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FESTUCA

adorn with festoons. [Fr. feston, from L. festum.] FESTUCA, fes-tū'ka, n. fescue-grass, a genus of grasses containing a great number

of species, found in the temperate and colder regions of the world. Nine species are natives of Great Britain, and among them are found some of the best meadow and pasture grasses. In the United States they are cultivated chiefly as pasture grasses, though meadow fescue has recently come into favor in the New England and Middle States. FETCH, fech, v.t. to bring: to go and get:

to obtain as its price: to accomplish in any way to reach or attain.-v.i. to turn (naut.) to arrive at. [A.S. fetian, to fetch, from root of Foor; Ger. fassen, to seize.]

FETCH, fech, n. a trick. [From FETCH,

v.t., the meaning being, something that one goes to find, a thing contrived.] FETCH, fech, FETCH-CANDLE, fech'kan'dl, n. the apparition of a living person a nocturnal light, as of a moving candle, supposed to portend a death. [Prob. from Norwegian Vættelys, the Vætt's or goblin's candle ignis-fatuus.] FETE, fat, n. a festival or feast: a holiday. -v.t. to entertain at a feast. [Fr.-L. festum.]

FETICH, fe'tish, n. an object, either natural or artificial, considered as possessing divine power, and worshipped, as in W. Africa any object of exclusive and inordinate devotion; as, gold has become his fetich. [Fr. fétiche-Port. feitiço, magic; a name given by the Port. to the gods of W. Africa-Port. feitiço, artificial-L. factitius-facere, to make.] FETICHISM, fe'tish-izm, FETICISM, fè'tisizm, n. the practice of worshipping any material object, living or dead, which the fancy may happen to select, as a tree, a stone, a post, an animal, etc., practiced by some African tribes: excessive devotion to one object or idea: abject superstition.

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FETICHISTIC, fe-tish-ist'ik, adj. of or pertaining to, or characterized by fetichism: abjectly superstitious. Our resuscitated spirit was not a pagan philosopher nor a philosophizing pagan poet, but a man of the 15th century, inheriting its strange web of belief and unbelief, of Epicurean levity and Fetichistic dread." - George Eliot.

FETICIDE, FOETICIDE, fe'ti-sīd, n. in medical jurisprudence, the destruction of the fetus in the womb, or the act by which criminal abortion is produced. [L. fetus, foetus, a fetus, and cado, to kill.] FETID, fet'id or fē'tid, adj., stinking: having a strong offensive odor.-n. FET'IDNESS. [L. foetidus-fœteo, to stink,] FETLOCK, fet'lok, n. a tuft of hair that grows behind on horses' feet: the part where this hair grows: an instrument fixed on the leg of a horse when put to pasture for the purpose of preventing him from running off. [From root of FOOT and LOCK, as in LOCK of hair.] FETTER, fet'er, n. a chain or shackle for the feet: anything that restrains :-used chiefly in pl.-v.t. to put fetters on to restrain. [A.S. fetor-fet, feet.] FETTERED, fet'erd, adj. bound by fetters: (zool.) applied to the feet of animals

which bend backward and seem unfit for walking.

FETUS, FOETUS, fe'tus, n. the young of animals in the egg or in the womb, after its parts are distinctly formed, until its birth. [L.. from obs. feo, to bring forth.] FETWA, FETWAH, fet'wä, n. in Turk. law, the written decision of a Turkish mufti on some legal point. "There is

K

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besides a collection of all the fetwas or decisions pronounced by the different muftis."-Brougham. [Ar.]

FEU, fù, n. (in Scotland) a tenure where the vassal, in place of military services, makes a return in grain or in money: a sale of land for a stipulated annual payment, esp. for building on. [Low L feudum-root of FEE.] FEUAR, fu'ar, n. (in Scotland) one who holds real estate in consideration of a payment called feuduty.

FEUD, fud, n. a deadly quarrel between tribes or families: a bloody strife. [A.S. fahdh-fah, hostile; Ger. fehde.] FEUD, fūd, n. a fief or land held on condition of service.-adj. FEUD'AL, pertaining to feuds or fiefs: belonging to feudalism.-FEUDAL SYSTEM, a form of government formerly subsisting in Europe, and which forms the basis of many European forms and customs. According to this system, persons holding in feud or fee were bound by an oath of fealty to serve the owner of the feesimple at home or abroad in all wars and military expeditions when required. [Low L. feudum, from root of FEE.] FEUDALISM, fūd'al-izm, n. the system, during the middle ages, by which vassals held lands from lords-superior on condition of military service, as above. FEUDATORY, fūd'at-or-i, adj. holding lands or power by a feudal tenure. FEUILLANS, FEUILLANTS, fe-yangz, n.pl. a religious order, an offshoot of the Bernardines, founded by Jean de la Barriere, in 1577: so called from the convent of Feuillant in Languedoc, where they were first established. Written also FEUILLIANS.

FEUILLEA, fu-il'ē-a, n. a genus of plants, nat. order Cucurbitaceae. The species are natives of the tropical regions of America, and are frutescent, climbing herbs. The seeds are oily and of a bitter taste, and are said to be powerful antidotes against vegetable poisons, and are used in South America to prevent the fatal effects of serpent bites. The seeds of one Peruvian species contain so much oil that they are used for making candles. FEUILLEMORT, fwēl'mor, n. a color like that of a faded leaf. [Fr., dead leaf.] FEUILLETON, fwel-tong, n. that part of a French newspaper devoted to light literature or criticism, and generally marked off from the rest of the page by a line. The feuilleton very commonly contains a tale. [Fr., from feuille, a leaf; lit. a small leaf.] FEVER, fe'ver, n. a disease marked by great bodily heat and quickening of pulse: extreme excitement of the passions: a painful degree of anxiety.—v.t. to put into a fever.-v.i. to become fevered. [Fr. fièvre-L. febris-ferveo, to be hot; or from root of Ger. beben, to tremble, Gr. phobos, fear.] FEVERISH, fe'ver-ish, adj. slightly fevered indicating fever: fidgety: fickle. -adv. FEVERISHLY.-N. FE'VERISHNESS. FEVER-TREE, fe'ver-trē, n. the blue gum-tree.

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FEW, fù, adj., small in number: not many.-n. FEW'NESS. [A.S. fea, plur. feave; Goth. favs; Fr. peu; L. paucus, small.]

FEZ, fez, n. a red cap or head-dress of fine cloth, fitting closely to the head, with a tassel of blue silk or wool at the crown, much worn in Turkey, on the shores of the Levant, in Egypt, and North Africa generally. The core or central part of a turban consists of a fez. [From Fez, the principal town in Morocco, where such caps are largely manufactured.]

FIDDLE-STICK

FIACRE, fe-ä-kr, n. a small four-wheeled carriage common in England. [Fr., from the Hotel St. Fiacre, where Sauvage, the inventor of these carriages, established in 1640 an office for the hire of them.]

FIARS, tarz, n.pl. (in Scotland) the prices of grain legally fixed for the year, to regulate the payment of stipend, rent, and prices not expressly agreed upon. [From the root of FEE.]

FIASCO, fi-as'ko, n. a failure in a musical performance: a failure of any kind. [It. fiasco, bottle, like Fr. flacon, Ger. flasche, perh. from L. vasculum, a little vessel, vas, a vessel; why it came to be used in the sense of a failure, does not appear.] FIAT, fi'at, n. a formal or solemn command: a decree. [L. 3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of fio, passive of facio, to do.]

FIB, fib, n. something said falsely: a soft expression for a lie.-v.i. to tell a fib or lie: to speak falsely:-pr.p. fibb'ing; pa.p. fibbed'. [An abbrev. of FABLE.] FIBRE, fi'ber, n. one of the small threads composing the parts of animals or vegetables: any fine thread, or thread-like substance.-adj. FIBRED, having fibres; FIBRELESS, having no fibres. [Fr.-L. fibra, a thread.]

FIBRIFORM, fi'bri-form, adj. in the form of a fibre or fibres : resembling a fibre or fibres.

FIBRIL, fi'bril, n. a small fibre: one of the extremely minute threads composing an animal fibre. [Low L. fibrilla, dim. of L. fibra.]

FIBRILLOUS, fi-bril'us, adj. formed of small fibres.

FIBRINE, fi'brin, n. an organic compound, composed of thready fibres, found in animals and plants.

FIBROUS, fi'brus, adj. composed of or containing fibres.-n. FI'BROUSNESS. FICKLE, fik'l, adj. inconstant: changeable.-n. FICK'LENESS. [A.S. ficol; Ger. ficken, to move quickly to and fro; cf. FIDGET.]

FICTILE, fik'til, adj. used or fashioned by the potter. [L. fictilis—fingo, to form or fashion.]

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FICTION, fik'shun, n. a feigned or false story: a falsehood: romance: the act of making or fashioning; as, 'We have never dreamt that parliaments had any right whatever. . . to force a currency of their own fiction in the place of that which is real."-Burke. [Fr.-L. fictiofictus, pa.p. of fingo.] FICTITIOUS, fik-tish'us, adj. imaginary: not real forged.-adv. FICTITIOUSLY. FIDDLE, fid'l, n. a stringed instrument of music, called also a violin.-v.t. or v.i. to play on a fiddle:-pr.p. fiddling; pa.p. fidd'led.-n. FIDD'LER. [A.S. fithele; Ger. fiedel. See VIOLIN.] FIDDLE-BOW, fid'l-bō, n. the bow strung with horse-hair with which the player draws sounds from the violin. FIDDLE-HEADED, fid'l-hed-ed, FIDDLEPATTERNED, fid'l-pat-ernd, adj. terms applied to forks, spoons, and the like, whose handles are fashioned after a pattern which has some resemblance to a fiddle. A kind of fork that is fiddleheaded."-Hood. "My table-spoons the little fiddle-patterned ones."-R. H Barham. FIDDLE-STICK, fid'l-stik, n. same as FID DLE-BOW. This word is frequently used as an interjection, and is equivalent to nonsense! pshaw! or other exclamation expressive of contemptuous incredulity, denial, or the like. "At such an assertion he would have exclaimed, A fiddlestick! Why and how that word has become an interjection of contempt I must

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FIDDLE-STRING

leave those to explain who can." Southey. FIDDLE-STRING, fid'l-string, n. the string

of a fiddle, fastened at the ends and elevated in the middle by a bridge. FIDDLE-WOOD, fid'l-wood, n. the common name of a genus of trees or shrubs with some twenty species, natives of tropical America, nat. order Verbenaceæ. Some of the species are ornamental timber trees: several yield a hard wood valuable for carpenter work. [From its durable qualities the term bois fidèle, stanch or faithful wood, was applied by the French to one of the species, which the English mistook to mean fiddle-wood.] FIDDLING, fid'ling, adj. trifling: trivial: fussily busy with nothing. "Good cooks cannot abide what they call fiddling work."-Swift.

FIDELITY, fi-del'i-ti, n. faithful performance of duty honesty: firm adherence. [L. fidelitas-fidelis, faithful-fido, to trust.]

FIDGET, fij'et, v.i. to be unable to rest: to move uneasily:-pr.p. fidg'eting; pa.p. fidgeted.- -n. irregular motion: restlessness.-pl. general nervous restlessness, with a desire of changing the position. [Ice. fika, to climb up nimbly; Ger. ficken, to move to and fro; conn. with FICKLE.]

FIDGETY, fij'et-i, adj. restless: uneasy.— n. FIDG'ETINESS.

FIDUCIAL, fi-dū’shi-al, adj. showing confidence or reliance of the nature of a trust.-adv. FIDU'CIALLY. [L. fiducia, confidence, from fido, to trust.] FIDUCIARY, fi-du'shi-ar-i, adj., confident: unwavering: held in trust.-n. one who holds anything in trust: (theol.) one who depends for salvation on faith without works, an Antinomian. [L. fiduciarius -fiducia.]

FIE, fi, int. denoting disapprobation or disgust. [Ger. pfui! Fr. fi! the sound instinctively made in presence of a bad smell.]

FIEF, féf, n. land held of a superior in fee or on condition of military service: a feud. [Fr.-Low L. feudum.] FIELD, feld, n. country or open country in general: a piece of ground inclosed for tillage or pasture: the locality of a bat

tle: the battle itself: room for action of any kind a wide expanse: (her.) the surface of a shield: the background on which figures are drawn. [A.S. and Ger. feld; Dut. veld, the open country; cf. E. fell, a hill.]

FIELD, feld. v.i. to take to the field: in cricket and base-ball, to be one of the field whose duty is to watch the ball as it is driven by the batsman, and endeavor to put him out either by catching it before it reach the ground, or by recovering it rapidly and returning it to the infield.

FIELD, fēld, v.t. in cricket and base-ball,

to catch or stop and return to the infield; as, to field a ball. FIELDBOOK, feld'book, n. a book used in surveying fields. FIELD-DAY, feld'-dā, n. a day when troops are drawn out for instruction in field exercises.] FIELDFARE, fēld'fär, n. a species of thrush, having a reddish-yellow throat and breast spotted with black. [A.S. feldefare-feld, a field, and faran, to fare, travel over.]

FIELD-GEOLOGIST, feld'-je-ol-o-jist, n. a geologist who makes out-door observations, in contradistinction to one who studies geology from books, museums,

etc.

FIELD-GLASS, feld'-glas, n. a kind of

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binocular telescope or opera-glass for | looking at objects at a considerable distance from the spectator: a small achromatic telescope, usually from 20 to 24 inches long, and having from three to six joints that one of the two lenses forming the eye-piece of an astronomical telescope or compound microscope, which is the nearer to the object-glass, the other being the eye-glass. FIELD-HAND, feld'-hand, n. a hand or person who works in the fields: a laborer on a farm or plantation. FIELD-MARSHAL, feld'-mär'shal, n. officer of the highest rank in the English and Continental armies. [See MARSHAL.] FIELD-NATURALIST, feld'-na-tūr-al-ist, n. a person who studies animals or plants in their natural habitats: a person who collects wild animals or plants. FIELD-NOTES, feld'-nots, n.pl. notes of bearings, distances, etc., made by a surveyor in the field. Goodrich. FIELD-OFFICER, feld'-of'i-ser, n. a military officer above the rank of captain, and below that of general. FIELDPIECE, feld'pēs, n. a cannon or piece of artillery used in the field of battle. FIELD-SKETCHING, feld'-skech-ing, n. in milit. the act of depicting in plan, quickly and faithfully, the natural features of a country, so as to give to an experienced observer the best possible idea of its

character.

FIELD-TELEGRAPH, feld-tel’ē-graf, n. a telegraph adapted for use in the field in military operations. In some instances part of the wire is reeled off from a wagon and supported on light posts, and another part is insulated and allowed to rest on the ground.

FIELDTRAIN, feld'tran, n. a department of the Royal Artillery responsible for the safety and supply of ammunition during

war.

FIELDWORKS, feld'wurks, n.pl. temporary works thrown up by troops in the field, either for protection or to cover an attack upon a stronghold.

FIEND, fend, n. the devil: one actuated by the most intense wickedness or hate. [A.S. feond, pr. p. of feon, to hate; Ger. feind, Dut. vijand.]

FIENDISH, fend'ish, adj. like a fiend: malicious.-n. FIEND'ISHNESS.

FIERCE, fers, adj., ferocious: violent: angry.- adv. FIERCE'LY.-n. FIERCE'NESS. [O. Fr. fers, fiers-L. ferus, wild, savage.]

FIERI FACIAS, fi'e-rī fa'shi-as, n. in law, a judicial writ that lies for him who has recovered in debt or damages, commanding the sheriff to levy the same on the goods of him against whom the recovery was had. [L., lit. cause it to be done.] FIERY, fir'i or fi'er-i, adj. ardent: impetuous: irritable.-n. FI'ERINESS. FIERYCROSS, fi'e-ri-kros, FIRECROSS, fir'kros, n. in Scotland, a signal sent in ancient times from place to place, expressive of a summons to repair to arms within a limited time. It consisted of a cross of light wood, the extremities of which were set fire to and then extinguished in the blood of a recently slain goat.

FIERY-FOOTED, fi'e-ri-foot-ed, adj. eager or swift in motion. " Fiery-footed steeds."

--Shak.

FIERY-HOT, fi'e-ri-hot, adj. hot as a fire: hence, (fig.) impetuously eager or enthusiastic.

Fiery-hot to burst

All barriers in her on ward race For power.-Tennyson.

FIGURATION

FIERY-NEW, fï'e-ri-nù, adj. hot or fiery from newness. The vintage, yet unkept, Had relish, fiery-new.-Tennyson. FIERY-SHORT, fi'e-ri-short, adj. hot or fiery and short: brief and passionate. Fiery-short was Cyril's counter-scoff.-Tennyson. FIFE, fif, n. a small pipe used as a windinstrument for military music, an octave higher than the flute.-v.i. to play on the fife.- -n. FIFER, one who plays on a fife. [Fr. fifre, Ger. pfeife, both, acc. to Littré, from L. pipare, to peep, to chirp. See PIPE.] FIFTEEN, fif'ten, adj. and n. five and ten. [A.S. fiftyne-fif, five, tyn, ten.] FIFTEENTH, fiftenth, adj. the fifth after the tenth: being one of fifteen equal parts. -n. a fifteenth part. [A.S. fifteotha-fif, five, teotha, tenth.]

FIFTH, fifth, adj. next after the fourth.n. one of five equal parts. [A.S. fifta.] FIFTHLY, fifth'li, adv. in the fifth place. FIFTH-MONARCHY MAN, n. one of a sect of English fanatics who assumed to be "subjects only of King Jesus." It sprung up in the time of Cromwell, and considered him as commencing the fifth great monarchy of the world (Assyria, Persia, Greece and Rome being the first, second, third, and fourth), during which Christ should reign on earth 1000 years. FIFTIETH, fif'ti-eth, adj. the ordinal of FIFTY, fif'ti, adj. and n. five tens or five fifty. -n. a fiftieth part. [A.S. fiftigotha.]

times ten. [A.S. fiftig-fif, five, tig, ten.] FIG, fig, n. the fig-tree or its fruit, growing in warm climates: a thing of little consequence. [Fr. figue, which, like A.S. FIG-APPLE, fig'-ap-1, n. a species of apple fic, Ger. feige, is from L. ficus, a fig.]

without a core or kernel.

FIGARO, fe-ga-ro, n. a witty, shrewd, and intriguing person, so called from the hero of two plays by Beaumarchais. FIGARY, fig'a-ri, n. a frolic: a vagary.

-n. а

Beau. & Fl. [Corrupted from vagary.] FIGHT, fit, v.i. to strive with: to contend in war or in single combat.-v.t. to engage in conflict with :-pr.p. fight'ing; pa.t. and pa.p. fought (fawt).struggle: a combat: a battle or engagement. n. FIGHT'ER. [A.S. feohtan; Ger. fechten prob. conn. with L. pugnus, the fist, Gr. pux, with clenched fist.] FIGHTING, fit'ing, adj. engaged in or fit for war.-n. the act of fighting or contending.

FIGHTING-FISH, fit'ing-fish, n. a small fish, a native of the south-east of Asia, remarkable for its pugnacious propensities. In Siam these fishes are kept in glass globes, as we keep gold-fish, for the purpose of fighting, and an extravagant amount of gambling takes place about the result of the fights, not only money, but children and liberty being staked. When the fish is quiet its colors are dull, but when it is irritated, as by the sight of another fish, or of its own reflection in a mirror, it glows with metallic splendor, the projecting gill-membrane waving like a black frill about the throat. FIGHTING-GEAR, fit'ing-ger, n. warlike or military accoutrements. "Every where the Constitutional Patriot must clutch his fighting-gear, and take the road for Nancy."-Carlyle.

FIGMENT, fig'ment, n. a fabrication or invention. [L. figmentum fingo, to form.] FIGULINE, fig'u-lin, n. a name given by mineralogists to potters' clay. [L. figu lus, a potter, from fingo, to fashion.] FIGURATION, fig-u-ra'shun, n. act of giving figure or form: (music) mixture of chords and discords.

FIGURATIVE

FIGURATIVE, fig'u-ra-tiv, adj. (rhet.) representing by, containing or abounding in figures: metaphorical: flowery : typical. -adv. FIGURATIVELY.

FIGURE, fig'ur, n. the form of anything in outline: the representation of anything in drawing, etc.: a drawing: a design: a statue: appearance: a character denoting a number: value or price: (rhet.) a deviation from the ordinary mode of expression, in which words are changed from their literal signification or usage: (logic) the form of a syllogism with respect to the position of the middle term: steps in a dance: a type or emblem. [Fr.-L. figura, from root of fingo, to form.]

FIGURE, fig'ür, v.t. to form or shape: to make an image of: to mark with figures or designs to imagine: to symbolize: to foreshow: to note by figures.-v.i. to make figures: to appear as a distinguished person.-TO FIGURE ON, to estimate to calculate: to make allowance for: to expect. adj. FIG'URABLE. FIGURED, fig'ūrd, adj. marked or adorned with figures.

FIGUREHEAD, fig'ur-hed, n. the figure or bust on the head or prow of a ship. FILAMENT, fil'a-ment, n. a slender or thread-like object: a fibre. [Fr.-L. filum, | a thread.]

FILAMENTOUS, fil-a-ment'us, adj., threadlike.

FILANDER, fil-an'der, n. the rame given by Le Brun to a kangaroo found in some of the islands of the East Indian Archipelago.

FILANDERS, fil'an-derz, n.pl. a disease in hawks consisting of filaments of blood, also of small thread-like worms. [Fr. filandres-L. filum.]

FİLAR, fi'ler, adj. pertaining to a thread: specifically, applied to a microscope, or other optical instrument, into whose construction one or more threads or wires are introduced: as, a filar microscope, a filar micrometer. [L. filum, a thread.] FİLATORY, fil'a-tor-i, n. a machine which forms or spins threads. "This manufactory has three filatories, each of 640 reels, which are moved by a water wheel, and besides a small filatory turned by men." -Tooke.

FILATURE, fil'a-tur, n. a forming into threads; the reeling of silk from cocoons: a reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; a filatory: an establishment for reeling silk.

FILBERT, filbert, n. the fruit or nut of the cultivated hazel. [Prob. so called from St. Philibert, whose day fell in the nutting season, Aug. 22 (old style); so in German it is Lambertsnuss, St. Lambert's nut.]

FILCH, filch, v.t. to steal: to pilfer.

[Filch stands for filk, formed from M.E. felen, to hide, by adding k, as talk from tell, stalk from steal, perh. from Ice. fela, to hide or bury; cf. PILCH.] FILCHER, filch'er, n. a thief. FILE, fil, n. a line or wire on which papers are placed in order: the papers so placed: a roll or list: a line of soldiers ranged behind one another.-v.t. to put upon a file: to arrange in an orderly manner: to put among the records of a court: to bring before a court.-v.i. to march in a file. [Fr. file, from L. filum, a thread.] FILE, fil, n. a steel instrument with sharpedged furrows for smoothing or rasping metals, etc.-v.t. to cut or smooth with, or as with a file. [A.S. feol; Ger. feile; Bohem. pila, a saw, pilnijk, a file; allied to L. polio, to polish.] FILE-CUTTER, fil-kut-er, n. a maker of files.

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FILE-FISH, fil'-fish, n. a name given to | certain fishes from their skins being granulated like a file. The European file-fish is a common inhabitant of the Mediterranean. It has the power of inflating the sides of the abdomen at pleasure, and grows to the size of 2 feet. Another variety is 12 or 14 inches long, and is a native of the Indian and American seas, as well as of the Red Sea. FILIAL, fil'yal, adj. pertaining to or becoming a son or daughter: bearing the relation of a child.-adv. FILIALLY. [L. filius, a son, filia, a daughter.] FILIATE, fil'i-at, v.t. same as AFFILIATE. FILIATION, fil-i-ā'shun, n. same as AFFILI

ATION.

FILIBUSTER, FILLIBUSTER, fil'i-bus-ter, n. a lawless military or piratical adventurer, as in the W. Indies: a buccaneer. The adventurers who followed Lopez to Cuba in 1851, and those who with Walker occupied Nicaragua from 1855 to 1857, are the most notorious examples of filibusters in modern times. [Sp. filibuster, Sp. filibote, flibote, a small, fast-sailing vessel, from E. flyboat.]

FILIFORM, fil'i-form, adj. having the form of a filament: long and slender. [L. filum and FORM.]

FÏLIGREE, fil'i-grē, n. extremely fine thread-like network, coutaining beads: ornamental work of gold and silver wire. [Sp. filigrana-L. filum, and granum, a grain or bead.]

FILING, filing, n. a particle rubbed off with a file.

FILL, fil, v.t. to make full: to put into until all the space is occupied to supply abundantly to satisfy: to glut: to perform the duties of: to supply a vacant office.-v.i. to become full: to become satiated.-n. as much as fills or satisfies: a full supply.-n. FILL'ER, he who or that which fills. [A.S. fyllan, fullian— full, full; Ger. füllen. See FULL.] FILLET, fillet, n. a little band to tie about the hair of the head: a muscle, or a piece of meat composed of muscles; especially, the fleshy part of the thighapplied chiefly to veal; as, a fillet of veal: meat rolled together and tied round in arch. (a) a small moulding generally rectangular in section, and having the appearance of a narrow band, generally used to separate ornaments and mouldings; an annulet; a list; a listel; (b) the ridge between the flutes of a column-called also a FACET or FACETTE: in the manége, the loins of a horse, beginning at the place where the hinder part of the saddle rests: in technology, in general, this word has a great many applications, such as in carp, a strip nailed to a wall or partition to support a shelf, a strip for a door to close against; in gilding, a band of gold-leaf on a picture-frame or elsewhere; in coining, a strip of metal rolled to a certain size: also the thread of a screw: a ring on the muzzle of a gun, etc. [Fr. filet, a thread, a band, a net, the chine of an animal, etc., dim. of fil, thread, from L. filum, a thread.]

FİLLET, fillet, v.t. to bind, furnish, or adorn with a fillet or little band. "He made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them."-Ex. xxxvii. 28.

FILLETING, fillet-ing, n. the material of which fillets are made: fillets, collectively.

FILLÏBEG, PHILIBEG, fil'i-beg, n. the kilt, the dress or petticoat reaching nearly to the knees, worn by the Highlanders of Scotland. [Gael. filleadhbeag -filleadh, plait, fold, and beag, little.]

FILTERING

FILLING, fil'ing, adj. calculated to fill: satisfy, or satiate; as, a filling diet. "Things that are sweet and fat are more filling."-Bacon.

FİLLING, fil'ing, n. materials used for occupying some vacant space, for completing some structure, stopping up a hole, or the like sometimes applied to the weft of a web; the woof.

FILLIP, fil'ip, v.t. to strike with the nail of the finger, forced from the ball of the thumb with a sudden jerk :-pr.p. fill'iping; pa.p. fill'iped. -n. a jerk of the finger suddenly let go from the thumb. [Formed from the sound.] FILLIPEEN, fil-li-pen', n. in some of the Northern States, a small present given in accordance with a custom borrowed from Germany. When a person eating almonds or nuts finds one with two kernels he or she gives it to a person of the opposite sex, and whoever at the next meeting shall utter the word fillipeen first is entitled to a present from the other. The term is applied also to the kernel thus given. Written also PHILLIPENA, PHILOPENA. [Ger. vielliebchen, much-loved.]

FILLY, fil'i, n. a young mare: a lively, wanton girl. [Dim. of foal, formed by adding suffixy, and modifying the vowel. See FOAL.]

FILM, film, n. a thin skin or membrane : a very slender thread.-v.t. to cover with a film, or thin skin.-v.i. to be or become covered as if by a film. "Straight her eyebrows filmed with horror."E. B. Browning.-adj. FILM'Y, composed of film or membranes. -n. FILM'INESS. [A.S., formed by adding suffix -m to the root of E. fell, a skin, present also in Goth. filleins, leathern.]

FILOPLUME, filo-plum, n. in ornith. a long, slender, and flexible feather, closely approximating to a hair in form, and consisting of a delicate shaft, either destitute of vanes or carrying a few barbs at the tip. [L. filum, a thread, and pluma, a feather.]

FILTER, fil'ter, n. a strainer: a piece of woollen cloth, paper, or other substance, through which liquors are passed for defecation. Filters are now largely employed for the purpose of filtering water, either for drinking or culinary purposes. One of the most successful apparatus for the purification of water for domestic purposes is the ascending filter of Leloge. It is divided into four compartments, one above the other. The upper part, containing the water to be filtered, communicates with the lowest by a tube having a loose sponge at its mouth to stop some of the impurities. The top of the lowest compartment is composed of a porous slab, through which the water passes into the third part, which is filled with charcoal. The water is forced through the charcoal and another porous slab into the fourth compartment, which is furnished with a tap to draw off the filtered water. To enable the filter to be cleaned, there is a movable plug in the lowest part. [Fr. filtre, It. feltrare, to filter, from feltro, Low L. filtrum, feltrum, felt or fulled wool, used originally as a strainer.]

FILTER, fil'ter, v.t. to purify or defecate liquor by passing it through a filter, or

causing it to pass through a porous substance that retains any feculent matter. FILTER, fil'ter, v.i. to percolate: to pass through a filter. FILTERING, fil'ter'ing, p. and adj. straining defecating.-FILTERING BAG, a conical-shaped bag made of close flannel, and kept open at the top by means of a hoop,

FILTH

to which it is attached. It is used in filtering wine, vinegar, etc.-FILTERING CUP, a pneumatic apparatus used for the purpose of showing that, if the pressure of the atmosphere be removed from an under surface, the pressure on the surface above has the effect of forcing a fluid through the pores of such substances as it could not otherwise penetrate.-FILTERING FUNNEL, a glass or other funnel made with slight flutes or channels down the lower parts of the sides. When used it is lined with filtering-paper, folded and loosely put in. The channels allow the liquid to ooze more freely than in a funnel of a smooth surface.-FILTERING PAPER, any paper unsized and sufficiently porous to allow liquids to pass through it.-FILTERING STONE, any porous stone, such as sandstone, through which water is filtered.

FILTH, filth, n., foul matter: anything

that defiles, physically or morally. [A.S. fyldh―ful, foul. See FOUL.] FILTHY, filth'i, adj. foul: unclean: impure.-adv. FILTH'ILY.-n. FILTH'INESS. FILTRATE, fil'trāt, v.t. to filter or percolate. FILTRATION, fil-tra'shun, n. act or process of filtering.

FIMBRIATĚ, fim'bri-at, FIMBRIATED, fim'bri-at-ed, adj. having fibres on the margin: fringed. [L. fimbriatus-fimbric, fibres-from root of FIBRE.] FIMBRIATE, fim'bri-at, v.t. to fringe: to hem.

FIN, fin, n. the organ by which a fish balances itself and swims. [A.S. fin; L. pinna, a fin.]

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FINABLE, fin'a-bl, adj. liable to a fine. FINAL, fi'nal, adj. last decisive: respecting the end or motive.-A FINAL CAUSE is the last end or purpose for which things were made, and the doctrine of final causes teaches that all things were made on a plan or for a purpose.-adv. FI'NALLY. (Fr.-L. finalis-finis, an end.] FINALE, fe-nä'lā, n. the end: the last passage in a piece of music: the concluding piece in a concert: the last part, piece, or scene in any public performance or exhibition; as, It was arranged that the two horsemen should first occupy the that Glaucus and the lion should next perform their part in the bloody spectacle; and the tiger and the Nazarene be the grand finale." - Lord Lytton. [It. finale, final-L. finis.] FINALITY, fi-nal'i-ti, n. the state of being final the state of being settled or finally arranged: completeness: in philos. the doctrine that nothing exists or was made except for a determinate end, the doctrine of final causes.

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FINANCE, fi-nans', n. the system or science of public revenue and expenditure; I hope, however, he will not rely too much on the fertility of Lord North's genius for finance."-Junius' Letters :pl. revenue: funds in the public treasury, or accruing to it: public resources of money; as, the finances of the king or government were in a low condition :pl. the income or resources of individuals; as, my finances are in a very unhealthy state. [Fr., from Low L. financia, a money payment, from finare, to pay a fine or subsidy, from L. finis, in the sense of a sum of money paid by the subject to the king for the enjoyment of a privilege; the final settlement of a claim by composition or agreement.]

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FINANCE, fi-nans', v.i. to conduct financial operations: especially, in a commercial sense, to meet obligations by continual borrowing. FINANCIAL, fi-nan'shal, adj. pertaining to finance.-adv. FINANCIALLY. FINANCIER, fi-nan'sēr, n. one skilled in finance an officer who administers the public revenue. FINANCIER, FINANCEER, fi-nan'sēr, v.i. to borrow one day to meet an obligation, and on a subsequent day to again borrow to meet the borrowed money, and so on till one's affairs get into confusion. Lever. FINCH, finsh, n. the name of several species of birds, many of them excellent singers. [A.S. finc; Ger. fink; allied to W. pinc, a chaffinch, also smart, gay.] FIND, find, v.t. to come upon or meet with: to discover or arrive at to perceive: to experience: to supply :—pr.p. find'ing; pa.t and pa.p. found,-n. FIND'ER. [A.S. findan; Ger. finden.] FINDING-STORE, find-ing'-stōr, n. in the

United States, a store where shoemakers'

tools, etc., are sold. Called in England

GRINDERY WAREHOUSE. FINE, fin, adj. excellent: beautiful: not coarse or heavy: subtle: thin: slender: exquisite nice: delicate: overdone: showy splendid. -The FINE ARTS, as painting and music, are those in which the love of the beautiful and fineness of taste are chiefly concerned; opp. to the useful or industrial arts.-v.t. to make fine to refine to purify.-adv. FINELY. -n. FINE NESS. [Fr.-L. finitus, finished, from finio, to finish, finis, an end.] FINE, fin, n. a composition: a sum of money imposed as a punishment.-IN FINE, in conclusion.-v.t. to impose a fine on to punish by fine. [From the Law Lat. finis, a fine, a payment which ends or concludes a strife-L. finis, an end.]

FINEER, fi-ner', v.i. to get goods made up in a way unsuitable for any other purchaser, and then refuse to take them except on credit. Goldsmith. FINER, fin'er, n. same as REFINER. FINERY, fin'er-i, n. splendor, fine or showy things: a place where anything is fined or refined: a furnace for making iron malleable.

FINESSE, fi-nes', n. subtilty of contrivance: artifice.-v.i. to use artifice. [Fr., from root of FINE.]

FINESTILL, fin'stil, v.t. to distil, as spirits, from molasses, treacle, or some preparation of saccharine matter. FINESTILLER, fin'stil-er, n. one who distils spirit from treacle or molasses. FINESTUFF, fin'stuf, n. the second coat of plaster for the walls of a room, made of finely-sifted lime with sand and hair. FINGENT, fin'jent, adj. making: forming: fashioning. "Ours is a most fictile world, and man is the most fingent, plastic of creatures."-Carlyle. [L. fingo, to make, to form.] FINGER, fing'ger, n. one of the five extreme parts of the hand: a finger's breadth: skill in the use of the hand or fingers.v.t. to handle or perform with the fingers: to pilfer.-v.i. to use the fingers on a musical instrument. [A.S., Ger., Dan., from root of FANG.] FINGER-BOARD, fing'ger-bōrd, n. the board, or part of a musical instrument, on which the keys for the fingers are placed.

FINGER-BOWL, fing'ger-bōl, n. a fingerglass.

FINGERED, fing'gerd, adj. having fingers, or anything like fingers. FINGER-GLASS, fing'ger-glas, n. a glass

FION

or bowl introduced at table in which to rinse the fingers after dinner or dessert. FINGERING, fing'ger-ing, n. act or manner of touching with the fingers, esp. a musical instrument.

FINGER-PLATE, fing'ger-plāt, n. a plate

of metal or porcelain fixed on the edge of a door where the handle is, to protect the wood from finger-marks, and to preserve the paint.

FINGER-POST, fing'ger-post, n. a post with a finger pointing, for directing passengers to the road.

FINGER-SHELL, fing'ger-shel, n. a marine
shell resembling a finger.
FINGER-STALL, fing'ger-stawl, n. a cover
of leather, etc., worn for protection of
the fingers, as when wounded.
FINGER-STONE, fing'ger-stōn, n. a fossil
FINIAL, fin'i-al, n. the bunch of foliage,
resembling an arrow.
etc., at the top of a pinnacle: the pin-
nacle itself. [From L. finio-finis.]
FINICAL, fin'i-kal, adj. affectedly fine or
precise in trifles: nice: foppish. — adv.
FIN'ICALLY.

FINING, fin'ing, n. process of refining or
FINIS, fi'nis, n. the end: conclusion. [L.]
purifying.
FINISH, fin'ish, v.t. to end or complete the

making of anything: to perfect: to give the last touches to. -n. that which finishes or completes: last touch: the last coat of plaster to a wall. [Fr. finir, FINISHED, fin'isht, p. and adj. polished to finissant, L. finire-finis, an end.] the highest degree of excellence : complete: perfect as, a finished poem, a finished education. "The keen observation and ironical pleasantry of a finished man of the world."-Macaulay. "There

are two great and separate senses in which we call a thing finished. . . . One, which refers to the mere neatness and completeness of the actual work, as we speak of a well-finished knife-handle or ivory toy; and secondly, a sense which refers to the effect produced by the thing done, as we call a picture well-finished, if it is so full in its details as to produce the effect of reality."-Ruskin. FINISHER, fin'ish-er, n. one who finishes,

completes, or perfects: specifically, in many crafts or trades, a skilled workman who does special work on the articles produced, such as shoes, vehicles, cutlery, etc.

FINITE, fi'nit, adj. having an end or limit: -opp. to INFINITE. - adv. FI'NITELY.n. FI'NITENESS. [L. finitus, pa.p. of finio.] FINNY, fin'i, adj. furnished with fins. FINOS, fen'ōz, n. the second-best wool from merino sheep. [Sp.] FIN-PIKE, fin'-pik, n. the name given to the individuals of a family of ganoid fishes, remarkable for the structure of the dorsal fin, which, instead of being continuous, is separated into twelve or sixteen strong spines, distributed at short intervals along nearly the whole of the back, and each bordered behind by a small soft fin. Two species of this curious group are living, one of which inhabits the Nile, and the other the Senegal; but the family attained its maximum in palæozoic times, most of the old red and carboniferous fishes belonging to it.

FION, FEIN, n. a name given in the Ossianic poetry to a semi-mythical class of warriors of superhuman size, strength, speed and prowess. Generally they are supposed to have been a sort of Irish militia, and to have had their name from Fion Mac Cumhal (the Finn Mac Coul of Dunbar, and Fingal of Macpherson), their most distinguished leader; but Mr. Skene

FIORD

believes them to have been of the race that inhabited Germany hefore the Germans, and Scotland and Ireland before the Scots. [Gael. fein, pl. feinne; Ir. fion, fian, pl. fiona, fionna.] FIORD, fyord, n. name given in Scandinavia to a long, narrow, rock-bound strait or inlet. [Norw.]

FIR, fer, n. the name of several species of cone-bearing, resinous trees, valuable for their timber. [A.S. furh; Ice. fura, Ger. föhre, W. pyr, L. quercus.] FIRE. fir, n. the heat and light caused by burning: flame: anything burning, as fuel in a grate, etc.: a conflagration: torture by burning: severe trial: anything inflaming or provoking: ardor of passion: vigor: brightness of fancy: enthusiasm sexual love. [A.S., Sw., and Dan. fyr; Ger. feuer; Gr. pyr; allied to Sans. pávana, pure, also fire.] FIRE, fir, v.t. to set on fire to inflame:

:

to irritate: to animate: to cause the explosion of: to discharge.-v.i. to take fire: to be or become irritated or inflamed to discharge firearms. FIREARMS, fir'ärmz, n.pl. arms or weapons which are discharged by fire exploding gunpowder.

FIREBALL, fir'bawl, n. a ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion, or to set fire to their works in order that by the light movements may be seen. Also a popular name applied to a certain class of meteors which exhibit themselves as globular masses of light, moving with great velocity, and not unfrequently passing unbroken across the sky until lost in the horizon. They differ from ordinary meteors, probably, more in volume and brilliancy than in any other distinctive characteristic. They are not to be confounded with another class of meteors that explode in their passage, and appear to let fall a dull red body (meteorolite) to the earth.

FIREBAR, fir-bär, FURNACE-BAR, fer'nās-bär, n. one of the series of bars which form the grated bottom of a furInace, on which the fuel rests. FIREBOX, fir'boks, n. the box or chamber of a steam engine, in which the fire is placed.

FIREBRAND, fir'brand, n. a brand or piece of wood on fire: one who inflames the passions of others.

FIREBRICK, fir'brik, n. a brick so made as to resist the action of fire. FIRE-BRIGADE, fir'-brig-ād', n. a brigade or company of men for extinguishing fires or conflagrations. FIRECLAY, fir'klā, n. a kind of clay, capable of resisting fire, used in making firebricks.

FIRECOCK, fir'kok, n. a cock or spout to let out water for extinguishing fires. FIREDAMP, fir'damp, n. a gas, carburetted hydrogen, in coal-mines, apt to take fire.

FIRE-DRESS, fir'-dress, n. an invention used as a protection against fire, with the view of enabling the wearer to approach, and even to pass through a fierce flame, to rescue lives or valuable property, or to use means for the extinction of fire. It consists of an exterior light armor of metallic gauze, and of an inner covering of a material which is a slow conductor of heat, such as wool, cotton, etc., immersed in certain saline solutions.

FIRE-ENGINE, fir'-en'jin, n. an engine or forcing-pump used to extinguish fires with water.

FIRE-ESCAPE, fir'-es-kāp', n. a portable machine, or a fixed contrivance reaching

165

to and from the upper windows of buildings, and used to enable people to escape from fires.

FIRE-FLAG, fir-'flag, n. a flash or gleam of lightning unaccompanied with thunder.

The upper air burst into life!

And a hundred fire-flags sheen.-Coleridge. FIREFLY, fir'fli, n. a winged luminous fly which emits a bright light like a firespark.

FIRELOCK, fir'lok, n. a gun in which the fire is caused by a lock with steel and flint. FIREMAN, fir'man, n. a man whose business it is to assist in extinguishing fires: a man who tends the fires, as of a steamengine, or a railway locomotive-called on English railways a stoker. FIREPLACE, fir'plas, n. the place in a house appropriated to the fire: a hearth. FIREPLUG, fir'plug, n. a plug placed in a pipe which supplies water in case of fire. FIREPROOF, fir'proof, adj. proof against fire incombustible. Various plans have been adopted for rendering houses, or an apartment in a house, fireproof, as by constructing them entirely of brick or stone, and employing iron doors, ties, and lintels, stone staircases, and landings. In the case of textile fabrics, as cotton, linen, etc., saturation with

various salts, as borax, which leave their crystals in the substance of the fabrics, is the means adopted for rendering them incombustible. Wood is best protected by silicate of soda, which, on the application of strong heat, fuses into a glass, which enveloping not only the outside but also the internal fibres of the wood shield it from contact with the oxygen of the air. All that can be done by any process, however, is the prevention of conflagration: no mode yet known can prevent smouldering.

FIRESHIP, fir'ship, n. a vessel filled with combustibles, to set an enemy's vessels on fire.

FIRESIDE, fir'sid, n. the side of a fireplace the hearth: home. FIRESTONE, fir'stōn, n. a kind of sandstone that bears a high degree of heat. FIREWORKS, fir'wurks, n.pl. artificial works or preparations of gunpowder, sulphur, etc., to be fired chiefly for display or amusement. FIRE-WORSHIP, fir'-wur'ship, n. the worship of fire, the highest type of which worship is seen in the adoration of the sun, not only as the most glorious visible object in the universe, but also as the source of light and heat. In the early religion of India the sun appears in the form of the god Agni (L. ignis, fire), what was first regarded as a mere abstract influence or a phenomenon in time being regarded as a sentient individual. Thus in the Vedic hymns Agni is the god of fire, corresponding to the Greek Hephæstos. In the East the worship of the element of fire was practiced by the ancient Persians or Magians, and is continued by the modern Parsees. The establishment of this species of idolatry among the Persians is ascribed to Zoroaster, who taught his disciples that in the sun and in the sacred fires of their temples God more especially dwelt, and that therefore divine homage was to be paid to these.-n. FIRE'-WOR'SHIPPER. FIRING, fir'ing, n. a putting fire to or discharge of guns: firewood: fuel. FIRKIN, fer'kin, n. a measure equal to the fourth part of a barrel: 9 gallons: 56 lbs. of butter. [O. Dut. vier, four, and the dim. suffix -kin.]

FIRM, ferm, adj. fixed: compact: strong: not easily moved or disturbed: unshaken: resolute decided.adv. FIRM'LY.-n.

FIRST-RATE

FIRM'NESS. [Fr. ferme L. firmus; allied to Sans. dhri, to bear, to support.] FIRM, ferm, n. the title under which a company transacts business: a business house or partnership. [It. firma, from L. firmus.]

:

FIRMAMENT, fer'ma-ment, n. the region of the air the sky or heavens. [The Hebrew word rakia, which is so rendered in Scripture, conveys chiefly the idea of expansion, although that of solidity is also suggested, inasmuch as the root signification of the word is that which is expanded by beating out. The English firmament is adopted from the Latin firmamentum, which is the equivalent of the Greek stereōma (stereos, firm, solid), by which the writers of the Septuagint rendered rakia. L. firmamentum, from firmo, firmatum, to make firm, to support, from firmus, steadfast, stable, strong.] FIRMAMENTAL, fer-ma-ment'al, adj. pertaining to the firmament: celestial. FIRMAN, fer'man, n. any decree emanating from the Turkish government. [Pers. firmán; Sans. pramâna, measure, decision.]

[A.S.

FIRST, ferst, adj., foremost preceding all others in place, time, or degree: most eminent chief.-adv. before anything else, in time, space, rank, etc. fyrst; Ice. fyrstr; the superl. of fore by FIRST-BORN, ferst'-bawrn, adj. born first. adding -st.]

-n. the first in the order of birth: the eldest child. FIRST-DAY, ferst'-da, n. the name given to the Lord's-day by the Quakers and some other Christian bodies, from its being the first day of the week. FIRST-FLOOR, ferst'-flōr, n.in England the floor or story of a building next above the ground-floor: in the United States, the ground-floor.

66

FIRST-FOOT, ferst'-foot, n. in Scotland, the person who first enters a dwellinghouse after the coming in of the year: also, the first person or object met on setting out on any important journey or undertaking. Great attention is paid to the first-foot, that is, the person who happens to meet them (the marriage company); and if such person does not voluntarily offer to go back with them, they are generally compelled to do so. A man on horseback is reckoned very lucky, and a bare-footed woman almost as bad as a witch."-Edin. Mag. FIRST-FRUIT, ferst'-froot, FIRSTFRUITS, ferst'-frōōts, n. the fruit or produce first matured and collected in any season, of which the Jews made an oblation to God, as an acknowledgment of his sovereign dominion: the first profits of anything; as, (a) in old feudal tenures, one year's profit of the land after the death of a tenant, which was paid to the king; (b) in the Church of England, the income of every spiritual benefice for the first year, paid originally to the crown, but now to a board, which applies the money so obtained to the supplementing of the incomes of small benefices: the first or earliest effect of anything, in a good or bad sense; as, the first-fruits of grace in the heart, or the first-fruits of vice;

See, Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung, From thy implanted grace in man!-Milton. FIRSTLING, ferst'ling, n. the first produce or offspring, esp. of animals. [FIRST and dim. ling.]

FIRST-RATE, ferst'-rat, adj. of the first or highest rate or excellence: pre-eminent in quality, size, or estimation.

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