ca*lam"i*tous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lam"i*tous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n.; pl. Calamities [ L. calamitas, akin to in-columis unharmed: cf. F. calamité ] 1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to events or disasters which produce extensive evil, either to communities or individuals. [ 1913 Webster ]

The word calamity was first derived from calamus when the corn could not get out of the stalk. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where'er I came I brought calamity. Tennyson.

Syn. -- Disaster; distress; affliction; adversity; misfortune; unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery; evil; extremity; exigency; downfall. -- Calamity, Disaster, Misfortune, Mishap, Mischance. Of these words, calamity is the strongest. It supposes a somewhat continuous state, produced not usually by the direct agency of man, but by natural causes, such as fire, flood, tempest, disease, etc, Disaster denotes literally ill-starred, and is some unforeseen and distressing event which comes suddenly upon us, as if from hostile planet. Misfortune is often due to no specific cause; it is simply the bad fortune of an individual; a link in the chain of events; an evil independent of his own conduct, and not to be charged as a fault. Mischance and mishap are misfortunes of a trivial nature, occurring usually to individuals. “A calamity is either public or private, but more frequently the former; a disaster is rather particular than private; it affects things rather than persons; journey, expedition, and military movements are often attended with disasters; misfortunes are usually personal; they immediately affect the interests of the individual.” Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Calami [ L., a reed. See Halm. ] 1. (Bot.) The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the common rattan. See Rattan, and Dragon's blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A species of Acorus (Acorus calamus), commonly called calamus, or sweet flag. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. [ It. ] (Mus.) Gradually diminishing in rapidity and loudness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a large genus of low-growing herbs; widespread throughout tropical and warm temperate regions having usually basal leaves and panicles of purplish ephemeral flowers.
Syn. -- genus Calandrinia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any of various showy orchids of the genus Calanthe having white or yellow or rose-colored flowers and broad leaves folded lengthwise. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. calèche; of Slavonic origin; cf. Bohem. kolesa, Russ. koliaska calash, koleso, kolo, wheel. ] 1. A light carriage with low wheels, having a top or hood that can be raised or lowered, seats for inside, a separate seat for the driver, and often a movable front, so that it can be used as either an open or a closed carriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

The baroness in a calash capable of holding herself, her two children, and her servants. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In Canada, a two-wheeled, one-seated vehicle, with a calash top, and the driver's seat elevated in front. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A hood or top of a carriage which can be thrown back at pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A hood, formerly worn by ladies, which could be drawn forward or thrown back like the top of a carriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

A human skull reported, by Prof. J. D. Whitney, as found in 1886 in a Tertiary auriferous gravel deposit, lying below a bed of black lava, in Calaveras County, California. It is regarded as very doubtful whether the skull really belonged to the deposit in which it was found. If it did, it indicates an unprecedented antiquity for human beings of an advanced type. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Min.) A bronze-yellow massive mineral with metallic luster; a telluride of gold; -- first found in Calaveras County California. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of moths whose larvae are cutworms: underwings.
Syn. -- genus Catacala. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ It., fr. L. cicada. ] A cicada. See Cicada. “At eve a dry cicala sung.” Tennison. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to reduce in intensity (a crisis or a war). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Didascalic. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., Sp. escalada (cf. It. scalata), fr. Sp. escalar to scale, LL. scalare, fr. L. scala ladder. See Scale, v. t. ] (Mil.) A furious attack made by troops on a fortified place, in which ladders are used to pass a ditch or mount a rampart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sin enters, not by escalade, but by cunning or treachery. Buckminster. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Escaladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Escalading. ] (Mil.) To mount and pass or enter by means of ladders; to scale; as, to escalate a wall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. Cf. Escalade. ] A stairway or incline arranged like an endless belt so that the steps or treads ascend or descend continuously, and one stepping upon it is carried up or down; -- originally a trade term, which has become the generic name for such devices. Such devices are in common use in large retail establishments such as department stores, and in public buildings having a heavy traffic of persons between adjacent floors. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. Intercalary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. intercalaris, intercalarius: cf. F. intercalaire. See Intercalate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Chron.) Inserted or introduced among others in the calendar; as, an intercalary month, day, etc.; -- now applied particularly to the odd day (Feb. 29) inserted in the calendar of leap year. See Bissextile, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Introduced or inserted among others; additional; supernumerary. “Intercalary spines.” Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

This intercalary line . . . is made the last of a triplet. Beattie. [ 1913 Webster ]

Intercalary day (Med.), one on which no paroxysm of an intermittent disease occurs. Mayne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Intercalated p. pr. & vb. n. Intercalating ] [ L. intercalatus, p. p. of intercalare to intercalate to intercalate; inter between + calare to call, proclaim. See Calendar. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Chron.) To insert, as a day or other portion of time, in a calendar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To insert among others, as a verse in a stanza; specif. (Geol.), to introduce as a bed or stratum, between the layers of a regular series of rocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

Beds of fresh-water shells . . . are intercalated and interstratified with the shale. Mantell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. intercalatio: cf. F. intercalation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Chron.) The insertion of a day, or other portion of time, in a calendar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The insertion or introduction of anything among others, as the insertion of a phrase, line, or verse in a metrical composition; specif. (Geol.), the intrusion of a bed or layer between other layers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Intercalations of fresh-water species in some localities. Mantell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A kind of fresh-water bass; the crappie. [ Southern U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Scalae [ L., a ladder. ] 1. (Surg.) A machine formerly employed for reducing dislocations of the humerus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) A term applied to any one of the three canals of the cochlea. [ 1913 Webster ]