FEASIBLE, f[=e]z'i-bl, _adj._ practicable.--_ns._ FEAS'IBLENESS,
FEASIBIL'ITY.--_adv._ FEAS'IBLY. [Fr. _faisable_, that can be
done--_faire_, _faisant_--L. _fac[)e]re_, to do.]
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. _fête_)--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. _feðer_; 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 FÆCES, FÆCAL.
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. _fæcula_, dim. of _fæx_, dregs.]
FECULENT, fek'[=u]-lent, _adj._ containing fæces 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.
_fédéral_--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. _fé_;
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. _fédan_, 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 _antennæ_; 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.
_félan_, to feel; Ger. _fühlen_; prob. akin to L. _palp[=a]re_, to quiver.]
FEER, f[=e]r, _n._ (_Spens._) a companion, a spouse. [A.S. _ge-féra_, a
companion--_ge-féran_, 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'spär, _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]'LIDÆ and subfamily F[=E]L[=I]'NÆ. [L. _felinus_--_felis_, a
cat.]