Catamenia - Catechise

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Catamenia (kătȧmēnĭȧ), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ta katamhnia.] (Med.) The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.
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Catamenial (kătȧmēnĭ�l), a. [Gr. katamhnios monthly; kata down, back, again + mhn month.] Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.
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Catamite (kătȧmīt), n. [L. Catamitus, an old form of Ganymedes Ganymede, Gr. Ganymhdhs.] A boy kept for unnatural purposes.
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Catamount (kătȧmount), n. [Cat + mount; cf. Sp. gato montes mountain cat.] (Zoöl.) The . Applied also, in some parts of the United States, to the .
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catamountain, cat-a-mountain n. 1. the bushy-tailed European wildcat (Felis silvestris) resembling the domestic tabby and regarded as the ancestor of the domestic cat.
Syn. -- European wildcat, Felis silvestris.
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Catanadromous (?), a. [Gr. kata down + 'ana up + dromos running, course.] (Zoöl.) Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as the salmon; anadromous. [R.]
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Catapasm (?), n. [Gr. �, fr. � to besprinkle; kata down, wholly + � to strew, or sprinkle.] (Med.) A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc. Dunglison.
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Catapeltic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a catapult.
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Catapetalous (?), a. [Pref. cata + petalous.] (Bot.) Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their bases, as in the mallow.
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Cataphonic (?), a. Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.
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Cataphonics (?), n. [Pref. cata + phonic: cf. F. cataphonique.] (Physics) That branch of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds; catacoustics.
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Cataphract (kătȧfrăkt), n. [L. cataphractes, Gr. �, fr. � covered, fr. � to cover; kata down, wholly + frassein to inclose.]
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1. (Mil. Antiq.) Defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern nations.
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2. A horseman covered with a cataphract.
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Archers and slingers, cataphracts, and spears. Milton.
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3. (Zoöl.) The armor or plate covering some fishes.
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Cataphracted (?), a. (Zoöl.) Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard, callous skin, etc.
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Cataphractic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.
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Cataphysical, a. [Pref. cata + physical.] Unnatural; contrary to nature. [R.]
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Some artists . . . have given to Sir Walter Scott a pile of forehead which is unpleassing and cataphysical. De Quincey.
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Cataplasm (?), n. [L. cataplasma, Gr. �, fr. � to spread over; kata down, wholly + � to form, mold.] (Med.) A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of the body; a poultice. Dunglison.
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Cataplexy (?), n. [Gr. � amazement: cf. .] (Med.) A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles. -- Cataplectic (#), a.
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Catapuce (?), n. [F.] (Bot.) Spurge. [Obs.]
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Catapult (?), n. [L. catapulta, Gr. �, prob. from kata down + � to shake, hurl.]
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1. (Mil. Antiq.) An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.
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2. A forked stick with elastic band for throwing small stones, etc.
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Cataract (?), n. [L. cataracta, catarracles, a waterfall, Gr. �, �, fr. � to break down; in the passive, to fall or rush down (of tumors) to burst; kata down + � to break.] 1. A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.
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2. (Surg.) An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the sight.
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3. (Mach.) A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.
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Cataractous (?), a. Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.
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Catarrh (?), n. [L. catarrhus, Gr. �, �, a running down, rheum, fr. �; kata down + � to flow. See .] (Med.) An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and quality of mucus secreted; as, catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the bladder.
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☞ In America, the term catarrh is applied especially to a chronic inflammation of, and hypersecretion fron, the membranes of the nose or air passages; in England, to an acute influenza, resulting a cold, and attended with cough, thirst, lassitude, and watery eyes; also, to the cold itself.
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Catarrhal (?), a. Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the nature of catarrh.
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Catarrhine (?), n. [Gr. katarris with hanging or curved nose; kata down + ris, rinos nose.] (Zoöl.) One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and turned downward. See .
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Catarrhous (?), a. Catarrhal. [R.]
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Catastaltic (?), a. [Gr. �, fr. � to check; kata down, wholy + � to set.] (Med.) Checking evacuations through astringent or styptic qualities.
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Catastasis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �, fr. � to set; kata down + � to place.] 1. (Rhet.) That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.
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2. (Med.) The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of body.
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Catasterism (?), n. [Gr. �, fr. � to place among the stars.] A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars.
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The catasterisms of Eratosthenes. Whewell.
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Catastrophe (?), n. [L. catastropha, Gr. �, fr. � to turn up and down, to overturn; kata down + � to turn.] 1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things; a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence, sudden calamity; great misfortune.
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The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. Bp. Burnet.
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The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet saw. Woodward.
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2. The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.
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3. (Geol.) A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by internal causes. Whewell.
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Catastrophic (?), a. Of a pertaining to a catastrophe. B. Powell.
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Catastrophism (?), n. (Geol.) The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; -- opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.
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Catastrophist (?), n. (Geol.) One who holds the theory or catastrophism.
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catatonia n. [Gr. katatonos, stretching down, depressed, fr. kata down + tonos stretching, straining, tone (sound). Stedman.] (Psychiatry) an abnormal behavioral syndrome characterized by stupor, negativism, and muscular rigidity, sometimes alternating with purposeless excitement, and seen most frequently in schizophrenia; called also catatonic schizophrenia.
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catatonic adj. 1. of or pertaining to catatonia; suffering from catatonia.
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2. appearing mentally stupefied, unresponsive, and motionless, or almost so; seemingly unaware of one's environment. [Colloq.]
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catatonic n. a person suffering from catatonia.
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Catawba (?), n. 1. A well known light red variety of American grape.
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2. A light-colored, sprightly American wine from the Catawba grape.
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Catawbas (?), n. pl.; sing. Catawba. (Ethnol.) An Appalachian tribe of Indians which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the head waters of the Santee.
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Catbird (?), n. (Zoöl.) An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of a cat.
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Catboat (?), n. (Naut.) A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as possible, carring a sail extended by a gaff and long boom. See Illustration in Appendix.
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catbrier n. a very prickly woody vine of eastern U.S. (Smilax rotundifolia) growing in tangled masses, having tough round stems with shiny leathery leaves and small greenish flowers followed by clusters of inedible shiny black berries.
Syn. -- bullbrier, greenbrier, horsebrier, brier, briar, Smilax rotundifolia.
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Catcall (?), n. A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument for making such a noise.
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Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the great consort of catcalls which was exhibited. Addison.
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Catch (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caught (?) or Catched (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Catching. Catched is rarely used.] [OE. cacchen, OF. cachier, dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL. captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See , and cf. , a box.]
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1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp (anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a ball.
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2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. “They pursued . . . and caught him.” Judg. i. 6.
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3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch a bird or fish.
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4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. “To catch him in his words”. Mark xii. 13.
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5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a melody. “Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue.” Tennyson.
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6. To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the adjoining building.
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7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm.
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The soothing arts that catch the fair. Dryden.
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8. To get possession of; to attain.
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Torment myself to catch the English throne. Shak.
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9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion, infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.
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10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch one in the act of stealing.
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11. To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train.
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Coloq. To catch fire , to become inflamed or ignited. -- Coloq. to catch it to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. To catch one's eye , to interrupt captiously while speaking. [Colloq.] “You catch me up so very short.” Dickens. -- Coloq. To catch up , to snatch; to take up suddenly.
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Catch (?), v. i. 1. To attain possession. [Obs.]
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Have is have, however men do catch. Shak.
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2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as, a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.
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3. To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.
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4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.
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Does the sedition catch from man to man? Addison.
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Coloq. To catch at , to attempt to seize; to be eager to get or use. “[To] catch at all opportunities of subverting the state.” Addison. -- Coloq. To catch up with , to come up with; to overtake.
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Catch, n. 1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney.
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2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the catch of a gate.
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3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch. [Archaic] Addison.
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The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages one againt another. T. Fuller.
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4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.
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Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your brains. Shak.
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5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in matrimony. [Colloq.] Marryat.
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6. pl. Passing opportunities seized; snatches.
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It has been writ by catches with many intervals. Locke.
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7. A slight remembrance; a trace.
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We retain a catch of those pretty stories. Glanvill.
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8. (Mus.) A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch up each other's words.
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Catchable (?), a. Capable of being caught. [R.]
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Catch-basin (?), n. A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter discharges into a sewer, to catch bulky matters which would not pass readily through the sewer. Knight.
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Catch crop. Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time. -- Catch-cropping, n.

Radishes . . . are often grown as a catch crop with other vegetables. L. H. Bailey.
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Catchdrain (?), n. A ditch or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus water.
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Catcher (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, catches.
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2. (Baseball) The player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball.
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Catchfly (?), n. (Bot.) A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts, covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.
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Catching a. 1. Infectious; contagious.
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2. Captivating; alluring.
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Catching, n. The act of seizing or taking hold of.
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Coloq. Catching bargain (Law), a bargain made with an heir expectant for the purchase of his expectancy at an inadequate price. Bouvier.
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Catch-meadow (?), n. A meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side of hill.
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Catchment (?), n. A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected into a reservoir.
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Catchpenny (?), a. Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show. -- n. Some worthless catchpenny thing.
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Catchpoll (?), n. [OF. chacepol, chacipol.] A bailiff's assistant.

Catch title. A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.
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{ Catchup (?), Catsup (?) }, n. [Probably of East Indian origin, because it was originally a kind of East Indian pickles. Cf. also Malay kĕchap fish sauce. MW10.] A pureed table sauce made predominantly from tomatoes, flavored with onions, sugar, salt and spices; called also tomato ketchup. The term is also applied to pureed sauces containing mushrooms, walnuts, etc., being called in such cases mushroom ketchup, walnut ketchup, etc. [Written also ketchup.]
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Catchwater (?), n. A ditch or drain for catching water. See .
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Catchweed (?), n. (Bot.) See .
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Catchweight (?), adv. (Horseracing) Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as, to ride catchweight.
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Catchword (?), n. 1. Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.
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2. (Print.) The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing.
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3. A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as, the catchword of a political party, etc.
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Catchwork (?), n. A work or artificial water-course for throwing water on lands that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.
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Catchy (?), a. 1. Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking; as, catchy music.
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2. Tending to catch or insnare; entangling; -- usually used fig.; as, a catchy question.
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3. Consisting of, or occuring in, disconnected parts or snatches; changeable; as, a catchy wind.
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It [the fox's scent] is . . . flighty or catchy, if variable. Encyc. of Sport.
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Cate (?), n. Food. [Obs.] See .
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{ Catechetic (?), Catechetical (?), } a. [Gr. �. See .] Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching.
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Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.
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Catechetically, adv. In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.
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Catechetics (?), n. The science or practice of instructing by questions and answers.
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Catechin (?), n. (Chem.) One of the tannic acids (C15H14O6), extracted from as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, catechinic acid, cyanidol, and catechuin. It is a flavonoid found generally in higher woody plants, and is used in dyeing and tanning.
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Catechisation (?), n. [LL. catechizatio.] The act of catechising.
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Catechise (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catechised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Catechising.] [L. catechizare, Gr. �, equiv. to � to resound, sound a thing into one's ears, impress it upon one by word of mouth; � + � to sound, � a sound.]
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1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving answers, and offering explanations and corrections, -- esp. in regard to points of religious faith.
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2. To question or interrogate; to examine or try by questions; -- sometimes with a view to reproof, by eliciting from a person answers which condemn his own conduct. Swift.
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