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C.

C. (sē) 1. C is the third letter of the English alphabet. It is from the Latin letter C, which in old Latin represented the sounds of k, and g (in go); its original value being the latter. In Anglo-Saxon words, or Old English before the Norman Conquest, it always has the sound of k. The Latin C was the same letter as the Greek Γ, γ, and came from the Greek alphabet. The Greeks got it from the Phœnicians. The English name of C is from the Latin name ce, and was derived, probably, through the French. Etymologically C is related to g, h, k, q, s (and other sibilant sounds). Examples of these relations are in L. acutus, E. acute, ague; E. acrid, eager, vinegar; L. cornu, E. horn; E. cat, kitten; E. coy, quiet; L. circare, OF. cerchier, E. search.
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See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 221-228.
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2. (Mus.) (a) The keynote of the normal or “natural” scale, which has neither flats nor sharps in its signature; also, the third note of the relative minor scale of the same. (b) C after the clef is the mark of common time, in which each measure is a semibreve (four fourths or crotchets); for alla breve time it is written �. (c) The “C clef,” a modification of the letter C, placed on any line of the staff, shows that line to be middle C.
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3. As a numeral, C stands for Latin centum or 100, CC for 200, etc.
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Coloq. C spring , a spring in the form of the letter C.
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Ca n. the chemical symbol for , the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust.
Syn. -- calcium, atomic number 20.
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Caaba (kȧābȧ), n. [Ar. ka'bah, lit., a square building, fr. ka'b cube.] The small and nearly cubical stone building, toward which all Mohammedans must pray. [Written also kaaba.]
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☞ The Caaba is situated in Mecca, a city of Arabia, and contains a famous black stone said to have been brought from heaven. Before the time of Mohammed, the Caaba was an idolatrous temple, but it has since been the chief sanctuary and object of pilgrimage of the Mohammedan world.
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Caas (käs), n. sing. & pl. Case. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Caatinga (?), n. [Tupi caa-tinga white forest.] (Phytogeography) A forest composed of stunted trees and thorny bushes, found in areas of small rainfall in Brazil.
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Cab (kăb), n. [Abbrev. fr. cabriolet.] 1. A kind of close carriage with two or four wheels, usually a public vehicle. “A cab came clattering up.” Thackeray.
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☞ A cab may have two seats at right angles to the driver's seat, and a door behind; or one seat parallel to the driver's, with the entrance from the side or front.
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Coloq. Hansom cab . See .
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2. The covered part of a locomotive, in which the engineer has his station. Knight.
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Cab (kăb), n. [Heb. qab, fr. qābab to hollow.] A Hebrew dry measure, containing a little over two (2.37) pints. W. H. Ward. 2 Kings vi. 25.
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Cabal (kȧbăl), n. [F. cabale cabal, cabala, LL. cabala cabala, fr. Heb. qabbālēh reception, tradition, mysterious doctrine, fr. qābal to take or receive, in Piël qibbel to adopt (a doctrine).] 1. Tradition; occult doctrine. See . [Obs.] Hakewill.
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2. A secret. [Obs.] “The measuring of the temple, a cabal found out but lately.” B. Jonson.
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3. A number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in church or state by intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a junto.
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It so happend, by a whimsical coincidence, that in 1671 the cabinet consisted of five persons, the initial letters of whose names made up the word cabal; Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and Lauderdale. Macaulay.
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4. The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a close design; intrigue.
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By cursed cabals of women. Dryden.

Syn. -- Junto; intrigue; plot; combination; conspiracy. -- , , . An association for some purpose considered to be bad is the idea common to these terms. A combination is an organized union of individuals for mutual support, in urging their demands or resisting the claims of others, and may be good or bad according to circumstances; as, a combiniation of workmen or of employers to effect or to prevent a change in prices. A cabal is a secret association of a few individuals who seek by cunning practices to obtain office and power. A faction is a larger body than a cabal, employed for selfish purposes in agitating the community and working up an excitement with a view to change the existing order of things. “Selfishness, insubordination, and laxity of morals give rise to combinations, which belong particularly to the lower orders of society. Restless, jealous, ambitious, and little minds are ever forming cabals. Factions belong especially to free governments, and are raised by busy and turbulent spirits for selfish purposes”. Crabb.
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Cabal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caballed (-băld); p. pr. & vb. n. Caballing]. [Cf. F. cabaler.] To unite in a small party to promote private views and interests by intrigue; to intrigue; to plot.
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Caballing still against it with the great. Dryden.
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Cabala (kăbȧlȧ), n. [LL. See , n.] 1. A kind of occult theosophy or traditional interpretation of the Scriptures among Jewish rabbis and certain mediæval Christians, which treats of the nature of god and the mystery of human existence. It assumes that every letter, word, number, and accent of Scripture contains a hidden sense; and it teaches the methods of interpretation for ascertaining these occult meanings. The cabalists pretend even to foretell events by this means.
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2. Secret science in general; mystic art; mystery.
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Cabalism (kăbȧlĭz'm), n. [Cf. F. cabalisme.]
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1. The secret science of the cabalists.
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2. A superstitious devotion to the mysteries of the religion which one professes. [R] Emerson.
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Cabalist (-lĭst), n. [Cf. F. cabaliste.] One versed in the cabala, or the mysteries of Jewish traditions. “Studious cabalists.” Swift.
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{ Cabalistic (kăbȧlĭstĭk), Cabalistical (-tĭk�l) } a. Of or pertaining to the cabala; containing or conveying an occult meaning; mystic.
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The Heptarchus is a cabalistic exposition of the first chapter of Genesis. Hallam.
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Cabalistically, adv. In a cabalistic manner.
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Cabalize (?), v. i. [Cf. F. cabaliser.] To use cabalistic language. [R] Dr. H. More.
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Caballer (kȧbăllẽr), n. One who cabals.
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A close caballer and tongue-valiant lord. Dryden.
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Caballeria (?), n. [Sp. See .] An ancient Spanish land tenure similar to the English knight's fee; hence, in Spain and countries settled by the Spanish, a land measure of varying size. In Cuba it is about 33 acres; in Puerto Rico, about 194 acres; in the Southwestern United States, about 108 acres.
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caballero (?), n. [Sp. Cf. .] A knight or cavalier; hence, a gentleman.
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caballine (kăb�llīn), a. [L.caballinus, fr. caballus a nag. Cf. .] Of or pertaining to a horse. -- n. Caballine aloes.
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Coloq. caballine aloes , an inferior and impure kind of aloes formerly used in veterinary practice; -- called also horse aloes. -- Coloq. Caballine spring , the fountain of Hippocrene, on Mount Helicon; -- fabled to have been formed by a stroke from the foot of the winged horse Pegasus.
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Caballo (kȧväly�; 220), n. [Written also cavallo.] [Sp., fr. L. caballus a nag. See .] A horse. [Sp. Amer.]
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Cabaret (kăbȧrĕt; 277), n. [F.] 1. A tavern; a house where liquors are retailed. [Obs. as an English word.]
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2. A type of restaurant where liquor and dinner is served, and entertainment is provided, as by musicians, dancers, or comedians, and usually providing space for dancing by the patrons; -- similar to a nightclub. In some cases, the performers dance or sing on the floor between the tables, after the practice of a certain class of French taverns. The term cabaret is often used in the names of such an establishment.
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3. The type of entertainment provided in a cabaret{2}.
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Cabas (kȧbä), n. [F.] A flat basket or frail for figs, etc.; hence, a lady's flat workbasket, reticule, or hand bag; -- often written caba. C. Bronté.
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Cabassou (kȧbăss�), n. (Zoöl.) A species of armadillo of the genus Xenurus (Xenurus unicinctus and Xenurus hispidus); the tatouay. [Written also kabassou.]
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Cabbage (kăbb�j), n. [OE. cabage, fr. F. cabus headed (of cabbages), chou cabus headed cabbage, cabbage head; cf. It. capuccio a little head, cappuccio cowl, hood, cabbage, fr. capo head, L. caput, or fr. It. cappa cape. See , .] (Bot.) 1. An esculent vegetable of many varieties, derived from the wild Brassica oleracea of Europe. The common cabbage has a compact head of leaves. The cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc., are sometimes classed as cabbages.
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2. The terminal bud of certain palm trees, used, like, cabbage, for food. See Cabbage tree, below.
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3. The cabbage palmetto. See below.
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Coloq. Cabbage aphis (Zoöl.), a green plant-louse (Aphis brassicæ) which lives upon the leaves of the cabbage. -- Coloq. Cabbage beetle (Zoöl.), a small, striped flea-beetle (Phyllotreta vittata) which lives, in the larval state, on the roots, and when adult, on the leaves, of cabbage and other cruciferous plants. -- Coloq. Cabbage fly (Zoöl.), a small two-winged fly (Anthomyia brassicæ), which feeds, in the larval or maggot state, on the roots of the cabbage, often doing much damage to the crop. -- Coloq. Cabbage head , the compact head formed by the leaves of a cabbage; -- contemptuously or humorously, and colloquially, a very stupid and silly person; a numskull. -- Coloq. Cabbage palmetto , a species of palm tree (Sabal Palmetto) found along the coast from North Carolina to Florida. -- Coloq. Cabbage rose (Bot.), a species of rose (Rosa centifolia) having large and heavy blossoms. -- Coloq. Cabbage tree , Coloq. Cabbage palm , a name given to palms having a terminal bud called a cabbage, as the Sabal Palmetto of the United States, and the Euterpe oleracea and Oreodoxa oleracea of the West Indies. -- Coloq. Sea cabbage .(Bot.) (a) Sea kale (b). The original Plant (Brassica oleracea), from which the cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, etc., have been derived by cultivation. -- Coloq. Thousand-headed cabbage . See .
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Cabbage, v. i. To form a head like that the cabbage; as, to make lettuce cabbage. Johnson.
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Cabbage, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabbaged (-b�jd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cabbaging (-b�jĭng).] [F.cabasser, fr. OF. cabas theft; cf. F. cabas basket, and OF. cabuser to cheat.] To purloin or embezzle, as the pieces of cloth remaining after cutting out a garment; to pilfer.
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Your tailor . . . cabbages whole yards of cloth. Arbuthnot.
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Cabbage, n. Cloth or clippings cabbaged or purloined by one who cuts out garments.
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cabbage butterfly (Zoöl.), a white butterfly (Pieris rapæ of both Europe and America, and the allied Pieris oleracea, a native American species) which, in the larval state, devours the leaves of the cabbage and the turnip. See also , below.
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cabbage worm, cabbageworm n. (Zoöl.), the larva of several species of moths and butterflies, which attacks cabbages. The most common is the toxic green larva of a white butterfly, the , (Pieris rapæ). The cabbage cutworms, which eat off the stalks of young plants during the night, are the larvæ of several species of moths, of the genus Agrotis. See . larva of a cabbage butterfly.
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Cabbler (kăbblẽr), n. One who works at cabbling.
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Cabbling (-blĭng), n. (Metal.) The process of breaking up the flat masses into which wrought iron is first hammered, in order that the pieces may be reheated and wrought into bar iron.
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{ Cabeça (kȧb�sȧ), Cabesse (kȧbĕs), } n. [Pg. cabeça, F. cabesse.] The finest kind of silk received from India.
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Caber (kābẽr), n. [Gael. cabar.] A pole or beam, esp. one used in Gaelic games for tossing as a trial of strength.
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Cabezon (kăb�zŏn or käb�th�n), n. [Sp., properly, big head. Cf. .] (Zoöl.) A California fish (Hemilepidotus spinosus), allied to the sculpin.
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Cabiai (kăbĭī), n. [Native South American name.] (Zoöl.) The capybara. See .
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Cabin (kăbĭn), n. [OF. caban, fr. W. caban booth, cabin, dim. of cab cot, tent; or fr. F. cabane, cabine, LL. cabanna, perh. from the Celtic.] 1. A cottage or small house; a hut. Swift.
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A hunting cabin in the west. E. Everett.
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2. A small room; an inclosed place.
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So long in secret cabin there he held
Her captive. Spenser.
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3. A room in ship for officers or passengers.
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Coloq. Cabin boy , a boy whose duty is to wait on the officers and passengers in the cabin of a ship.
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Cabin v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabined (-ĭnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cabining.] To live in, or as in, a cabin; to lodge.
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I'll make you . . . cabin in a cave. Shak.
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Cabin, v. t. To confine in, or as in, a cabin.
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I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in
To saucy doubts and fears. Shak.
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Cabinet (kăbĭnĕt), n. [F., dim. of cabine or cabane. See , n.] 1. A hut; a cottage; a small house. [Obs.]
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Hearken a while from thy green cabinet,
The rural song of careful Colinet. Spenser.
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2. A small room, or retired apartment; a closet.
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3. A private room in which consultations are held.
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Philip passed some hours every day in his father's cabinet. Prescott.
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4. The advisory council of the chief executive officer of a nation; a cabinet council.
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☞ In England, the cabinet or cabinet council consists of those privy councilors who actually transact the immediate business of the government. Mozley & W. -- In the United States, the cabinet is composed of the heads of the executive departments of the government, namely, the Secretary of State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, of the Interior, and of Agiculture, the Postmaster-general, and the Attorney-general.
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5. (a) A set of drawers or a cupboard intended to contain articles of value. Hence: (b) A decorative piece of furniture, whether open like an étagère or closed with doors. See .
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6. Any building or room set apart for the safe keeping and exhibition of works of art, etc.; also, the collection itself.
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Coloq. Cabinet council . (a) Same as , n., 4 (of which body it was formerly the full title). (b) A meeting of the cabinet. -- Coloq. Cabinet councilor , a member of a cabinet council. -- Coloq. Cabinet photograph , a photograph of a size smaller than an imperial, though larger than a carte de visite. -- Coloq. Cabinet picture , a small and generally highly finished picture, suitable for a small room and for close inspection.
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Cabinet, a. Suitable for a cabinet; small.
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He [Varnhagen von Ense] is a walking cabinet edition of Goethe. For. Quar. Rev.
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Cabinet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabineted; p. pr. & vb. n. Cabineting.] To inclose [R.] Hewyt.
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Cabinetmaker (-mākẽr), n. One whose occupation is to make cabinets or other choice articles of household furniture, as tables, bedsteads, bureaus, etc.
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Cabinetmaking, n. The art or occupation of making the finer articles of household furniture.
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Cabinetwork (-wûrk), n. The art or occupation of working upon wooden furniture requiring nice workmanship; also, such furniture.
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Cabirean (kăbĭrē�n), n. One of the Cabiri.
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Cabiri (kȧbīrī), prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. Kabeiroi.] (Myth.) Certain deities originally worshiped with mystical rites by the Pelasgians in Lemnos and Samothrace and afterwards throughout Greece; -- also called sons of Hephæstus (or Vulcan), as being masters of the art of working metals. [Written also Cabeiri.] Liddell & Scott.
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Cabirian (kȧbĭrĭ�n), a. Same as .
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Cabiric (kȧbĭrĭk), a. [Cf. F. Cabirique] Of or pertaining to the Cabiri, or to their mystical worship. [Written also Cabiritic.]
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Cable (kāb'l), n. [F. câble, LL. capulum, caplum, a rope, fr. L. capere to take; cf. D., Dan., & G. kabel, from the French. See .] 1. A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links.
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2. A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some protecting or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension bridge; a telegraphic cable.
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3. (Arch) A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex, rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; -- called also cable molding.
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Coloq. Bower cable , the cable belonging to the bower anchor. -- Coloq. Cable road , a railway on which the cars are moved by a continuously running endless rope operated by a stationary motor. -- Coloq. Cable's length , the length of a ship's cable. Cables in the merchant service vary in length from 100 to 140 fathoms or more; but as a maritime measure, a cable's length is either 120 fathoms (720 feet), or about 100 fathoms (600 feet, an approximation to one tenth of a nautical mile). -- Coloq. Cable tier . (a) That part of a vessel where the cables are stowed. (b) A coil of a cable. -- Coloq. Sheet cable , the cable belonging to the sheet anchor. -- Coloq. Stream cable , a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas. -- Coloq. Submarine cable . See . -- Coloq. To pay out the cable , Coloq. To veer out the cable , to slacken it, that it may run out of the ship; to let more cable run out of the hawse hole. -- Coloq. To serve the cable , to bind it round with ropes, canvas, etc., to prevent its being, worn or galled in the hawse, et. -- Coloq. To slip the cable , to let go the end on board and let it all run out and go overboard, as when there is not time to weigh anchor. Hence, in sailor's use, to die.
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