CURCUMA, kur'k[=u]-ma, _n._ a genus of plants yielding turmeric.--_n._
CUR'CUMINE, the colouring matter of turmeric. [Fr.,--Ar. _kurkum_,
saffron.]
CURD, kurd, _n._ milk thickened or coagulated: the cheese part of milk, as
distinguished from the whey.--_n._ CURD'INESS.--_v.i._ CURD'LE, to turn
into curd: to congeal: to thicken.--_v.t._ to congeal.--_adj._ CURD'Y, like
or full of curd. [Prob. Celt.; Gael. _gruth_, Ir. _cruth_.]
CURE, k[=u]r, _n._ care of souls or spiritual charge: care of the sick: act
of healing: that which heals: a remedy, or course of remedial
treatment.--_v.t._ to heal: to preserve, as by drying, salting,
&c.:--_pr.p._ c[=u]r'ing; _pa.p._ c[=u]red.--_adj._ CUR'ABLE, that may be
cured.--_ns._ CUR'ABLENESS, CURABIL'ITY, quality of being curable;
CURE'-ALL, a panacea.--_adjs._ CUR'ATIVE, CUR'ATORY, tending to cure;
CURE'LESS, that cannot be cured.--_ns._ CUR'ER, one who cures: a physician;
CUR'ING-HOUSE, a house or place in which anything is cured, esp. a building
in which sugar is drained, as in the West Indies. [O. Fr. _cure_---L.
_cura_, care; not the same as CARE.]
CURÉ, k[=u]'r[=a], _n._ a parish priest in France.
CURFEW, kur'f[=u], _n._ in feudal times the ringing of a bell at eight
o'clock, as a signal to put out all fires and lights. [O. Fr. _covrefeu_;
_couvrir_, to cover, _feu_, fire--L. _focus_.]
CURIA, k[=u]'ri-a, _n._ one of the ten divisions of a Roman tribe: a
building in which the senate met, a provincial senate: a court, legislative
or judicial: the court of the papal see.--_ns._ C[=U]'RIALISM;
C[=U]'RIALIST.--_adj._ CURIALIST'IC. [L.]
CURIET, k[=u]'ri-et, _n._ (_Spens._) a cuirass.
CURIO, k[=u]'ri-o, _n._ any article of virtu or bric-à-brac, or anything
considered rare and curious.--_n._ CURI[=O]'SO, a collector or admirer of
curios.
CURIOUS, k[=u]'ri-us, _adj._ anxious to learn: inquisitive: showing great
care or nicety: skilfully made: singular: rare.--_n._ CURIOS'ITY, state or
quality of being curious: inquisitiveness: that which is curious: anything
rare or unusual.--_adv._ C[=U]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ C[=U]'RIOUSNESS.--CURIOUS
ARTS (_B._), magical practices. [Fr. _curieux_--L. _curiosus_--_cura_.]
[Illustration]
CURL, kurl, _v.t._ to twist into ringlets: to coil.--_v.i._ to shrink into
ringlets: to rise in undulations: to writhe: to ripple: to play at the game
of curling.--_n._ a ringlet of hair, or what is like it: a wave, bending,
or twist.--_adjs._ CURLED; CURLED'-PATE (_Shak_.), having curled
hair.--_ns._ CURL'ER, one who, or that which, curls: a player at the game
of curling; CURL'ICUE, a fantastic curl; CURL'IEWURLIE (_Scot._), any
fantastic round ornament; CURL'INESS; CURL'ING, a game, common in Scotland,
consisting in hurling heavy smooth stones along a sheet of ice.--_ns.pl._
CURL'ING [=I]'RONS, CURL'ING-TONGS, an iron instrument used for curling the
hair.--_n._ CURL'ING-STONE, a heavy stone with a handle, used in
curling.--_adjs._ CURL'Y, having curls: full of curls; CURL'Y-HEAD'ED. [M.
E. _crull_; Dut. _krullen_, Dan. _krolle_, to curl.]
CURLEW, kur'l[=u], _n._ one of the wading-birds, having a very long slender
bill and legs, and a short tail. [O. Fr. _corlieu_; prob. from its cry.]
CURMUDGEON, kur-muj'un, _n._ an avaricious, ill-natured fellow: a
miser.--_adj._ CURMUD'GEONLY. [Earlier _corn-mudgin_; _mudge_, _mooch_; M.
E. _muchen_--O. Fr. _mucier_, to hide.]
CURMURRING, kur-mur'ing, _n._ a rumbling sound, esp. that made in the
bowels by flatulence. [Imit.]