a. [ L. adscriptus, p. p. of adscribere to enroll. See Ascribe. ] Held to service as attached to the soil; -- said of feudal serfs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One held to service as attached to the glebe or estate; a feudal serf. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. adscriptivus. See Adscript. ] Attached or annexed to the glebe or estate and transferable with it. Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Opposed to, or not in accordance with, the Holy Scriptures. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being ascribed; attributable. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ascribed p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing. ] [ L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write: cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe. ] 1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to ascribe such a book to such an author. [ 1913 Webster ]

The finest [ speech ] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or allege to belong. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God. 2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives. The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view. [ 1913 Webster ]

More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Adscript. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ascriptio, fr. ascribere. See Ascribe. ] The act of ascribing, imputing, or affirming to belong; also, that which is ascribed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ascriptitius, fr. ascribere. ] 1. Ascribed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Added; additional. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

An ascriptitious and supernumerary God. Farindon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To scribble over. “Bescribbled with impertinences.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being circumscribed. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Circumscribed p. pr. & vb. n. Circumscribing. ] [ L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum + scribere to write, draw. See Soribe. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. to write or engrave around. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. Ashmole. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to bound; to confine; to restrain. [ 1913 Webster ]

To circumscribe royal power. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Geom.) To draw a line around so as to touch at certain points without cutting. See Inscribe, 5.

Syn. -- To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ; encircle; inclose; encompass. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, circumscribes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being circumscribed or limited by bounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. circumscriptio. See Circumscribe. ] 1. An inscription written around anything. [ R. ] Ashmole. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The exterior line which determines the form or magnitude of a body; outline; periphery. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited, by conditions or restraints; bound; confinement; limit. [ 1913 Webster ]

The circumscriptions of terrestrial nature. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

I would not my unhoused, free condition
Put into circumscription and confine. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Circumscribing or tending to circumscribe; marcing the limits or form of. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a limited manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a literal, limited, or narrow manner. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. conscribere. See Conscript. ] To enroll; to enlist. [ Obs. ] E. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To enroll, by compulsion, for military service. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. conscriptus, p. p. of conscribere to write together, to enroll; con- + scribere to write. See Scribe. ] Enrolled; written; registered. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscript fathers (Rom. Antiq.), the senators of ancient Rome. When certain new senators were first enrolled with the “fathers” the body was called Patres et Conscripti; afterward all were called Patres conscripti. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One taken by lot, or compulsorily enrolled, to serve as a soldier or sailor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. conscriptio: cf. F. conscription. ] 1. An enrolling or registering. [ 1913 Webster ]

The conscription of men of war. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A compulsory enrollment of men for military or naval service; a draft. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Belonging to, or of the nature of, a conspiration. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That can be described; capable of description. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Described p. pr. & vb. n. Describing. ] [ L. describere, descriptum; de- + scribere to write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. décrire. See Scribe, and cf. Descry. ] 1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book. Josh. xviii. 9.

Syn. -- To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate; express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. describens, p. pr. of describere. ] (Geom.) Same as Generatrix. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who describes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who descries. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. description, L. descriptio. See Describe. ] 1. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species. [ 1913 Webster ]

Milton has descriptions of morning. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind; sort. [ 1913 Webster ]

A difference . . . between them and another description of public creditors. A. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The plates were all of the meanest description. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Account; definition; recital; relation; detail; narrative; narration; explanation; delineation; representation; kind; sort. See Definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif. ] Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age. [ 1913 Webster ]

Descriptive anatomy, that part of anatomy which treats of the forms and relations of parts, but not of their textures. --
Descriptive geometry, that branch of geometry. which treats of the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. )

-- De*scrip"tive*ly, adv. -- De*scrip"tive*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. descrivre. See Describe. ] To describe. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being discriminated. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. discriminalis serving to divide. ] In palmistry, applied to the line which marks the separation between the hand and the arm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. discriminans, p. pr. of discriminare. ] (Math.) The eliminant of the n partial differentials of any homogenous function of n variables. See Eliminant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. discriminatus, p. p. of discriminare to divide, separate, fr. discrimen division, distinction, decision, fr. discernere. See Discern, and cf. Criminate. ] Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Discriminated p. pr. & vb. n. Discriminating ] To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

To discriminate the goats from the sheep. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (a) To treat unequally. (b) (Railroads) To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a discriminating manner; distinctly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being discriminated; distinctness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Marking a difference; distinguishing. -- Dis*crim"i*na`ting*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

And finds with keen discriminating sight,
Black's not so black; -- nor white so very white. Canning. [1913 Webster]

2. making careful or fine distinctions, especially as to quality or accuracy; as, a discriminating observer.
Syn. -- discerning, perspicacious. [PJC]

3. having a refined taste or excellent judgment; as, a discriminating taste. [PJC]

n. [ L. discriminatio the contrasting of opposite thoughts. ] 1. The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences. [ 1913 Webster ]

To make an anxious discrimination between the miracle absolute and providential. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being discriminated, distinguished, or set apart. Sir J. Reynolds. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Railroads) The arbitrary imposition of unequal tariffs for substantially the same service. [ 1913 Webster ]

A difference in rates, not based upon any corresponding difference in cost, constitutes a case of discrimination. A. T. Hadley. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The quality of being discriminating; faculty of nicely distinguishing; acute discernment; as, to show great discrimination in the choice of means. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. That which discriminates; mark of distinction.

Syn. -- Discernment; penetration; clearness; acuteness; judgment; distinction. See Discernment. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Marking a difference; distinguishing; distinctive; characteristic. [ 1913 Webster ]

That peculiar and discriminative form of life. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Observing distinctions; making differences; discriminating. “Discriminative censure.” J. Foster. “Discriminative Providence.” Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With discrimination or distinction. J. Foster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. ] One who discriminates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Discriminative. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. discriminosus, fr. L. discrimen the dangerous, decisive moment. See Discriminate, a. ] Hazardous; dangerous. [ Obs. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. descrivre. See Describe. ] To describe. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. e out, out of + scribere to write. ] Drawn outside of; -- used to designate a circle that touches one of the sides of a given triangle, and also the other two sides produced. [ 1913 Webster ]