a. [ L. abortus (see Abort, v.) + faciens, p. pr. of facere to make. ] Producing miscarriage. -- n. A drug or an agent that causes premature delivery. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. 1 inducing or promoting absorption
Syn. -- sorbefacient [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. aciérage, fr. acier steel. ] The process of coating the surface of a metal plate (as a stereotype plate) with steellike iron by means of voltaic electricity; steeling. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Attractive power; attractiveness. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alliciens, p. pr. of allicere to allure; ad + lacere to entice. ] That attracts; attracting. -- n. That attracts. [ Rare or Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus, fr. L. ante before. See Ante-, pref. ] 1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; -- opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days. [ 1913 Webster ]

Witness those ancient empires of the earth. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his namesake surnamed the Wise. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. “Our ancient bickerings.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set. Prov. xxii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent. [ 1913 Webster ]

A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance. Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then would he seem very grave and ancient. Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Experienced; versed. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Though [ he ] was the youngest brother, yet he was the most ancient in the business of the realm. Berners. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. Former; sometime. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They mourned their ancient leader lost. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ancient demesne (Eng. Law), a tenure by which all manors belonging to the crown, in the reign of William the Conqueror, were held. The numbers, names, etc., of these were all entered in a book called Domesday Book. --
Ancient lights (Law), windows and other openings which have been enjoined without molestation for more than twenty years. In England, and in some of the United States, they acquire a prescriptive right. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. -- Ancient, Antiquated, Obsolete, Antique, Antic, Old. -- Ancient is opposed to modern, and has antiquity; as, an ancient family, ancient landmarks, ancient institutions, systems of thought, etc. Antiquated describes that which has gone out of use or fashion; as, antiquated furniture, antiquated laws, rules, etc. Obsolete is commonly used, instead of antiquated, in reference to language, customs, etc.; as, an obsolete word or phrase, an obsolete expression. Antique is applied, in present usage, either to that which has come down from the ancients; as, an antique cameo, bust, etc. ; or to that which is made to imitate some ancient work of art; as, an antique temple. In the days of Shakespeare, antique was often used for ancient; as, “an antique song, ” “an antique Roman;” and hence, from singularity often attached to what is ancient, it was used in the sense of grotesque; as, “an oak whose antique root peeps out; ” and hence came our present word antic, denoting grotesque or ridiculous. We usually apply both ancient and old to things subject to gradual decay. We say, an old man, an ancient record; but never, the old stars, an old river or mountain. In general, however, ancient is opposed to modern, and old to new, fresh, or recent. When we speak of a thing that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we commonly use ancient; as, ancient republics, ancient heroes; and not old republics, old heroes. But when the thing which began or existed in former times is still in existence, we use either ancient or old; as, ancient statues or paintings, or old statues or paintings; ancient authors, or old authors, meaning books. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. pl. Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the moderns. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of influence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof. Isa. iii. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A senior; an elder; a predecessor. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . . were his ancients. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. pl. (Eng. Law) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery. [ 1913 Webster ]

Council of Ancients (French Hist.), one of the two assemblies composing the legislative bodies in 1795. Brande. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Corrupted from ensign. ] 1. An ensign or flag. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced ancient. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The bearer of a flag; an ensign. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In ancient times. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In an ancient manner. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being ancient; antiquity; existence from old times. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Antiquity; what is ancient. [ 1913 Webster ]

They contain not word of ancientry. West. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Old age; also, old people. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Wronging the ancientry. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Ancient lineage; ancestry; dignity of birth. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gentleman of more ancientry than estate. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ancienneté, fr. ancien. See Ancient. ] 1. Age; antiquity. [ Obs. ] Martin. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Seniority. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an associate degree conferred for successful studies in applied science.
Syn. -- AAS [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Beneficent. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. A society or association formed for mutual insurance, as among tradesmen or in labor unions, to provide for relief in sickness, old age, and for the expenses of burial. Usually called friendly society in Great Britain. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

1. One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting rare or curious birds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who has for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in cages. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A substance that excites warmth in the parts to which it is applied, as mustard. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. calefaciens p. pr. of calefacere to make warm; calere to be warm + facere to make. ] Making warm; heating. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) See Calorificient. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Physiol.) Having, or relating to the power of producing heat; -- applied to foods which, being rich in carbon, as the fats, are supposed to give rise to heat in the animal body by oxidation. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A system of healing disease of mind and body which teaches that all cause and effect is mental, and that sin, sickness, and death will be destroyed by a full understanding of the Divine Principle of Jesus' teaching and healing. The system was founded by Rev. Mary Baker Glover Eddy, of Concord, N. H., in 1866, and bases its teaching on the Scriptures as understood by its adherents. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. A believer in Christian Science; one who practices its teachings. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. [ F., fr. L. cera wax. ] A wax candle used in religous rites. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Her.) See King-at-arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Joint efficiency; cooperation. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Cooperating; acting together to produce an effect.

Co`ef*fi"cient*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. 1. That which unites in action with something else to produce the same effect. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ Cf. F. coefficient. ] (Math.) A number or letter put before a letter or quantity, known or unknown, to show how many times the latter is to be taken; as, 6x; bx; here 6 and b are coefficients of x. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physics) A number, commonly used in computation as a factor, expressing the amount of some change or effect under certain fixed conditions as to temperature, length, volume, etc.; as, the coefficient of expansion; the coefficient of friction. [ 1913 Webster ]

Arbitrary coefficient (Math.), a literal coefficient placed arbitrarily in an algebraic expression, the value of the coefficient being afterwards determined by the conditions of the problem. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] One who keeps the entrance to an edifice, public or private; a doorkeeper; a janitor, male or female. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] 1. The office or lodge of a concierge or janitor. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. A celebrated prison, attached to the Palais de Justice in Paris. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr. consciens, p. pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire to know. See Science. ] 1. Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The sweetest cordial we receive, at last,
Is conscience of our virtuous actions past. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment on one's self; the moral sense. [ 1913 Webster ]

My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self-knowledge . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . . . Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and condemnation. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right or duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscience supposes the existence of some such [ i.e., moral ] faculty, and properly signifies our consciousness of having acted agreeably or contrary to its directions. Adam Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Tenderness of feeling; pity. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscience clause, a clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples forbid compliance therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths, rendering military service, etc. --
Conscience money, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money paid into the United States treasury by unknown debtors is called the Conscience fund. --
Court of Conscience, a court established for the recovery of small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts. [ Eng. ] Blackstone. --
In conscience,
In all conscience, in deference or obedience to conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably. “This is enough in conscience.” Howell. “Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as many as you should require.” Swift. --
To make conscience of,
To make a matter of conscience, to act according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or to scruple to act contrary to its dictates. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a conscience. [ R. ] “Soft-conscienced men.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without conscience; indifferent to conscience; unscrupulous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscienceless and wicked patrons. Hookre. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. consciens, -entis, p. pr. ] Conscious. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. consciencieux, LL. conscientiosus. ] 1. Influenced by conscience; governed by a strict regard to the dictates of conscience, or by the known or supposed rules of right and wrong; -- said of a person. [ 1913 Webster ]

The advice of wise and conscientious men. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Characterized by a regard to conscience; conformed to the dictates of conscience; -- said of actions. [ 1913 Webster ]

A holy and conscientious course. Abp. Tillotson.

Syn. -- Scrupulous; exact; faithful; just; upright. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a conscientious manner; as a matter of conscience; hence; faithfully; accurately; completely. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being conscientious; a scrupulous regard to the dictates of conscience. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A broad ice sheet resting on a plain or plateau and spreading outward from a central névé, or region of accumulation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖ [ F. crédit credit & foncier relating to land, landed. ] A company licensed for the purpose of carrying out improvements, by means of loans and advances upon real securities. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Deficiency. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee
Is no deficience found. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Deficiencies [ See Deficient. ] The state of being deficient; inadequacy; want; failure; imperfection; shortcoming; defect. “A deficiency of blood.” Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Marlborough ] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries. Buckle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deficiency of a curve (Geom.), the amount by which the number of double points on a curve is short of the maximum for curves of the same degree. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of deficere to be wanting. See Defect. ] Wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective; imperfect; incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts; deficient estate; deficient strength; deficient in judgment. [ 1913 Webster ]

The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deficient number. (Arith.) See under Abundant.

-- De*fi"cient-ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

a. [ Delirium + L. faciens, -entis, p. pr. of facere to make. ] (Med.) Producing, or tending to produce, delirium. -- n. Any substance which tends to cause delirium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. despicientia. See Despise. ] A looking down; despection. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

One who has an unusual fancy for, or interest in, dogs; also, one who deals in dogs. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ L. efficientia. ] 1. The quality of being efficient or producing an effect or effects; efficient power; effectual agency. [ 1913 Webster ]

The manner of this divine efficiency being far above us. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mech.) The ratio of useful work to energy expended. Rankine. [ 1913 Webster ]

efficiency of a heat engine, the ratio of the work done by an engine, to the work due to the heat supplied to it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n., a small apartment{ 4 }, sometimes furnished, with minimal kitchen and bath facilities. The unit may comprise a single room plus a bathroom, and the kitchen facilities are often open to the main room, or may form a small niche in a corner. There are many variations of efficiency apartment, including some in which furnishings such as a bed may be pulled out from a wall recess and stored there again when not in use. Also called an efficiency. [ PJC ]

n. An efficient cause; a prime mover. [ 1913 Webster ]

God . . . moveth mere natural agents as an efficient only. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. efficiens, -entis, p. pr. of efficere to effect: cf. F. efficient. See Effect, n. ] Causing effects; producing results; that makes the effect to be what it is; actively operative; not inactive, slack, or incapable; characterized by energetic and useful activity; as, an efficient officer, power. [ 1913 Webster ]

The efficient cause is the working cause. Wilson.

Syn. -- Effective; effectual; competent; able; capable; material; potent. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. With effect; effectively. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. sing. & pl. A species of plant or animal that has declined in numbers to a point where further irreversible decline and extinction{ 3 } has a significant chance. Lists of endangered species are maintained by government agencies, and in many cases the killing of such species or destruction of their habitat is prohibited by law. In the U. S. in recent years, development of certain tracts of land has been prohibited due to the likelihood that it will cause a reduction in the numbers of an endangered species. In some cases environmental organizations have initiated litigation to cause the courts to rule that a certain development plan is illegal due to a threat to an endangered species. Laws protecting endangered species have become in some cases a contentious political issue. [ PJC ]