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a. Containing counsel or warning; hortatory; advisory. [ Obs. ] Potter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A taste which remains in the mouth after eating or drinking. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. prenom. 1. of the greatest importance. the all-important subject of disarmament
Syn. -- all important(predicate), crucial, essential, of the essence(predicate). [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to lift, heave. ] (Anat.) The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial system. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In fishes and the early stages of all higher vertebrates the aorta divides near its origin into several branches (the aortic arches) which pass in pairs round the œsophagus and unite to form the systemic aorta. One or more pairs of these arches persist in amphibia and reptiles, but only one arch in birds and mammals, this being on the right side in the former, and on the left in the latter. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 of or pertaining to the aorta.
Syn. -- aortic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Appertained p. pr. & vb. n. Appertaining. ] [ OE. apperteinen, apertenen, OF. apartenir, F. appartenir, fr. L. appertinere; ad + pertinere to reach to, belong. See Pertain. ] To belong or pertain, whether by right, nature, appointment, or custom; to relate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Things appertaining to this life. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

Give it unto him to whom it appertaineth. Lev. vi. 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which appertains to a person; an appurtenance. [ Obs. or R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 a natural family comprising the wood swallows.
Syn. -- family Artamidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 the type genus of the Artamidae.
Syn. -- genus Artamus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ascertained p. pr. & vb. n. Ascertaining. ] [ OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See Certain. ] 1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make confident; to assure; to apprise. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects. Robertson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity, doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

The very deferring [ of his execution ] shall increase and ascertain the condemnation. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the queen to create twelve new peers. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and measure of taxation. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a commodity, or the purity of a metal. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent on England was practicable. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be ascertained. -- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n. -- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who ascertains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out by investigation; discovery. [ 1913 Webster ]

The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an artificial sweetener containing an aspartic acid peptide, (C14H18N2O5); it is 160 times sweeter than sucrose (cane sugar) and is used as a calorie-free sweetener. Chemically it is N-L-α-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine-1-methyl ester. It is sold also under the trade name Equal. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. asportatio, fr. asportare to carry away; abs = ab + portare to bear, carry. ] (Law) The felonious removal of goods from the place where they were deposited. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is adjudged to be larceny, though the goods are not carried from the house or apartment. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. capable of being affirmed or asserted.
Syn. -- affirmable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. The act of carrying in a cart. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The price paid for carting. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. certain, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus, fr. L. certus determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere to perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. &unr_; to decide, separate, and to E. concern, critic, crime, riddle a sieve, rinse, v. ] 1. Assured in mind; having no doubts; free from suspicions concerning. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make her certain of the sad event. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

I myself am certain of you. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Determined; resolved; -- used with an infinitive. [ 1913 Webster ]

However, I with thee have fixed my lot,
Certain to undergo like doom. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Dan. ii. 45. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue that directs our ways
Through certain dangers to uncertain praise. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Unfailing; infallible. [ 1913 Webster ]

I have often wished that I knew as certain a remedy for any other distemper. Mead. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Fixed or stated; regular; determinate. [ 1913 Webster ]

The people go out and gather a certain rate every day. Ex. xvi. 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; -- sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

It came to pass when he was in a certain city. Luke. v. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

About everything he wrote there was a certain natural grace und decorum. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

For certain, assuredly. --
Of a certain, certainly.

Syn. -- Bound; sure; true; undeniable; unquestionable; undoubted; plain; indubitable; indisputable; incontrovertible; unhesitating; undoubting; fixed; stated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Certainty. [ Obs. ] Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A certain number or quantity. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Certainly. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without doubt or question; unquestionably. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Certainty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Certainties [ OF. certaineté. ] 1. The quality, state, or condition, of being certain. [ 1913 Webster ]

The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes. Fisher Ames. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A fact or truth unquestionable established. [ 1913 Webster ]

Certainties are uninteresting and sating. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) Clearness; freedom from ambiguity; lucidity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of a certainty, certainly. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., leaf of paper. See Chart. ] (Law) (a) Material on which instruments, books, etc., are written; parchment or paper. (b) A charter or deed; a writing by which a grant is made. See Magna Charta. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. chartaceus. See Charta. ] Resembling paper or parchment; of paper-like texture; papery. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. having or showing active concern for protection of civil liberties protected by law. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a person having or showing active concern for protection of civil liberties protected by law. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. ] The distribution of religious books, tracts, etc., by colporteurs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OF. confortable. ] 1. Strong; vigorous; valiant. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake be comfortable; hold death a while at the arm's end. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Serviceable; helpful. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Affording or imparting comfort or consolation; able to comfort; cheering; as, a comfortable hope. “Kind words and comfortable.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

A comfortable provision made for their subsistence. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or anxious; hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life. [ 1913 Webster ]

My lord leans wondrously to discontent;
His comfortable temper has forsook him:
He is much out of health. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Free, or comparatively free, from pain or distress; -- used of a sick person. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a comfort. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being comfortable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a comfortable or comforting manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Suitable; consistent. [ Obs. ] “Some comportable method.” Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Behavior; comport. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Goodly comportance each to other bear. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. comportatio. ] A bringing together. [ Obs. ] Bp. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It., orig p. pr. of concertare to form or perform a concert. See Concert. ] (Mus.) A concert for two or more principal instruments, with orchestral accompaniment. Also adjectively; as, concertante parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. concertatio. ] Strife; contention. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. concertativus. ] Contentious; quarrelsome. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. confortation, LL. confortatio. Cf. Comfort. ] The act of strengthening. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Suitable for association or companionship. [ Obs. ] Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Carp.) Dovetail. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. United or fastened by a dovetailed joint. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Curtailed p. pr. & vb. n. Curtailing. ] [ See Curtal. ] To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; to abridge; to diminish; to reduce. [ 1913 Webster ]

I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our incomes have been curtailed; his salary has been doubled. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The scroll termination of any architectural member, as of a step, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dog with a docked tail; formerly, the dog of a person not qualified to course, which, by the forest laws, must have its tail cut short, partly as a mark, and partly from a notion that the tail is necessary to a dog in running; hence, a dog not fit for sporting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who curtails. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or result of curtailing or cutting off. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE.cortin, curtin, fr. OF. cortine, curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also, small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court. See Court. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a window; in theaters, and like places, a movable screen for concealing the stage. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Fort.) That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of Ravelin and Bastion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Arch.) That part of a wall of a building which is between two pavilions, towers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Behind the curtain, in concealment; in secret. --
Curtain lecture, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. Jerrold. [ 1913 Webster ] A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching the virtues of patience and long-suffering. W. Irving. --
The curtain falls, the performance closes. --
The curtain rises, the performance begins. --
To draw the curtain, to close it over an object, or to remove it; hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close a performance. --
To drop the curtain, to end the tale, or close the performance. [ 1913 Webster ]