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a. [ L. alutacius, fr. aluta soft leather. ] 1. Leathery. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of a pale brown color; leather-yellow. Brande. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which the amaranth is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. amentaceus. ] (Bot.) (a) Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as, the chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence. (b) Bearing aments; having flowers arranged in aments; as, amentaceous plants. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n. [ Pref. anti- + acid. ] (Med.) A remedy for neutralizing acidity, especially of the stomach, as an alkali or absorbent. -- a. Counteractive of acidity. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

a. [ Pref. anti- + acrid. ] Corrective of acrimony of the humors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. pl. apotactitae, Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; set apart; &unr_; from + &unr_; to arrange, ordain. ] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect of ancient Christians, who, in supposed imitation of the first believers, renounced all their possessions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the family including the crayfish.
Syn. -- Astacidae, family Astacidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ L. astacus a crab, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) A genus of crustaceans, containing the crawfish of fresh-water lobster of Europe, and allied species of western North America. See Crawfish. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From the desert of Atacama, where found. ] (Min.) An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic crystals. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. atramentum ink, fr. ater black. ] Black, like ink; inky; atramental. [ Obs. ] Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ It., fr. attaccare to tie, bind. See Attach. ] (Mus.) Attack at once; -- a direction at the end of a movement to show that the next is to follow immediately, without any pause. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attached p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching. ] [ OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac, tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see Tack. ] 1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

The shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. Paley. [ 1913 Webster ]

A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company, or ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or self-interest; to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; -- with to; as, attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Incapable of attaching a sensible man. Miss Austen. [ 1913 Webster ]

God . . . by various ties attaches man to man. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular circumstance. [ 1913 Webster ]

Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; -- applied to a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate) by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. Miss Yonge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a part of its circumference projects from it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex; append; win; gain over; conciliate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To adhere; to be attached. [ 1913 Webster ]

The great interest which attaches to the mere knowledge of these facts cannot be doubted. Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To come into legal operation in connection with anything; to vest; as, dower will attach. Cooley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An attachment. [ Obs. ] Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being attached; esp., liable to be taken by writ or precept. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F., p. p. of attacher. See Attach, v. t. ] One attached to another person or thing, as a part of a suite or staff. Specifically: One attached to an embassy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A flat, rectangular, usually rigid briefcase commonly used to carry documents for business purposes. [ PJC ]

adj. 1. fastened together. a picnic table with attached benches [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. being joined in close association; -- of people or organizations.
Syn. -- affiliated, connected [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. fastened onto another object; -- of objects smaller than the main object. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. (Architecture) connected by a common wall or passageway; -- used of buildings. detached [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. (Biology) permanently attached to a substrate; not free to move about. an attached oyster vagile
Syn. -- sessile [ WordNet 1.5 ]

6. associated in an exclusive sexual relationship; -- opposite of unattached. Narrower terms include: affianced, bespoken, betrothed, engaged, pledged, promised(predicate); married. Also See: loving.
Syn. -- committed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. attachment. ] 1. The act attaching, or state of being attached; close adherence or affection; fidelity; regard; an&unr_; passion of affection that binds a person; as, an attachment to a friend, or to a party. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That by which one thing is attached to another; connection; as, to cut the attachments of a muscle. [ 1913 Webster ]

The human mind . . . has exhausted its forces in the endeavor to rend the supernatural from its attachment to this history. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Something attached; some adjunct attached to an instrument, machine, or other object; as, a sewing machine attachment (i. e., a device attached to a sewing machine to enable it to do special work, as tucking, etc.). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Giv. Law) (a) A seizure or taking into custody by virtue of a legal process. (b) The writ or percept commanding such seizure or taking. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term is applied to a seizure or taking either of persons or property. In the serving of process in a civil suit, it is most generally applied to the taking of property, whether at common law, as a species of distress, to compel defendant's appearance, or under local statutes, to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover in the action. The terms attachment and arrest are both applied to the taking or apprehension of a defendant to compel an appearance in a civil action. Attachments are issued at common law and in chancery, against persons for contempt of court. In England, attachment is employed in some cases where capias is with us, as against a witness who fails to appear on summons. In some of the New England States a writ of attachment is a species of mesne process upon which the property of a defendant may be seized at the commencement of a suit and before summons to him, and may be held to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover. In other States this writ can issue only against absconding debtors and those who conceal themselves. See Foreign, Garnishment, Trustee process. Bouvier. Burrill. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Attachment, Affection. The leading idea of affection is that of warmth and tenderness; the leading idea of attachment is that of being bound to some object by strong and lasting ties. There is more of sentiment (and sometimes of romance) in affection, and more of principle in preserving attachment. We speak of the ardor of the one, and the fidelity of the other. There is another distinction in the use and application of these words. The term attachment is applied to a wider range of objects than affection. A man may have a strong attachment to his country, to his profession, to his principles, and even to favorite places; in respect to none of these could we use the word affection. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attacked p. pr. & vb. n. Attacking. ] [ F. attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to attack: cf. It. attacare to fasten, attack. See Attach, Tack a small nail. ] 1. To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to assault. “Attack their lines.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his opinions, in a pamphlet. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of labor or investigation. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or destructively; to begin to decompose or waste. [ 1913 Webster ]

On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hydrofluoric acid . . . attacks the glass. B. Stewart. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Attack, Assail, Assault, Invade. These words all denote a violent onset; attack being the generic term, and the others specific forms of attack. To attack is to commence the onset; to assail is to make a sudden and violent attack, or to make repeated attacks; to assault (literally, to leap upon) is to attack physically by a had-to-hand approach or by unlawful and insulting violence; to invade is to enter by force on what belongs to another. Thus, a person may attack by offering violence of any kind; he may assail by means of missile weapons; he may assault by direct personal violence; a king may invade by marching an army into a country. Figuratively, we may say, men attack with argument or satire; they assail with abuse or reproaches; they may be assaulted by severe temptations; the rights of the people may be invaded by the encroachments of the crown. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make an onset or attack. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. attaque. ] 1. The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or bitter words. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A setting to work upon some task, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An access of disease; a fit of sickness. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by a chemical agent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being attacked. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. affected by disease.
Syn. -- infected. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who attacks. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 any physiologically active internal secretion, especially one of uncertain classification.
Syn. -- autocoid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to an autacoid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ ‖, n. Excessive or extended use of the b sound in speech, due to conversion of other sounds into it, as through inability to distinguish them from b, or because of difficulty in pronouncing them. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A binnacle. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. abnormal shortness of fingers and toes.
Syn. -- brachydactylia. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a white crystalline ester (C18H30N2O2) that is applied to mucous membranes as a topical anesthetic. Chemically it is 3-(di-n-butylamino)-1-propanol 4-aminobenzoate (H2N.C6H4.CO.O.(CH2)3N(C4H9)2). It is usually used as the sulfate salt.
Syn. -- butacaine sulfate. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

a. (Bot.) Belonging to, or like, the family of plants of which the prickly pear is a common example. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

a. [ Pref. cata + caustic. ] (Physics) Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physics) A caustic curve formed by reflection of light. Nichol. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. fr. Gr. &unr_; misuse, fr. &unr_; to misuse; kata` against + &unr_; to use. ] (Rhet.) A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, “To take arms against a sea of troubles”. Shak. “Her voice was but the shadow of a sound.” Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; constituting, characterized by or given to catachresis; wrested from its natural sense or form; forced; far-fetched. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Cat`a*chres"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

[A] catachrestical and improper way of speaking. Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; down + &unr_; to break. ] A breaking asunder; disruption. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adj. (Geol) running in the direction of the dip in surrounding rock strata; -- of valleys and rivers. Opposite of anaclinal. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. cataclysmos, Gr. kataklysmo`s, from &unr_; to dash over, inundate; kata` downward, against + &unr_; to wash or dash over: cf. F. cataclysme. ] 1. An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geol.) Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes of the earth's surface. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to a cataclysm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who believes that the most important geological phenomena have been produced by cataclysms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. catacomba, fr. L. catacumba perh. from Gr. kata` downward, down + ky`mbh cavity. ] A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for the burial of the dead; -- commonly in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The terms is supposed to have been applied originally to the tombs under the church of St. Sebastian in Rome. The most celebrated catacombs are those near Rome, on the Appian Way, supposed to have been the place or refuge and interment of the early Christians; those of Egypt, extending for a wide distance in the vicinity of Cairo; and those of Paris, in abandoned stone quarries, excavated under a large portion of the city. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. cata + acoustics: cf. F. caraconstique. ] (Physics) That part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or echoes See Acoustics. Hutton.

a. [ Cata- + Gr. &unr_; a beating. ] (Physiol.) Designating, pertaining to, or characterized by, that form of pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the curve is marked by secondary elevations due to two or more expansions of the artery in the same beat. -- Ca*tac"rotism n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

‖n. pl. [ NL., from L. cetus whale, Gr. &unr_;. ] (Zool.) An order of marine mammals, including the whales. Like ordinary mammals they breathe by means of lungs, and bring forth living young which they suckle for some time. The anterior limbs are changed to paddles; the tail flukes are horizontal. There are two living suborders: (a) The Mysticete or whalebone whales, having no true teeth after birth, but with a series of plates of whalebone [ see Baleen. ] hanging down from the upper jaw on each side, thus making a strainer, through which they receive the small animals upon which they feed. (b) The Denticete, including the dolphins and sperm whale, which have teeth. Another suborder (Zeuglodontia) is extinct. The Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea, but are now made a separate order. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of the Cetacea. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Cetacea. [ 1913 Webster ]