n. 1. a neurotransmitter released by the transmitting dendron at autononmous synapses and at neuromuscular junctions. It is a quaternary amine with an obligatory negative counterion. The nominal formula for the hydroxide form is C7H17NO3. Structural formula (CH3)3N(+)CH2CH2.O.CO.CH3.OH(-). Acetylcholine is the first recognized and best-studied of the neurotransmitters. At receptors it is recycled into choline by the action of acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors therefore function as nerve poisons. For biochemical studies it is prepared typically in the chloride or bromide forms. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. an enzyme which exists in nerve cells and hydrolyses acetylcholine into choline and acetic acid. It is essential for neurotransmission at autonomous synapses and neuromuscular junctions, and its inhibition by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors can paralyze or kill an animal.
Syn. -- ACE [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. 'acholi`a; 'a priv. + cholh` bile. ] (Med.) Deficiency or lack of bile. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. alcolique. ] Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities; derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as, alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. Alcoholic liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcoolisme. ] 1. (Med.) Chronic excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages that leads to social, occupational, psychological and physiological problems. [ AS ]

2. (Med.) Psychological and physiological dependence on alcohol; sudden cessation of drinking may lead to withdrawal symptoms. [ AS + PJC ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcoolisation. ] 1. The act of reducing a substance to a fine or impalpable powder. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act rectifying spirit. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Saturation with alcohol; putting the animal system under the influence of alcoholic liquor. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Alcoholized p. pr. & vb. n. Alcoholizing. ] [ Cf. F. alcooliser. ] 1. To reduce to a fine powder. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To convert into alcohol; to rectify; also, to saturate with alcohol. [ 1913 Webster ]

a., Of or pertaining to a church modeled on the English Reformation; Anglican; -- sometimes restricted to the ritualistic or High Church section of the Church of England. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A member of the Church of England who contends for its catholic character; more specifically, a High Churchman. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The belief of those in the Church of England who accept many doctrines and practices which they maintain were those of the primitive, or true, Catholic Church, of which they consider the Church of England to be the lineal descendant; a doctrine and practice within the Church of England emphasizing the Catholic tradition.
Syn. -- High Anglicanism [ Webster 1913 Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. 'a`nqos flower + -lite. ] (Paleon.) A fossil plant, like a petrified flower. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earth.
Syn. -- batholith, pluton, plutonic rock. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. baqo`s depth + -lith. ] A large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earth.
Syn. -- batholite, pluton, plutonic rock. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. Of or pertaining to a batholith. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

The time between daylight and candle light. [ Humorous ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. catholicus, Gr. kaqoliko`s, universal, general; kata` down, wholly + "o`los whole, probably akin to E. solid: cf. F. catholique.] 1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith. [1913 Webster]

Men of other countries [came] to bear their part in so great and catholic a war. Southey. [1913 Webster]

☞ This epithet, which is applicable to the whole Christian church, or its faith, is claimed by Roman Catholics to belong especially to their church, and in popular usage is so limited. [1913 Webster]

2. Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic tastes. [1913 Webster]

3. Of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the Catholic emancipation act. [1913 Webster]

Catholic epistles, the epistles of the apostles which are addressed to all the faithful, and not to a particular church; being those of James, Peter, Jude, and John. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by all parts of the orthodox Christian church. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic. [ 1913 Webster ]

Old Catholic, the name assumed in 1870 by members of the Roman Catholic church, who denied the ecumenical character of the Vatican Council, and rejected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Catholic. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. catholicisme. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The faith of the whole orthodox Christian church, or adherence thereto. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The doctrines or faith of the Roman Catholic church, or adherence thereto. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state or quality of being catholic; universality. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Liberality of sentiments; catholicism. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Adherence or conformity to the system of doctrine held by all parts of the orthodox Christian church; the doctrine so held; orthodoxy. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Adherence to the doctrines of the church of Rome, or the doctrines themselves. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. To make or to become catholic or Roman Catholic. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a catholic manner; generally; universally. Sir L. Cary. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being catholic; universality; catholicity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;, neut. &unr_;, universal. See Catholic. ] (Med.) A remedy for all diseases; a panacea. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Catholic. ] (Eccl.) The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who resides at Etchmiadzin, Russia, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over, and consecrates the holy oil for, the Armenians of Russia, Turkey, and Persia, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Sis. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The Patriarch of Constantinople is the civil head of the Armenians in Turkey. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. choliambus, Gr. &unr_;; &unr_; lame + &unr_; an iambus. ] (Pros.) A verse having an iambus in the fifth place, and a spondee in the sixth or last. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; bile. ] (Physiol. Chem.) See Neurine. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;, from &unr_; bile. ] (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, the bile. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cholic acid (Chem.), a complex organic acid found as a natural constituent of taurocholic and glycocholic acids in the bile, and extracted as a resinous substance, convertible under the influence of ether into white crystals. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. ky`aqos a cup + -lith. ] (Biol.) A kind of coccolith, which in shape resembles a minute cup widened at the top, and varies in size from 1/6000 to 1/8000 of an inch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. dia- + catholicon. ] (Med.) A universal remedy; -- a name formerly given to a purgative electuary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol. Chem.) Pertaining to, or composed of, glycocoll and cholic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

Glycocholic acid (Physiol. Chem.), a conjugate acid, composed of glycocoll and cholic acid, present in bile in the form of a sodium salt. The acid commonly forms a resinous mass, but can be crystallized in long, white needles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. gra`fein to write + -lite: cf. F. grapholithe. ] Any species of slate suitable to be written on. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a day on which half of the day is free from work or duty; a holiday of one half of a day. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) See Halibut. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] See Halidom. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Holy + day. ] 1. A consecrated day; religious anniversary; a day set apart in honor of some person, or in commemoration of some event. See Holyday. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A day of exemption from labor; a day of amusement and gayety; a festival day. [ 1913 Webster ]

And young and old come forth to play
On a sunshine holiday. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) A day fixed by law for suspension of business; a legal holiday. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the United States legal holidays, so called, are determined by law, commonly by the statutes of the several States. The holidays most generally observed are: the 22d day of February (Washington's birthday), the 30th day of May (Memorial day), the 4th day of July (Independence day), the 25th day of December (Christmas day). In most of the States the 1st day of January is a holiday. When any of these days falls on Sunday, usually the Monday following is observed as the holiday. In many of the States a day in the spring (as Good Friday, or the first Thursday in April), and a day in the fall (as the last Thursday in November) are now regularly appointed by Executive proclamation to be observed, the former as a day of fasting and prayer, the latter as a day of thanksgiving and are kept as holidays. In England, the days of the greater church feasts (designated in the calendar by a red letter, and commonly called red-letter days) are observed as general holidays. Bank holidays are those on which, by act of Parliament, banks may suspend business. Although Sunday is a holiday in the sense of a day when business is legally suspended, it is not usually included in the general term, the phrase “Sundays and holidays” being more common. [ 1913 Webster ]

The holidays, any fixed or usual period for relaxation or festivity; especially, Christmas and New Year's day with the intervening time. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to a festival; cheerful; joyous; gay. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Occurring rarely; adapted for a special occasion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Courage is but a holiday kind of virtue, to be seldom exercised. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. being excessively or hypocritically pious while condemning others as being less virtuous than oneself.
Syn. -- pietistic, pietistical, pharisaic, pharisaical, sanctimonious, self-righteous. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adv. [ From Holy. ] 1. Piously; with sanctity; in a holy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sacredly; inviolably. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. hālignes. ] 1. The state or quality of being holy; perfect moral integrity or purity; freedom from sin; sanctity; innocence. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who is like thee, glorious in holiness! Ex. xv. 11. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being hallowed, or consecrated to God or to his worship; sacredness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Israel was holiness unto the Lord. Jer.ii.3. [ 1913 Webster ]

His holiness, a title of the pope; -- formerly given also to Greek bishops and Greek emperors.

Syn. -- Piety; devotion; godliness; sanctity; sacredness; righteousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Hole a hollow. ] (Mining) Undercutting in a bed of coal, in order to bring down the upper mass. Raymond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; rice straw + -lite: cf. F. carpholithe. ] (Min.) A fibrous mineral occurring in tufts of a straw-yellow color. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and manganese. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. (Zool.) A South African lemur (Galago maholi), having very large ears. [ Written also moholi. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. See Melancholy. ] (Med.) A kind of mental unsoundness characterized by extreme depression of spirits, ill-grounded fears, delusions, and brooding over one particular subject or train of ideas. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic. [ Obs. ] Dr. J. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. melancholicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. mélancholique. ] Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; unhappy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Just as the melancholic eye
Sees fleets and armies in the sky. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Obs. ] 1. One affected with a gloomy state of mind. J. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A gloomy state of mind; melancholy. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a melancholy manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

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