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{ or }. (Med.) Same as Aden ulcer. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + AS ]

‖n. The agglutinated seeds and husks of the legumes of a South American tree (Inga Marthae). It is valuable for tanning leather, and as a dye. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. anvelt, anfelt, anefelt, AS. anfilt, onfilt; of uncertain origin; cf. OHG. anafalz, D. aanbeld. ] 1. An iron block, usually with a steel face, upon which metals are hammered and shaped. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything resembling an anvil in shape or use. Specifically (Anat.), the incus. See Incus. [ 1913 Webster ]

To be on the anvil, to be in a state of discussion, formation, or preparation, as when a scheme or measure is forming, but not matured. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To form or shape on an anvil; to hammer out; as, anviled armor. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. aviler, F. avilir; a (L. ad) + vil vile. See Vile. ] To abase or debase; to vilify; to depreciate. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Want makes us know the price of what we avile. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bedevilled (&unr_;); p. pr. & vb. n. Bedeviling or Bedevilling. ] 1. To throw into utter disorder and confusion, as if by the agency of evil spirits; to bring under diabolical influence; to torment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bedeviled and used worse than St. Bartholomew. Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To spoil; to corrupt. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being bedeviled; bewildering confusion; vexatious trouble. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Bevel. ] (Her.) A chief broken or opening like a carpenter's bevel. Encyc. Brit. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Her.) Notched with an angle like that inclosed by a carpenter's bevel; -- said of a partition line of a shield. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. [ Named from Bougainville, the French navigator. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the order Nyctoginaceæ, from tropical South America, having the flowers surrounded by large bracts. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. (Geography) The capital city of Congo. Population (2000) = 937, 580. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. breviloquentia. ] A brief and pertinent mode of speaking. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled p. pr. & vb. n. Caviling or Cavilling. ] [ L. cavillari to practice jesting, to censure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller. ] To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason. [ 1913 Webster ]

You do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cavil at. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A captious or frivolous objection. [ 1913 Webster ]

All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See Captious. [ 1913 Webster ]

His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a caviling manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. cavillation, L. cavillatio. ] Frivolous or sophistical objection. [ Obs. ] Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } n. One who cavils. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or } a. [ L. cavillosus. ] Characterized by caviling, or disposed to cavil; quibbing. [ R. ]

-- Cav"il*ous*ly, adv. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ness, n. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. cerfille, fr. L. caerefolium, chaerephyllum, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; to rejoice + &unr_; leaf. ] (Bot.) A plant (Anthriscus cerefolium) with pinnately divided aromatic leaves, of which several curled varieties are used in soups and salads. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. civilis, fr. civis citizen: cf. F. civil. See City. ] 1. Pertaining to a city or state, or to a citizen in his relations to his fellow citizens or to the state; within the city or state. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not barbarous; -- said of the community. [ 1913 Webster ]

England was very rude and barbarous; for it is but even the other day since England grew civil. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to government; -- said of an individual. [ 1913 Webster ]

Civil men come nearer the saints of God than others; they come within a step or two of heaven. Preston [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed to those of savages or rustics; polite; courteous; complaisant; affable. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ “A civil man now is one observant of slight external courtesies in the mutual intercourse between man and man; a civil man once was one who fulfilled all the duties and obligations flowing from his position as a 'civis' and his relations to the other members of that 'civitas.'” Trench [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from military, ecclesiastical, or official state. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit distinct from criminal proceedings. [ 1913 Webster ]

Civil action, an action to enforce the rights or redress the wrongs of an individual, not involving a criminal proceeding. --
Civil architecture, the architecture which is employed in constructing buildings for the purposes of civil life, in distinction from military and naval architecture, as private houses, palaces, churches, etc. --
Civil death. (Law.) See under Death. --
Civil engineering. See under Engineering. --
Civil law. See under Law. --
Civil list. See under List. --
Civil remedy (Law), that given to a person injured, by action, as opposed to a criminal prosecution. --
Civil service, all service rendered to and paid for by the state or nation other than that pertaining to naval or military affairs. --
Civil service reform, the substitution of business principles and methods for the spoils system in the conduct of the civil service, esp. in the matter of appointments to office. --
Civil state, the whole body of the laity or citizens not included under the military, maritime, and ecclesiastical states. --
Civil suit. Same as Civil action. --
Civil war. See under War. --
Civil year. See under Year. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Civil ] 1. One skilled in the civil law. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ancient civilians and writers upon government. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A student of the civil law at a university or college. R. Graves. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or clerical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A civilian. [ R. ] Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Civilities [ L. civilitas: cf. F. civilité. See Civil. ] 1. The state of society in which the relations and duties of a citizen are recognized and obeyed; a state of civilization. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Monarchies have risen from barbarrism to civility, and fallen again to ruin. Sir J. Davies. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gradual depature of all deeper signification from the word civility has obliged the creation of another word -- civilization. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A civil office, or a civil process [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To serve in a civility. Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Courtesy; politeness; kind attention; good breeding; a polite act or expression. [ 1913 Webster ]

The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking than his rudeness could be. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sweet civilities of life. Dryden.

Syn. -- Urbanity; affability; complaisance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being civilized. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. civilisation. ] 1. The act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized; national culture; refinement. [ 1913 Webster ]

Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with manners, and with civilization, have, in this European world of ours, depended for ages upon two principles -- . . . the spirit of a gentleman, and spirit of religion. Burke [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) Rendering a criminal process civil. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Civilized p. pr. & vb. n. Civilizing. ] [ Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil. See Civil. ] 1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and customs of civilization; to educate; to refine. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose
Her land to civilize, as to subdue. Dryden [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To admit as suitable to a civilized state. [ Obs. or R. ] “Civilizing adultery.” Milton.

Syn. -- To polish; refine; humanize. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Reclaimed from savage life and manners; instructed in arts, learning, and civil manners; refined; cultivated. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sale of conscience and duty in open market is not reconcilable with the present state of civilized society. J. Quincy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, civilizes or tends to civilize. [ 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 ]

a legal right or rights belonging to a person by reason of citizenship, including especially the fundamental freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th amendments and subsequent acts of congress, including the right to legal and social and economic equality. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. In the United States, a commission appointed by the President, consisting of three members, not more than two of whom may be adherents of the same party, which has the control, through examinations, of appointments and promotions in the classified civil service. It was created by act of Jan, 16, 1883 (22 Stat. 403). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. The substitution of business principles and methods for political methods in the conduct of the civil service. esp. the merit system instead of the spoils system in making appointments to office. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In a civil manner; as regards civil rights and privileges; politely; courteously; in a well bred manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geom.) An instrument for drawing curved lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. curvus bent + E. lineal, linear. ] Consisting of, or bounded by, curved lines; as, a curvilinear figure. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being curvilinear or of being bounded by curved lines. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a curvilinear manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A reckless fellow. Also used adjectively; as, dare-devil excitement. [ 1913 Webster ]

A humorous dare-devil -- the very man
To suit my prpose. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n; pl. Dare-deviltries Reckless mischief; the action of a dare-devil. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To reduce from civilization to a savage state. [ R. ] Blackwood's Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A half devil. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Old Law) A half vill, consisting of five freemen or frankpledges. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. &unr_;eufel, Goth. diabaúlus; all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. &unr_; the devil, the slanderer, fr. &unr_; to slander, calumniate, orig., to throw across; &unr_; across + &unr_; to throw, let fall, fall; cf. Skr. gal to fall. Cf. Diabolic. ] 1. The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of mankind. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Jesus ] being forty days tempted of the devil. Luke iv. 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world. Rev. xii. 9. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An evil spirit; a demon. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dumb man possessed with a devil. Matt. ix. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A very wicked person; hence, any great evil. “That devil Glendower.” “The devil drunkenness.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John vi. 70. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically, of negation. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare,
But wonder how the devil they got there. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Cookery) A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and preparing devils on the gridiron. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Manuf.) A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Blue devils. See under Blue. --
Cartesian devil. See under Cartesian. --
Devil bird (Zool.), one of two or more South African drongo shrikes (Edolius retifer, and Edolius remifer), believed by the natives to be connected with sorcery. --
Devil may care, reckless, defiant of authority; -- used adjectively. Longfellow. --
Devil's apron (Bot.), the large kelp (Laminaria saccharina, and Laminaria longicruris) of the Atlantic ocean, having a blackish, leathery expansion, shaped somewhat like an apron. --
Devil's coachhorse. (Zool.) (a) The black rove beetle (Ocypus olens). [ Eng. ] (b) A large, predacious, hemipterous insect (Prionotus cristatus); the wheel bug. [ U.S. ] --
Devil's darning-needle. (Zool.) See under Darn, v. t. --
Devil's fingers,
Devil's hand (Zool.), the common British starfish (Asterias rubens); -- also applied to a sponge with stout branches. [ Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot. ] --
Devil's riding-horse (Zool.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina). --
The Devil's tattoo, a drumming with the fingers or feet. “Jack played the Devil's tattoo on the door with his boot heels.” F. Hardman (Blackw. Mag.). --
Devil worship, worship of the power of evil; -- still practiced by barbarians who believe that the good and evil forces of nature are of equal power. --
Printer's devil, the youngest apprentice in a printing office, who runs on errands, does dirty work (as washing the ink rollers and sweeping), etc. “Without fearing the printer's devil or the sheriff's officer.” Macaulay. --
Tasmanian devil (Zool.), a very savage carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania (Dasyurus ursinus syn. Diabolus ursinus). --
To play devil with, to molest extremely; to ruin. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deviled r Devilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviling r Devilling. ] 1. To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with pepper. [ 1913 Webster ]

A deviled leg of turkey. W. Irving.

/mhw>, n.. (Zool.) A small water bird. See Dabchick. [ 1913 Webster ]