n. A rocket-propelled missile of long range which is guided only during the powered portion of its flight, which usually takes only a small part of the total flight time; -- contrasted with guided missile. Ballistic missiles are sometimes referred to by their range, such as an
intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or an
intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM). [ PJC ]

n. a ruler of the eastern Roman Empire. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖ [ F. ] (Bot.) A very fragrant tea rose with petals of various shades of pink. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. brésiline. See 2d Brazil. ] (Chem.) A substance, C16H14O5, extracted from brazilwood as a yellow crystalline powder which is white when pure. It is colored intensely red by alkalies on exposure to the air, being oxidized to C16H12O5, to which brazilwood owes its dyeing properties. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Pref. circum- + L. fusilis fusil, a. ] Capable of being poured or spread round. “Circumfusile gold.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. circum- + scissle. ] (Bot.) Dehiscing or opening by a transverse fissure extending around (a capsule or pod). See Illust. of Pyxidium. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ensiled p. pr. & vb. n. Ensiling ] [ F. ensiler: cf. Sp. ensilar. See Silo. ] To store (green fodder) in a silo; to prepare as silage. -- En"si*list n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. Expansible. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ether and alcohol are more expansile than water. Brande & C. [ 1913 Webster ]

pos>a. Suited for, or capable of, extension; extensible. Owen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. fissilis, fr. fissus, p. p. of findere to split. See Fissure. ] 1. Capable of being split, cleft, or divided in the direction of the grain, like wood, or along natural planes of cleavage, like crystals. [ 1913 Webster ]

This crystal is a pellucid, fissile stone. Sir I. Newton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fissionable. [ PJC ]

a. Same as Fusil, a.

{ } n. [ F. fusilier, fr. fusil. ] (Mil.) (a) Formerly, a soldier armed with a fusil. Hence, in the plural: (b) A title now borne by some regiments and companies; as, “The Royal Fusiliers, ” etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A natural family of clover ferns.
Syn. -- family Marsileaceae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. missils, fr. mittere, missum, to cause to go, to send, to throw; cf. Lith. mesti to throw: cf. F. missile. Cf. Admit, Dismiss, Mass the religious service, Message, Mission. ] Capable of being thrown; adapted for hurling or to be projected from the hand, or from any instrument or engine{ 2 }, so as to strike an object at a distance. [ 1913 Webster ]

We bend the bow, or wing the missile dart. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. missile. ] 1. A weapon thrown or projected or intended to be projected, as a lance, an arrow, or a bullet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A rocket-propelled device designed to fly through the air and deliver a warhead of explosive materials to a target. [ PJC ]

Numerous types of rocket-propelled missile{ 2 } are now used in modern warfare. Some types with names indicating their range or function are: antiaircraft missile; ballistic missile; cruise missile; antiballistic missile missile; air-to-air missile; air-to-ground missile; guided missile; intercontinental ballistic missile (IBM); intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM); surface-to-air missile.

a. Not extensile; incapable of being stretched. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. not fissile. Opposite of fissile. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. not prehensile; as, cats have a nonprehensile tail. Opposite of prehensile. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ L. pensilis, fr. pendere to hang: cf. OE. pensil. See Pendant. ] Hanging; suspended; pendent; pendulous. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The long, pensile branches of the birches. W. Howitt. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State or quality of being pensile; pendulousness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Petro + silex. ] (Min.) Felsite. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. prehensus, p. p. of prehendere to lay hold of, seize; pre- (equiv. to prae before) + hendere (in comp.), akin to E. get: cf. F. préhensile. See Get, and cf. Prison, Prize, n. ] Adapted to seize or grasp; seizing; grasping; as, the prehensile tail of a monkey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being protruded or thrust out; protractile; protrusive. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. resiled p. pr. & vb. n. resiling. ] [ L. resilire to leap or spring back; pref. re- re- + salire to leap, spring. See Salient. ] To start back; to recoil; to recede from a purpose. J. Ellis. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. scissilis, fr. scindere, scissum, to cut, to split: cf. F. scissile. See Schism. ] Capable of being cut smoothly; scissible. [ R. ] Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sessilis low, dwarf, from sedere, sessum, to sit: cf. F. sessile. ] 1. Attached without any sensible projecting support. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Resting directly upon the main stem or branch, without a petiole or footstalk; as, a sessile leaf or blossom. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Permanently attached; -- said of the gonophores of certain hydroids which never became detached. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Having eyes which are not elevated on a stalk; -- opposed to stalk-eyed. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sessile-eyed Crustacea, the Arthrostraca. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Akin to Sw. sila to strain, sil sieve, G. sielen to draw away or lead off water. √151a. See Silt. ] To strain, as fresh milk. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To drop; to flow; to fall. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A sieve with fine meshes. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Filth; sediment. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Icel. sīld herring; akin to Sw. sill, Dan. sild. Cf. Sill the young of a herring. ] (Zool.) A young or small herring. [ Eng. ] Pennant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., fr. L. silentium. See Silent. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The state of being silent; entire absence of sound or noise; absolute stillness. [ 1913 Webster ]

I saw and heared; for such a numerous host
Fled not in silence through the frighted deep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Forbearance from, or absence of, speech; taciturnity; muteness. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Secrecy; as, these things were transacted in silence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The administration itself keeps a profound silence. D. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The cessation of rage, agitation, or tumilt; calmness; quiest; as, the elements were reduced to silence. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Absence of mention; oblivion. [ 1913 Webster ]

And what most merits fame, in silence hid. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

interj. Be silent; -- used elliptically for let there be silence, or keep silence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Silenced p. pr. & vb. n. Silencing ] 1. To compel to silence; to cause to be still; to still; to hush. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silence that dreadful bell; it frights the isle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To put to rest; to quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

This would silence all further opposition. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

These would have silenced their scruples. Rogers. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To restrain from the exercise of any function, privilege of instruction, or the like, especially from the act of preaching; as, to silence a minister of the gospel. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Rev. Thomas Hooker of Chelmsford, in Essex, was silenced for nonconformity. B. Trumbull. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To cause to cease firing, as by a vigorous cannonade; as, to silence the batteries of an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One that silences; specif.: (a) The muffler of an internal-combustion engine. (b) Any of various devices to silence the humming noise of telegraph wires. (c) A device for silencing the report of a firearm shooting its projectiles singly, as a tubular attachment for the muzzle having circular plates that permit the passage of the projectile but impart a rotary motion to, and thus retard, the exploding gases. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ NL., fr. L. Silenus, the attendant of Bacchus. ] (Bot.) A genus of caryophyllaceous plants, usually covered with a viscid secretion by which insects are caught; catchfly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bon Silène. See Silène, in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. silens, -entis, p. pr. of silere to be silent; akin to Goth. ana-silan. ] 1. Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet. [ 1913 Webster ]

How silent is this town! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men. Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

This new-created world, whereof in hell
Fame is not silent. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent. Parnell. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Pron.) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in “fable.” [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Having no effect; not operating; inefficient. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

Silent partner. See Dormant partner, under Dormant. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Mute; taciturn; dumb; speechless; quiet; still. See Mute, and Taciturn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. That which is silent; a time of silence. [ R. ] “The silent of the night.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. silentiarius: cf. F. silenciaire. See Silence. ] One appointed to keep silence and order in court; also, one sworn not to divulge secrets of state. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. silentiosus: cf. F. silencieux. ] Habitually silent; taciturn; reticent. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a silent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being silent; silence. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Silenus the tutor and attendant of Bacchus. ] (Zool.) See Wanderoo. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A kind of linen cloth, originally made in Silesia, a province of Prussia. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A twilled cotton fabric, used for dress linings. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Silesia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Silesia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., a finit, a pebblestone. ] (Min.) Silica, SiO2 as found in nature, constituting quarz, and most sands and sandstones. See Silica, and Silicic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Somewhat prehensile; prehensile in an inferior degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Tense, a. ] 1. Of or pertaining to extension; as, tensile strength. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Capable of extension; ductile; tensible. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Made tensile. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to the variation of tensile strength with the temperature. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]