. A secret organization in the United States, formed in Iowa in 1887, ostensibly for the protection of American institutions by keeping Roman Catholics out of public office. Abbrev. commonly to
a. [ See Antecede. ] Antecedent; preceding in time. “Capable of antecedaneous proof.” Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. & i. [ L. antecedere; ante + cedere to go. See Cede. ] To go before in time or place; to precede; to surpass. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]
n.
n. The state or condition of being antecedent; priority. Fothherby. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ L. antecedens, -entis, p. pr. of antecedere: cf. F. antécédent. ]
n. [ Cf. F. antécédent. ]
The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely its antecedents. Max Miller. [ 1913 Webster ]
My antecedent, or my gentleman usher. Massinger. [ 1913 Webster ]
If the troops . . . prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely ours. Gen. G. McClellan. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. Previously; before in time; at a time preceding;
n. [ L., fr. antecedere, antecessum. See Antecede, Ancestor. ]
The successor seldom prosecuting his antecessor's devices. Sir E. Sandys. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. antichambre. ]
The mouth, the antechamber to the digestive canal. Todd & Bowman. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The outer part of the west end of a collegiate or other chapel. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Arch.)
n. pl. See Antœcians. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A name given to that part of the Anglican liturgy for the communion, which precedes the consecration of the elements. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L., fr. antecurrere to run before; ante + currere to run. ] A forerunner; a precursor. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. architectus, architecton, Gr. &unr_; chief artificer, master builder; pref.
The architects of their own happiness. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]
A French woman is a perfect architect in dress. Coldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Used in building; proper for building. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Cf. F. architectonique. ]
These architectonic functions which we had hitherto thought belonged. J. C. Shairp. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The science of architecture. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. An architect. [ Obs. ] North. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. A female architect. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Of or pertaining to the art of building; conformed to the rules of architecture. --
n. [ L. architectura, fr. architectus: cf. F. architecture. See Architect. ]
Many other architectures besides Gothic. Ruskin. [ 1913 Webster ]
The architecture of grasses, plants, and trees. Tyndall. [ 1913 Webster ]
The formation of the first earth being a piece of divine architecture. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]
Military architecture,
Naval architecture,
a. [ Pref. a- not + technic. ] Without technical or artistic knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]
Difficult to convey to the atechnic reader. Etching & Engr. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Of or relating to one of the early races in Mexico that inhabited the great plateau of that country at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1519. --
n. same as bioengineering. [ PJC ]
n. [ Gr. &unr_;;
Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a catechetical manner; by question and answer. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Chem.) One of the tannic acids (
n. [ LL. catechizatio. ] The act of catechising. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
n. One who catechises. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. catechismus, fr. Gr. See Catechise. ]
The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]
The Larger Catechism,
The Shorter Catechism
a. Of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions and answers; catechetical. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. catechista, fr. Gr. ] One who instructs by question and answer, especially in religions matters. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t. See Catechise. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ . ] any of a group of chemicals having a benzene ring substituted with two hydroxyl groups in ortho position, especially ortho-dihydroxybenzene itself (
n. [ catechol + amine. ] any of a group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine that are produced in the medulla of the adrenal gland. They function as nerotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous system. Also, any structurally related chemical substance, whether natural or synthetic. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]
n. [ See Cashoo. ] (Chem.) A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names
a. Of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. See catechin. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. catechumenus, Gr.
n. The state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which one is a catechumen. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. Of or pertaining to catechumens;
n. A catechumen. Bp. Morton. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Gr. &unr_; useful + &unr_; art. ] The science of the useful arts, esp. agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. contegere, -tectum, to cover up. ] A covering. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]