CREPT, krept, _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of CREEP.
CREPUSCULAR, kre-pus'k[=u]-lar, _adj._ of or pertaining to twilight--also
CREPUS'CULOUS.--_ns._ CREPUS'CULE, CREPUS'CLE, twilight. [L.
_crepusculum_--_creper_, dusky, obscure.]
CRESCENDO, kres-en'd[=o], _adv._ (_mus._) gradually increasing in force or
loudness.--_n._ a passage marked by this.--Often _cres._, _cresc._, or
[Crescendo symbol].
CRESCENT, kres'ent, _adj._ increasing: shaped like the new or old
moon.--_n._ the moon as she increases towards half-moon: a figure like the
crescent moon, as that on the Turkish standard: the standard itself: the
Turkish power: a range of buildings in curved form.--_n._ CRES'CENTADE, a
religious war for Islam.--_adjs._ CRES'CENTED, CRESCENT'IC, formed like a
crescent; CRES'CIVE (_Shak._), increasing. [L. _crescens_, _crescent-is_,
pr.p. of _cresc[)e]re_, to grow.]
CRESS, kres, _n._ the name of several species of plants like the
water-cress, which grow in moist places, and have pungent leaves used as
salads and medicinally.--_adj._ CRESS'Y, abounding in cresses. [A.S.
_cresse_, _cerse_; cf. Dut. _kers_, Ger. _kresse_.]
CRESSET, kres'et, _n._ an iron basket, jar, or open lamp filled with
combustible material, placed on a beacon, lighthouse, wharf, &c.: a torch
generally. [O. Fr. _cresset_, _crasset_ (Fr. _creuset_)--Old Dut.
_kruysel_, a hanging lamp.]
CREST, krest, _n._ the comb or tuft on the head of a cock and other birds:
the summit of anything, as a roof-ridge, hill, wave: the mane of a horse,
&c.: (_anat._) a ridge along the surface of a bone: a plume of feathers or
other ornament on the top of a helmet: (_her._) an accessory figure
originally surmounting the helmet, placed on a wreath, &c., also used
separately as a personal cognisance on plate, &c.--_v.t._ to furnish with,
or serve for, a crest, to surmount.--_p.adj._ CREST'ED, having a crest:
(_bot._) having an elevated appendage like a crest.--_adjs._ CREST'FALLEN,
dejected: heartless; CREST'LESS, without a crest: not of high birth.--_ns._
CREST'-MARINE', rock samphire; CRESTOL'ATRY, toadyism. [O. Fr. _creste_
(mod. _crête_)--L. _crista_.]
CRETACEOUS, kr[=e]-t[=a]'shus, _adj._ composed of or like chalk.--_adj._
CR[=E]'T[=A]TED, rubbed with chalk.--_n._ CRETIFAC'TION.--_v.i._
CR[=E]'TIFY, to become impregnated with salts of lime. [L. _cretaceus_,
from _creta_, chalk.]
CRETIC, kr[=e]'tik, _adj._ and _n._ Cretan, belonging to _Crete_: a
metrical foot consisting of one short syllable between two long.--_n._
CR[=E]'TISM, a lie.
CRETINISM, kr[=e]'tin-izm, _n._ a state of defective mental development,
associated with bodily deformity or arrested growth, occurring esp. in
connection with enlargement of the thyroid gland or goitre in the lower
Alpine valleys.--_n._ CR[=E]'TIN, one affected with cretinism.--_adjs._
CR[=E]'TINOUS, CR[=E]'TINISED. [Fr. _crétin_--Swiss _crestin_--L.
_christian-us_, prob. implying that, after all, they are human, or that
they are (from their fatuousness) incapable of sin--cf. the frequent use of
_innocent_.]
CRETONNE, kret-on', or kret'on, _n._ a strong printed cotton fabric used
for curtains or for covering furniture. [Fr., prob. from _Creton_ in
Normandy.]
CRETOSE, kr[=e]'t[=o]s, _adj._ chalky.
CREUTZER. Same as KREUTZER.