v. i. [ L. accrescere. See Accrue. ] 1. To accrue. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To increase; to grow. [ Obs. ] Gillespie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. accrescentia. ] Continuous growth; an accretion. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The silent accrescence of belief from the unwatched depositions of a general, never contradicted hearsy. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. accrescens, -entis, p. pr. of accrescere; ad + crescere to grow. See Crescent. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Growing; increasing. Shuckford. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Growing larger after flowering. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + crescent. ] Having the form of a double crescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. any of various herbs of the genus Cardamine, having usually pinnate leaves and racemes of white, pink or purple flowers; cosmopolitan except in the Antarctic.
Syn. -- bitter cress. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. concrescentia. ] Coalescence of particles; growth; increase by the addition of particles. [ R. ] Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. ] Capable of being changed from a liquid to a solid state. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They formed a . . . fixed concrescible oil. Fourcroy (Trans. ). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Growing together, or into union; uniting. [ R. ] Eclec. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Crescent. ] Increase; enlargement. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And toward the moon's attractive crescence bend. H. Brooke. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. & adv. [ It., from crescere to increase. See Crescent. ] (Mus.) With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually increasing strength and fullness of tone; -- a direction for the performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word on the score. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) (a) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with which a passage is performed. (b) A passage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of tone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of croître, OF. creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create. See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo. ] 1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge; as: (a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana. (b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence: (c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cross of our faith is replanted,
The pale, dying crescent is daunted. Campbell. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by René of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Her.) The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; -- often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Shaped like a crescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Increasing; growing. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [ R. ] Anna Seward. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To adorn with crescents. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Crescent-shaped. “Crescentic lobes.” R. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the form of a crescent; like a crescent. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. crescere to increase. ] Increasing; growing. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Creosote. ] (Chem.) Any one of three metameric substances, CH3.C6H4.OH, homologous with and resembling phenol. They are obtained from coal tar and wood tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or solids. [ Called also cresylic acid. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) Same as Isorcin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cresses [ OE. ces, cresse, kers, kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers, G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw. krasse, and possibly also to OHG. chresan to creep. ] (Bot.) A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other plants are sometimes called cresses. [ 1913 Webster ]

To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bitter cress. See under Bitter. --
Not worth a cress, or
“not worth a kers.” a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless “not worth a curse.” Skeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. crécelle rattle. ] (Eccl.) A wooden rattle sometimes used as a substitute for a bell, in the Roman Catholic church, during the latter part of Holy Week, or the last week of Lent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. crasset, cresset, sort of lamp or torch; perh. of Dutch or German origin, and akin to E. cruse, F. creuset crucible, E. crucible. ] 1. An open frame or basket of iron, filled with combustible material, to be burned as a beacon; an open lamp or firrepan carried on a pole in nocturnal processions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed
With naphtha and asphaltus. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

As a cresset true that darts its length
Of beamy luster from a tower of strength. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Coopering) A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Abounding in cresses. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cressy islets white in flower. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. creste, F. crête, L. crista. ] 1. A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on an animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Attack ] his rising crest, and drive the serpent back. C. Pitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the wearer; hence, also, the helmet. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stooping low his lofty crest. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

And on his head there stood upright
A crest, in token of a knight. Gower. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Her.) A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a relic of the ancient cognizance. See Cognizance, 4. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The upper curve of a horse's neck. [ 1913 Webster ]

Throwing the base thong from his bending crest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The ridge or top of a wave. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like wave with crest of sparkling foam. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The summit of a hill or mountain ridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now the time is come
That France must vail her lofty plumed crest. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Arch.) The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

The finials of gables and pinnacles are sometimes called crests. Parker. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Engin.) The top line of a slope or embankment. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crest tile, a tile made to cover the ridge of a roof, fitting upon it like a saddle. --
Interior crest (Fort.), the highest line of the parapet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Crested; p. pr. & vb. n. Cresting. ] 1. To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for. [ 1913 Webster ]

His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm
Crested the world. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mid groves of clouds that crest the mountain's brow. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To mark with lines or streaks, like, or regarded as like, waving plumes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like as the shining sky in summer's night, . . .
Is crested with lines of fiery light. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To form a crest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having a crest. [ 1913 Webster ]

But laced crested helm. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Having a crest of feathers or hair upon the head. “The crested bird.” Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bott.) Bearing any elevated appendage like a crest, as an elevated line or ridge, or a tuft. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. With hanging head; hence, dispirited; dejected; cowed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let it make thee crestfullen;
Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side; -- said of a horse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) An ornamental finish on the top of a wall or ridge of a roof. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a crest or escutcheon; of low birth. “Crestless yeomen.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Creosote. ] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, cresol, creosote, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cresylic acid. (Chem.) See Cresol. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖a. & adv. [ It. ] (Mus.) With decreasing volume of sound; -- a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. See Decrease. ] Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a decrescent moon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Her.) A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister. Cussans. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Pref. dis- + OE. encrese, E. increase. ] To decrease. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Decrease. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Nipplewort. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Equi- + crescent. ] (Math.) Increasing by equal increments; as, an equicrescent variable. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>n. [ F. excrescence, excroissanse, L. excrescentia excrescences, neut. pl. of p. pr. of excrescere. See Excrescent. ] An excrescent appendage, as, a wart or tumor; anything growing out unnaturally from anything else; a preternatural or morbid development; hence, a troublesome superfluity; an incumbrance; as, an excrescence on the body, or on a plant. “Excrescences of joy.” Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The excrescences of the Spanish monarchy. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Excrescence. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. excresens, -entis, p. pr. of excrescere to grow out ; ex out + crescere to grow. See Crescent. ] Growing out in an abnormal or morbid manner or as a superfluity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Expunge the whole, or lip the excrescent parts. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Excrescent letter (Philol.), a letter which has been added to a root; as, the d in alder (AS. alr) is an excrescent letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>a. Pertaining to, or resembling, an excrescence. [ R. ] Hawthorne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A small European kinglet (Regulus ignicapillus), having a bright red crest; -- called also fire-crested wren. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The European golden-crested kinglet (Regulus cristatus, or Regulus regulus); -- called also golden-crested wren, and golden wren. The name is also sometimes applied to the American golden-crested kinglet. See Kinglet. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. increscens, -entis, p. pr. of increscere. See Increase. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Increasing; growing; augmenting; swelling; enlarging. [ 1913 Webster ]

Between the incresent and decrescent moon. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) Increasing; on the increase; -- said of the moon represented as the new moon, with the points turned toward the dexter side. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To adorn with a crest. [ R. ] Drummond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Iodo- + cresol. ] (Org. Chem.) Any of several isomeric iodine derivatives of the cresols, C6H3I(CH3)OH, esp. one, an odorless amorphous powder, used in medicine as a substitute for iodoform. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Zool.) An African bird of the genus Schizorhis, related to the plantain eaters. [ 1913 Webster ]

. An annual asteraceous herb (Spilances oleracea) grown in tropical countries as a pungent salad, and also used medicinally. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Any of several plants of the genus Thlaspi; see penny cress. [ Also spelled penny cress. ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]