*scre*

1. (Naut.) A form of jack screw for lifting large bodies, and assisting in launching. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A long screw formerly used to fasten a bedpost to one of the adjacent side pieces. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover with a screen, or as with a screen; to shelter; to conceal. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A set screw used to bind parts together, esp. one for making a connection in an electrical circuit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

pos>n. A corkscrew. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } A strong iron or steel plug screwed into the breech of a musket or other firearm, to close the bottom of the bore. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To press forward in a winding way; as, to corkscrew one's way through a crowd. [ Colloq. ] Dickens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An instrument with a screw or a steel spiral for drawing corks from bottles. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. shaped like a corkscrew; spiral; helical. [ PJC ]

corkscrew stairs, a spiral staircase around a solid newel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. discrédit. ] 1. The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved; as, later accounts have brought the story into discredit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, some degree of dishonor or disesteem; ill repute; reproach; -- applied to persons or things. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation or discredit his life may bring on his profession. Rogers.

Syn. -- Disesteem; disrepute; dishonor; disgrace; ignominy; scandal; disbelief; distrust. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Discredited; p. pr. & vb. n. Discrediting. ] [ Cf. F. discréditer. ] 1. To refuse credence to; not to accept as true; to disbelieve; as, the report is discredited. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To deprive of credibility; to destroy confidence or trust in; to cause disbelief in the accuracy or authority of. [ 1913 Webster ]

An occasion might be given to the . . . papists of discrediting our common English Bible. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To deprive of credit or good repute; to bring reproach upon; to make less reputable; to disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

He. . . least discredits his travels who returns the same man he went. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not creditable; injurious to reputation; disgraceful; disreputable. -- Dis*cred"it*a*bly, adv. [1913 Webster]

adj. 1. being brought into disrepute; as, a discredited politician.
Syn. -- damaged. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. suffering shame.
Syn. -- disgraced, dishonored, shamed. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. having been shown to be incorrect; as, a discredited theory or policy. [ PJC ]

n. One who discredits. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Discreeter superl. Discreetest. ] [ F. discret, L. discretus separated (whence the meaning reserved, prudent), p. p. of discernere. See Discern, and cf. Discrete. ] 1. Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious; judicious; not rash or heedless; cautious. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Satire 's my weapon, but I 'm too discreet
To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sea is silent, the sea is discreet. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Differing; distinct. [ Obs. ] Spenser.

-- Dis*creet"ly, adv. -- Dis*creet"ness, n.

{ } n.; pl. -ances -ancies [ L. disrepantia: cf. OF. discrepance. See Discrepant. ] The state or quality of being discrepant; disagreement; variance; discordance; dissimilarity; contrariety. [ 1913 Webster ]

There hath been ever a discrepance of vesture of youth and age, men and women. Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no real discrepancy between these two genealogies. G. S. Faber. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. discrepans, -antis, p. pr. of discrepare to sound differently or discordantly; dis- + crepare to rattle, creak: cf. OF. discrepant. See Crepitate. ] Discordant; at variance; disagreeing; contrary; different. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Egyptians were . . . the most oddly discrepant from the rest in their manner of worship. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A dissident. J. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To separate. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See Discreet. ] 1. Separate; distinct; disjunct. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, “I resign my life, but not my honor, ” is a discrete proposition. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under Concrete, a. --
Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the same proportion to 6 as 8 does to 16. But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24. --
Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or extension. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Separately; disjunctively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. discrétion, L. discretio separation, difference, discernment, fr. discernere, discretum. See Discreet, Discern. ] 1. Disjunction; separation. [ Obs. ] Mede. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quality of being discreet; wise conduct and management; cautious discernment, especially as to matters of propriety and self-control; prudence; circumspection; wariness. [ 1913 Webster ]

The better part of valor is discretion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

The greatest parts without discretion may be fatal to their owner. Hume. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Discrimination. [ 1913 Webster ]

Well spoken, with good accent and good discretion. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Freedom to act according to one's own judgment; unrestrained exercise of choice or will. [ 1913 Webster ]

At discretion, without conditions or stipulations. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } adv. At discretion; according to one's discretion or judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ }[ Cf. F. discrétionnaire. ] Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or judgment; as, an ambassador with discretionary powers.

a. [ L. discretivus. See Discrete. ] Marking distinction or separation; disjunctive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Discretive proposition (Logic & Gram.), one that expresses distinction, opposition, or variety, by means of discretive particles, as but, though, yet, etc.; as, travelers change their climate, but not their temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a discretive manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Mech.) A screw cut on a solid whose sides are arcs of the periphery of a wheel into the teeth of which the screw is intended to work. It is named from the person who first used the form.

a. [ OE. indiscret, F. indiscret, fr. L. indiscretus unseparated, indiscreet. See In- not, and Discreet, and cf. Indiscrete. ] Not discreet; wanting in discretion. [ 1913 Webster ]

So drunken, and so indiscreet an officer. Shak.

Syn. -- Imprudent; injudicious; inconsiderate; rash; hasty; incautious; heedless; undiscerning; foolish.

-- In`dis*creet"ly, adv. -- In`dis*creet"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. indiscretus unseparated. See Indiscreet. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Indiscreet. [ Obs. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not discrete or separated; compact; homogenous. [ 1913 Webster ]

An indiscrete mass of confused matter. Pownall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. in- not + discretion: cf. F. indiscrétion. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The quality or state of being indiscreet; lack of discretion; imprudence. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An indiscreet act; indiscreet behavior. [ 1913 Webster ]

Past indiscretion is a venial crime. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A jack in which a screw is used for lifting, or exerting pressure. See Illust. of 2d Jack, n., 5. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A type of screw used either with a nut or with a tapped hole; it has a slotted head which can be driven by a screwdriver. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. [ OF. mescreance, F. mécréance incredulity. ] The quality of being miscreant; adherence to a false religion; false faith. [ Obs. ] Ayliffe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. mescreant, F. mécréant; pref. mes- (L. minus less) + p. pr. fr. L. credere to believe. See Creed. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. One who holds a false religious faith; a misbeliever. [ Obs. ] Spenser. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou oughtest not to be slothful to the destruction of the miscreants, but to constrain them to obey our Lord God. Rivers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One not restrained by Christian principles; an unscrupulous villain; a depraved person; a vile wretch. Addison.

a. 1. Holding a false religious faith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destitute of conscience; unscrupulous; villainous; base; depraved. Pope. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. To create badly or amiss. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Miscreated; illegitimate; forged; as, miscreate titles. [ Obs. or Poet. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Formed unnaturally or illegitimately; deformed. Spenser. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Creating amiss. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. mis- + credent. Cf. Miscreant. ] A miscreant, or believer in a false religious doctrine. [ Obs. ] Holinshed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Wrong credulity or belief; misbelief. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. screare to hawk, spit out. ] Capable of being spit out. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Screaked p. pr. & vb. n. Screaking. ] [ Cf. Icel. skraekja to screech. Cf. Creak, v., Screech. ] To utter suddenly a sharp, shrill sound; to screech; to creak, as a door or wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A creaking; a screech; a shriek. Bp. Bull. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Screamed p. pr. & vb. n. Screaming. ] [ Icel. skraema to scare, terrify; akin to Sw. skräma, Dan. skraemme. Cf. Screech. ] To cry out with a shrill voice; to utter a sudden, sharp outcry, or shrill, loud cry, as in fright or extreme pain; to shriek; to screech. [ 1913 Webster ]

I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

And scream thyself as none e'er screamed before. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A sharp, shrill cry, uttered suddenly, as in terror or in pain; a shriek; a screech. “Screams of horror.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any one of three species of South American birds constituting the family Anhimidae, and the suborder Palamedeae. They have two spines on each wing, and the head is either crested or horned. They are easily tamed, and then serve as guardians for other poultry. The crested screamers, or chajas, belong to the genus Chauna. The horned screamer, or kamichi, is Palamedea cornuta. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Something so remarkable as to provoke a scream, as of joy. [ Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. An exclamation mark. [ Printer's Slang ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. 1. Uttering screams; shrieking. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the nature of a scream; like a scream; shrill; sharp. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fearful matrons raise a screaming cry. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A pebble; a stone; also, a heap of stones or rocky débris. [ Prov. Eng. ] Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]