n. [ L. abecedarius. A word from the first four letters of the alphabet. ] 1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a tyro. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet. Wood. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet; alphabetic; hence, rudimentary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abecedarian psalms,
hymns, etc., compositions in which (like the 119th psalm in Hebrew) distinct portions or verses commence with successive letters of the alphabet. Hook. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything. [ R. ] Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Heb. adär. ] The twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, and the sixth of the civil. It corresponded nearly with March. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. adarce, adarca, Gr. &unr_;. ] A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in marshy grounds in Galatia. It is soft and porous, and was formerly used for cleansing the skin from freckles and tetters, and also in leprosy. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ A corruption of sandarac. ] Red orpiment. Coxe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. azédarac, Sp. acederaque, Pers. āzāddirakht noble tree. ] 1. (Bot.) a handsome tree (Melia azedarach) of the mahogany family, native to Northern India and China, having long clusters of fragrant purple blossoms and small ornamental but inedible yellow fruits. It has been naturalized as a shade tree and is common in the southern United States; -- called also, chinaberry, China tree, Pride of India, Pride of China, and Bead tree.
Syn. -- chinaberry, chinaberry tree, China tree, Persian lilac, pride-of-India, azedarach, Melia azederach, Melia azedarach [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. (Med.) The bark of the roots of the azedarach, used as a cathartic and emetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , n. [ Russ. baidarka, dim. Cf. Baidar. ] A portable boat made of skins stretched on a frame. [ Alaska ] The Century. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ Native name. ] (Zool.) A small quadruped of Bengal (Paradoxurus bondar), allied to the genet; -- called also musk cat. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. bordarius, fr. borda a cottage; of uncertain origin. ] A villein who rendered menial service for his cottage; a cottier. [ 1913 Webster ]

The cottar, the bordar, and the laborer were bound to aid in the work of the home farm. J. R. Green. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Boundaries /plu> [ From Bound a limit; cf. LL. bonnarium piece of land with fixed limits. ] That which indicates or fixes a limit or extent, or marks a bound, as of a territory; a bounding or separating line; a real or imaginary limit. [ 1913 Webster ]

But still his native country lies
Beyond the boundaries of the skies. N. Cotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

That bright and tranquil stream, the boundary of Louth and Meath. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sensation and reflection are the boundaries of our thoughts. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Limit; bound; border; term; termination; barrier; verge; confines; precinct. Bound, Boundary. Boundary, in its original and strictest sense, is a visible object or mark indicating a limit. Bound is the limit itself. But in ordinary usage the two words are made interchangeable. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. kalender, calender, fr. L. kalendarium an interest or account book (cf. F. calendrier, OF. calendier) fr. L. calendue, kalendae, calends. See Calends. ] 1. An orderly arrangement of the division of time, adapted to the purposes of civil life, as years, months, weeks, and days; also, a register of the year with its divisions; an almanac. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) A tabular statement of the dates of feasts, offices, saints' days, etc., esp. of those which are liable to change yearly according to the varying date of Easter. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. An orderly list or enumeration of persons, things, or events; a schedule; as, a calendar of state papers; a calendar of bills presented in a legislative assembly; a calendar of causes arranged for trial in court; a calendar of a college or an academy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shepherds of people had need know the calendars of tempests of state. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Calendar clock, one that shows the days of the week and month. --
Calendar month. See under Month. --
French Republican calendar. See under Vendémiaire. --
Gregorian calendar,
Julian calendar,
Perpetual calendar. See under Gregorian, Julian, and Perpetual. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Calendared p. pr. & vb. n. Calendaring. ] To enter or write in a calendar; to register. Waterhouse. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the calendar or a calendar. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Calendarial. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to cedar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. ceder, fr. L. cedrus, Gr. ke`dros. ] (Bot.) The name of several evergreen trees. The wood is remarkable for its durability and fragrant odor. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The cedar of Lebanon is the Cedrus Libani; the white cedar (Cupressus thyoides) is now called Chamœcyparis sphæroidea; American red cedar is the Juniperus Virginiana; Spanish cedar, the West Indian Cedrela odorata. Many other trees with odoriferous wood are locally called cedar. [ 1913 Webster ]

, n. (Zool.) Same as cedar waxwing. [ PJC ]

a. Covered, or furnished with, cedars. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the cedar or its wood. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) a species of chatterer (Bombycilla cedrorum, formerly Ampelis cedrorum) widely distributed over temperate North America, so named from its frequenting cedar trees; -- called also cedar bird, cherry bird, Canada robin, and American waxwing. It is a brownish bird about 7 inches long, between the size of a robin and a sparrow, has a crest on the head, a black face mask, and a yellow-tipped tail. The name comes from the black color of the tips of the wings, like that of a black sealing wax. They sometimes are seen in flocks. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The durable aromatic wood of any of numerous cedar and cedarlike trees; especially the wood of the red cedar, often used for cedar chests.
Syn. -- cedar. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to, or made at, Cheddar, in England; as, Cheddar cheese. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hindi chaukī-dār. ] A watchman; an officer of customs or police. [ India ] [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Cnida. ] (Zool.) A comprehensive group equivalent to the true Cœlenterata, i. e., exclusive of the sponges. They are so named from presence of stinging cells (cnidae) in the tissues. See Coelenterata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a thin layer of geologic deposits, of varying thickness in different parts of the world, found between the geological strata identified as Cretaceous and the strata above, identified as Tertiary; also, the time point or period marking the boundary between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods.
Syn. -- K/T boundary. [ PJC ]

☞According to a theory gaining acceptance (as of 1997), these deposits were formed as the debris of a large comet or meteorite impact on the earth, which threw up a large quantity of dust into the atmosphere, causing profound though temporary climatic change, and caused or hastened the extinction of numerous species, including the dinosaurs. This hypothesis was first postulated by Luis and Walter Alvarez on the basis of an excess of iridium found in the boundary layer, and was later supported by additional evidence of various types. The impact is believed to have occurred at the edge of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico, forming what is termed the Chicxulub crater, which is partly under the Gulf of Mexico, is not evident from surface topography, and was detected primarily by gravity anomaly readings and subsurface geological characteristics. [ PJC ]

n. pl. Manacles; handcuffs. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Jem Clink will fetch you the darbies. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In “The Steel Glass” by Gascoigne, printed in 1576, occurs the line “To binde such babes in father Derbies bands.” [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A plasterer's float, having two handles; -- used in smoothing ceilings, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of the Plymouth Brethren, or of a sect among them; -- so called from John N. Darby, one of the leaders of the Brethren. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the strait between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara that separates European from Asian Turkey.
Syn. -- Hellespont. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the unsuccessful campaign in World War I (1915) by the English and French to open a passage for aid to Russia; defeated by the Turks.
Syn. -- Dardanelles campaign. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. & n.[ From L. Dardania, poetic name of Troy. ] Trojan. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. Durst r Dared p. p. Dared; p. pr. & vb. n. Daring. ] [ OE. I dar, dear, I dare, imp. dorste, durste, AS. ic dear I dare, imp. dorste. inf. durran; akin to OS. gidar, gidorsta, gidurran, OHG. tar, torsta, turran, Goth. gadar, gadaúrsta, Gr. tharsei^n, tharrei^n, to be bold, tharsy`s bold, Skr. Dhrsh to be bold. √70. ] To have adequate or sufficient courage for any purpose; to be bold or venturesome; not to be afraid; to venture. [ 1913 Webster ]

I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why then did not the ministers use their new law? Bacause they durst not, because they could not. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who dared to sully her sweet love with suspicion. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tie of party was stronger than the tie of blood, because a partisan was more ready to dare without asking why. Jowett (Thu&unr_;yd.). [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The present tense, I dare, is really an old past tense, so that the third person is he dare, but the form he dares is now often used, and will probably displace the obsolescent he dare, through grammatically as incorrect as he shalls or he cans. Skeat. [ 1913 Webster ]

The pore dar plede (the poor man dare plead). P. Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

You know one dare not discover you. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fellow dares not deceive me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here boldly spread thy hands, no venom'd weed
Dares blister them, no slimy snail dare creep. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Formerly durst was also used as the present. Sometimes the old form dare is found for durst or dared. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dared; p. pr. & vb. n. Daring. ] 1. To have courage for; to attempt courageously; to venture to do or to undertake. [ 1913 Webster ]

What high concentration of steady feeling makes men dare every thing and do anything? Bagehot. [ 1913 Webster ]

To wrest it from barbarism, to dare its solitudes. The Century. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To challenge; to provoke; to defy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Time, I dare thee to discover
Such a youth and such a lover. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness; dash. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It lends a luster . . .
A large dare to our great enterprise. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Defiance; challenge. [ 1913 Webster ]

Childish, unworthy dares
Are not enought to part our powers. Chapman. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Cæsar. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ OE. darien, to lie hidden, be timid. ] To lurk; to lie hid. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To terrify; to daunt. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs,
Would dare a woman. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

To dare larks, to catch them by producing terror through to use of mirrors, scarlet cloth, a hawk, etc., so that they lie still till a net is thrown over them. Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Dace. ] (Zool.) A small fish; the dace. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A reckless fellow. Also used adjectively; as, dare-devil excitement. [ 1913 Webster ]

A humorous dare-devil -- the very man
To suit my prpose. Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n; pl. Dare-deviltries Reckless mischief; the action of a dare-devil. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of daring or of defiance; adventurous. [ R. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who dares or defies.

prop. n. (Geography) The administrative capital city of Tanzania. Population (2000) = 1, 360, 850. [ PJC ]

{ , n. [ Scot., contr. fr. day work. ] A day's work; also, a fixed amount of work, whether more or less than that of a day. [ Local, Eng. & Scot. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. dareiko`s, of Persian origin. ] 1. (Antiq.) (a) A gold coin of ancient Persia, weighing usually a little more than 128 grains, and bearing on one side the figure of an archer. (b) A silver coin of about 86 grains, having the figure of an archer, and hence, in modern times, called a daric. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any very pure gold coin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Boldness; fearlessness; adventurousness; also, a daring act. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bold; fearless; adventurous; as, daring spirits. -- Dar"ing*ly, adv. -- Dar"ing*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] 1. A crustade. [ Obs. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A shell or cup of pastry filled with custard, whipped cream, crushed macaroons, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ OE. dark, derk, deork, AS. dearc, deorc; cf. Gael. & Ir. dorch, dorcha, dark, black, dusky. ] 1. Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving, reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day; dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion. [ 1913 Webster ]

O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon,
Irrecoverably dark, total eclipse
Without all hope of day! Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

In the dark and silent grave. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not clear to the understanding; not easily seen through; obscure; mysterious; hidden. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dark problems of existence. Shairp. [ 1913 Webster ]

What may seem dark at the first, will afterward be found more plain. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Destitute of knowledge and culture; in moral or intellectual darkness; unrefined; ignorant. [ 1913 Webster ]

The age wherein he lived was dark, but he
Could not want light who taught the world to see. Denhan. [ 1913 Webster ]

The tenth century used to be reckoned by mediæval historians as the darkest part of this intellectual night. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Evincing black or foul traits of character; vile; wicked; atrocious; as, a dark villain; a dark deed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Left him at large to his own dark designs. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Foreboding evil; gloomy; jealous; suspicious. [ 1913 Webster ]

More dark and dark our woes. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A deep melancholy took possesion of him, and gave a dark tinge to all his views of human nature. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is, in every true woman-s heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. W. Irving. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Deprived of sight; blind. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He was, I think, at this time quite dark, and so had been for some years. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Dark is sometimes used to qualify another adjective; as, dark blue, dark green, and sometimes it forms the first part of a compound; as, dark-haired, dark-eyed, dark-colored, dark-seated, dark-working. [ 1913 Webster ]

A dark horse, in racing or politics, a horse or a candidate whose chances of success are not known, and whose capabilities have not been made the subject of general comment or of wagers. [ Colloq. ] --
Dark house,
Dark room, a house or room in which madmen were confined. [ Obs. ] Shak. --
Dark lantern. See Lantern. -- The
Dark Ages, a period of stagnation and obscurity in literature and art, lasting, according to Hallam, nearly 1000 years, from about 500 to about 1500 A. D.. See Middle Ages, under Middle. --
The Dark and Bloody Ground, a phrase applied to the State of Kentucky, and said to be the significance of its name, in allusion to the frequent wars that were waged there between Indians. --
The dark day, a day (May 19, 1780) when a remarkable and unexplained darkness extended over all New England. --
To keep dark, to reveal nothing. [ Low ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Absence of light; darkness; obscurity; a place where there is little or no light. [ 1913 Webster ]

Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The condition of ignorance; gloom; secrecy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Look, what you do, you do it still i' th' dark. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Till we perceive by our own understandings, we are as much in the dark, and as void of knowledge, as before. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Fine Arts) A dark shade or dark passage in a painting, engraving, or the like; as, the light and darks are well contrasted. [ 1913 Webster ]

The lights may serve for a repose to the darks, and the darks to the lights. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To darken; to obscure. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]