Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter C - Page 1

C () C is the third letter of the English alphabet. It is from the Latin letter C, which in old Latin represented the sounds of k, and g (in go); its original value being the latter. In Anglo-Saxon words, or Old English before the Norman Conquest, it always has the sound of k. The Latin C was the same letter as the Greek /, /, and came from the Greek alphabet. The Greeks got it from the Ph/nicians. The English name of C is from the Latin name ce, and was derived, probably, through the French. Etymologically C is related to g, h, k, q, s (and other sibilant sounds). Examples of these relations are in L. acutus, E. acute, ague; E. acrid, eager, vinegar; L. cornu, E. horn; E. cat, kitten; E. coy, quiet; L. circare, OF. cerchier, E. search.

C () The keynote of the normal or "natural" scale, which has neither flats nor sharps in its signature; also, the third note of the relative minor scale of the same.

C () C after the clef is the mark of common time, in which each measure is a semibreve (four fourths or crotchets); for alla breve time it is written /.

C () The "C clef," a modification of the letter C, placed on any line of the staff, shows that line to be middle C.

C () As a numeral, C stands for Latin centum or 100, CC for 200, etc.

Caaba (n.) The small and nearly cubical stone building, toward which all Mohammedans must pray.

Caas (n. sing. & pl.) Case.

Cab (n.) A kind of close carriage with two or four wheels, usually a public vehicle.

Cab (n.) The covered part of a locomotive, in which the engineer has his station.

Cab (n.) A Hebrew dry measure, containing a little over two (2.37) pints.

Cabal (n.) Tradition; occult doctrine. See Cabala

Cabal (n.) A secret.

Cabal (n.) A number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in church or state by intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a junto.

Cabal (n.) The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue.

Caballed (imp. & p. p.) of Cabal

Caballing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Cabal

Cabal (v. i.) To unite in a small party to promote private views and interests by intrigue; to intrigue; to plot.

Cabala (n.) A kind of occult theosophy or traditional interpretation of the Scriptures among Jewish rabbis and certain mediaeval Christians, which treats of the nature of god and the mystery of human existence. It assumes that every letter, word, number, and accent of Scripture contains a hidden sense; and it teaches the methods of interpretation for ascertaining these occult meanings. The cabalists pretend even to foretell events by this means.

Cabala (n.) Secret science in general; mystic art; mystery.

Cabalism (n.) The secret science of the cabalists.

Cabalism (n.) A superstitious devotion to the mysteries of the religion which one professes.

Cabalist (n.) One versed in the cabala, or the mysteries of Jewish traditions.

Cabalistic (a.) Alt. of Cabalistical

Cabalistical (a.) Of or pertaining to the cabala; containing or conveying an occult meaning; mystic.

Cabalistically (adv.) In a cabalistic manner.

Cabalize (v. i.) To use cabalistic language.

Caballer (n.) One who cabals.

Caballine (a.) Of or pertaining to a horse.

Caballine (n.) Caballine aloes.

Cabaret (n.) A tavern; a house where liquors are retailed.

Cabaret (n.) a type of restaurant where liquor and dinner is served, and entertainment is provided, as by musicians, dancers, or comedians, and providing space for dancing by the patrons; -- similar to a nightclub. The term cabaret is often used in the names of such an establishment.

Cabaret (n.) the type of entertainment provided in a cabaret{2}.

Cabas (n.) A flat basket or frail for figs, etc.; hence, a lady's flat workbasket, reticule, or hand bag; -- often written caba.

Cabassou (n.) A species of armadillo of the genus Xenurus (X. unicinctus and X. hispidus); the tatouay.

Cabbage (n.) An esculent vegetable of many varieties, derived from the wild Brassica oleracea of Europe. The common cabbage has a compact head of leaves. The cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc., are sometimes classed as cabbages.

Cabbage (n.) The terminal bud of certain palm trees, used, like, cabbage, for food. See Cabbage tree, below.

Cabbage (n.) The cabbage palmetto. See below.

Cabbage (v. i.) To form a head like that the cabbage; as, to make lettuce cabbage.

Cabbaged (imp. & p. p) of Cabbage

Cabbaging (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Cabbage

Cabbage (v. i.) To purloin or embezzle, as the pieces of cloth remaining after cutting out a garment; to pilfer.

Cabbage (n.) Cloth or clippings cabbaged or purloined by one who cuts out garments.

Cabbler (n.) One who works at cabbling.

Cabbling (n.) The process of breaking up the flat masses into which wrought iron is first hammered, in order that the pieces may be reheated and wrought into bar iron.

Cabeca (n.) Alt. of Cabesse

Cabesse (n.) The finest kind of silk received from India.

Caber (n.) A pole or beam used in Scottish games for tossing as a trial of strength.

Cabezon (n.) A California fish (Hemilepidotus spinosus), allied to the sculpin.

Cabiai (n.) The capybara. See Capybara.

Cabin (n.) A cottage or small house; a hut.

Cabin (n.) A small room; an inclosed place.

Cabin (n.) A room in ship for officers or passengers.

Cabined (imp. & p. p.) of Cabin

Cabining (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Cabin

Cabin (v. i.) To live in, or as in, a cabin; to lodge.

Cabin (v. t.) To confine in, or as in, a cabin.

Cabinet (n.) A hut; a cottage; a small house.

Cabinet (n.) A small room, or retired apartment; a closet.

Cabinet (n.) A private room in which consultations are held.

Cabinet (n.) The advisory council of the chief executive officer of a nation; a cabinet council.

Cabinet (n.) A set of drawers or a cupboard intended to contain articles of value. Hence:

Cabinet (n.) A decorative piece of furniture, whether open like an etagere or closed with doors. See Etagere.

Cabinet (n.) Any building or room set apart for the safe keeping and exhibition of works of art, etc.; also, the collection itself.

Cabinet (a.) Suitable for a cabinet; small.

Cabineting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Cabinet

Cabinet (v. i.) To inclose

Cabinetmaker (n.) One whose occupation is to make cabinets or other choice articles of household furniture, as tables, bedsteads, bureaus, etc.

Cabinetmaking (n.) The art or occupation of making the finer articles of household furniture.

Cabinetwork (n.) The art or occupation of working upon wooden furniture requiring nice workmanship; also, such furniture.

Cabirean (n.) One of the Cabiri.

Cabbiri (n. pl.) Certain deities originally worshiped with mystical rites by the Pelasgians in Lemnos and Samothrace and afterwards throughout Greece; -- also called sons of Hephaestus (or Vulcan), as being masters of the art of working metals.

Cabirian (a.) Same as Cabiric.

Cabiric (a.) Of or pertaining to the Cabiri, or to their mystical worship.

Cable (n.) A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links.

Cable (n.) A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some protecting or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension bridge; a telegraphic cable.

Cable (n.) A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; -- called also cable molding.

Cable (v. t.) To fasten with a cable.

Cable (v. t.) To ornament with cabling. See Cabling.

Cabled (imp. & p. p.) of Cable

Cabling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Cable

Cable (v. t. & i.) To telegraph by a submarine cable

Cabled (a.) Fastened with, or attached to, a cable or rope.

Cabled (a.) Adorned with cabling.

Cablegram (n.) A message sent by a submarine telegraphic cable.

Cablelaid (a.) Composed of three three-stranded ropes, or hawsers, twisted together to form a cable.

Cablelaid (a.) Twisted after the manner of a cable; as, a cable-laid gold chain.

Cablet (n.) A little cable less than ten inches in circumference.

Cabling (n.) The decoration of a fluted shaft of a column or of a pilaster with reeds, or rounded moldings, which seem to be laid in the hollows of the fluting. These are limited in length to about one third of the height of the shaft.

Cabmen (pl. ) of Cabman

Cabman (n.) The driver of a cab.

Cabob (n.) A small piece of mutton or other meat roasted on a skewer; -- so called in Turkey and Persia.

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