a. (Her.) Supported on both sides by other charges; also, side by side. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a steroid having androgenic activity; obtained from the cortex of the adrenal gland. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 a genus comprising the corncockles.
Syn. -- genus Agrostemma. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; unequal + &unr_; warp, thread; &unr_; to stand. ] (Bot.) Having unequal stamens; having stamens different in number from the petals. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ See Aposteme. ] To form an abscess; to swell and fill with pus. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. apostematio: cf. F. apostémation. ] (Med.) The formation of an aposteme; the process of suppuration. [ Written corruptly imposthumation. ] Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or partaking of the nature of, an aposteme. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. apostema, Gr. &unr_; the separation of corrupt matter into an ulcer, fr. &unr_; to stand off: cf. F. apostème. See Apostasy. ] (Med.) An abscess; a swelling filled with purulent matter. [ Written corruptly imposthume. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L. a (ab) + posterior latter. ] 1. (Logic) Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Philos.) Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. One whose occupation is to post handbills or posters in public places. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Elec.) An instrument for regulating the electro-motive force in an alternating-current circuit; -- so called because used to “boost”, or raise, the pressure in the circuit. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. an enthusiastic supporter. [ PJC ]

3. the first stage of a multistage rocket, providing all or part of the driving force at lift-off and until the second stage ignites, whether or not the booster stage is detached after the fuel is spent. Also called booster rocket. In some cases, a booster has been used to assist the takeoff of airplanes. [ PJC ]

4. (Med.) an immunizing medication given after an initial immunizing treatment, to provide increased or extended immunity. Also called booster dose. When in the form of an injection, it may be called a booster shot. [ PJC ]

5. any auxiliary device or part of a device to provide increased power, force, or effectiveness, as with a pumping device. [ PJC ]

6. (Mil.) an explosive charge which is more powerful than a primer, used in conjunction with a primer to assure detonation of the main charge. Integrated blasting caps containing separate compartments for primer and booster are used as detonators for certain explosives. [ PJC ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; gill + &unr_; to cover: cf. F. branchiostège. ] (Anat.) Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes. -- n. (Anat.) A branchiostegal ray. See Illustration of Branchial arches in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having boneless branchiæ. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been rejected. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Anat.) The branchiostegal membrane. See Illustration in Appendix. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Branchiostegal. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; cartilage + &unr_; bone. ] (Zool.) An order of fishes, including the sturgeons; -- so named because the skeleton is cartilaginous. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. &unr_; grain, seed + &unr_; bone. ] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of Devonian ganoid fishes, having the broad plates about the head studded with berrylike tubercles. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. ] (Zool.) One of the Conirostres. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a steroid compound produced by the adrenal cortex, or a synthetic analog of such a compound.
Syn. -- corticoid. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any of several steroid compounds secreted by the adrenal cortex; they are involved in regulating water and electrolyte balance in the body. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. [ Cornish cothas dropped + stean tin. ] To search after lodes. See Costeaning. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process by which miners seek to discover metallic lodes. It consist in sinking small pits through the superficial deposits to the solid rock, and then driving from one pit to another across the direction of the vein, in such manner as to cross all the veins between the two pits. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. costa rib. ] Finely ribbed or costated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Abbrev. of costermonger. ] One who hawks about fruit, green vegetables, fish, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Costard. ] An apple seller; a hawker of, or dealer in, any kind of fruit or vegetables; a fruiterer. [ Written also costardmonger. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A device that removes ice or frost (as from a windshield or a refrigerator or the wings of an airplane).
Syn. -- deicer. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n.; pl. Dentirostres [ NL., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth + rostrum bill, beak: cf. F. dentirostre. ] (Zool.) A dentirostral bird. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; double + &unr_; the warp, a thread. ] (Bot.) Having twice as many stamens as petals, as the geranium. R. Brown. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The condition of being diplostemonous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to ectostosis; as, ectosteal ossification. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Relating to endostosis; as, endosteal ossification. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Endo- + sternum. ] (Zoöl.) The part of each apodeme derived from the intersternal membrane in Crustacea and insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_; + &unr_; a bone. ] (Anat.) The layer of vascular connective tissue lining the medullary cavities of bone. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Entosterna [ NL. See Ento-, and Sternum. ] (Anat.) See Entoplastron. -- En`to*ster"nal a. [1913 Webster]

n. a plant sterol that is converted into vitamin D by ultraviolet radiation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. fibra a fiber + gr. cho`ndros cartilage + 'oste`on bone. ] (Anat.) Partly fibrous, partly cartilaginous, and partly osseous. St. George Mivart. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be nourished or trained up together. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fostered p. pr. & vb. n. Fostering. ] [ OE. fostren, fr. AS. fōster, fōstor, food, nourishment, fr. fōda food. √75. See Food. ] 1. To feed; to nourish; to support; to bring up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Some say that ravens foster forlorn children. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cherish; to promote the growth of; to encourage; to sustain and promote; as, to foster genius. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ AS. fōster, fōstor, nourishment. See Foster, v. t. ] Relating to nourishment; affording, receiving, or sharing nourishment or nurture; -- applied to father, mother, child, brother, etc., to indicate that the person so called stands in the relation of parent, child, brother, etc., as regards sustenance and nurture, but not by tie of blood. [ 1913 Webster ]

Foster babe or
Foster child, an infant or child nursed or raised by a woman not its mother, or bred by a man not its father. --
Foster brother,
Foster sister, one who is, or has been, nursed at the same breast, or brought up by the same nurse as another, but is not of the same parentage. --
Foster dam, one who takes the place of a mother; a nurse. Dryden. --
Foster earth, earth by which a plant is nourished, though not its native soil. J. Philips. --
Foster father, a man who takes the place of a father in caring for a child. Bacon. --
Foster land. (a) Land allotted for the maintenance of any one. [ Obs. ] (b) One's adopted country. --
Foster lean [ foster + AS. læn a loan See Loan. ], remuneration fixed for the rearing of a foster child; also, the jointure of a wife. [ Obs. ] Wharton. --
Foster mother, a woman who takes a mother's place in the nurture and care of a child; a nurse. --
Foster nurse, a nurse; a nourisher. [ R. ] Shak. --
Foster parent, a foster mother or foster father. --
Foster son, a male foster child. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A forester. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The care of a foster child; the charge of nursing. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

n. [ AS. fōstorling. ] A foster child. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Food; nourishment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A large bedstead with tall posts at the corners to support a canopy or curtains. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Covered with hoarfrost or anything resembling hoarfrost; ornamented with frosting; also, frost-bitten; as, a frosted cake; frosted donuts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Provided with a surface finish which is matte or with a very fine grain, reminiscent of the surface texture of frost; as, frosted glass. Opposed to polished or burnished. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Frosted work is introduced as a foil or contrast to burnished work. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gastro- + Gr. &unr_; roof. ] (Zool.) One of the large scales on the belly of a serpent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gna`qos the jaw + &unr_; a roof. ] (Zool.) One of a pair of broad plates, developed from the outer maxillipeds of crabs, and forming a cover for the other mouth organs. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. "aplo`os simple + sth`mwn a thread.] (Bot.) Having but one series of stamens, and that equal in number to the proper number of petals; isostemonous. [1913 Webster]

n. [ F. hectostère; Gr. &unr_; hundred + F. stère. ] A measure of solidity, containing one hundred cubic meters, and equivalent to 3531.66 English or 3531.05 United States cubic feet. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) same as shingles; -- a form of herpes caused by the varicella-zoster virus. [ PJC ]