a. [ F. See Abstain. ] The act of abstaining; a holding aloof. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characterized by abstinence; self-restraining. Farrar. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Existing at the same time with another. -- n. That which coexists with another. [ 1913 Webster ]

The law of coexistent vibrations. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consistens, p. pr.: cf. F. consistant. ] 1. Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid. [ 1913 Webster ]

The humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having agreement with itself or with something else; having harmony among its parts; possesing unity; accordant; harmonious; congruous; compatible; uniform; not contradictory. [ 1913 Webster ]

Show me one that has it in his power
To act consistent with himself an hour. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

With reference to such a lord, to serve and to be free are terms not consistent only, but equivalent. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Living or acting in conformity with one's belief or professions. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was utterly to be at once a consistent Quaker and a conspirator. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a consistent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. distentus, p. p. See Distend. ] Distended. [ Poetic ] Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Breadth. [ Obs. ] Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. distentio: cf. F. distension. ] 1. The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or in all directions; the state of being Distended; as, the distention of the lungs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Breadth; extent or space occupied by the thing distended. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. existens, -entis, p. pr. of existere. See Exist. ] Having being or existence; existing; being; occurring now; taking place. [ 1913 Webster ]

The eyes and mind are fastened on objects which have no real being, as if they were truly existent. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having existence. [ Archaic ] Bp. Barlow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. of or pertaining to, or having the character of, existentialism. [ PJC ]

3. (Logic) specifying actual existence, rather than only possibility; as, the existential operator. [ PJC ]

--Ex`is*ten"tial*ly, adv. [Archaic] [1913 Webster]

Existentially as well as essentially intelligent. Colerige. [1913 Webster]

n. (Philosophy) a philosophical theory or attitude having various interpretations, generally emphasising the existence of the individual as a unique agent with free will and responsibility for his or her own acts, though living in a universe devoid of any certain knowledge of right and wrong; from one's plight as a free agent with uncertain guidelines may arise feelings of anguish. Existentialism is concerned more with concrete existence rather than abstract theories of essences; is contrasted with rationalism and empiricism; and is associated with Kierkegaard, Heidegger and Sartre, as well as others. [ PJC ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + consistent: cf. F. inconsistant. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Not consistent; showing inconsistency; irreconcilable; contradictory, or having contradictory implications; discordant; at variance, esp. as regards character, sentiment, or action; incompatible; incongruous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Compositions of this nature . . . show that wisdom and virtue are far from being inconsistent with politeness and good humor. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not exhibiting uniformity of sentiment, steadiness to principle, etc.; unequal; fickle; changeable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ah, how unjust to nature, and himself,
Is thoughtless, thankless, inconsistent man. Young.

Syn. -- Incompatible; incongruous; irreconcilable; discordant; repugnant; contradictory. -- Inconsistent, Incongruous, Incompatible. Things are incongruous when they are not suited to each other, so that their union is unbecoming; inconsistent when they are opposed to each other, so as render it improper or wrong; incompatible when they can not coexist, and it is therefore impossible to unite them. Habitual levity of mind is incongruous with the profession of a clergyman; it is inconsistent with his ordination vows; it is incompatible with his permanent usefulness. Incongruity attaches to the modes and qualities of things; incompatibility attaches to their essential attributes; inconsistency attaches to the actions, sentiments, etc., of men. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an inconsistent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Inconsistency. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- in + existent: cf. F. inexistant. ] Not having being; not existing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- in + existent. ] Inherent; innate; indwelling. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. insistens, -entis, p. pr. of insistere. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Standing or resting on something; as, an insistent wall. Sir H. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Insisting; persistent; persevering. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) See Incumbent. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an insistent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not having existence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ostentus, ostentum, fr. ostendere (p. p. ostensus and ostentus) to show. See Ostensible. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Appearance; air; mien. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Manifestation; token; portent. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

We asked of God that some ostent might clear
Our cloudy business, who gave us sign. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. ostentatus, p. p. of ostentare, v. intens. fr. ostendere. See Ostent. ] To make an ambitious display of; to show or exhibit boastingly. [ R. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ostentatio: cf. F. ostentation. ] 1. The act of ostentating or of making an ambitious display; unnecessary show; pretentious parade; -- usually in a detractive sense. “Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

He knew that good and bountiful minds were sometimes inclined to ostentation. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A show or spectacle. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Parade; pageantry; show; pomp; pompousness; vaunting; boasting. See Parade. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Fond of, or evincing, ostentation; unduly conspicuous; pretentious; boastful. [ 1913 Webster ]

Far from being ostentatious of the good you do. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The ostentatious professions of many years. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Os`ten*ta"tious*ly, adv. -- Os`ten*ta"tious*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One fond of display; a boaster. Sherwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Ostentatious. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Ostentatious. [ Obs. ] Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. persistens, -entis, p. pr. of persistere. See Persist. ] 1. Inclined to persist; having staying qualities; tenacious of position or purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) Remaining beyond the period when parts of the same kind sometimes fall off or are absorbed; permanent; as, persistent teeth or gills; a persistent calyx; -- opposed to deciduous, and caducous. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a persistent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. post- + entry. ] 1. A second or subsequent, at the customhouse, of goods which had been omitted by mistake. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bookkeeping) An additional or subsequent entry. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Existing or living after. [ R. ] “Postexistent atoms.” Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Existing previously; preceding existence; as, a preëxistent state. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philos.) The theory of a preëxistence of souls before their association with human bodies. Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Consistent with one's self or with itself; not deviation from the ordinary standard by which the conduct is guided; logically consistent throughout; having each part consistent with the rest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Existing of or by himself, independent of any other being or cause; -- as, God is the only self-existent being. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Obs. imp. Stente obs. p. p. Stent. ] [ See Stint. ] To keep within limits; to restrain; to cause to stop, or cease; to stint. [ 1913 Webster ]

Then would he weep, he might not be stent. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet n'ould she stent
Her bitter railing and foul revilement. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To stint; to stop; to cease. [ 1913 Webster ]

And of this cry they would never stenten. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An allotted portion; a stint. “Attain'd his journey's stent.” Mir. for Mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An opening in a wall in a coal mine. [ Written also stenton. ] [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Stentor, Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. A herald, in the Iliad, who had a very loud voice; hence, any person having a powerful voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Any species of ciliated Infusoria belonging to the genus Stentor and allied genera, common in fresh water. The stentors have a bell-shaped, or cornucopia-like, body with a circle of cilia around the spiral terminal disk. See Illust. under Heterotricha. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A howling monkey, or howler. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. stentoreus; cf. Gr. &unr_;. ] Of or pertaining to a stentor; extremely loud; powerful; as, a stentorian voice; stentorian lungs. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A blue coloring matter found in some stentors. See Stentor, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stentorian. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Stentorian. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; Stentor + &unr_; a sound, voice. See Stentor. ] Speaking or sounding very loud; stentorian. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of this stentorophonic horn of Alexander there is a preserved in the Vatican. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. subsistens, p. pr. See Subsist. ] 1. Having real being; as, a subsistent spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Inherent; as, qualities subsistent in matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sustentaculum. See Sustentation. ] Sustenance. [ Obs. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Sustenance. ] (Anat.) Supporting; sustaining; as, a sustentacular tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To sustain. [ R. ] C. Reade. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. sustentatio sustenance, maintenance, fr. sustentare to support, maintain, v. intens. fr. sustinere to sustain: cf. F. sustentation. See Sustain. ] 1. The act of sustaining, or the state of being sustained; preservation from falling; support; sustenance; maintenance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physiol.) The aggregate of the functions by which a living organism is maintained in a normal condition of weight and growth. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sustentation fund (Eccl.), a fund of a religious body for support of its ministers, chapels, etc.; as, the sustentation fund of the Free Church of Scotland. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Adapted to sustain, strengthen, or corroborate; as, sustentative citations or quotations. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sustentative functions (Physiol.), those functions of the body which affect its material composition and thus determine its mass. [ 1913 Webster ]