Part 14

FEAST, f[=e]st, _n._ a day of unusual solemnity or joy: a festival in commemoration of some event--_movable_, such as occurs on a specific day of the week succeeding a certain day of the month, as _Easter_; _immovable_, at a fixed date, as Christmas: a rich and abundant repast: rich enjoyment for the mind or heart.--_v.i._ to hold a feast: to eat sumptuously: to receive intense delight.--_v.t._ to entertain sumptuously.--_ns._ FEAST'-DAY; FEAST'ER.--_adj._ FEAST'FUL, festive, joyful, luxurious.--_ns._ FEAST'ING; FEAST'-RITE, a rite or custom observed at feasts.--_adj._ FEAST'-WON (_Shak._), won or bribed by feasting.--FEAST OF FOOLS, FEAST OF ASSES, medieval festivals, held between Christmas and Epiphany, in which a burlesque bishop was enthroned in church, and a burlesque mass said by his orders, and an ass driven round in triumph.--DOUBLE FEAST (_eccles._), one on which the antiphon is doubled. [O. Fr. _feste_ (Fr. _f[^e]te_)--L. _festum_, a holiday, _festus_, solemn, festal.]

FEAT, f[=e]t, _n._ a deed manifesting extraordinary strength, skill, or courage.--_v.t._ (_Shak._) to fashion.--_adj._ neat, deft.--_adj._ FEAT'EOUS, dexterous, neat.--_adv._ FEAT'LY, neatly, dexterously--(_Spens._) FEAT'EOUSLY. [Fr. _fait_--L. _factum_--L. _fac[)e]re_, to do.]

FEATHER, fe_th_'[.e]r, _n._ one of the growths which form the covering of a bird: a feather-like ornament: the feathered end of an arrow: nature, kind, as in 'birds of a feather:' birds collectively: anything light or trifling.--_v.t._ to furnish or adorn with feathers.--_ns._ FEATH'ER-BED, a mattress filled with feathers; FEATH'ER-BOARD'ING (same as WEATHER-BOARDING, q.v.).--_p.adj._ FEATH'ERED, covered or fitted with feathers, or anything feather-like: like the flight of a feathered animal, swift: smoothed as with feathers.--_ns._ FEATH'ER-EDGE, an edge of a board or plank thinner than the other edge; FEATH'ER-GRASS, a perennial grass, so called from the feathery appearance of its awns; FEATH'ER-HEAD, FEATH'ER-BRAIN, a frivolous person; FEATH'ERINESS; FEATH'ERING, plumage: the fitting of feathers to arrows: (_archit._) an arrangement of small arcs or foils separated by projecting cusps, frequently forming the feather-like ornament on the inner mouldings of arches; FEATH'ER-STAR, a crinoid of feathery appearance and radiate structure; FEATH'ER-WEIGHT, the lightest weight that may be carried by a racing-horse: a boxer, wrestler, &c., of a class below the light-weights--hence one of small importance or ability.--_adj._ FEATH'ERY, pertaining to, resembling, or covered with feathers.--FEATHER AN OAR, to turn the blade of the oar horizontally as it comes out of the water, thus lessening the resistance of the air; FEATHER ONE'S NEST, to accumulate wealth for one's self while serving others in a position of trust.--A FEATHER IN ONE'S CAP, some striking mark of distinction; BE IN HIGH FEATHER, to be greatly elated or in high spirits; MAKE THE FEATHERS FLY, to throw into confusion by a sudden attack; SHOW THE WHITE FEATHER, to show signs of cowardice--a white feather in a gamecock's tail being considered as a sign of degeneracy. [A.S. _fedher_; Ger. _feder_; L. _penna_, Gr. _pteron_.]

FEATURE, f[=e]t'[=u]r, _n._ the marks by which anything is recognised: the prominent traits of anything: the cast of the face: (_pl._) the countenance.--_v.t._ (_coll._) to have features resembling.--_adjs._ FEAT'URED, with features well marked; FEAT'URELESS, destitute of distinct features; FEAT'URELY, handsome. [O. Fr. _faiture_, from fut. part. of L. _fac[)e]re_, to make.]

FEBRICULE, feb'ri-k[=u]l, _n._ a slight fever.--_adj._ FEBRI'CULOSE.--_n._ FEBRICULOS'ITY. [L. _febricula_, dim. of _febris_, fever.]

FEBRIFIC, fe-brif'ik, _adj._ producing fever, feverish.--Also FEBRIF[=A]'CIENT. [L. _febris_, fever, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]

FEBRIFUGE, feb'ri-f[=u]j, _n._ a medicine for removing fever.--_adj._ FEBRIF'UGAL (or feb'-). [L. _febris_, fever, _fug[=a]re_, to put to flight.]

FEBRILE, f[=e]'bril, or feb'ril, _adj._ pertaining to fever: feverish.--_n._ FEBRIL'ITY. [Fr.,--L. _febris_, fever.]

FEBRONIANISM, feb-r[=o]'ni-an-izm, _n._ a system of doctrine antagonistic to the claims of the Pope and asserting the independence of national churches, propounded in 1763 by Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim under the pseudonym 'Justinus _Febronius_.'

FEBRUARY, feb'r[=oo]-ar-i, _n._ the second month of the year. [L. _Februarius_ (_mensis_), the month of expiation, _februa_, the feast of expiation.]

FECES, FECAL. See FAECES, FAECAL.

FECIAL. See FETIAL.

FECK, fek, _n._ (_Scot._) strength, value, quantity, number: the bulk of anything.--_adj._ FECK'LESS, spiritless.--_adv._ FECK'LY, mostly. [Corr. of _effect_.]

FECULA, fek'[=u]-la, _n._ starch obtained as a sediment by breaking down certain plants or seeds in water. [L. _faecula_, dim. of _faex_, dregs.]

FECULENT, fek'[=u]-lent, _adj._ containing faeces or sediment: muddy: foul.--_ns._ FEC'ULENCE, FEC'ULENCY.

FECUND, fek'und, _adj._ fruitful: fertile: prolific.--_v.t._ FEC'UND[=A]TE, FECUND'[=A]TE, to make fruitful: to impregnate.--_ns._ FECUND[=A]'TION, the act of impregnating: the state of being impregnated; FECUND'ITY, fruitfulness: prolificness in female animals. [Fr.,--L. _fecundus_, fruitful.]

FED, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of FEED.

FEDARY, fed'ar-i (_Shak._). Same as FEDERARY.

FEDERAL, fed'[.e]r-al, _adj._ pertaining to or consisting of a treaty or covenant: confederated, founded upon mutual agreement: of a union or government in which several states, while independent in home affairs, combine for national or general purposes, as in the United States (in the American Civil War, _Federal_ was the name applied to the states of the North which defended the Union against the _Confederate_ separatists of the South).--_n._ a supporter of federation: a Unionist soldier in the American Civil War.--_n._ FED'ERACY.--_v.t._ FED'ERALISE.--_ns._ FED'ERALISM, the principles or cause maintained by federalists; FED'ERALIST, a supporter of a federal constitution or union; FED'ERARY (_Shak._), a confederate.--_adj._ FED'ER[=A]TE, united by league: confederated.--_n._ FEDER[=A]'TION, the act of uniting in league: a federal union.--_adj._ FED'ER[=A]TIVE, united in league.--FEDERAL (or COVENANT) THEOLOGY, that first worked out by Cocceius (1603-69), based on the idea of two covenants between God and man--of Works and of Grace (see COVENANT). [Fr. _f['e]d['e]ral_--L. _foedus_, _foederis_, a treaty, akin to _fid[)e]re_, to trust.]

FEE, f[=e], _n._ price paid for services, as to a lawyer or physician: recompense, wages: the sum exacted for any special privilege: a grant of land for feudal service: an unconditional inheritance--FEE'-SIM'PLE, possession: ownership.--_v.t._ to pay a fee to: to hire:--_pr.p._ fee'ing; _pa.p._ feed.--_ns._ FEE'-GRIEF (_Shak._), a private grief; FEE'ING-MAR'KET (_Scot._), a fair or market at which farm-servants are hired for the year or half-year following; FEE'-TAIL, an entailed estate, which on failure of heirs reverts to the donor.--BASE FEE, a qualified fee, a freehold estate of inheritance to which a qualification is annexed; CONDITIONAL FEE, a fee granted on condition, or limited to particular heirs: the estate of a mortgagee of land, possession of which is conditional on payment; GREAT FEE, the holding of a tenant of the Crown. [A.S. _feoh_, cattle, property: a special kind of property, property in land; Ger. _vieh_, Ice. _f['e]_; allied to L. _pecus_, cattle, _pecunia_, money.]

FEEBLE, f[=e]'bl, _adj._ weak: wanting in strength of body, energy, or efficiency: showing weakness or incapacity: faint: dull.--_adj._ FEE'BLE-MIND'ED, weak-minded: irresolute.--_n._ FEE'BLENESS--(_Spens._) FE'BLESSE.--_adv._ FEE'BLY. [O. Fr. _foible_, for _floible_--L. _flebilis_, lamentable, from _fl[=e]re_, to weep.]

FEED, f[=e]d, _v.t._ to give food to: to nourish: to furnish with necessary material: to foster.--_v.i._ to take food: to nourish one's self by eating:--_pr.p._ feed'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ fed.--_n._ an allowance of provender, esp. to cattle: the motion forward of anything being fed to a machine: (_Milt._) a meal: (_Shak._) pasture land.--_ns._ FEED'ER, he who feeds, or that which supplies: an eater: one who abets another: one who fattens cattle: (_obs._) a parasite; FEED'-HEAD, the cistern that supplies water to the boiler of a steam-engine; FEED'-HEAT'ER, an apparatus for heating the water supplied to a steam-boiler; FEED'ING, act of eating: that which is eaten: pasture: the placing of the sheets of paper in position for a printing or ruling machine; FEED'ING-BOTT'LE, a bottle for supplying liquid food to an infant; FEED'-PIPE, a pipe for supplying a boiler or cistern with water; FEED'-PUMP, a force-pump for supplying a steam-engine boiler with water. [A.S. _f['e]dan_, to feed.]

FEE-FAW-FUM, f[=e]'-faw'-fum', _n._ a nursery word for anything frightful.

FEEL, f[=e]l, _v.t._ to perceive by the touch: to handle or try by touch: to be conscious of: to be keenly sensible of: to have an inward persuasion of.--_v.i._ to know by the touch: to have the emotions excited: to produce a certain sensation when touched, as to feel hard or hot:--_pr.p._ feel'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ felt.--_n._ the sensation of touch.--_ns._ FEEL'ER, a remark cautiously dropped, or any indirect stratagem, to sound the opinions of others: (_pl._) jointed fibres in the heads of insects, &c., possessed of a delicate sense of touch, termed _antennae_; FEEL'ING, the sense of touch: perception of objects by touch: consciousness of pleasure or pain: tenderness: emotion: sensibility, susceptibility, sentimentality: opinion as resulting from emotion: (_pl._) the affections or passions.--_adj._ expressive of great sensibility or tenderness: easily affected.--_adv._ FEEL'INGLY.--FEEL AFTER (_B._), to search for. [A.S. _f['e]lan_, to feel; Ger. _f[:u]hlen_; prob. akin to L. _palp[=a]re_, to quiver.]

FEER, f[=e]r, _n._ (_Spens._) a companion, a spouse. [A.S. _ge-f['e]ra_, a companion--_ge-f['e]ran_, to travel.]

FEE-SIMPLE, FEE-TAIL. See under FEE.

FEET, f[=e]t, _pl._ of FOOT.--_adj._ FEET'LESS, without feet.

FEIGN, f[=a]n, _v.t._ to invent: to imagine: to make a show or pretence of, to counterfeit, simulate.--_adj._ FEIGNED, pretended: simulating.--_adv._ FEIGN'EDLY.--_ns._ FEIGN'EDNESS; FEIGN'ING. [Fr. _feindre_, pr.p. _feignant_, to feign.--L. _fing[)e]re_, _fictum_, to form.]

FEINT, f[=a]nt, _n._ a false appearance: a pretence: a mock-assault: a deceptive movement in fencing, boxing, &c.--_v.i._ to make a feint. [Fr., see above.]

FELDSPAR, feld'sp[:a]r, _n._ (_min._) a general term for the most important rock-forming group of minerals--all anhydrous silicates of alumina--divided into those in which the minerals crystallise in _monoclinic_ and in _triclinic_ forms--also FEL'SPAR, FELD'SPATH.--_adjs._ FELDSPATH'IC, FELD'SPATHOSE. [Ger. _feldspath_--_feld_, a field, _spath_, spar.]

FELICITY, fe-lis'i-ti, _n._ happiness: delight: a blessing: a happy event.--_v.t._ FELIC'IT[=A]TE, to express joy or pleasure to: to congratulate.--_n._ FELICIT[=A]'TION, the act of congratulating.--_adj._ FELIC'ITOUS, happy: prosperous: delightful: appropriate.--_adv._ FELIC'ITOUSLY. [Fr.,--L. _felicitat-em_, from _felix_, _-icis_, happy.]

FELINE, f[=e]'l[=i]n, _adj._ pertaining to the cat or the cat kind: like a cat.--_ns._ FELIN'ITY; F[=E]'LIS, the cats as a genus, the typical genus of family F[=E]'LIDAE and subfamily F[=E]L[=I]'NAE. [L. _felinus_--_felis_, a cat.]

FELL, fel, _n._ a barren hill. [Ice. _fjall_; Dan. _fjeld_.]

FELL, fel, _pa.t._ of FALL.

FELL, fel, _v.t._ to cause to fall: to bring to the ground: to cut down.--_adj._ FELL'ABLE.--_n._ FELL'ER, a cutter of wood. [A.S. _fellan_, causal form of _feallan_, to fall.]

FELL, fel, _n._ a skin.--_n._ FELL'MONGER, a dealer in skins. [A.S. _fel_; cf. L. _pellis_, Gr. _pella_, Ger. _fell_.]

FELL, fel, _n._ (_Spens._) anger, melancholy. [L. _fel_, bile.]

FELL, fel, _adj._ cruel: fierce: bloody: deadly: keen, eager, spirited: (_Scot._) very great, huge.--_adj._ FELL'-LURKING (_Shak._), lurking with treacherous purpose.--_n._ FELL'NESS.--_adv._ FELL'Y. [O. Fr. _fel_, cruel--L. _fello_. See FELON.]

FELLAH, fel'[:a], _n._ an Arabic name applied contemptuously by the Turks to the labouring or agricultural population of Egypt--descendants of the ancient Egyptian, intermingled with Syrians, Arabs, &c.:--_pl._ FELL'AHS, FELL'AH[^I]N. [Ar., 'tiller of the soil.']

FELLIC, fel'ik, _adj._ obtained from bile--also FELLIN'IC.--_adj._ FELLIF'LUOUS, flowing with gall. [L. _fel_, gall.]

FELLOE. See FELLY.

FELLONOUS, fel'lon-us, _adj._ (_Spens._) fell.--_adj._ FEL'LONEST, most fell.

FELLOW, fel'[=o], _n._ an associate: a companion and equal: one of a pair, a mate: a member of a university who enjoys a fellowship: a member of a scientific or other society: an individual, a person generally: a worthless person.--_ns._ FELL'OW-CIT'IZEN, one belonging to the same city; FELL'OW-COMM'ONER, at Cambridge and elsewhere, a privileged class of undergraduates, dining at the Fellows' table; FELL'OW-CREA'TURE, one of the same race; FELL'OW-FEEL'ING, feeling between fellows or equals: sympathy; FELL'OW-HEIR, a joint-heir.--_adv._ FELL'OWLY (_Shak._), companionable.--_ns._ FELL'OW-MAN, a man of the same common nature with one's self; FELL'OW-SERV'ANT, one who has the same master; FELL'OWSHIP, the state of being a fellow or partner: friendly intercourse: communion: an association: an endowment in a college for the support of graduates called Fellows: the position and income of a fellow: (_arith._) the proportional division of profit and loss among partners.--GOOD FELLOWSHIP, companionableness; RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP, the right hand given by one minister or elder to another at an ordination in some churches. [M. E. _felawe_--Ice. _f['e]lagi_, a partner in goods, from _f['e]_ (Ger. _vieh_), cattle, property, and _lag_, a laying together, a law. Cf. Eng. FEE, and LAW.]

FELLY, fel'[=i], FELLOE, fel'[=o], _n._ one of the curved pieces in the circumference of a wheel: the circular rim of the wheel. [A.S. _felg_; Ger. _felge_.]

FELON, fel'on, _n._ one guilty of felony: a convict: a wicked person: an inflamed sore.--_adj._ wicked or cruel.--_adj._ FEL[=O]'NIOUS, wicked: depraved: done with the deliberate intention to commit crime.--_adv._ FEL[=O]'NIOUSLY.--_n._ FEL[=O]'NIOUSNESS, the quality of being felonious.--_adj._ FEL'ONOUS (_Spens._), felonious.--_ns._ FEL'ONRY, a body of felons; FEL'ONY, (_orig._) a crime punished by total forfeiture of lands, &c.: a grave crime, beyond a misdemeanour, as that punishable by penal servitude or death. [O. Fr.,--Low L. _fellonem_, _fello_, a traitor, prob. L. _fel_, gall.]

FELSITE, fel's[=i]t, _n._ a fine-grained, compact rock, a variety of quartz-porphyry--also FEL'STONE.--_adj._ FELSIT'IC. [Fr.,--Ger. _fels_, rock.]

FELSPAR. Same as FELDSPAR.

FELT, felt, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of FEEL.

FELT, felt, _n._ a fabric formed without weaving, by means of the natural tendency of the fibres of wool and certain kinds of hair to interlace with and cling to each other.--_v.t._ to make into felt: to cover with felt.--_v.t._ FELT'ER, to mat together like felt.--_n._ FELT'ING, the art or process of making felt: the felt itself. [A.S. _felt_; cf. Dut. _vilt_, Ger. _filz_.]

FELUCCA, fe-luk'a, _n._ a class of small merchant-vessels, used in the Mediterranean, with two masts, lateen sails, and often a rudder at each end. [It. _feluca_, which, like Fr. _felouque_, is from Ar. _fulk_, a ship.]

FEMALE, f[=e]'m[=a]l, _adj._ of the sex that produces young: pertaining to females: (_bot._) having a pistil or fruit-bearing organ.--_n._ one of the female sex, a woman.--_ns._ FEMAL'ITY, FEMINAL'ITY, the female nature.--_adj._ FEM'INAL.--_n._ FEMIN[=E]'ITY, the quality of being female.--_adj._ FEM'ININE, pertaining to women: tender: womanly: (_gram._) the gender denoting females.--_adv._ FEM'ININELY.--_ns._ FEM'ININENESS; FEMININ'ITY, the nature of the female sex.--FEMALE SCREW, a screw cut upon the inward surface of a cylindrical hole in wood or metal; FEMININE RHYME, a rhyme between words that terminate each in an unaccented syllable. [Fr. _femelle_--L. _femella_, dim. of _femina_, a woman.]

FEMERELL, fem'er-el, _n._ a louvre or covering on the roof of a kitchen, &c., to allow the smoke to escape.

FEMUR, f[=e]'mer, _n._ the thigh-bone.--_adj._ FEM'ORAL, belonging to the thigh.--FEMORAL ARTERY, the main artery of the thigh. [L. _femoralis_--_femur_, thigh.]

FEN, fen, _n._ a kind of low marshy land often, or partially, covered with water: a morass or bog.--_ns._ FEN'-BERR'Y, the cranberry; FEN'-FIRE, the Will-o'-the-wisp.--_adjs._ FEN'NY, FEN'NISH; FEN'-SUCKED (_Shak._), drawn out of bogs. [A.S. _fenn_; Ice. _fen_.]

FEN, fen, _v.t._ an exclamatory phrase in boys' games, meaning 'Check!' 'Bar!' [Cf. FEND.]

FENCE, fens, _n._ a wall or hedge for enclosing animals or for protecting land: the art of fencing: defence: a receiver of stolen goods, also a receiving-house.--_v.t._ to enclose with a fence: to fortify.--_v.i._ to practise fencing: to conceal the truth by equivocal answers.--_adjs._ FENCED, enclosed with a fence; FENCE'LESS, without fence or enclosure, open.--_n._ FENC'ER, one who practises fencing with a sword.--_adj._ FENC'IBLE, capable of being fenced or defended.--_n.pl._ FENC'IBLES, volunteer regiments raised for local defence during a special crisis: militia enlisted for home service.--_p.adj._ FENC'ING, defending or guarding.--_n._ the act of erecting a fence: the art of attack and defence with a sword or other weapon.--_n._ FENC'ING-MAS'TER, one who teaches fencing.--FENCE THE TABLES, in the ancient usage of Scotland, to debar from partaking in communion those guilty of any known sin.--SIT ON THE FENCE, to be still hesitating as between two opinions; SUNK FENCE, a ditch or water-course. [Abbrev. of _defence_.]

FEND, fend, _v.t._ to ward off: to shut out: to defend.--_v.i._ to offer resistance: to make provision for.--_n._ self-support, the shift one makes for one's self.--_adj._ FEND'Y, shifty. [Abbrev. of _defend_.]

FENDER, fend'[.e]r, _n._ a metal guard before a fire to confine the ashes: a protection for a ship's side against piers, &c., consisting of a bundle of rope, &c.--_ns._ FEND'ER-BEAM, a fender of wood, protecting a ship's side in dock: a permanent buffer at the end of a railway siding; FEND'ER-BOARD, a board protecting the steps of a carriage from the dust thrown up by the wheels. [_Fend_.]

FENESTELLA, fen-es-tel'a, _n._ a niche on the south side of an altar, containing the piscina, and sometimes the credence: a genus of Polyzoa, like the recent 'lace coral,' very common in Palaeozoic rocks. [L., dim. of _fenestra_, a window.]

FENESTRAL, fe-nes'tral, _adj._ belonging to or like a window: with transparent spots--also FENES'TR[=A]TE.--_n._ FENESTR[=A]'TION, the arrangement of windows in a building. [L. _fenestralis_--_fenestra_, window.]

FENGITE, fen'j[=i]t, _n._ a transparent alabaster for window panes.

FENIAN, f[=e]'ne-an, _n._ a member of an association of Irishmen founded in New York in 1857 for the overthrow of the English government in Ireland.--_adj._ belonging to the legendary Fenians, or to the modern conspirators.--_n._ F[=E]'NIANISM. [Old Ir. _F['e]ne_, one of the names of the ancient population of Ireland, confused in modern times with _f['i]ann_, the militia of Finn and other ancient Irish kings.]

FENKS, fengks, _n._ the refuse of whale-blubber.--Also FINKS.

FENNEC, fen'ek, _n._ a little African fox with large ears. [Moorish.]

FENNEL, fen'el, _n._ a genus of umbelliferous plants, allied to Dill, but distinguished by the cylindrical, strongly-ribbed fruit, the flower yellow.--_n._ FENN'EL-FLOW'ER, the _Nigella Damascena_, or ragged lady. [A.S. _finul_--L. _foeniculum_, fennel--_fenum_, hay.]

FENT, fent, _n._ (_prov._) a slit, crack: a remnant or odd piece. [O. Fr. _fente_--L. _find[)e]re_, to cleave.]

FENUGREEK, fen'[=u]-gr[=e]k, _n._ a genus of leguminous plants, allied to clover and melilot. [L. _fenum-graecum_, 'Greek hay.']

FEOD, FEODAL, FEODARY. Same as FEUD, FEUDAL, FEUDARY.

FEOFF, fef, _n._ a fief.--_v.t._ to grant possession of a fief or property in land.--_ns._ FEOFFEE', the person invested with the fief; FEOFF'ER, FEOFF'OR, he who grants the fief; FEOFF'MENT, the gift of a fief or feoff. [O. Fr. _feoffer_ or _fiefer_--O. Fr. _fief_. See FEE.]

FERACIOUS, fe-r[=a]'shus, _adj._ fruitful.--_n._ FERAC'ITY (_rare_). [L. _ferax_, _-acis_--_ferre_, to bear.]

FER-DE-LANCE, f[=a]r'de-l[:a]ngs', _n._ the lance-headed or yellow viper of tropical America.

FERE, f[=e]r, _n._ (_Spens._) a mate, companion, equal. [A.S. _gef['e]ra_, a companion, _ge-f['e]ran_, to travel.]

FERETORY, fer'e-tor-i, _n._ a shrine for relics carried in processions. [L. _feretrum_--_ferre_, to bear.]

FERIAL, f[=e]'ri-al, _adj._ pertaining to holidays (_feriae_), belonging to any day of the week which is neither a fast nor a festival. [Fr.,--L. _feria_, a holiday.]

FERINE, f[=e]'rin, _adj._ pertaining to, or like, a wild beast: savage.--_n.pl._ FERAE (f[=e]'r[=e]), wild animals.--_adj._ F[=E]'RAL, wild, run wild.--_n._ FER'ITY, wildness.--F[=E]RAE NATURAE, those animals that are wild or not domesticated, including game animals--deer, hares, pheasants, &c. [L. _ferinus_--_fera_, a wild beast--_ferus_; akin to Gr. _th[=e]r_, Ger. _thier_, a beast.]

FERINGHEE, fer-ing'g[=e], _n._ a Hindu name for an Englishman.--Also FARIN'GEE. [A corr. of _Frank_.]

FERLY, fer'li, _adj._ fearful: sudden: singular.--_n._ a wonder.--_v.i._ to wonder. [A.S. _f['ae]rlic_, sudden; cf. Ger. _ge-f[:a]hrlich_, dangerous.]

FERM, f[.e]rm, _n._ a farm: (_Spens._) abode, lodging.

FERMATA, fer-m[:a]'ta, _n._ (_mus._) a pause or break. [It.]

FERMENT, f[.e]r'ment, _n._ what excites fermentation, as yeast, leaven: internal motion amongst the parts of a fluid: agitation: tumult.--_v.t._ FERMENT', to excite fermentation: to inflame.--_v.i._ to rise and swell by the action of fermentation: to work, used of wine, &c.: to be in excited

## action: to be stirred with anger.--_n._ FERMENTABIL'ITY.--_adj._

FERMENT'ABLE, capable of fermentation.--_n._ FERMENT[=A]'TION, the act or process of fermenting: the change which takes place in liquids exposed to air: the kind of spontaneous decomposition which produces alcohol: restless

## action of the mind or feelings.--_adj._ FERMENT'ATIVE, causing or

consisting in fermentation.--_n._ FERMENT'ATIVENESS.--_adj._ FERMENTES'CIBLE, capable of being fermented. [Fr.,--L. _fermentum_, for _fervimentum_--_ferv[=e]re_, to boil.]

FERMETURE, fer'me-t[=u]r, _n._ a mechanism for closing the chamber of a breech-loading gun. [Fr.,--L. _firm[=a]re_, to make fast.]

FERN, fern, _n._ one of the beautiful class of higher or vascular cryptogamous plants--the natural order _Filices_.--_ns._ FERN'ERY, a place for rearing ferns; FERN'-OWL, the European goatsucker or night-jar; FERN'-SEED, the spores of ferns, which, properly gathered, render the bearers invisible; FERN'SHAW, a thicket of ferns; FERN'TICLE, a freckle.--_adjs._ FERN'TICLED; FERN'Y. [A.S. _fearn_; Ger. _farn_.]

FEROCIOUS, fe-r[=o]'shus, _adj._ savage, fierce: cruel.--_adv._ FER[=O]'CIOUSLY.--_ns._ FER[=O]'CIOUSNESS; FEROC'ITY, savage cruelty of disposition: untamed fierceness. [L. _ferox_, _ferocis_, wild--_ferus_, wild.]

FERRANDINE, fer'an-din, _n._ a silk and wool or silk and hair cloth.--Also FARR'ANDINE. [Fr.]

FERRARA, fer-[:a]'ra, _n._ a make of sword-blade highly esteemed in Scotland from about the close of the 16th century--often ANDREA FERRARA--said to have been made at Belluno in Venetia by Cosmo, Andrea, and Gianantonio _Ferrara_. [Perh. a native of _Ferrara_, or prob. merely the It. _ferrajo_, a cutler--L. _ferrarius_, a smith.]

FERREOUS, fer'e-us, _adj._ pertaining to, or made of, iron. [L. _ferreus_--_ferrum_, iron.]

FERRET, fer'et, _n._ ribbon woven from spun silk. [Corr. from It. _fioretto_--L. _flos_, _floris_, a flower.]

FERRET, fer'et, _n._ a half-tamed albino variety of the polecat, employed in unearthing rabbits.--_v.t._ to drive out of a hiding-place: to search out cunningly:--_pr.p._ ferr'eting; _pa.p._ ferr'eted.--_n._ FERR'ETER, one who uses a ferret to catch rabbits, &c.: one who searches minutely. [O. Fr. _furet_, a ferret--Low L. _furon-em_, robber--L. _fur_, a thief.]

FERRIAGE, fer'ri-[=a]j, _n._ See FERRY.

FERRIC, fer'ik, _adj._ pertaining to or obtained from iron: noting an acid compounded of iron and oxygen.--_ns._ FERR'ATE, a salt formed by the union of ferric acid with a base; FERROCYANOGEN (fer-o-s[=i]-an'[=o]-jen), a compound radical supposed by chemists to exist in ferrocyanic acid and the ferrocyanides, the chief of which is potassium ferrocyanide, yielding Prussian blue; FERR'OTYPE, a photographic process in which the negative was developed by a saturated solution of protosulphate of iron. [L. _ferrum_, iron.]

FERRIFEROUS, fer-rif'[.e]r-us, _adj._ bearing or yielding iron. [L. _ferrum_, iron, _ferre_, to bear.]

FERRUGINOUS, fer-r[=oo]'jin-us, _adj._ of the colour of iron-rust impregnated with iron.--_n._ FERRU'GO, a disease of plants, commonly called rust. [L. _ferrugineus_--_ferrugo_, _-inem_, iron-rust--_ferrum_, iron.]

FERRULE, fer'il, or fer'[=oo]l, _n._ a metal ring or cap on a staff, &c., to keep it from splitting.--Also FERR'EL. [O. Fr. _virole_--L. _viriola_, a bracelet.]

FERRY, fer'i, _v.t._ to carry or convey over a water in a boat:--_pr.p._ ferr'ying; _pa.p._ ferr'ied.--_n._ a place where one is carried by boat across a water: the right of conveying passengers: the ferry-boat.--_ns._ FERR'IAGE, provision for ferrying: the fare paid for such; FERR'Y-BOAT; FERR'Y-MAN. [A.S. _ferian_, to convey, _faran_, to go; Ger. _f[:a]hre_, a ferry--_fahren_, to go, to carry.]

FERTILE, f[.e]r'til, _adj._ able to bear or produce abundantly: rich in resources: inventive: fertilising.--_adv._ FER'TILELY.--_n._ FERTILIS[=A]'TION, the act or process of fertilising.--_v.t._ FER'TILISE, to make fertile or fruitful: to enrich.--_ns._ FER'TILISER, one who, or that which, fertilises; FERTIL'ITY, fruitfulness: richness: abundance. [Fr.,--L. _fertilis_--_ferre_, to bear.]

FERULE, fer'[=oo]l, _n._ a cane or rod used for striking children in punishment.--_n._ FER'ULA, a staff of command.--_adj._ FERUL[=A]'CEOUS, pertaining to canes or reeds. [L. _ferula_, a cane--_fer[=i]re_, to strike.]

FERVENT, f[.e]r'vent, _adj._ ardent: zealous: warm in feeling.--_n._ FER'VENCY, eagerness: warmth of devotion.--_adv._ FER'VENTLY.--_adjs._ FERVES'CENT, growing hot; FER'VID, very hot: having burning desire or emotion: zealous.--_n._ FERVID'ITY.--_adv._ FER'VIDLY.--_ns._ FER'VIDNESS; FER'VOUR, heat: heat of mind, zeal. [Fr.,--L. _ferv[=e]re_, to boil.]

FESCENNINE, fes'e-nin, _adj._ scurrilous.--FESCENNINE VERSES consisted of dialogues in rude extempore verses, generally in Saturnian measure, in which the parties rallied and ridiculed one another. The style, afterwards popular at Rome, originated in the Etruscan town _Fescennium_.

FESCUE, fes'k[=u], _n._ a genus of grasses, very nearly allied to Brome-grass, and including many valuable pasture and fodder grasses: a small straw or wire used to point out letters to children when learning to read. [O. Fr. _festu_--L. _fest[=u]ca_, a straw.]

FESSE, FESS, fes, _n._ (_her._) one of the ordinaries--a band over the middle of an escutcheon, one-third its breadth. [Fr. _fasce_--L. _fascia_, a band.]

FESTAL, fes'tal, _adj._ pertaining to a feast or holiday: joyous: gay.--_adv._ FES'TALLY.--_n._ FESTIL'OGY, a treatise on ecclesiastical festivals.

FESTER, fes't[.e]r, _v.i._ to become corrupt or malignant: to suppurate.--_v.t._ to cause to fester or rankle.--_n._ a wound discharging corrupt matter. [O. Fr. _festre_--L. _fistula_, an ulcer.]

FESTINATE, fes'ti-n[=a]t, _v.t._ to accelerate.--_adj._ (_Shak._) hurried, hasty.--_adv._ FES'TINATELY (_Shak._), hastily.--_n._ FESTIN[=A]'TION. [L. _festina[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to hurry.]

FESTIVE, fes'tiv, _adj._ festal: mirthful.--_n._ FES'TIVAL, a joyful celebration: a feast.--_adv._ FES'TIVELY.--_n._ FESTIV'ITY, social mirth: joyfulness: gaiety.--_adj._ FES'TIVOUS, festive. [L. _festivus_--_festus_.]

FESTOON, fes-t[=oo]n', _n._ a garland suspended between two points: (_archit._) an ornament like a wreath of flowers, &c.--_v.t._ to adorn with festoons.--_n._ FESTOON'-BLIND, a window-blind of cloth gathered into rows of festoons in its width. [Fr. _feston_--Low L. _festo_(_n-_), a garland--L. _festum_.]

FET, FETT, fet, _v.t._ obsolete form of _fetch_.

FETAL. See FOETUS.