a. Being or occurring before the creation of the world. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. antemurale: ante + murus wall. See Mural. ] An outwork of a strong, high wall, with turrets, in front of the gateway (as of an old castle), for defending the entrance. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To muddle; to stupefy or bewilder; to confuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cover as with a muffler; to wrap up. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bemuffled with the externals of religion. Sterne. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To muddle, daze, or partially stupefy, as with liquor. [ 1913 Webster ]

A parson much bemused in beer. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Geol.) A subdivision in the upper part of the Devonian system in America, so named from the Chemung River, along which the rocks are well developed. It includes the Portage and Chemung groups or epochs. See the Diagram under Geology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;; chryso`s gold + &unr_; flower. ] (Bot.) A genus of composite plants, mostly perennial, and of many species including the many varieties of garden chrysanthemums (annual and perennial), and also the feverfew and the oxeye daisy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] A wind instrument nearly identical with the bagpipe. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. demulcere; de- + mulcere to stroke, soothe. ] To soothe; to mollify; to pacify; to soften. [ R. ] Sir T. Elyot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. demulcens, p. pr. of demulcere. ] Softening; mollifying; soothing; assuasive; as, oil is demulcent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) A substance, usually of a mucilaginous or oily nature, supposed to be capable of soothing an inflamed nervous membrane, or protecting it from irritation. Gum Arabic, glycerin, olive oil, etc., are demulcents. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of soothing; that which soothes. Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Demurred p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring. ] [ OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer, fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay; prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor mindful. See Memory. ] 1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp. Nicols. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or conclusion of an affair. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To scruple or object; to take exception, especially on the basis of scruple or modesty; as, I demur to that statement; they wanted to make him president, but he demurred. [ 1913 Webster ]

From the popular assertion that he was the smartest man in the world Gell-Mann was not predisposed to demur. Timothy Ferris, in Coming of Age in the Milky Way (Doubleday, New York, 1989). [ PJC ]

4. (Law) To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The latter I demur, for in their looks
Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause delay to; to put off. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He demands a fee,
And then demurs me with a vain delay. Quarles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. demor, demore, stay, delay. See Demur, v. i. ] Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision or action; scruple. [ 1913 Webster ]

All my demurs but double his attacks;
At last he whispers, “Do; and we go snacks.” Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. mœurs, fr. L. mores (sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. meür, F. mûr mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de mûre conduite of mature conduct. ] 1. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of modest look; staid; grave. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sober, steadfast, and demure. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity. [ 1913 Webster ]

A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life nor soul in her. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if ten winters more had gone over her head. Miss Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To look demurely. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a demure manner; soberly; gravely; -- now, commonly, with a mere show of gravity or modesty. [ 1913 Webster ]

They . . . looked as demurely as they could; for 't was a hanging matter to laugh unseasonably. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being demure; gravity; the show of gravity or modesty. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Demureness; also, one who is demure. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. That may be demurred to. Stormonth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. demorage delay. See Demur. ] (Law) (a) The detention of a vessel by the freighter beyond the time allowed in her charter party for loading, unloading, or sailing. (b) The allowance made to the master or owner of the ship for such delay or detention. [ 1913 Webster ]

The claim for demurrage ceases as soon as the ship is cleared out and ready for sailing. M‘Culloch. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term is also applied to similar delays and allowances in land carriage, by wagons, railroads, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Demur; delay in acting or deciding. [ 1913 Webster ]

The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who demurs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A stop or pause by a party to an action, for the judgment of the court on the question, whether, assuming the truth of the matter alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the action or defense, and hence whether the party resting is bound to answer or proceed further. [ 1913 Webster ]

Demurrer to evidence, an exception taken by a party to the evidence offered by the opposite party, and an objecting to proceed further, on the allegation that such evidence is not sufficient in law to maintain the issue, and a reference to the court to determine the point. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Pg. ema ostrich, F. émou, émeu, emu. ] (Zoöl.) A large Australian bird, of two species (Dromaius Novæ-Hollandiæ and D. irroratus), related to the cassowary and the ostrich. The emu runs swiftly, but is unable to fly. [ Written also emeu and emew. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The name is sometimes erroneously applied, by the Brazilians, to the rhea, or South American ostrich. [ 1913 Webster ]

Emu wren. See in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aemulari to emulate + -able. ] Capable of being emulated. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Some imitable and emulable good. Abp. Leighton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aemulatus, p. p. of aemulari, fr. aemulus emulous; prob. akin to E. imitate. ] Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous. [ Obs. ] “A most emulate pride.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Emulated p. pr. & vb. n. Emulating ] To strive to equal or to excel in qualities or actions; to imitate, with a view to equal or to outdo, to vie with; to rival; as, to emulate the good and the great. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thine eye would emulate the diamond. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aemulatio: cf. F. émulation. ] 1. The endeavor to equal or to excel another in qualities or actions; an assiduous striving to equal or excel another; rivalry. [ 1913 Webster ]

A noble emulation heats your breast. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Jealous rivalry; envy; envious contention. [ 1913 Webster ]

Such factious emulations shall arise. Shak.

3. imitation (of an admired model) for the purpose of improving one's own qualities. [ PJC ]

[ Chivalry was ] an ideal which, if never met with in real life, was acknowledged by all as the highest model for emulation. Thomas Bulfinch (Mythology) [ PJC ]

4. (Computers) the imitation of the actions of a computer system or component, especially a processor, by means of a computer program, with the goal of predicting the behavior and performance characteristics of that system without actually manufacturing it. [ PJC ]

1996 marked the year that emulation became a mainstream design verification tool. Computer Design (editorial, 1998)

Syn. -- Competition; rivalry; contest; contention; strife. -- Emulation, Competition, Rivalry. Competition is the struggle of two or more persons for the same object. Emulation is an ardent desire for superiority, arising from competition, but now implying, of necessity, any improper feeling. Rivalry is a personal contest, and, almost of course, has a selfish object and gives rise to envy. “Competition and emulation have honor for their basis; rivalry is but a desire for selfish gratification. Competition and emulation animate to effort; rivalry usually produces hatred. Competition and emulation seek to merit success; rivalry is contented with obtaining it.” Crabb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Inclined to emulation; aspiring to competition; rivaling; as, an emulative person or effort. “Emulative zeal.” Hoole. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an emulative manner; with emulation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. aemulator. ] One who emulates, or strives to equal or surpass. [ 1913 Webster ]

As Virgil rivaled Homer, Milton was the emulator of both. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to emulation; connected with rivalry. [ R. ] “Emulatory officiousness.” Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A female emulator. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ F. émuler. See Emulate. ] To emulate. [ Obs. ] “Emuled of many.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. emulgere, emulsum; e out + mulgere to milk; akin to E. milk. See Milk. ] To milk out; to drain. [ Obs. ] Bailey. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. emulgens, p. pr. of emulgere to milk out: cf. F. émulgent. So called because regarded by the ancients as straining out the serum, as if by milking, and so producing the urine. ] (Anat.) Pertaining to the kidneys; renal; as, emulgent arteries and veins. -- n. An emulgent vessel, as a renal artery or vein. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Med.) A medicine that excites the flow of bile. [ Obs. ] Hoblyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. aemulus. See Emulate. ] 1. Ambitiously desirous to equal or even to excel another; eager to emulate or vie with another; desirous of like excellence with another; -- with of; as, emulous of another's example or virtues. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Vying with; rivaling; hence, contentious, envious. “Emulous Carthage.” B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Emulous missions 'mongst the gods. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an emulous manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being emulous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to, or produced from, emulsin; as, emulsic acid. Hoblyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Emulsion + -fy. ] To convert into an emulsion; to form an emulsion; to reduce from an oily substance to a milky fluid in which the fat globules are in a very finely divided state, giving it the semblance of solution; as, the pancreatic juice emulsifies the oily part of food. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Emulsion, Emulge. ] (Chem.) (a) The white milky pulp or extract of bitter almonds. [ R. ] (b) An unorganized ferment (contained in this extract and in other vegetable juices), which effects the decomposition of certain glucosides. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From L. emulgere, emulsum: cf. F. émulsion. See Emulge. ] Any liquid preparation of a color and consistency resembling milk; as: (a) In pharmacy, an extract of seeds, or a mixture of oil and water united by a mucilaginous substance. (b) In photography, a liquid preparation of collodion holding salt of silver, used in the photographic process. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. émulsif. ] 1. Softening; milklike. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Yielding oil by expression; as, emulsive seeds. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Producing or yielding a milklike substance; as, emulsive acids. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Emunctories [ L. emunctorium a pair of snuffers, fr. emungere, emunctum, to blow the nose, hence, to wipe, cleanse; e out + mungere to blow the nose: cf. F. émonctoire, formerly spelled also émonctoire. ] (Physiol.) Any organ or part of the body (as the kidneys, skin, etc., ) which serves to carry off excrementitious or waste matter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. emuscare to clear from moss; e out + muscus moss. ] A freeing from moss. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zoöl.) A small wrenlike Australian bird (Stipiturus malachurus), having the tail feathers long and loosely barbed, like emu feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the point located farthest from the middle of something.
Syn. -- extreme point, extreme, extremity. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. the most extreme possible amount or value.
Syn. -- peak. [ WordNet 1.5 ]