{ } a. Counteracting, or preserving from, putrefaction; antiseptic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. arefacere to dry. ] The act of drying, or the state of growing dry. [ 1913 Webster ]

The arefaction of the earth. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. With the face uncovered; not masked. “You will play barefaced.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without concealment; undisguised. Hence: Shameless; audacious; as, a barefaced lie. “Barefaced treason.” J. Baillie. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Openly; shamelessly. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being barefaced; shamelessness; assurance; audaciousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. préface; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See Fate. ] 1. Something spoken as introductory to a discourse, or written as introductory to a book or essay; a proem; an introduction, or series of preliminary remarks. [ 1913 Webster ]

This superficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heaven's high behest no preface needs. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (R. C. Ch.) The prelude or introduction to the canon of the Mass. Addis & Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

Proper preface (Ch. of Eng. & Prot. Epis. Ch.), a portion of the communion service, preceding the prayer of consecration, appointed for certain seasons. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Introduction; preliminary; preamble; proem; prelude; prologue. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Prefaced p. pr. & vb. n. Prefacing. ] To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The writer of a preface. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. putrefactio: cf. F. putréfaction. See Putrefy. ] 1. The act or the process of putrefying; the offensive decay of albuminous or other matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Putrefaction is a complex phenomenon involving a multiplicity of chemical reactions, always accompanied by, and without doubt caused by, bacteria and vibriones; hence, putrefaction is a form of fermentation, and is sometimes called putrefaction fermentative. Putrefaction is not possible under conditions that preclude the development of living organisms. Many of the products of putrefaction are powerful poisons, and are called cadaveric poisons, or ptomaïnes. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The condition of being putrefied; also, that which putrefied. “Putrefaction's breath.” Shelley. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. putréfactif. See Putrefy. ] 1. Of or pertaining to putrefaction; as, the putrefactive smell or process. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Causing, or tending to promote, putrefaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pu``tre*fac"tive*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Cf. F. raréfaction. See Rarefy. ] The act or process of rarefying; the state of being rarefied; -- opposed to condensation; as, the rarefaction of air. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Refection. ] Recompense; atonement; retribution. [ Obs. ] Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. torrefacere, torrefactum, to torrefy: cf. F. torréfaction. See Torrefy. ] The act or process of torrefying, or the state of being torrefied. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]