Jennet - Jetsam

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Jennet (jĕnnĕt), n. [F. genet, Sp. jinete, orig., a mounted soldier, Ar. zenāta a tribe of Barbary celebrated for its cavalry.] A small Spanish horse; a genet.
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Jenneting, n. [Prob. fr. a dim. of Jean John, so named as becoming ripe about St. John's day, June 24. F. Jean is fr. L. Johannes. See .] A variety of early apple. See . [Written also geniting.]
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Jenny (?), n.; pl. Jennies (�).
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1. A familiar or pet form of the proper name Jane.
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2. (Zoöl.) A familiar name of the European wren.
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Coloq. Jenny ass (Zoöl.), a female ass; also, a female of certain other animals.
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Jenny, n. [A corruption of gin an engine; influenced by Jenny, the proper name. See an engine, and cf. .] A machine for spinning a number of threads at once, -- used in factories. Also called spinning jenny.
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Jentling (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fish of the genus Leuciscus; the blue chub of the Danube.
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Jeofail (jĕf�l), n. [F. j'ai failli I have failed.] (Law) An oversight in pleading, or the acknowledgment of a mistake or oversight. Blackstone.
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Jeopard (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jeoparded; p. pr. & vb. n. Jeoparding.] [From .] To put in jeopardy; to expose to loss or injury; to imperil; to jeopardize; to hazard. Sir T. North.
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A people that jeoparded their lives unto the death. Judg. v. 18.

Syn. -- To hazard; risk; imperil; endanger; expose.
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jeoparder (?), n. One who puts in jeopardy. [R.]
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jeopardize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jeopardized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jeopardizing (?).] To expose to loss or injury; to risk.
Syn. -- jeopard.
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That he should jeopardize his willful head
Only for spite at me.
H. Taylor.
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Jeopardous (?), a. Perilous; hazardous.
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His goodly, valiant, and jeopardous enterprise. Fuller.

-- Jeopardously, adv. Huloet.
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Jeopardy (?), n. [OE. jupartie, juperti, jeuparti, OF. jeu parti an even game, a game in which the chances are even; OF. jeu, ju, F. jeu (L. jocus jest) + F. partier to divide, L. partire to divide. See , and .] Exposure to death, loss, or injury; hazard; danger.
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There came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. Luke viii. 23.
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Look to thyself, thou art in jeopardy. Shak.

Syn. -- Danger; peril; hazard; risk. See .
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Jeopardy, v. t. To jeopardize. [R.] Thackeray.
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{ Jequirity (?), n., or Jequirity bean }. [Prob. fr. a native name.] (Bot.) The seed of the wild licorice (Abrus precatorius) used by the people of India for beads in rosaries and necklaces, as a standard weight, etc.; -- called also jumble bead.
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Jerboa (?), n. [Ar. yarbū‘.] (Zoöl.) Any small jumping rodent of the genus Dipus, esp. Dipus Ægyptius, which is common in Egypt and the adjacent countries. The jerboas have very long hind legs and a long tail. [Written also gerboa.]
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☞ The name is also applied to other small jumping rodents, as the Pedetes Caffer, of the Cape of Good Hope.
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Coloq. Jerboa kangaroo (Zoöl.), small Australian kangaroo (Bettongia penicillata), about the size of a common hare.
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Jereed (?), n. [Ar. jerīd. Cf. .] A blunt javelin used by the people of the Levant, especially in mock fights. [Written also jerreed, jerid.] Byron.

{ Jeremiad, Jeremiade }, n. [From Jeremiah, the prophet: cf. F. jérémiade.] A tale of sorrow, disappointment, or complaint; a doleful story; a dolorous tirade; -- generally used satirically.
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He has prolonged his complaint into an endless jeremiad. Lamb.
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Jerfalcon (?), n. (Zoöl.) The gyrfalcon.
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Jerguer (?), n. See .
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Jerid (?), n. Same as .
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Jerk (jẽrk), v. t. [Corrupted from Peruv. charqui dried beef.] To cut into long slices or strips and dry in the sun; as, to jerk beef. See .
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Jerk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Jerked (jẽrkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Jerking.] [Akin to yerk, and perh. also to yard a measure.]
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1. To beat; to strike. [Obs.] Florio.
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2. To give a quick and suddenly arrested thrust, push, pull, or twist, to; to yerk; as, to jerk one with the elbow; to jerk a coat off.
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3. To throw with a quick and suddenly arrested motion of the hand; as, to jerk a stone.
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Jerk, v. i. 1. To make a sudden motion; to move with a start, or by starts. Milton.
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2. To flout with contempt.
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Jerk, n.
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1. A short, sudden pull, thrust, push, twitch, jolt, shake, or similar motion.
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His jade gave him a jerk. B. Jonson.
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2. A sudden start or spring.
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Lobsters . . . swim backwards by jerks or springs. Grew.
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3. A foolish, stupid, or otherwise contemptible person. [Slang]
Syn. -- jerkoff.
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4. (Sport) The lifting of a weight, in a single rapid motion, from shoulder height until the arms are outstretched above the head; distinguished from press in that the motion in a jerk is more rapid, and the body may be moved under the weight to assist completion of the movement; as, a clean and jerk of two hundred pounds.
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2. Calisthenic exercises, such as push-ups or deep knee bends; also called physical jerks. [British]
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Jerker (?), n.
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1. A beater. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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2. One who jerks or moves with a jerk.
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3. (Zoöl.) A North American river chub (Hybopsis biguttatus).
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Jerkin (?), n. [Dim. of D. jurk a frock.] A jacket or short coat; a close waistcoat. Shak.
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Jerkin, n. (Zoöl.) A male gyrfalcon.
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Jerking (?), n. The act of pulling, pushing, or throwing, with a jerk. -- Jerkingly, adv.
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Jerkinhead (?), n. (Arch.) The hipped part of a roof which is hipped only for a part of its height, leaving a truncated gable.
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jerkoff (?), a. A lazy, foolish, stupid, or otherwise contemptible person; -- an offensive and disparaging term. [vulgar slang]
Syn. -- jerk.
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jerk off (?), v. i. To masturbate. [vulgar slang]
Syn. -- whack off.
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jerkwater adj. [from jerk + water, a place where it is necessary to draw (jerk) water to supply the boiler of a steam engine.] 1. small and remote and insignificant; as, a jerkwater college.
Syn. -- one-horse, pokey, poky.
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2. (Railroads) Off the main railroad line. [Archaic]
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jerky (?), a. 1. Moving by jerks and starts; characterized by abrupt transitions; as, a jerky vehicle; a jerky style.
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2. Foolish; ridiculous; stupid. [slang]
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jerky (?), n. [Corrupted from Peruv. charqui dried beef.] Meat, especially beef, that has been cut in strips and dried; meat that has been jerked; see first , v.; as, beef jerky
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Jermoonal (?), n. (Zoöl.) The Himalayan snow partridge.
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Jeronymite (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) One belonging of the mediæval religious orders called Hermits of St. Jerome. [Written also Hieronymite.]
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Jeropigia (?), n. See .
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Jerquer (?), n. [Cf. F. chercher to search, E. search.] A customhouse officer who searches ships for unentered goods. [Eng.] [Written also jerguer.]
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Jerquing (?), n. The searching of a ship for unentered goods. [Eng.] [Written also jerguer.]
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Jerquing (?), n. The searching of a ship for unentered goods. [Eng.]
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Jerry (?), a. Flimsy; jerry-built. -- Jerryism (#), n. [Both Builder's Cant]
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Jerry-builder (?), n. [Prob. fr. the proper name Jerry, familiar form of Jeremiah.] A professional builder who erects cheap dwellings of poor materials and unsubstantial and slovenly construction.
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Jerry-built (?), a. 1. Built hastily and of bad materials; as, jerry-built houses.
Syn. -- slipshod, ramshackle, flimsy.
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2. Developed in an unsystematic or inexpert manner; built haphazardly; -- used of objects, organizations, plans, etc.
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Jersey (?), n.; pl. Jerseys (#). [From Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands.]
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1. The finest of wool separated from the rest; combed wool; also, fine yarn of wool.
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2. A kind of knitted jacket; hence, in general, a closefitting jacket or upper garment made of an elastic fabric (as stockinet).
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3. One of a breed of cattle in the Island of Jersey. Jerseys are noted for the richness of their milk.
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Jerusalem (j�rṳsȧlĕm), n. [Gr. 'Ieroysalhm, fr. Heb. Yĕrūshālaim.] The chief city of Palestine, intimately associated with the glory of the Jewish nation, and the life and death of Jesus Christ.
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Coloq. Jerusalem artichoke [Perh. a corrupt. of It. girasole i.e., sunflower, or turnsole. See , .] (Bot.) (a) An American plant, a perennial species of sunflower (Helianthus tuberosus), whose tubers are sometimes used as food. (b) One of the tubers themselves. -- Coloq. Jerusalem cherry (Bot.), the popular name of either of two species of Solanum (Solanum Pseudo-capsicum and Solanum capsicastrum), cultivated as ornamental house plants. They bear bright red berries of about the size of cherries. -- Coloq. Jerusalem oak (Bot.), an aromatic goosefoot (Chenopodium Botrys), common about houses and along roadsides. -- Coloq. Jerusalem sage (Bot.), a perennial herb of the Mint family (Phlomis tuberosa). -- Coloq. Jerusalem thorn (Bot.), a spiny, leguminous tree (Parkinsonia aculeata), widely dispersed in warm countries, and used for hedges. -- Coloq. The New Jerusalem , Heaven; the Celestial City.
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Jervine (?), n. [Prob. fr. Sp. yerba herb, OSp., the poison of the veratrum.] (Chem.) A poisonous alkaloid resembling veratrine, and found with it in white hellebore (Veratrum album); -- called also jervina.
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Jess (?), n.; pl. Jesses (#). [OF. gies, giez, prop. pl. of giet, get, jet, F. jet, a throwing, jess. See a shooting forth.] (falconry) A short strap of leather or silk secured round the leg of a hawk, to which the leash or line, wrapped round the falconer's hand, was attached when used. See Illust. of .
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Like a hawk, which feeling freed
From bells and jesses which did let her flight.
Spenser.
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Jessamine (?), n. (Bot.) Same as .
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Jessant (?), a. (Her.) Springing up or emerging; -- said of a plant or animal.
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Jesse (?), n. [LL. Jesse, the father of David, fr. Gr. �, fr. Herb. Yishai.] Any representation or suggestion of the genealogy of Christ, in decorative art; as: (a) A genealogical tree represented in stained glass. (b) A candlestick with many branches, each of which bears the name of some one of the descendants of Jesse; -- called also tree of Jesse.
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Coloq. Jesse window (Arch.), a window of which the glazing and tracery represent the tree of Jesse.
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Jessed (?), a. (Her.) Having jesses on, as a hawk.
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Jest (jĕst), n. [OE. jeste, geste, deed, action, story, tale, OF. geste, LL. gesta, orig., exploits, neut. pl. from L. gestus, p. p. of gerere to bear, carry, accomplish, perform; perh. orig., to make to come, bring, and perh. akin to E. come. Cf. a deed, , n.]
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1. A deed; an action; a gest. [Obs.]
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The jests or actions of princes. Sir T. Elyot.
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2. A mask; a pageant; an interlude. [Obs.] Nares.
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He promised us, in honor of our guest,
To grace our banquet with some pompous jest.
Kyd.
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3. Something done or said in order to amuse; a joke; a witticism; a jocose or sportive remark or phrase. See Synonyms under , v. i.
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I must be sad . . . smile at no man's jests. Shak.
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The Right Honorable gentleman is indebted to his memory for his jests, and to his imagination for his facts. Sheridan.
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4. The object of laughter or sport; a laughingstock.
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Then let me be your jest; I deserve it. Shak.
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Coloq. In jest , for mere sport or diversion; not in truth and reality; not in earnest.
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And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak.
-- Coloq. Jest book , a book containing a collection of jests, jokes, and amusing anecdotes; a Joe Miller.

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Jest, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jested; p. pr. & vb. n. Jesting.]
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1. To take part in a merrymaking; -- especially, to act in a mask or interlude. [Obs.] Shak.
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2. To make merriment by words or actions; to joke; to make light of anything.
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He jests at scars that never felt a wound. Shak.

Syn. -- To joke; sport; rally. -- To , . One jests in order to make others laugh; one jokes to please himself. A jest is usually at the expense of another, and is often ill-natured; a joke is a sportive sally designed to promote good humor without wounding the feelings of its object. “Jests are, therefore, seldom harmless; jokes frequently allowable. The most serious subject may be degraded by being turned into a jest.” Crabb.
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Jester, n. [Cf. .] 1. A buffoon; a merry-andrew; a court fool.
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This . . . was Yorick's skull, the king's jester. Shak.
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Dressed in the motley garb that jesters wear. Longfellow.
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2. A person addicted to jesting, or to indulgence in light and amusing talk.
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He ambled up and down
With shallow jesters.
Shak.
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Jestful (?), a. Given to jesting; full of jokes.
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Jesting, a. Sportive; not serious; fit for jests.
Syn. -- joking.
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He will find that these are no jesting matters. Macaulay.
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Jesting, n. The act or practice of making jests; joking; pleasantry. Eph. v. 4.
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Jestingly, adv. In a jesting manner.
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Jesu (?), n. [L., vocative and oblique cases of Jesus.] Jesus. [Poetical]

Jesu, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose.
S. Baring-Gould.
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Jesuit (?), n. [F. Jésuite, Sp. Jesuita: cf. It. Gesuita.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) One of a religious order founded by Ignatius Loyola, and approved in 1540, under the title of The Society of Jesus.
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☞ The order consists of Scholastics, the Professed, the Spiritual Coadjutors, and the Temporal Coadjutors or Lay Brothers. The Jesuit novice after two years becomes a Scholastic, and takes his first vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience simply. Some years after, at the close of a second novitiate, he takes his second vows and is ranked among the Coadjutors or Professed. The Professed are bound by a fourth vow, from which only the pope can dispense, requiring them to go wherever the pope may send them for missionary duty. The Coadjutors teach in the schools, and are employed in general missionary labors. The Society is governed by a General who holds office for life. He has associated with him “Assistants” (five at the present time), representing different provinces. The Society was first established in the United States in 1807. The Jesuits have displayed in their enterprises a high degree of zeal, learning, and skill, but, by their enemies, have been generally reputed to use art and intrigue in promoting or accomplishing their purposes, whence the words Jesuit, Jesuitical, and the like, have acquired an opprobrious sense.
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2. Fig.: A crafty person; an intriguer.
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Coloq. Jesuits' bark , Peruvian bark, or the bark of certain species of Cinchona; -- so called because its medicinal properties were first made known in Europe by Jesuit missionaries to South America. -- Coloq. Jesuits' drops . See Friar's balsam, under . -- Coloq. Jesuits' nut , the European water chestnut. -- Coloq. Jesuits' powder , powdered cinchona bark. -- Coloq. Jesuits' tea , a Chilian leguminous shrub, used as a tea and medicinally.
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Jesuited, a. Conforming to the principles of the Jesuits. Milton.
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Jesuitess, n. [Cf. F. Jésuitesse.] (R. C. Hist.) One of an order of nuns established on the principles of the Jesuits, but suppressed by Pope Urban in 1633.

{ Jesuitic (?), Jesuitical (?), } a. [Cf. F. jésuitique.]
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1. Of or pertaining to the Jesuits, or to their principles and methods.
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2. Designing; cunning; deceitful; crafty; -- an opprobrious use of the word. Dryden.
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Jesuitically, adv. In a jesuitical manner.
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Jesuitism (?), n. [Cf. F. jésuitisme.]
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1. The principles and practices of the Jesuits.
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2. Cunning; deceit; deceptive practices to effect a purpose; subtle argument; -- an opprobrious use of the word.
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Jesuitocracy (?), n. [Jesuit + -cracy, as in aristocracy.] Government by Jesuits; also, the whole body of Jesuits in a country. [R.] C. Kingsley.
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Jesuitry (?), n. Jesuitism; subtle argument. [R.] Carlyle.
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Jesus (jēzŭs), prop. n. [L. Jesus, Gr. �, from Heb. Yēshūa'; Yāh Jehovah + hōshīa' to help.] The ; the name of the Son of God as announced by the angel to his parents; the personal name of Our Lord, in distinction from Christ, his official appellation. Luke i. 31.
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Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins. Matt. i. 21.
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☞The form Jesu is often used, esp. in the vocative.
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Jesu, do thou my soul receive. Keble.
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Coloq. The Society of Jesus . The Roman Catholic order whose members are called Jesuits. See .
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Jet (?), n. Same as 2d . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Jet, n. [OF. jet, jayet, F. jaïet, jais, L. gagates, fr. Gr. �; -- so called from � or �, a town and river in Lycia.] [written also jeat, jayet.] (Min.) A variety of lignite, of a very compact texture and velvet black color, susceptible of a good polish, and often wrought into mourning jewelry, toys, buttons, etc. Formerly called also black amber.
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Coloq. Jet ant (Zoöl.), a blackish European ant (Formica fuliginosa), which builds its nest of a paperlike material in the trunks of trees.
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Jet, n. [F. jet, OF. get, giet, L. jactus a throwing, a throw, fr. jacere to throw. Cf. , , , , .]
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1. A shooting forth; a spouting; a spurt; a sudden rush or gush, as of water from a pipe, or of flame from an orifice; also, that which issues in a jet.
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2. Drift; scope; range, as of an argument. [Obs.]
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3. The sprue of a type, which is broken from it when the type is cold. Knight.
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Coloq. Jet propeller (Naut.), a device for propelling vessels by means of a forcible jet of water ejected from the vessel, as by a centrifugal pump. -- Coloq. Jet pump , a device in which a small jet of steam, air, water, or other fluid, in rapid motion, lifts or otherwise moves, by its impulse, a larger quantity of the fluid with which it mingles.
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Jet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Jetted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Jetting.] [F. jeter, L. jactare, freq. fr. jacere to throw. See 3d , and cf. .]
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1. To strut; to walk with a lofty or haughty gait; to be insolent; to obtrude. [Obs.]
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he jets under his advanced plumes! Shak.
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To jet upon a prince's right. Shak.
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2. To jerk; to jolt; to be shaken. [Obs.] Wiseman.
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3. To shoot forward or out; to project; to jut out.
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Jet, v. t. To spout; to emit in a stream or jet.
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A dozen angry models jetted steam. Tennyson.
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Jet-black (?), a. Black as jet; deep black. See first .
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Jet d'eau (?); pl. Jets d'eau (#). [F., a throw of water. See a shooting forth.] A stream of water spouting, esp. upward, from a fountain or pipe for ornament; also, the fountain or pipe from which it issues.
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Jeterus (?), n. (Bot.) A yellowness of the parts of plants which are normally green; yellows.

{ Jetsam (?), Jetson (?), } n. [F. jeter to throw: cf. OF. getaison a throwing. Cf. , .] 1. (Mar. Law) Goods which sink when cast into the sea, and remain under water; -- distinguished from flotsam, goods which float, and ligan (or lagan), goods which are sunk attached to a buoy.
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2. The act of throwing objects from a ship to lighten the load; jettison{1}. See , 1.
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3. Hence: Anything thrown overboard from a ship, whether floating or not.
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4. Hence: [fig.] Objects scattered about in a disorderly manner; as, he couldn't find his sneakers among the jetsam in his room. [Colloq.]
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jet set n. [from jet plane, the conveyance used in their travels.] an international group of wealthy individuals who travel frequently to international resorts. -- the group is not organized, but membership is defined solely by frequent travel for pleasure.
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jet-setter n. a member of the jet set.
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jet-setting n. frequent international travel for pleasure, as contrasted with business.
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