a. [ L. coruscans, p. pr. See Coruscate. ] Glittering in flashes; flashing. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Accademia della Crusca in Florence. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Dellacruscan School, a name given in satire to a class of affected English writers, most of whom lived in Florence, about a. d. 1785. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. descant, deschant, F. déchant, discant, LL. discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing. See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant. ] 1. (Mus.) (a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by ornament of the main subject or plain song. (b) The upper voice in part music. (c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble. Grove. [ 1913 Webster ]

Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant upon plain song. Tyndale. [ 1913 Webster ]

She [ the nightingale ] all night long her amorous descant sung. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or polyphony, which developed out of the French déchant, of the 12th century. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air; a comment or comments. [ 1913 Webster ]

Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant! De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Descanting. ] [ From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter, deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing. ] 1. To sing a variation or accomplishment. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity; to discourse at large. [ 1913 Webster ]

A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting on his actions. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who descants. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To melt; to dissolve; to thaw. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Descant, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. Etruscus. ] Of or relating to Etruria. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Etruria. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ LL. Franciscus Francis: cf. F. franciscain. ] (R. C. Ch.) Belonging to the Order of St. Francis of the Franciscans. [ 1913 Webster ]

Franciscan Brothers, pious laymen who devote themselves to useful works, such as manual labor schools, and other educational institutions; -- called also Brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis. --
Franciscan Nuns, nuns who follow the rule of St. Francis, esp. those of the Second Order of St. Francis, -- called also Poor Clares or Minoresses. --
Franciscan Tertiaries, the Third Order of St. Francis. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (R.C.Ch.) A monk or friar of the Order of St. Francis, a large and zealous order of mendicant monks founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi. They are called also Friars Minor; and in England, Gray Friars, because they wear a gray habit. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. a. 1. Of or pertaining to Madagascar; as, Madagascan pepper. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Madagascar; as, Madagascan soldiers.
Syn. -- Malagasy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A native or inhabitant of Madagascar. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to mollusks. -- n. A mollusk; one of the Mollusca. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the Osci, a primitive people of Campania, a province of ancient Italy. -- n. The language of the Osci. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scanned p. pr. & vb. n. Scanning. ] [ L. scandere, scansum, to climb, to scan, akin to Skr. skand to spring, leap: cf. F. scander. Cf. Ascend, Descend, Scale a ladder. ] 1. To mount by steps; to go through with step by step. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor stayed till she the highest stage had scand. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically (Pros.), to go through with, as a verse, marking and distinguishing the feet of which it is composed; to show, in reading, the metrical structure of; to recite metrically. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To go over and examine point by point; to examine with care; to look closely at or into; to scrutinize. [ 1913 Webster ]

The actions of men in high stations are all conspicuous, and liable to be scanned and sifted. Atterbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To examine quickly, from point to point, in search of something specific; as, to scan an article for mention of a particular person. [ PJC ]

5. (Electronics) To form an image or an electronic representation of, by passing a beam of light or electrons over, and detecting and recording the reflected or transmitted signal. [ PJC ]

n. [ F. scandale, fr. L. scandalum, Gr. &unr_;, a snare laid for an enemy, a stumbling block, offense, scandal: cf. OE. scandle, OF. escandle. See Slander. ] 1. Offense caused or experienced; reproach or reprobation called forth by what is regarded as wrong, criminal, heinous, or flagrant: opprobrium or disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

O, what a scandal is it to our crown,
That two such noble peers as ye should jar! Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ I ] have brought scandal
To Israel, diffidence of God, and doubt
In feeble hearts. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Reproachful aspersion; opprobrious censure; defamatory talk, uttered heedlessly or maliciously. [ 1913 Webster ]

You must not put another scandal on him. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

My known virtue is from scandal free. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Equity) Anything alleged in pleading which is impertinent, and is reproachful to any person, or which derogates from the dignity of the court, or is contrary to good manners. Daniell. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Defamation; detraction; slander; calumny; opprobrium; reproach; shame; disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To treat opprobriously; to defame; to asperse; to traduce; to slander. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I do fawn on men and hug them hard
And after scandal them. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To scandalize; to offend. [ Obs. ] Bp. Story. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To defame; traduce; reproach; slander; calumniate; asperse; vilify; disgrace. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scandalized p. pr. & vb. n. Scandalizing ] [ F. scandaliser, L. scandalizare, from Gr. skandali`zein. ] 1. To offend the feelings or the conscience of (a person) by some action which is considered immoral or criminal; to bring shame, disgrace, or reproach upon. [ 1913 Webster ]

I demand who they are whom we scandalize by using harmless things. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

The congregation looked on in silence, the better class scandalized, and the lower orders, some laughing, others backing the soldier or the minister, as their fancy dictated. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To reproach; to libel; to defame; to slander. [ 1913 Webster ]

To tell his tale might be interpreted into scandalizing the order. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. scandaleux. ] 1. Giving offense to the conscience or moral feelings; exciting reprobation; calling out condemnation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nothing scandalous or offensive unto any. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disgraceful to reputation; bringing shame or infamy; opprobrious; as, a scandalous crime or vice. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Defamatory; libelous; as, a scandalous story. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a manner to give offense; shamefully. [ 1913 Webster ]

His discourse at table was scandalously unbecoming the dignity of his station. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With a disposition to impute immorality or wrong. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shun their fault, who, scandalously nice,
Will needs mistake an author into vice. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality of being scandalous. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L., scandal of magnates. ] (Law) A defamatory speech or writing published to the injury of a person of dignity; -- usually abbreviated scan. mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. scandens, -entis, p. pr. of scandere to climb. ] Climbing. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Scandent plants may climb either by twining, as the hop, or by twisted leafstalks, as the clematis, or by tendrils, as the passion flower, or by rootlets, as the ivy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Scandium. ] (Chem.) A chemical earth, the oxide of scandium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to scandium; derived from, or containing, scandium. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Scandinavia, that is, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Scandinavia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. So called because found in Scandinavian minerals. ] (Chem.) A rare metallic element of the boron group, whose existence was predicted under the provisional name ekaboron by means of the periodic law, and subsequently discovered by spectrum analysis in certain rare Scandinavian minerals (euxenite and gadolinite). It has not yet been isolated. Symbol Sc. Atomic weight 44. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. scansio, fr. scandere, scansum, to climb. See Scan. ] (Pros.) The act of scanning; distinguishing the metrical feet of a verse by emphasis, pauses, or otherwise. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. L. scandere, scansum, to climb. ] (Zool.) An artifical group of birds formerly regarded as an order. They are distributed among several orders by modern ornithologists. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The toes are in pairs, two before and two behind, by which they are enabled to cling to, and climb upon, trees, as the woodpeckers, parrots, cuckoos, and trogons. See Illust. under Aves. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) (a) Capable of climbing; as, the woodpecker is a scansorial bird; adapted for climbing; as, a scansorial foot. (b) Of or pertaining to the Scansores. See Illust. under Aves. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scansorial tail (Zool.), a tail in which the feathers are stiff and sharp at the tip, as in the woodpeckers. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Scantness; scarcity. [ R. ] T. Carew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Scanter superl. Scantest. ] [ Icel. skamt, neuter of skamr, skammr, short; cf. skamta to dole out, to portion. ] 1. Not full, large, or plentiful; scarcely sufficient; less than is wanted for the purpose; scanty; meager; not enough; as, a scant allowance of provisions or water; a scant pattern of cloth for a garment. [ 1913 Webster ]

His sermon was scant, in all, a quarter of an hour. Ridley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sparing; parsimonious; chary. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be somewhat scanter of your maiden presence. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- See under Scanty. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Scanting. ] 1. To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as, to scant one in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use of necessaries. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where a man hath a great living laid together and where he is scanted. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

I am scanted in the pleasure of dwelling on your actions. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cut short; to make small, narrow, or scanty; to curtail. “Scant not my cups.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To fail, or become less; to scantle; as, the wind scants. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a scant manner; with difficulty; scarcely; hardly. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

So weak that he was scant able to go down the stairs. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a scanty manner; not fully; not plentifully; sparingly; parsimoniously. [ 1913 Webster ]

His mind was very scantily stored with materials. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

n. Quality or condition of being scanty. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ Dim. of scant, v. ] To be deficient; to fail. [ Obs. ] Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ OF. escanteler, eschanteler, to break into contles; pref. es- (L. ex) + cantel, chantel, corner, side, piece. Confused with E. scant. See Cantle. ] To scant; to be niggard of; to divide into small pieces; to cut short or down. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

All their pay
Must your discretion scantle; keep it back. J. Webster. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. eschantelet corner. ] A small pattern; a small quantity. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Scant, a. ] Not plentiful; small; scanty. [ Obs. ] Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. eschantillon, F. échantillon, a sample, pattern, example. In some senses confused with scant insufficient. See Scantle, v. t. ] 1. A fragment; a bit; a little piece. Specifically: (a) A piece or quantity cut for a special purpose; a sample. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Such as exceed not this scantling; -- to be solace to the sovereign and harmless to the people. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

A pretty scantling of his knowledge may taken by his deferring to be baptized so many years. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

(b) A small quantity; a little bit; not much. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Reducing them to narrow scantlings. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of timber sawed or cut of a small size, as for studs, rails, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The dimensions of a piece of timber with regard to its breadth and thickness; hence, the measure or dimensions of anything. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A rough draught; a rude sketch or outline. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A frame for casks to lie upon; a trestle. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In a scant manner; not fully or sufficiently; narrowly; penuriously. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Scarcely; hardly; barely. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scantly they durst their feeble eyes dispread
Upon that town. Fairfax. [ 1913 Webster ]

We hold a tourney here to-morrow morn,
And there is scantly time for half the work. Tennyson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or condition of being scant; narrowness; smallness; insufficiency; scantiness. “Scantness of outward things.” Barrow. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Scantier superl. Scantiest. ] [ From Scant, a. ] 1. Lacking amplitude or extent; narrow; small; not abundant. [ 1913 Webster ]

His dominions were very narrow and scanty. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now scantier limits the proud arch confine. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Somewhat less than is needed; insufficient; scant; as, a scanty supply of words; a scanty supply of bread. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Sparing; niggardly; parsimonious. [ 1913 Webster ]

In illustrating a point of difficulty, be not too scanty of words. I. Watts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Scant; narrow; small; poor; deficient; meager; scarce; chary; sparing; parsimonious; penurious; niggardly; grudging. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) Any species of penguin. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖prop. n. (Bot.) A genus including spiderwort and Wandering Jew. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. Tuscanus, Tuscus. ] Of or pertaining to Tuscany in Italy; -- specifically designating one of the five orders of architecture recognized and described by the Italian writers of the 16th century, or characteristic of the order. The original of this order was not used by the Greeks, but by the Romans under the Empire. See Order, and Illust. of Capital. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A native or inhabitant of Tuscany. [ 1913 Webster ]