CHAPEL, chap'el, _n._ a place of worship inferior or subordinate to a
regular church, or attached to a palace, garrison, prison, school, college,
&c.: an oratory in a mausoleum, &c., or a cell of a church containing its
own altar: a dissenters' place of worship, as of Nonconformists in England,
Roman Catholics or Episcopalians in Scotland, &c.: a chapel service--hence
'to keep one's chapels'--to make the requisite number of attendances at
such: an association of workmen in a printing-office.--_n._ CHAP'ELRY, the
jurisdiction of a chapel.--CHAPEL CART (see CART).--CHAPEL OF EASE, a
chapel for worshippers far from the parish church; CHAPEL ROYAL, the
oratory of a royal palace; LADY CHAPEL, such a chapel dedicated to the
Virgin; PROPRIETARY CHAPEL, one that is the property of a private person or
persons. [O. Fr. _capele_--Low L. _cappella_, dim. of _cappa_, a cloak or
cope; orig. from the cloak of St Martin.]
CHAPERON, shap'e-r[=o]n, _n._ a kind of hood or cap: one who attends a lady
in public places as a protector.--_v.t._ to attend a lady to public
places.--_n._ CHAP'ERONAGE. [Fr., a large hood--_chape_, a hooded
cloak--Low L. _cappa_. See CAPE.]
CHAPITER, chap'i-t[.e]r, _n._ the head or capital of a column. [Fr.
_chapitel_--Low L. _capitellum_, dim. of L. _caput_, the head.]
CHAPLAIN, chap'l[=a]n, or chap'lin, _n._ a clergyman attached to a ship of
war, a regiment, a public institution, or private family.--_ns._
CHAP'LAINCY, CHAP'LAINRY, CHAP'LAINSHIP. [O. Fr. _chapelain_--Low L.
_capellanus_--_capella_. See CHAPEL.]
CHAPLET, chap'let, _n._ a garland or wreath for the head: a circlet of
gold, &c.: a string of beads used in counting prayers, one-third of a
rosary in length: anything in a string: a metal support of a cylindrical
pipe.--_adj._ CHAP'LETED. [O. Fr. _chapelet_--_chape_, a head-dress.]
CHAPMAN, chap'man, _n._ one who buys or sells: an itinerant dealer, a
pedlar: (_obs._) a purchaser.--_n._ CHAP'-BOOK, a name given to the books
which were formerly sold by chapmen. [A.S. _céap-man_--_céap_, trade, and
_mann_, man; cf. Ger. _kaufmann_, and see CHEAP.]
CHAPTER, chap't[.e]r, _n._ a main division of a book, or of anything: a
subject or category generally: an assembly of the canons of a cathedral or
collegiate church, or the members of a religious or military order: an
organised branch of some society or fraternity.--_v.t._ to put into
chapters: to take to task.--_n._ CHAP'TER-HOUSE.--CHAPTER-AND-VERSE, the
exact reference to the passage of the authority for one's statements.--THE
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS, the catalogue of unforeseen events.--TO THE END OF
THE CHAPTER, throughout the whole subject. [O. Fr. _chapitre_--L.
_capitulum_, dim. of _caput_, the head. From the practice of reading to the
assembled canons or monks a _capitulum_ or chapter of their rule, or of the
Scriptures, the men themselves came to be called in a body the _capitulum_
or chapter, and their meeting-place the chapter-house.]
CHAPTREL, chap'trel, _n._ the capital of a pillar which supports an arch.
[Dim. of CHAPITER.]
CHAR, chär, _n._ a small fish of the salmon kind, found in mountain lakes
and rivers. [Prob. Celt.; cf. Gael, _ceara_, red, blood-coloured.]
CHAR, chär, _v.t._ to roast or burn until reduced to carbon or coal, to
scorch:--_pr.p._ char'ring; _pa.p._ charred.--_adj._ CHAR'RY, pertaining to
charcoal. [Prob. formed from _char_-coal.]
CHAR. See CHARE.
CHAR-À-BANC, shar'-a-bang, _n._ a long light vehicle with transverse seats.
[Fr.]
CHARACTER, kar'ak-t[.e]r, _n._ a letter, sign, figure, stamp, or
distinctive mark: a mark of any kind, a symbol in writing, &c.: writing
generally, handwriting: a secret cipher: any essential feature or
peculiarity: nature: (_obs._) personal appearance: the aggregate of
peculiar qualities which constitutes personal or national individuality:
moral qualities especially, the reputation of possessing such: a formal
statement of the qualities of a person who has been in one's service or
employment: official position, rank, or status, or a person who has filled
such: a person noted for eccentricity: a personality as created in a play
or novel (_Shak._ CHAR'ACT).--_v.t._ to engrave, imprint, write: to
represent, delineate, or describe.--_n._ CHARACTERIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._
CHAR'ACTERISE, to describe by peculiar qualities: to distinguish or
designate.--_ns._ CHAR'ACTERISM; CHARACTERIS'TIC, that which marks or
constitutes the character.--_adjs._ CHARACTERIS'TIC, -AL, marking or
constituting the peculiar nature.--_adv._ CHARACTERIS'TICALLY.--_adj._
CHAR'ACTERLESS, without character or distinctive qualities.--_ns._
CHAR'ACTERLESSNESS; CHAR'ACTERY, writing: impression: that which is
charactered.--IN CHARACTER, in harmony with the part assumed, appropriate,
as a CHARACTER ACTOR, one who tries to represent eccentricities. [Fr.
_caractère_--L. _character_--Gr. _charakt[=e]r_, from _charass-ein_, to
cut, engrave.]
CHARADE, shar-äd', _n._ a species of riddle, the subject of which is a word
proposed for solution from an enigmatical description of its component
syllables and of the whole--the charade is often acted. [Fr.; ety. dub.
Littré gives Prov. _charrada_, chatter; Prof. Skeat quotes Sp. _charrada_,
the speech of a clown.]
CHARCOAL, chär'k[=o]l, _n._ charred wood or coal made by charring wood; the
carbonaceous residue of vegetable, animal, or mineral substances when they
have undergone smothered combustion. [The first element of the word is of
doubtful origin.]
CHARE, ch[=a]r, CHAR, chär, _n._ an occasional piece of work, an odd job:
(_pl._) household work--in America usually CHORE.--_v.i._ to do odd jobs of
work: to do house-cleaning.--_n._ CHAR'WOMAN, a woman hired by the day to
do odd jobs of domestic work. [A.S. _cerran_, _cierran_, to turn.]
CHARET, chär'et, _n._ (_Spens._) same as CHARIOT.
CHARGE, chärj, _v.t._ to load, to put into, to fill (_with_): to load
heavily, burden: to fill completely: to cause to receive electricity: to
lay a task upon one, to enjoin, command: to deliver officially an
injunction, as a judge to a jury, a bishop or archdeacon to his clergy, or
a senior to a junior minister at a Presbyterian ordination: to bring an
accusation against: to exact a sum of money from, to ask as the
price.--_v.i._ to make an onset.--_n._ that which is laid on: cost or
price: the load of powder, &c., for a gun: attack or onset: care, custody:
the object of care, esp. a minister of religion's flock or parish: an
accumulation of electricity in a Leyden jar: command: exhortation:
accusation: (_pl._) expenses.--_adj._ CHARGE'ABLE, liable to be charged,
imputable: blamable: (_B._) burdensome.--_n._ CHARGE'ABLENESS.--_adv._
CHARGE'ABLY.--_adj._ CHARGE'FUL (_Shak._), expensive.--_n._ CHARGE'-HOUSE
(_Shak._), a common school where a fee was charged, in distinction to a
free-school.--_adj._ CHARGE'LESS.--_n._ CHARG'ER, a flat dish capable of
holding a large joint, a platter: a war-horse.--GIVE IN CHARGE, to hand
over to the police. [Fr. _charger_--Low L. _carric[=a]re_, to load--L.
_carrus_, a wagon. See CAR, CARGO.]
CHARGÉ-D'AFFAIRES, shar'zh[=a]-da-f[=a]r', _n._ a fourth-class diplomatic
agent, accredited, not to the sovereign, but to the department for foreign
affairs--he also holds his credentials only from the minister: the person
in charge for the time. [Fr.]
CHARILY, CHARINESS. See CHARY.
CHARIOT, char'i-ot, _n._ a four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage: a car
used in ancient warfare: a light four-wheeled carriage with
back-seats.--_v.t._ to carry in a chariot.--_v.i._ to ride in a
chariot.--_n._ CHARIOTEER', one who drives a chariot.--_v.t._ and _v.i._ to
drive or to ride in such. [Fr., dim. of _char_, a CAR.]
CHARISM, kar'izm, _n._ a free gift of grace.--_adj._ CHARISMAT'IC. [Gr.
_charisma_--_charis_, grace.]
CHARITY, char'i-ti, _n._ (_N.T._) universal love: the disposition to think
favourably of others, and do them good: almsgiving: (_pl._)
affections.--_adj._ CHAR'ITABLE, of or relating to charity: liberal to the
poor.--_n._ CHAR'ITABLENESS.--_adv._ CHAR'ITABLY.--COLD AS CHARITY, an
ironical phrase implying the coldness of much so-called charity, which
should naturally be warm. [Fr. _charité_--L. _caritat-em_, _carus_, dear.]
CHARIVARI, shär'i-vär'i, _n._ a French term used to designate a wild tumult
and uproar, produced by the beating of pans, kettles, and dishes, mingled
with whistling, bawling, groans, and hisses, expressive of displeasure
against an individual--the 'rough music' not unknown in England as a
popular protest against an unequal marriage, or the like. [Ety. dub.; the
word, as suggesting derision, has been adopted as a name by satirical
journals.]
CHARK, chärk, _v.t._ to burn to charcoal.--_n._ charcoal, coke.
CHARLATAN, shär'la-tan, _n._ a mere talking pretender: a quack.--_adj._
CHARLATAN'IC.--_ns._ CHAR'LATANISM, CHAR'LATANRY. [Fr.,--It.
_ciarlatano_--_ciarlare_, to chatter, an imit. word.]
CHARLES'S WAIN, _n._ a name given to the seven bright stars in Ursa Major,
the Plough. [A.S. _Carles wægn_, Carl being Charlemagne.]
CHARLEY, CHARLIE, chär'li, _n._ a night-watchman: the small triangular
beard familiar in the portraits of _Charles_ I.: the fox.--_n._
CHAR'LEY-PITCH'ER (_slang_), one who makes a living by the thimble-and-pea
trick.
CHARLOCK, chär'lok, _n._ a plant of the mustard family, with yellow
flowers, that grows as a weed in cornfields. [A.S. _cerlic_.]
CHARLOTTE, shär'lot, _n._ a dish of apple marmalade covered with crumbs of
toast.--CHARLOTTE RUSSE, a custard enclosed in a kind of sponge-cake.
CHARM, chärm, _n._ a spell: something thought to possess occult power, a
metrical form of words: attractiveness: a trinket worn on a watch-guard:
the blended singing of birds, children, &c.: (_pl._) female beauty or other
personal attractions: that which can please irresistibly.--_v.t._ to
influence by a charm: to subdue by secret influence: to enchant: to
delight, to allure.--_adj._ CHARMED, protected, as by a special
charm.--_n._ CHARM'ER.--_adj._ CHARM'FUL, abounding with charms.--_p.adj._
CHARM'ING, highly pleasing: delightful: fascinating.--_adv._
CHARM'INGLY.--_adj._ CHARM'LESS, wanting or destitute of charms. [Fr.
_charme_--L. _carmen_, a song.]
CHARNECO, chär'ne-ko, _n._ (_Shak._) a kind of sweet wine. [Prob. from the
name of a village near Lisbon.]
CHARNEL, chär'nel, _adj._ of, or pertaining to, a charnel or burial-place,
as in 'charnel-vault,' &c.: sepulchral, death-like.--_n._ CHAR'NEL-HOUSE, a
place where the bones of the dead are deposited. [O. Fr. _charnel_--Low L.
_carn[=a]le_--L. _carnalis_, _caro_, _carnis_, flesh.]
CHARON, k[=a]'ron, _n._ in Greek mythology, the ferryman who rowed the
shades of the dead across the river Styx in the lower world: a ferryman
generally. [Gr.]
CHARPIE, shär'p[=e], _n._ lint shredded down so as to form a soft material
for dressing wounds. [O. Fr. _charpir_--L. _carp[)e]re_, to pluck.]
CHARPOY, char'poi, _n._ the common Indian bedstead, sometimes handsomely
wrought and painted. [Hind. _cha[=a]rp[=a][=i]_--Pers.
_chih[=a]r-p[=a][=i]_, four feet.]
CHARQUI, chär'k[=e], _n._ beef cut into long strips and dried in the
sun--jerked beef. [Peruv.]
CHARR. Same as CHAR (1).
CHART, chärt, _n._ a marine or hydrographical map, exhibiting a portion of
a sea or other water, with the islands, coasts of contiguous land,
soundings, currents, &c: an outline-map, or a tabular statement giving
information of any kind.--_adjs._ CHART[=A]'CEOUS; CHART'LESS. [O. Fr.
_charte_--L. _charta_, a paper.]
CHARTER, chärt'er, _n._ any formal writing in evidence of a grant,
contract, or other transaction, conferring or confirming titles, rights, or
privileges, or the like: the formal deed by which a sovereign guarantees
the rights and privileges of his subjects, like the famous MAG'NA CHART'A,
signed by King John at Runnymede, 15th June 1215, or the CHARTE of Louis
XVIII. at the Restoration in 1814, or that sworn by Louis-Philippe, 29th
August 1830: any instrument by which powers and privileges are conferred by
the state on a select body of persons for a special object, as the 'charter
of a bank:' a patent: grant, allowance: immunity.--_v.t._ to establish by
charter: to let or hire, as a ship, on contract.--_p.adj._ CHART'ERED,
granted or protected by a charter: privileged: licensed: hired by contract.
[O. Fr. _chartre_--L. _cartula_, _carta_.]
CHARTERHOUSE, chärt'[.e]r-hows, _n._ a Carthusian monastery: the famous
hospital and school instituted in London in 1611, on the site of a
Carthusian monastery--now transferred--the 'masterpiece of Protestant
English charity' in Fuller's phrase.--_ns._ CHAR'TREUSE, a Carthusian
monastery, esp. the original one, the Grande Chartreuse near Grenoble in
France: a famous liqueur, green, yellow, or white, long manufactured here
by the monks from aromatic herbs and brandy: a kind of enamelled pottery: a
pale greenish colour; CHAR'TREUX, a Carthusian: the Charterhouse School.
CHARTER-PARTY, chärt'[.e]r-pär'ti, _n._ the common written form in which
the contract of affreightment is expressed--viz. the hiring of the whole or
part of a ship for the conveyance of goods. [Fr. _charte-partie_, lit. a
divided charter, as the practice was to divide it in two and give a half to
each person. L. _charta part[=i]ta_.]
CHARTISM, chärt'izm, _n._ a movement in Great Britain for the extension of
political power to the working-classes, rising out of widespread national
distress and popular disappointment with the results of the Reform Bill of
1832--its programme, the 'People's Charter,' drawn up in 1838, with six
_points_: (1) Manhood Suffrage; (2) Equal Electoral Districts; (3) Vote by
Ballot; (4) Annual Parliaments; (5) Abolition of Property Qualification;
and (6) Payment of Members of the House of Commons.--_n._ CHART'IST, a
supporter of chartism.
CHARTOGRAPHY. See CARTOGRAPHY.
CHARTREUSE, CHARTREUX. See CHARTERHOUSE.
CHARTULARY. Same as CARTULARY.
CHARWOMAN. See CHARE.
CHARY, ch[=a]r'i, _adj._ sparing: cautious.--_adv._ CHAR'ILY.--_n._
CHAR'INESS. [A.S. _cearig_--_cearu_, care.]
CHARYBDIS, kar-ib'dis, _n._ a dangerous whirlpool between Italy and Sicily,
and opposite to Scylla, the two together providing a proverbial alternative
of ruin hardly to be escaped.
CHASE, ch[=a]s, _v.t._ to pursue: to hunt: to drive away, put to
flight.--_n._ pursuit: a hunting: that which is hunted: ground abounding in
game.--_n._ CHASE'PORT, the porthole at the bow or stern of a vessel,
through which the chase-gun is fired.--BEASTS OF CHASE, properly the buck,
doe, fox, marten, and roe: wild beasts that are hunted
generally.--WILD-GOOSE CHASE, any foolish or profitless pursuit. [O. Fr.
_chacier_, _chasser_--L. _capt[=a]re_, freq. of _cap[)e]re_, to take.]
CHASE, ch[=a]s, _v.t._ to decorate metal-work, whether hammered or punched
up, by engraving the exterior.--_ns._ CHAS'ER, one who practises chasing;
CHAS'ING, the art of representing figures in bas-relief by punching them
out from behind, and then carving them on the front: the art of cutting the
threads of screws. [Short for ENCHASE.]
CHASE, ch[=a]s, _n._ a case or frame for holding types: a groove. [Fr.
_châsse_, a shrine, a setting--L. _capsa_, a chest. See CASE.]
CHASERICULTURE, chas-er-i-kul't[=u]r, _n._ the combined industries of
tea-growing and of silk-production. [A combination of Chinese _cha_, tea,
_chasze_, the former tea valuers of Canton, and L. _sericum_, silk.]
CHASM, kazm, _n._ a yawning or gaping hollow: a gap or opening: a void
space.--_adjs._ CHASMED; CHASM'Y. [Gr. _chasma_, from _chain-ein_, to gape;
cf. CHAOS.]
CHASSE, shäs, _n._ a dram or liqueur taken after coffee, to remove the
taste.--Also CHASSE-CAFÉ [Fr. _chasse-café_--_chasser_, to chase, remove.]
CHASSÉ, shäs'[=a], _n._ a kind of gliding step in dancing.--_v.t._ to make
such a step: (_slang_) to dismiss. [Fr.]
CHASSEPOT, shas'po, _n._ the kind of bolt-action breechloading rifle
adopted by the French army in 1866. [From Antoine Alphonse _Chassepot_, the
inventor.]
CHASSEUR, sha-s[=a]r', _n._ a hunter or huntsman: one of a select body of
French light troops, either infantry or cavalry; a domestic dressed in
military garb in the houses of the great. [Fr. _chasser_, to hunt.]
CHASTE, ch[=a]st, _adj._ modest; refined; virtuous: pure in taste and
style.--_adv._ CHASTE'LY.--_ns._ CHASTE'NESS, the quality of being chaste;
CHAS'TITY, sexual purity: virginity: refinement of language: moderation.
[O. Fr. _chaste_--L. _castus_, pure.]
CHASTEN, ch[=a]s'n, _v.t._ to free from faults by punishing--hence to
punish, to purify or refine: to restrain or moderate.--_p.adj._ CHAS'TENED,
purified: modest.--_n._ CHAS'TENMENT.
CHASTISE, chas-t[=i]z', _v.t._ to inflict punishment upon for the purpose
of correction: to reduce to order or to obedience.--_adj._
CHAST[=I]S'ABLE.--_n._ CHAS'TISEMENT.
[Illustration]
CHASUBLE, chaz'[=u]-bl, _n._ a sleeveless vestment worn over the alb by the
priest while celebrating mass. [O. Fr. _chesible_--Low L. _casubula_--L.
_casula_, a mantle, dim. of _casa_, a hut.]
CHAT, chat, _v.i._ to talk idly or familiarly:--_pr.p._ chat'ting; _pa.p._
chat'ted.--_n._ familiar, idle talk.--_n._ CHAT'TINESS.--_adj._ CHAT'TY,
given to chat, talkative. [Short for CHATTER.]
CHAT, chat, _n._ a genus of small birds in the thrush family, of which the
wheatear is a familiar example. [From the sound of their voice.]
CHATEAU, sha-t[=o]', _n._ a castle, a great country-seat, esp. in France
(common in place-names, and connected with wines, as 'Château Lafitte,'
'Château Yqem,' &c.).--_ns._ CHATELAIN (shat'e-l[=a]n), a castellan;
CHAT'ELAINE, a female castellan: an ornamental appendage, suitable to a
lady chatelaine, consisting of short chains bearing keys, corkscrew,
scissors, &c., attached to the waist-belt: a similar thing in miniature
attached to the watch-chain.--CHÂTEAU EN ESPAGNE, a castle in the air. [O.
Fr. _chastel_ (Fr. _château_)--L. _castellum_, dim. of _castrum_, a fort.]