n. [ Cf. OF. auterage, autelage. ] 1. The offerings made upon the altar, or to a church. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The profit which accrues to the priest, by reason of the altar, from the small tithes. Shipley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 drug that reduces nervous tension and gives peace of mind.
Syn. -- ataraxic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. tending to soothe or calm or tranquilize
Syn. -- calming, sedative, soothing, tranquilizing [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. drug that reduces nervous tension and gives peace of mind.
Syn. -- ataractic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. ataraxia, Gr. 'ataraxi`a; 'a priv. + tarakto`s disturbed, tara`ssein to disturb. ] Perfect peace of mind, or calmness. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. cataracta, catarracles, a waterfall, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to break down; in the passive, to fall or rush down (of tumors) to burst; kata` down + &unr_; to break. ] 1. A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Surg.) An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mach.) A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gael. cranntara. ] The fiery cross, used as a rallying signal in the Highlands of Scotland. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. -taroth /plu>. [ Heb. haphtārāh, prop., valedictory, fr. pātar to depart. ] One of the lessons from the Nebiim (or Prophets) read in the Jewish synagogue on Sabbaths, feast days, fasts, and the ninth of Ab, at the end of the service, after the parashoth, or lessons from the Law. Such a practice is evidenced in Luke iv.17 and Acts xiii.15. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n.[ It., from solfo brimstone, sulphur, L. sulfur, E. sulphur. ] (Geol.) A volcanic area or vent which yields only sulphur vapors, steam, and the like. It represents the stages of the volcanic activity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. taranis, from the Celtic; cf. W. & Corn. taran thunder. ] (Myth.) A Celtic divinity, regarded as the evil principle, but confounded by the Romans with Jupiter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Russ. tarantas'. ] A low four-wheeled carriage used in Russia. The carriage box rests on two long, springy poles which run from the fore to the hind axletree. When snow falls, the wheels are taken off, and the body is mounted on a sledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. ] (Mus.) (a) A rapid and delirious sort of Neapolitan dance in 6-8 time, which moves in whirling triplets; -- so called from a popular notion of its being a remedy against the poisonous bite of the tarantula. Some derive its name from Taranto in Apulia. (b) Music suited to such a dance. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It. tarantismo: cf. F. tarentisme. See Tarantula. ] (Med.) A nervous affection producing melancholy, stupor, and an uncontrollable desire to dance. It was supposed to be produced by the bite of the tarantula, and considered to be incapable of cure except by protracted dancing to appropriate music. [ Written also tarentism. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. E. Tarantulas L. Tarantulae [ NL., fr. It. tarantola, fr. L. Tarentum, now Taranto, in the south of Italy. ] (Zool.) Any one of several species of large spiders, popularly supposed to be very venomous, especially the European species (Tarantula apuliae). The tarantulas of Texas and adjacent countries are large species of Mygale. [ Written also tarentula. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Tarantula killer, a very large wasp (Pompilus formosus), which captures the Texan tarantula (Mygale Hentzii) and places it in its nest as food for its young, after paralyzing it by a sting. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Bitten by a tarantula; affected with tarantism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Tartrated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Maori. ] A coniferous tree (Podocarpus totara), next to the kauri the most valuable timber tree of New Zealand. Its hard reddish wood is used for furniture and building, esp. in wharves, bridges, etc. Also mahogany pine. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Maori tuatàra; tua on the farther side (the back) + tara spine. ] (Zool.) A large iguanalike reptile (Sphenodon punctatum) formerly common in New Zealand, but by 1900 confined to certain islets near the coast. It reaches a length of two and a half feet, is dark olive-green with small white or yellowish specks on the sides, and has yellow spines along the back, except on the neck. It is the only surviving member of the order Rhyncocephala. Also called tuatera and hatteria. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]