‖n. Short form for Dura mater. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. durabilitas. ] The state or quality of being durable; the power of uninterrupted or long continuance in any condition; the power of resisting agents or influences which tend to cause changes, decay, or dissolution; lastingness. [ 1913 Webster ]

A Gothic cathedral raises ideas of grandeur in our minds by the size, its height, . . . its antiquity, and its durability. Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. durabilis, fr. durare to last: cf. F. durable. See Dure. ] Able to endure or continue in a particular condition; lasting; not perishable or changeable; not wearing out or decaying soon; enduring; as, durable cloth; durable happiness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. Prov. viii. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]

An interest which from its object and grounds must be so durable. De Quincey.

Syn. -- Lasting; permanent; enduring; firm; stable; continuing; constant; persistent. See Lasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Power of lasting, enduring, or resisting; durability. [ 1913 Webster ]

The durableness of the metal that supports it. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a lasting manner; with long continuance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Pertaining to the dura, or dura mater. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. [ a trademark. ] an aluminum-based alloy which is both light and strong, containing 4 per cent of copper and 0.5 per cent of magnesium and smaller amounts of iron, manganese, and silicon. It hardens with aging at room temperature. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

‖ [ L., lit., hard mother. The membrane was called mater, or mother, because it was formerly thought to give rise to every membrane of the body. ] (Anat.) The tough, fibrous membrane, which lines the cavity of the skull and spinal column, and surrounds the brain and spinal cord; -- frequently abbreviated to dura. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., hardness, a hardened, i. e., ligneous, vine branch, fr. durare to harden. See Dure. ] (Bot.) The heartwood of an exogenous tree. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans, -antis, p. pr. durare to endure, last. See Dure, and cf. Durant. ] 1. Continuance; duration. See Endurance. [ Archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Of how short durance was this new-made state! Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a jailer; duress. Shak. “Durance vile.” Burns. [ 1913 Webster ]

In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (a) A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of buff leather and used for garments; a sort of tammy or everlasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where didst thou buy this buff? let me not live but I will give thee a good suit of durance. J. Webster.

(b) In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for window blinds and similar purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]