Tickle - Tierce

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Tickle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tickled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tickling (?).] [Perhaps freq. of tick to beat; pat; but cf. also AS. citelian to tickle, D. kittelen, G. kitzlen, OHG. chizzilōn, chuzzilōn, Icel. kitla. Cf. , v. t.] 1. To touch lightly, so as to produce a peculiar thrilling sensation, which commonly causes laughter, and a kind of spasm which become dengerous if too long protracted.
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If you tickle us, do we not laugh? Shak.
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2. To please; to gratify; to make joyous.
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Pleased with a rattle, tickled with a straw. Pope.
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Such a nature
Tickled with good success, disdains the shadow
Which he treads on at noon. Shak.
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Tickle, v. i. 1. To feel titillation.
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He with secret joy therefore
Did tickle inwardly in every vein. Spenser.
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2. To excite the sensation of titillation. Shak.
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Tickle, a. 1. Ticklish; easily tickled. [Obs.]
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2. Liable to change; uncertain; inconstant. [Obs.]
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The world is now full tickle, sikerly. Chaucer.
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So tickle is the state of earthy things. Spenser.
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3. Wavering, or liable to waver and fall at the slightest touch; unstable; easily overthrown. [Obs.]
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Thy head stands so tickle on thy shoulders, that a milkmaid, if she be in love, may sigh it off. Shak.
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Tickle-footed (?), a. Uncertain; inconstant; slippery. [Obs. & R.] Beau. & Fl.
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Ticklenburg (?), n. A coarse, mixed linen fabric made to be sold in the West Indies.
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Tickleness (?), n. Unsteadiness. [Obs.]
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For hoard hath hate, and climbing tickleness. Chaucer.
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Tickler (?), n. 1. One who, or that which, tickles.
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2. Something puzzling or difficult.
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3. A book containing a memorandum of notes and debts arranged in the order of their maturity. [Com. Cant, U. S.] Bartlett.
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4. A prong used by coopers to extract bungs from casks. [Eng.]
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Ticklish (?), a. 1. Sensible to slight touches; easily tickled; as, the sole of the foot is very ticklish; the hardened palm of the hand is not ticklish. Bacon.
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2. Standing so as to be liable to totter and fall at the slightest touch; unfixed; easily affected; unstable.
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Can any man with comfort lodge in a condition so dismally ticklish? Barrow.
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3. Difficult; nice; critical; as, a ticklish business.
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Surely princes had need, in tender matters and ticklish times, to beware what they say. Bacon.
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-- Ticklishly, adv. -- Ticklishness, n.
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Tickseed (?), n. [Tick the insect + seed; cf. G. wanzensamen, literally, bug seed.] 1. A seed or fruit resembling in shape an insect, as that of certain plants.
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2. (Bot.) (a) Same as . (b) Any plant of the genus Corispermum, plants of the Goosefoot family.
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Ticktack (?), n. [See to beat, to pat, and (for sense 2) cf. .] 1. A noise like that made by a clock or a watch.
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2. A kind of backgammon played both with men and pegs; tricktrack.
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A game at ticktack with words. Milton.
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Ticktack, adv. With a ticking noise, like that of a watch.
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Ticpolonga (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A very venomous viper (Daboia Russellii), native of Ceylon and India; -- called also cobra monil.
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Tid (?), a. [Cf. AS. tedre, tydere, weak, tender.] Tender; soft; nice; -- now only used in tidbit.
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Tidal (?), a. Of or pertaining to tides; caused by tides; having tides; periodically rising and falling, or following and ebbing; as, tidal waters.
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The tidal wave of deeper souls
Into our inmost being rolls,
And lifts us unawares
Out of all meaner cares. Longfellow.
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Coloq. Tidal air (Physiol.), the air which passes in and out of the lungs in ordinary breathing. It varies from twenty to thirty cubic inches. -- Coloq. Tidal basin , a dock that is filled at the rising of the tide. -- Coloq. Tidal wave . (a) See Tide wave, under . Cf. 4th . (b) A vast, swift wave caused by an earthquake or some extraordinary combination of natural causes. It rises far above high-water mark and is often very destructive upon low-lying coasts.
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Tidal wave (?), n. 1. an unusually high wave from the sea, sometimes reaching far inland and causing great destruction, and usually caused by some event, such as an earthquake, far from the shore. In Japan, such a wave is called a tsunami.
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2. [fig.] an unusually large quantity of items or events requiring attention and causing strain on the capacity to handle them; as, a tidal wave of orders for a new product; a tidal wave of tourists.
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Tidbit (?), n. [Tid + bit.] A delicate or tender piece of anything eatable; a delicious morsel. [Written also titbit.]
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Tidde (?), obs. imp. of , v. i. Chaucer.
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{ Tidder (?), Tiddle (?), } v. t. [Cf. AS. tyderian to grow tender. See .] To use with tenderness; to fondle. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
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Tiddledywinks (?), n. A game in which the object is to snap small disks of plastic, bone, ivory, or the like, from a flat surface, as of a table, into a small cup or basket; -- called also tiddlywinks. [U. S.]
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Tiddlywinks (?), n. Same as . Kipling.
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Tide (?), n. [AS. tīd time; akin to OS. & OFries. tīd, D. tijd, G. zeit, OHG. zīt, Icel. tī�, Sw. & Dan. tid, and probably to Skr. aditi unlimited, endless, where a- is a negative prefix. √58. Cf. , , , prep., .] 1. Time; period; season. [Obsoles.] “This lusty summer's tide.” Chaucer.
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And rest their weary limbs a tide. Spenser.
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Which, at the appointed tide,
Each one did make his bride. Spenser.
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At the tide of Christ his birth. Fuller.
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2. The alternate rising and falling of the waters of the ocean, and of bays, rivers, etc., connected therewith. The tide ebbs and flows twice in each lunar day, or the space of a little more than twenty-four hours. It is occasioned by the attraction of the sun and moon (the influence of the latter being three times that of the former), acting unequally on the waters in different parts of the earth, thus disturbing their equilibrium. A high tide upon one side of the earth is accompanied by a high tide upon the opposite side. Hence, when the sun and moon are in conjunction or opposition, as at new moon and full moon, their action is such as to produce a greater than the usual tide, called the spring tide, as represented in the cut. When the moon is in the first or third quarter, the sun's attraction in part counteracts the effect of the moon's attraction, thus producing under the moon a smaller tide than usual, called the neap tide.
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☞ The flow or rising of the water is called flood tide, and the reflux, ebb tide.
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3. A stream; current; flood; as, a tide of blood. “Let in the tide of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide.” Shak.
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4. Tendency or direction of causes, influences, or events; course; current.
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There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Shak.
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5. Violent confluence. [Obs.] Bacon.
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6. (Mining) The period of twelve hours.
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Coloq. Atmospheric tides , tidal movements of the atmosphere similar to those of the ocean, and produced in the same manner by the attractive forces of the sun and moon. -- Coloq. Inferior tide . See under , a. -- Coloq. To work double tides . See under , v. t. -- Coloq. Tide day , the interval between the occurrences of two consecutive maxima of the resultant wave at the same place. Its length varies as the components of sun and moon waves approach to, or recede from, one another. A retardation from this cause is called the lagging of the tide, while the acceleration of the recurrence of high water is termed the priming of the tide. See Lag of the tide, under 2d . -- Coloq. Tide dial , a dial to exhibit the state of the tides at any time. -- Coloq. Tide gate . (a) An opening through which water may flow freely when the tide sets in one direction, but which closes automatically and prevents the water from flowing in the other direction. (b) (Naut.) A place where the tide runs with great velocity, as through a gate. -- Coloq. Tide gauge , a gauge for showing the height of the tide; especially, a contrivance for registering the state of the tide continuously at every instant of time. Brande & C. -- Coloq. Tide lock , a lock situated between an inclosed basin, or a canal, and the tide water of a harbor or river, when they are on different levels, so that craft can pass either way at all times of the tide; -- called also guard lock. -- Coloq. Tide mill . (a) A mill operated by the tidal currents. (b) A mill for clearing lands from tide water. -- Coloq. Tide rip , a body of water made rough by the conflict of opposing tides or currents. -- Coloq. Tide table , a table giving the time of the rise and fall of the tide at any place. -- Coloq. Tide water , water affected by the flow of the tide; hence, broadly, the seaboard. -- Coloq. Tide wave , or Coloq. Tidal wave , the swell of water as the tide moves. That of the ocean is called primitive; that of bays or channels derivative. See also in the vocabulary. Whewell. -- Coloq. Tide wheel , a water wheel so constructed as to be moved by the ebb or flow of the tide.
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Tide (tīd), v. t. To cause to float with the tide; to drive or carry with the tide or stream.
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They are tided down the stream. Feltham.
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Tide, v. i. [AS. tīdan to happen. See , n.] 1. To betide; to happen. [Obs.]
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What should us tide of this new law? Chaucer.
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2. To pour a tide or flood.
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3. (Naut.) To work into or out of a river or harbor by drifting with the tide and anchoring when it becomes adverse.
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Tided (?), a. Affected by the tide; having a tide. “The tided Thames.” Bp. Hall.
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Tideland (?), n. Land that is overflowed by tide water; hence, land near the sea.
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Tideless, a. Having no tide.
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Tidemark, n. 1. a mark on a shore line indicating the normal level of the water at high tide, caused by the action of the flowing water; sometimes also used for the mark left at the point of the normal low tide; -- called also high water mark.
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2. [fig.] the maximum level which some activity has reached and from which it has declined; -- called also high water mark.
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Tide-rode (?), a. (Naut.) Swung by the tide when at anchor; -- opposed to wind-rode.
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Tidesman (?), n.; pl. Tidesmen (�). A customhouse officer who goes on board of a merchant ship to secure payment of the duties; a tidewaiter.
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Tidewaiter (?), n. A customhouse officer who watches the landing of goods from merchant vessels, in order to secure payment of duties. Swift.
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Tideway (?), n. Channel in which the tide sets.
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Tidife (?), n. The blue titmouse. [Prov. Eng.]
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☞ The “tidif” mentioned in Chaucer is by some supposed to be the titmouse, by others the wren.
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Tidily (?), adv. In a tidy manner.
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Tidiness, n. The quality or state of being tidy.
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Tiding (?), n. Tidings. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Tidings (?), n. pl. [OE. tidinge, ti�inge, tidinde, from or influenced by Icel. tī�indi; akin to Dan. tidende, Sw. tidning, G. zeung, AS. tīdan to happen, E. betide, tide. See , v. i. & n.] Account of what has taken place, and was not before known; news.
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I shall make my master glad with these tidings. Shak.
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Full well the busy whisper, circling round,
Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned. Goldsmith.
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☞ Although tidings is plural in form, it has been used also as a singular. By Shakespeare it was used indiscriminately as a singular or plural.
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Now near the tidings of our comfort is. Shak.
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Tidings to the contrary
Are brought your eyes. Shak.
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Syn. -- News; advice; information; intelligence. -- , . The term news denotes recent intelligence from any quarter; the term tidings denotes intelligence expected from a particular quarter, showing what has there betided. We may be indifferent as to news, but are always more or less interested in tidings. We read the news daily; we wait for tidings respecting an absent friend or an impending battle. We may be curious to hear the news; we are always anxious for tidings.
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Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton.
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What tidings dost thou bring? Addison.
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Tidley (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) The wren. (b) The goldcrest. [Prov. Eng.]
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Tidology (?), n. [Tide + -logy.] A discourse or treatise upon the tides; that part of science which treats of tides. J. S. Mill.
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Tidy (?), n. (Zoöl.) The wren; -- called also tiddy. [Prov. Eng.]
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The tidy for her notes as delicate as they. Drayton.
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☞ This name is probably applied also to other small singing birds, as the goldcrest.
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Tidy, a. [Compar. Tidier (?); superl. Tidiest.] [From time, season; cf. D. tijdig timely, G. zeitig, Dan. & Sw. tidig.] 1. Being in proper time; timely; seasonable; favorable; as, tidy weather. [Obs.]
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If weather be fair and tidy. Tusser.
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2. Arranged in good order; orderly; appropriate; neat; kept in proper and becoming neatness, or habitually keeping things so; as, a tidy lass; their dress is tidy; the apartments are well furnished and tidy.
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A tidy man, that tened [injured] me never. Piers Plowman.
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Tidy, n.; pl. Tidies (�). 1. A cover, often of tatting, drawn work, or other ornamental work, for the back of a chair, the arms of a sofa, or the like.
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2. A child's pinafore. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
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Tidy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tidied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tidying.] To put in proper order; to make neat; as, to tidy a room; to tidy one's dress.
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Tidy, v. i. To make things tidy. [Colloq.]
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I have tidied and tidied over and over again. Dickens.
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Tidytips (?), n. (Bot.) A California composite plant (Layia platyglossa), the flower of which has yellow rays tipped with white.
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Tie (?), n.; pl. Ties (#). [AS. tēge, t�ge, tīge. √64. See , v. t.] 1. A knot; a fastening.
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2. A bond; an obligation, moral or legal; as, the sacred ties of friendship or of duty; the ties of allegiance.
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No distance breaks the tie of blood. Young.
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3. A knot of hair, as at the back of a wig. Young.
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4. An equality in numbers, as of votes, scores, etc., which prevents either party from being victorious; equality in any contest, as a race.
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5. (Arch. & Engin.) A beam or rod for holding two parts together; in railways, one of the transverse timbers which support the track and keep it in place.
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6. (Mus.) A line, usually straight, drawn across the stems of notes, or a curved line written over or under the notes, signifying that they are to be slurred, or closely united in the performance, or that two notes of the same pitch are to be sounded as one; a bind; a ligature.
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7. pl. Low shoes fastened with lacings.
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Coloq. Bale tie , a fastening for the ends of a hoop for a bale.
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Tie, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tied (?) (Obs. Tight (�)); p. pr. & vb. n. Tying (?).] [OE. ti�en, teyen, AS. tīgan, tiégan, fr. teág, teáh, a rope; akin to Icel. taug, and AS. teón to draw, to pull. See , v. t., and cf. to drag.] 1. To fasten with a band or cord and knot; to bind. “Tie the kine to the cart.” 1 Sam. vi. 7.
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My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. Prov. vi. 20,21.
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2. To form, as a knot, by interlacing or complicating a cord; also, to interlace, or form a knot in; as, to tie a cord to a tree; to knit; to knot. “We do not tie this knot with an intention to puzzle the argument.” Bp. Burnet.
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3. To unite firmly; to fasten; to hold.
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In bond of virtuous love together tied. Fairfax.
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4. To hold or constrain by authority or moral influence, as by knotted cords; to oblige; to constrain; to restrain; to confine.
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Not tied to rules of policy, you find
Revenge less sweet than a forgiving mind. Dryden.
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5. (Mus.) To unite, as notes, by a cross line, or by a curved line, or slur, drawn over or under them.
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6. To make an equal score with, in a contest; to be even with.
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Coloq. To ride and tie . See under . -- Coloq. To tie down . (a) To fasten so as to prevent from rising. (b) To restrain; to confine; to hinder from action. -- Coloq. To tie up , to confine; to restrain; to hinder from motion or action.
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Tie, v. i. To make a tie; to make an equal score.
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Tiebar (?), n. A flat bar used as a tie.
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Tiebeam (?), n. (Arch.) A beam acting as a tie, as at the bottom of a pair of principal rafters, to prevent them from thrusting out the wall. See Illust. of Timbers, under . Gwilt.
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Tien an men (?), n. [Chinese, square of heavenly peace.] a large plaza in Beijing, China.
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Tienda (?), n. [Sp., prop., tent, awning.] In Cuba, Mexico, etc., a booth, stall, or shop where merchandise is sold.
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Tier (?), n. One who, or that which, ties.
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Tier, n. [See a headdress.] A chold's apron covering the upper part of the body, and tied with tape or cord; a pinafore. [Written also tire.]
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Tier (?), n. [Perhaps fr. OF. tire, F. tire; probably of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. ziarī ornament, G. zier, AS. tīr glory, tiér row, rank. But cf. also F. tirer to draw, pull; of Teutonic origin. Cf. , v. t., a headdress, but also .] A row or rank, especially one of two or more rows placed one above, or higher than, another; as, a tier of seats in a theater.
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Coloq. Tiers of a cable , the ranges of fakes, or windings, of a cable, laid one within another when coiled.
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Tierce (?), n. [F. tierce a third, from tiers, tierce, third, fr. L. tertius the third; akin to tres three. See , , and cf. , , .] 1. A cask whose content is one third of a pipe; that is, forty-two wine gallons; also, a liquid measure of forty-two wine, or thirty-five imperial, gallons.
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2. A cask larger than a barrel, and smaller than a hogshead or a puncheon, in which salt provisions, rice, etc., are packed for shipment.
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3. (Mus.) The third tone of the scale. See .
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4. A sequence of three playing cards of the same suit. Tierce of ace, king, queen, is called tierce-major.
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5. (Fencing) A position in thrusting or parrying in which the wrist and nails are turned downward.
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6. (R. C. Ch.) The third hour of the day, or nine a. m,; one of the canonical hours; also, the service appointed for that hour.
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