n. [ L. adeps, adipis, fat + cera wax: cf. F. adipocere. ] A soft, unctuous, or waxy substance, of a light brown color, into which the fat and muscle tissue of dead bodies sometimes are converted, by long immersion in water or by burial in moist places. It is a result of fatty degeneration. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Naut.) The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cera wax: cf. F. cire. ] (Zool.) The soft naked sheath at the base of the beak of birds of prey, parrots, and some other birds. See Beak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cered p. pr. & vb. n. Cering. ] [ L. cerare, fr. cera wax: cf. F. cirer. ] To wax; to cover or close with wax. Wiseman. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Cerealis pert. to Ceres, and hence, to agriculture. See Ceres. ] Of or pertaining to the grasses which are cultivated for their edible seeds (as wheat, maize, rice, etc.), or to their seeds or grain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any grass cultivated for its edible grain, or the grain itself; -- usually in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L. See Cereal. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. (Antiq.) Public festivals in honor of Ceres. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The cereals. Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A nitrogenous substance closely resembling diastase, obtained from bran, and possessing the power of converting starch into dextrin, sugar, and lactic acid. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The cerebellum. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. (Anat.) of or pertaining to the cerebellum; as, the cerebellar artery. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Cerebellums L. Cerebella /plu>. [ L., dim. of cerebrum brain. ] (Anat.) The large lobe of the hind brain in front of and above the medulla; the little brain. It controls combined muscular action. See Brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. cerebrum brain; akin to Gr. ka`ra head: cf. F. cérébral. See Cheer. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the cerebrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cerebral apoplexy. See under Apoplexy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ A false translation of the Skr. mūrdhanya, lit., head-sounds. ] One of a class of lingual consonants in the East Indian languages. See Lingual, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Prof. W. D. Whitney calls these letters linguals, and this is their usual designation in the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Philos.) The doctrine or theory that psychical phenomena are functions or products of the brain only. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who accepts cerebralism. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. (Physiol.) To exhibit mental activity; to have the brain in action. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Action of the brain, whether conscious or unconscious. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cerebric acid (Physiol. Chem.), a name formerly sometimes given to cerebrin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Brain power. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cerebrum + -form. ] Like the brain in form or substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cerebrum + L. fugere to flee. ] (Physiol.) Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the brain to the spinal cord, and so transfer cerebral impulses (centrifugal impressions) outwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Cerebrum. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A nonphosphorized, nitrogenous substance, obtained from brain and nerve tissue by extraction with boiling alcohol. It is uncertain whether it exists as such in nerve tissue, or is a product of the decomposition of some more complex substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cerebrum + L. petere to seek. ] (Physiol.) Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the spinal cord to the brain and so transfer sensations (centripetal impressions) from the exterior inwards. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., fr. E. cerebrum + -itis. ] (Med.) Inflammation of the cerebrum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cerebrum + -oid. ] Resembling, or analogous to, the cerebrum or brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cerebrum + -logy. ] The science which treats of the cerebrum or brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cerebrum + Gr. &unr_; suffering. ] (Med.) A hypochondriacal condition verging upon insanity, occurring in those whose brains have been unduly taxed; -- called also brain fag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cerebrum + -scopy. ] (Med.) Examination of the brain for the diagnosis of disease; esp., the act or process of diagnosticating the condition of the brain by examination of the interior of the eye (as with an ophthalmoscope). Buck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Cerebrum. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A sugarlike body obtained by the decomposition of the nitrogenous non-phosphorized principles of the brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cerebrum + spinal. ] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cerebro-spinal fluid (Physiol.), a serous fluid secreted by the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. --
Cerebro-spinal meningitis,
Cerebro-spinal fever (Med.), a dangerous epidemic, and endemic, febrile disease, characterized by inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, giving rise to severe headaches, tenderness of the back of the neck, paralysis of the ocular muscles, etc. It is sometimes marked by a cutaneous eruption, when it is often called spotted fever. It is not contagious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Cerebrums L. Cerebra [ L., the brain. ] (Anat.) The anterior, and in man the larger, division of the brain; the seat of the reasoning faculties and the will. See Brain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cera wax + E. cloth. ] A cloth smeared with melted wax, or with some gummy or glutinous matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

Linen, besmeared with gums, in manner of cerecloth. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cera wax: cf. F. cirement. ] (a) A cerecloth used for the special purpose of enveloping a dead body when embalmed. (b) Any shroud or wrapping for the dead. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. caerimonialis: cf. F. cérimonial. See Ceremony. ] 1. Relating to ceremony, or external rite; ritual; according to the forms of established rites. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ceremonial observances and outward show. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Observant of forms; ceremonious. [ In this sense ceremonious is now preferred. ] Donne. [ 1913 Webster ]

He moves in the dull ceremonial track. Druden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A system of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by law, or established by custom, in religious worship, social intercourse, or the courts of princes; outward form. [ 1913 Webster ]

The gorgeous ceremonial of the Burgundian court. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The order for rites and forms in the Roman Catholic church, or the book containing the rules prescribed to be observed on solemn occasions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Adherence to external rites; fondness for ceremony. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. According to rites and ceremonies; as, a person ceremonially unclean. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being ceremonial. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. cérémonieux, L. Caerimoniosus. ] 1. Consisting of outward forms and rites; ceremonial. [ In this sense ceremonial is now preferred. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The ceremonious part of His worship. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. According to prescribed or customary rules and forms; devoted to forms and ceremonies; formally respectful; punctilious. “Ceremonious phrases.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Too ceremonious and traditional. Shak.

Syn. -- Formal; precise; exact. See Formal. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a ceremonious way. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality, or practice, of being ceremonious. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Ceremonies [ F. cérémonie, L. caerimonia; perh. akin to E. create and from a root signifying to do or make. ] 1. Ar act or series of acts, often of a symbolical character, prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in consecrating a church; marriage and baptismal ceremonies. [ 1913 Webster ]

According to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof shall ye keep it [ the Passover ]. Numb. ix. 3 [ 1913 Webster ]

Bring her up the high altar, that she may
The sacred ceremonies there partake. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ The heralds ] with awful ceremony
And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim
A solemn council. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Behavior regulated by strict etiquette; a formal method of performing acts of civility; forms of civility prescribed by custom or authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ceremony was but devised at first
To set a gloss on . . . hollow welcomes . . .
But where there is true friendship there needs none. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Al ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet a man of the world should know them. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A ceremonial symbols; an emblem, as a crown, scepter, garland, etc. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Disrobe the images,
If you find them decked with ceremonies.
. . . Let no images
Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A sign or prodigy; a portent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies,
Yet, now they fright me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Master of ceremonies, an officer who determines the forms to be observed, or superintends their observance, on a public occasion. --
Not to stand on ceremony, not to be ceremonious; to be familiar, outspoken, or bold. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. cereus, fr. cera was. ] Waxen; like wax. [ Obs. ] Gayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., Ceres, also corn, grain, akin to E. create. ] 1. (Class. Myth.) The daughter of Saturn and Ops or Rhea, the goddess of corn and tillage. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Actron.) The first discovered asteroid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cera wax. ] (Chem.) A white wax, made by bleaching and purifying ozocerite, and used as a substitute for beeswax. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., a wax candle, fr. cera wax. So named from the resemblance of one species to the columnar shape of a wax candle. ] (Bot.) A genus of plants of the Cactus family. They are natives of America, from California to Chili. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Although several species flower in the night, the name Night-blooming cereus is specially applied to the Cereus grandiflorus, which is cultivated for its beautiful, shortlived flowers. The Cereus giganteus, whose columnar trunk is sometimes sixty feet in height, is a striking feature of the scenery of New Mexico, Texas, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ G., fr. L. cerevisia, cervisia, beer. ] A small visorless cap, worn by members of German student corps. It is made in the corps colors, and usually bears the insignia of the corps. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A female dancer. [ Obs. ] Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. excerebratus deprived of brains; ex out + cerebrum brain. ] The act of removing or beating out the brains. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Excerebration. ] Brainless. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]