a. [ L. absolutus, p. p. of absolvere: cf. F. absolu. See Absolve. ] 1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled; unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy, sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an absolute monarch. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute perfection; absolute beauty. [ 1913 Webster ]

So absolute she seems,
And in herself complete. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to relative and comparative; as, absolute motion; absolute time or space. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being; self-existent; self-sufficing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist. The term is also applied by the Pantheist to the universe, or the total of all existence, as only capable of relations in its parts to each other and to the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their laws. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone; unconditioned; non-relative. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in this sense, is not applied to a mere logical fiction or abstraction, or whether the absolute, as thus defined, can be known, as a reality, by the human intellect. [ 1913 Webster ]

To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing, the recent philosophy of the absolute. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Authoritative; peremptory. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head,
With absolute forefinger, brown and ringed. Mrs. Browning. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Chem.) Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Gram.) Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under Ablative. [ 1913 Webster ]

Absolute curvature (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of double curvature, which is measured in the osculating plane of the curve. --
Absolute equation (Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric equations. --
Absolute space (Physics), space considered without relation to material limits or objects. --
Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not contain the unknown quantity. Davies & Peck. --
Absolute temperature (Physics), the temperature as measured on a scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic principles, and reckoned from the absolute zero. --
Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to -273° centigrade or -459.4° Fahrenheit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited; unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geom.) In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly; positively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being absolute; independence of everything extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality; positiveness. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Accoutered or Accoutred p. pr. & vb. n. Accoutering or Accoutring. ] [ F. accouter, OF. accoutrer, accoustrer; à (L. ad) + perh. LL. custor, for custos guardian, sacristan (cf. Custody), or perh. akin to E. guilt. ] To furnish with dress, or equipments, esp. those for military service; to equip; to attire; to array. [ 1913 Webster ]

Both accoutered like young men. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

For this, in rags accoutered are they seen. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Accoutered with his burden and his staff. Wordsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. provided with necessary articles of equipment for a specialized purpose especially military; as, troops accoutered for battle [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } n. pl. [ F. accoutrement, earlier also accoustrement, earlier also accoustrement. See Accouter. ] Dress; trappings; equipment; specifically, the devices and equipments worn by soldiers. [ 1913 Webster ]

How gay with all the accouterments of war! [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge. ] 1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions; penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to dull or stupid; as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Med.) Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection too much. [ R. ] Walker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having acute angles; as, an acute-angled triangle, a triangle with every one of its angles less than a right angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the acuteness of an angle. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness; sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the senses, or the understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern fine distinctions. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness interested in bringing it to a successful close. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis. AS [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness; subtlety; sharp-wittedness. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. ajouter; confused with L. adjutare. ] To add. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) The quantity of electricity delivered in hour by a current whose average strength is one ampère. It is used as a unit of charge quantity; the Ampere hour is equal to 3600 coulombs. The terms and are sometimes similarly used. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. a computer that represents information by continuously variable quantities (e.g., positions or voltages). [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

{ } n. [ L. arbutus, akin to arbor tree. ] The strawberry tree, a genus of evergreen shrubs, of the Heath family. It has a berry externally resembling the strawberry; the arbute tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

Trailing arbutus (Bot.), a creeping or trailing plant of the Heath family (Epigæa repens), having white or usually rose-colored flowers with a delicate fragrance, growing in small axillary clusters, and appearing early in the spring; in New England known as mayflower; -- called also ground laurel. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Cf. F. archiluth, It. arciliuto. ] (Mus.) A large theorbo, or double-necked lute, formerly in use, having the bass strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. argutus, p. p. of arguere. See Argue. ] 1. Sharp; shrill. [ Obs. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sagacious; acute; subtle; shrewd. [ 1913 Webster ]

The active preacher . . . the argue schoolman. Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a subtle; shrewdly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Acuteness. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. astutus, fr. astus craft, cunning; perh. cognate with E. acute. ] Critically discerning; sagacious; shrewd; subtle; crafty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Keen; eagle-eyed; penetrating; skilled; discriminating; cunning; sagacious; subtle; wily; crafty. [ 1913 Webster ]

As*tute"ly, adv. -- As*tute"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Attributed; p. pr. & vb. n. Attributing. ] [ L. attributus, p. p. of attribuere; ad + tribuere to bestow. See Tribute. ] To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to); to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider as belonging (to). [ 1913 Webster ]

We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction in it. Abp. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact performer. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Ascribe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. attributum. ] 1. That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or necessary property or characteristic. [ 1913 Webster ]

But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . .
It is an attribute to God himself. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Reputation. [ Poetic ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Paint. & Sculp.) A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Gram.) Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive adjunct or adjective. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Basi- + solute, a. ] (Bot.) Prolonged at the base, as certain leaves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Full of beauty; beautiful; very handsome. [ Mostly poetic ] -- Beau"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Beau"te*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Beluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Beluting. ] [ Pref. be- + L. lutum mud. ] To bespatter, as with mud. [ R. ] Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus off Eurasian herbs and small shrubs: buckler mustard.
Syn. -- genus Biscutella. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F.; bouter to thrust, put + feu fire. ] An incendiary; an inciter of quarrels. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Animated by . . . John à Chamber, a very boutefeu, . . . they entered into open rebellion. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. brut, nasc., brute, fem., raw, rough, rude, brutish, L. brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp. bruto. ] 1. Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute beast; the brute creation. [ 1913 Webster ]

A creature . . . not prone
And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sanctity of reason. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence: Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute violence. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The influence of capital and mere brute labor. Playfair. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Having the physical powers predominating over the mental; coarse; unpolished; unintelligent. [ 1913 Webster ]

A great brute farmer from Liddesdale. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

brute force, The application of predominantly physical effort to achieve a goal that could be accomplished with less effort if more carefully considered. Figuratively, repetitive or strenuous application of an obvious or simple tactic, as contrasted with a more clever stratagem achieving the same goal with less effort; -- as, the first prime numbers were discovered by the brute force repetition of the Sieve of Eratosthenes. [ PJC ]

n. 1. An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human; esp. a quadruped; a beast. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brutes may be considered as either aërial, terrestrial, aquatic, or amphibious. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners; as unfeeling or coarse person. [ 1913 Webster ]

An ill-natured brute of a husband. Franklin. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See Beast. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ For bruit. ] To report; to bruit. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a rude or violent manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Brutality. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Insensibility. “The bruteness of nature.” Emerson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a genus of East Indian trees or shrubs: dhak.
Syn. -- genus Butea. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any of three isomeric singly unsaturated hydrocarbons C4H8; all are used in making synthetic rubbers; -- called also butylene. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) a genus of broad-winged soaring hawks.
Syn. -- genus Buteo. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. relating to or resembling a hawk of the genus Buteo. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. any hawk of the genus Buteo. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) A colorless or greenish oil extracted from cajuput. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. cautèle, L. cautela, fr. cavere to be on one's guard, to take care. ] 1. Caution; prudence; wariness. [ Obs. ] Fulke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Craft; deceit; falseness. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. cauteleux, LL. cautelosus. See Cautel. ] 1. Caution; prudent; wary. [ Obs. ] “Cautelous, though young.” Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Crafty; deceitful; false. [ Obs. ] Shak.

-- Cau"te*lous*ly, adv. -- Cau"te*lous*ness, n. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. cautère, L. cauterium, fr. Gr. &unr_; a branding iron, fr. &unr_; to burn. Cf. Caustic, Cautery. ] A hot iron for searing or cauterizing. Minsheu. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cauterizing substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The use or application of a caustic; cautery. Ferrand. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. cautèrisation. ] (Med.) The act of searing some morbid part by the application of a cautery or caustic; also, the effect of such application. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Cauterized p. pr. & vb. n. Cauterizing. ] [ L. cauterizare, Gr. &unr_;, fr. a branding iron: cf. F. cautérised.. See cauter. ] 1. To burn or sear with a cautery or caustic. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sear, as the conscience. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Cauteries [ L. cauterium, Gr. &unr_;. See Cauter. ] 1. (Med.) A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a hot iron, or by application of a caustic that will burn, corrode, or destroy animal tissue. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

Actual cautery, a substance or agent (as a hot iron) which cauterizes or sears by actual heat; or the burning so effected. --
Potential cautery, a substance which cauterizes by chemical action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced by such substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a delicatessen that specializes in dressed meats and meat dishes, particularly pork products. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the items typically sold in a charcuterie{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

n. [ F. chute, prop. a fall. ] 1. A framework, trough, or tube, upon or through which objects are made to slide from a higher to a lower level, or through which water passes to a wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. See Shoot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ From Clout, n. ] Clumsy; awkward. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Rough-hewn, cloutery verses. E. Phillips. [ 1913 Webster ]