n. (Fort.) A small intrenchment or work of palisades, or of sacks of earth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cavity which leads into the stomach, as in birds. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attested; p. pr. & vb. n. Attesting. ] [ L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester. ] 1. To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine; as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record. [ 1913 Webster ]

Facts . . . attested by particular pagan authors. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its ancient magnificence. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To call to witness; to invoke. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state
Attests in oaths, and fears to violate. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Witness; testimony; attestation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The attest of eyes and ears. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Law) a person who attests to the genuineness of a document or signature by adding their own signature.
Syn. -- witness. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. attestatio: cf. F. attestation. ] The act of attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an attestation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of attestation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Attesting; furnishing evidence. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. One who attests. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ After E. Becchi, Italian chemist. ] (Chem.) A qualitative test for cottonseed oil, based on the fact this oil imparts a maroon color to an alcoholic solution of silver nitrate. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Contested; p. pr. & vb. n. Contesting. ] [ F. contester, fr. L. contestari to call to witness, contestari litem to introduce a lawsuit by calling witnesses, to bring an action; con- + testari to be a witness, testic witness. See Testify. ] 1. To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to controvert; to oppose; to dispute. [ 1913 Webster ]

The people . . . contested not what was done. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty repeated, few more contested than this. J. D. Morell. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law; to controvert. [ 1913 Webster ]

To contest an election. (Polit.) (a) To strive to be elected. (b) To dispute the declared result of an election.

Syn. -- To dispute; controvert; debate; litigate; oppose; argue; contend. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To engage in contention, or emulation; to contend; to strive; to vie; to emulate; -- followed usually by with. [ 1913 Webster ]

The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with it, when there are hopes of victory. Bp. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate; altercation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Earnest struggle for superiority, victory, defense, etc.; competition; emulation; strife in arms; conflict; combat; encounter. [ 1913 Webster ]

The late battle had, in effect, been a contest between one usurper and another. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

It was fully expected that the contest there would be long and fierce. Macaulay.

Syn. -- Conflict; combat; battle; encounter; shock; struggle; dispute; altercation; debate; controvesy; difference; disagreement; strife. -- Contest, Conflict, Combat, Encounter. Contest is the broadest term, and had originally no reference to actual fighting. It was, on the contrary, a legal term signifying to call witnesses, and hence came to denote first a struggle in argument, and then a struggle for some common object between opposing parties, usually one of considerable duration, and implying successive stages or acts. Conflict denotes literally a close personal engagement, in which sense it is applied to actual fighting. It is, however, more commonly used in a figurative sense to denote strenuous or direct opposition; as, a mental conflict; conflicting interests or passions; a conflict of laws. An encounter is a direct meeting face to face. Usually it is a hostile meeting, and is then very nearly coincident with conflict; as, an encounter of opposing hosts. Sometimes it is used in a looser sense; as, “this keen encounter of our wits.” Shak. Combat is commonly applied to actual fighting, but may be used figuratively in reference to a strife or words or a struggle of feeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. contestable. ] Capable of being contested; debatable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. contestant. ] One who contests; an opponent; a litigant; a disputant; one who claims that which has been awarded to another. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. contestatio testimony: cf. F. contestation a contesting. ] 1. The act of contesting; emulation; rivalry; strife; dispute. “Loverlike contestation.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

After years spent in domestic, unsociable contestations, she found means to withdraw. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proof by witness; attestation; testimony. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A solemn contestation ratified on the part of God. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a contending manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Detested; p. pr. & vb. n. Detesting. ] [ L. detestare, detestatum, and detestari, to curse while calling a deity to witness, to execrate, detest; de + testari to be a witness, testify, testis a witness: cf. F. détester. See Testify. ] 1. To witness against; to denounce; to condemn. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The heresy of Nestorius . . . was detested in the Eastern churches. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

God hath detested them with his own mouth. Bale. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To hate intensely; to abhor; to abominate; to loathe; as, we detest what is contemptible or evil. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who dares think one thing, and another tell,
My heart detests him as the gates of hell. Pope.

Syn. -- To abhor; abominate; execrate. See Hate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Capacity of being odious. [ R. ] Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. detestabilis: cf. F. détestable. ] Worthy of being detested; abominable; extremely hateful; very odious; deserving abhorrence; as, detestable vices. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast defiled my sanctuary will all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations. Ezek. v. 11.

Syn. -- Abominable; odious; execrable; abhorred. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being detestable. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a detestable manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To detest. [ Obs. ] Udall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. detestatio: cf. F. détestation. ] The act of detesting; extreme hatred or dislike; abhorrence; loathing. [ 1913 Webster ]

We are heartily agreed in our detestation of civil war. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who detests. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to test something in the field, i. e. under the actual conditions under which it will be used; as, The Army field-tested the new tanks. Used in contrast with testing in a laboratory or under controlled conditions.
Syn. -- field test. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. A fruiteress. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gastro- + -intestinal. ] (Anat. & Med.) Of or pertaining to the stomach and intestines; gastroenteric. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. [ superl. of great. ] 1. not to be surpassed.
Syn. -- top. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. largest in size of those under consideration.
Syn. -- biggest, largest. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. most of. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. highest in importance or degree or significance or achievement; most eminent; as, our greatest statesmen.
Syn. -- leading(prenominal), preeminent. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. highest in quality.
Syn. -- sterling(prenominal), superlative. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The quality or state of being incontestable. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. in- not + contestable: cf. F. incontestable. ] Not contestable; not to be disputed; that cannot be called in question or controverted; incontrovertible; indisputable; as, incontestable evidence, truth, or facts. Locke.

Syn. -- Incontrovertible; indisputable; irrefragable; undeniable; unquestionable; intuitable; certain.

-- In`con*test"a*ble*ness, n. -- In`con*test"a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not contested. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. intestabilis: cf. F. intestable. See In- not, and Testable. ] (Law) Not capable of making a will; not legally qualified or competent to make a testament. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Intestate. ] The state of being intestate, or of dying without having made a valid will. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. intestatus; pref. in- not + testatus, p. p. of testari to make a will: cf. F. intestat. See Testament. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Without having made a valid will; without a will; as, to die intestate. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Airy succeeders of intestate joys. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not devised or bequeathed; not disposed of by will; as, an intestate estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Law) A person who dies without making a valid will. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. intestinal. ] Of or pertaining to the intestines of an animal; as, the intestinal tube; intestinal digestion; intestinal enzymes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Intestinal canal. Same as Intestine, n. --
Intestinal worm (Zool.), any species of helminth living in the intestinal canal of any animal. The species are numerous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. intestinus, fr. intus on the inside, within, fr. in in: cf. F. intestine. See In. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Internal; inward; -- opposed to external. [ 1913 Webster ]

Epilepsies, fierce catarrhs,
Intestine stone and ulcers. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Internal with regard to a state or country; domestic; not foreign; -- applied usually to that which is evil; as, intestine disorders, calamities, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hoping here to end
Intestine war in heaven, the arch foe subdued. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

An intestine struggle . . . between authority and liberty. Hume. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Depending upon the internal constitution of a body or entity; subjective. [ 1913 Webster ]

Everything labors under an intestine necessity. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Shut up; inclosed. [ R. ] Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Intestines [ L. intestinum: cf. F. intestin. See Intestine, a. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Anat.) That part of the alimentary canal between the stomach and the anus. See Illust. of Digestive apparatus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. The bowels; entrails; viscera. [ 1913 Webster ]

Large intestine (Human Anat. & Med.), the lower portion of the bowel, terminating at the anus. It is adapted for the retention of fecal matter, being shorter, broader, and less convoluted than the small intestine; it consists of three parts, the cæcum, colon, and rectum. --
Small intestine (Human Anat. & Med.), the upper portion of the bowel, in which the process of digestion is practically completed. It is narrow and contorted, and consists of three parts, the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ l. lien the spleen + E. intestinal. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the spleen and intestine; as, the lieno-intestinal vein of the frog. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Chem.) A test to determine acidity or alkalinity, using litmus as an inddicator. [ PJC ]

2. Hence: (Fig.) A test for a single factor, which has only two outcomes, positive or negative; specifically: (Politics) the question of whether a candidate for office is for or against a particular position on an issue; -- used, e.g. by voters concerned predominantly with a single issue, to decide whether to vote for or against a candidate; as, many voters take a candidate's position on abortion as their litmus test. [ PJC ]

n. [ Corrupted fr. lustring. ] A plain, stout, lustrous silk, used for ladies' dresses and for ribbon. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. (Med.) A skin test for hypersensitivity to tuberculin. It determines whether there is or has been any infection with tubercle bacilli. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obtested; p. pr. & vb. n. Obtesting. ] [ L. obtestari; ob (see Ob-) + testari to witness, fr. testis a witness. ] 1. To call to witness; to invoke as a witness. [ R. ] Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To beseech; to supplicate; to beg for. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To protest. [ R. ] E. Waterhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. obtestatio. ] The act of obtesting; supplication; protestation. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Antonio asserted this with great obtestation. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Ovum, and Testis. ] (Zool.) An organ which produces both ova and spermatozoids; an hermaphrodite gland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A chief ruler; a potentate. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. “An irous potestate.” Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. potestativus, fr. potestas power: cf. F. potestatif. See Potent. ] Authoritative. [ Obs. ] Bp. Pearson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Protested; p. pr. & vb. n. Protesting. ] [ F. protester, L. protestari, pro before + testari to be a witness, testis a witness. See Testify. ] 1. To affirm in a public or formal manner; to bear witness; to declare solemnly; to avow. [ 1913 Webster ]

He protest that his measures are pacific. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make a solemn declaration (often a written one) expressive of opposition; -- with against; as, he protest against your votes. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

The conscience has power . . . to protest againts the exorbitancies of the passions. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To affirm; asseverate; assert; aver; attest; testify; declare; profess. See Affirm. [ 1913 Webster ]