capital - Capriped

Prev Next

Coloq. Capital letter [F, lettre capitale] (Print.), a leading or heading letter, used at the beginning of a sentence and as the first letter of certain words, distinguished, for the most part, both by different form and larger size, from the small (lower-case) letters, which form the greater part of common print or writing. -- Coloq. Small capital letters have the form of capital letters and height of the body of the lower-case letters. -- Coloq. Capital stock , money, property, or stock invested in any business, or the enterprise of any corporation or institution. Abbott.

Syn. -- Chief; leading; controlling; prominent.
[ Webster]

capital (kăpĭt�l), n. [Cf. L. capitellum and capitulum, a small head, the head, top, or capital of a column, dim. of caput head; F. chapiteau, OF. capitel. See , and cf. , , , .] 1. (Arch.) The head or uppermost member of a column, pilaster, etc. It consists generally of three parts, abacus, bell (or vase), and necking. See these terms, and .
[ Webster]

2. [Cf. F. capilate, fem., sc. ville.] (Geog.) The seat of government; the chief city or town in a country; a metropolis. “A busy and splendid capital” Macauly.
[ Webster]

3. [Cf. F. capital.] Money, property, or stock employed in trade, manufactures, etc.; the sum invested or lent, as distinguished from the income or interest. See Capital stock, under , a.
[ Webster]

4. (Polit. Econ.) That portion of the produce of industry, which may be directly employed either to support human beings or to assist in production. M'Culloch.
[ Webster]

☞ When wealth is used to assist production it is called capital. The capital of a civilized community includes fixed capital (i.e. buildings, machines, and roads used in the course of production and exchange) and circulating capital (i.e., food, fuel, money, etc., spent in the course of production and exchange). T. Raleigh.
[ Webster]

5. Anything which can be used to increase one's power or influence.
[ Webster]

He tried to make capital out of his rival's discomfiture. London Times.
[ Webster]

6. (Fort.) An imaginary line dividing a bastion, ravelin, or other work, into two equal parts.
[ Webster]

7. A chapter, or section, of a book. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Holy St. Bernard hath said in the 59th capital. Sir W. Scott.
[ Webster]

8. (Print.) See Capital letter, under , a.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Active capital . See under , -- Coloq. Small capital (Print.), a small capital letter; informally referred to (in the plural) as small caps; as, the technical terms are listed in small caps. See under , a. -- Coloq. To live on one's capital , to consume one's capital without producing or accumulating anything to replace it.
[ Webster]

capitalisation n. 1. same as .
Syn. -- capitalization.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

capitalism (kăpĭt�lĭzm), n. An economic system based on predominantly private (individual or corporate) investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of goods and wealth; contrasted with socialism or especially communism, in which the state has the predominant role in the economy.
Syn. -- capitalist economy.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Capitalist (kăpĭt�lĭst), n. [Cf. F. capitaliste.] One who has capital; one who has money for investment, or money invested; esp. a person of large property, which is employed in business.
[ Webster]

The expenditure of the capitalist. Burke.
[ Webster]

capitalistic adj. 1. Of or relating to capitalism or capitalists. capitalistic methods and incentives
Syn. -- capitalist.
[WordNet 1.5]

2. Favoring or practicing capitalism. [Narrower terms: bourgeois] socialistic
Syn. -- capitalist.
[WordNet 1.5]

Capitalization (?), n. 1. The act or process of capitalizing.
[ Webster]

Capitalize (kăpĭt�līz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capitalized (kăpĭt�līzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Capitalizing.] 1. To convert into capital, or to use as capital.
[ Webster]

2. To compute, appraise, or assess the capital value of (a patent right, an annuity, etc.)
[ Webster]

3. To print in capital letters, or with an initial capital.
[ Webster]

4. To supply capital for (an enterprise), especially by selling capital stock.
[PJC]

Capitalize on (kăpĭt�līz ŏn), v. t. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes.
[PJC]

Capitally, adv. 1. In a way involving the forfeiture of the head or life; as, to punish capitally.
[ Webster]

2. In a capital manner; excellently. [Colloq.]
[ Webster]

Capitalness, n. The quality of being capital; preeminence. [R.]
[ Webster]

{ Capitan Pasha or Capitan Pacha (käp�tän pȧshä) }. [See .] The chief admiral of the Turkish fleet.
[ Webster]

Capitate (kăpĭt�t), a. [L. capitatus fr. caput head.] 1. Headlike in form; also, having the distal end enlarged and rounded, as the stigmas of certain flowers.
[ Webster]

2. (Bot.) Having the flowers gathered into a head.
[ Webster]

capitatim (kăpĭtātĭm), a. [NL.] Of so much per head; as, a capitatim tax; a capitatim grant.
[ Webster]

capitation (kăpĭtāshŭn), n. [L. capitatio a poll tax, fr. caput head; cf. F. capitation.] 1. A numbering of heads or individuals. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
[ Webster]

2. A tax upon each head or person, without reference to property; a poll tax.
[ Webster]

Capite (kăpĭtē), n. [L., abl. of caput head.] See under .
[ Webster]

Capitellate (kăpĭtĕll�t), a. [L. capitellum, dim. of caput head.] (Bot.) Having a very small knoblike termination, or collected into minute capitula.
[ Webster]

Capitibranchiata (?), n. pl. [NL., from L. caput, capitis, head + -branchiae gills.] (Zoöl.) A division of annelids in which the gills arise from or near the head. See .
[ Webster]

Capitol (?), [L. capitolium, fr. caput head: cf. F. capitole. See .]
[ Webster]

1. The temple of Jupiter, at Rome, on the Mona Capitolinus, where the Senate met.
[ Webster]

Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow? Shak.
[ Webster]

2. The edifice at Washington occupied by the Congress of the United States; also, the building in which the legislature of a State holds its sessions; a statehouse.
[ Webster]

{ Capitolian (?), Capitoline (?), } a. [L. capitolinus: cf. F. capitolin.] Of or pertaining to the Capitol in Rome. “Capitolian Jove.” Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Capitoline games (Antiq.), annual games instituted at Rome by Camillus, in honor of Jupiter Capitolinus, on account of the preservation of the Capitol from the Gauls; when reinstituted by Domitian, after a period of neglect, they were held every fifth year.
[ Webster]

Capitula (?), n. pl. See .
[ Webster]

Capitular (?), n. [LL. capitulare, capitularium, fr. L. capitulum a small head, a chapter, dim. of capit head, chapter.] 1. An act passed in a chapter.
[ Webster]

2. A member of a chapter.
[ Webster]

The chapter itself, and all its members or capitulars. Ayliffe.
[ Webster]

3. The head or prominent part.
[ Webster]

Capitular (?), a. 1. (Eccl.) Of or pertaining to a chapter; capitulary.
[ Webster]

From the pope to the member of the capitular body. Milman.
[ Webster]

2. (Bot.) Growing in, or pertaining to, a capitulum.
[ Webster]

3. (Anat.) Pertaining to a capitulum; as, the capitular process of a vertebra, the process which articulates with the capitulum of a rib.
[ Webster]

Capitularly (?), adv. In the manner or form of an ecclesiastical chapter. Sterne.
[ Webster]

Capitulary (?), n.; pl. Capitularies (#). [See .] 1. A capitular.
[ Webster]

2. The body of laws or statutes of a chapter, or of an ecclesiastical council.
[ Webster]

3. A collection of laws or statutes, civil and ecclesiastical, esp. of the Frankish kings, in chapters or sections.
[ Webster]

Several of Charlemagne's capitularies. Hallam.
[ Webster]

Capitulary (?), a. Relating to the chapter of a cathedral; capitular. “Capitulary acts.” Warton.
[ Webster]

Capitulate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Capitulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Capitulating.] [LL. capitulatus, p. p. of capitulare to capitulate: cf. F. capituler. See , n.] 1. To settle or draw up the heads or terms of an agreement, as in chapters or articles; to agree. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

There capitulates with the king . . . to take to wife his daughter Mary. Heylin.
[ Webster]

There is no reason why the reducing of any agreement to certain heads or capitula should not be called to capitulate. Trench.
[ Webster]

2. To surrender on terms agreed upon (usually, drawn up under several heads); as, an army or a garrison capitulates.
[ Webster]

The Irish, after holding out a week, capitulated. Macaulay.
[ Webster]

Capitulate, v. t. To surrender or transfer, as an army or a fortress, on certain conditions. [R.]
[ Webster]

Capitulation (kȧpĭt�lāshŭn), n. [Cf. F. capitulation, LL. capitulatio.] 1. A reducing to heads or articles; a formal agreement.
[ Webster]

With special capitulation that neither the Scots nor the French shall refortify. Bp. Burnet.
[ Webster]

2. The act of capitulating or surrendering to an enemy upon stipulated terms.
[ Webster]

3. The instrument containing the terms of an agreement or surrender.
[ Webster]

Capitulator (kȧpĭt�lātẽr), n. [LL.] One who capitulates.
[ Webster]

Capitule (kăpĭtūl), n. [L. capitulum small head, chapter.] A summary. [Obs.]
[ Webster]

Capitulum (kȧpĭt�lŭm), n.; pl. (kȧpĭt�lȧ). [L., a small head.] 1. A thick head of flowers on a very short axis, as a clover top, or a dandelion; a composite flower. A capitulum may be either globular or flat. Gray.
[ Webster]

2. (Anat.) A knoblike protuberance of any part, esp. at the end of a bone or cartilage. [See Illust. of .]
[ Webster]

Capivi (?), n. [Cf. .] A balsam of the Spanish West Indies. See .
[ Webster]

Caple (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

Caplin (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

{ Caplin (?), Capling (?), } n. The cap or coupling of a flail, through which the thongs pass which connect the handle and swingel. Wright.
[ Webster]

Capnomancy (?), n. [Gr. kapnos smoke + mancy: cf. F. capnomancie.] Divination by means of the ascent or motion of smoke.
[ Webster]

Capnomor (?), n. [Gr. kapnos smoke + mora, equiv. to moi^ra part.] (Chem.) A limpid, colorless oil with a peculiar odor, obtained from beech tar. Watts.
[ Webster]

Capoc (?), n. [Malay kāpoq.] A sort of cotton so short and fine that it can not be spun, used in the East Indies to line palanquins, to make mattresses, etc.
[ Webster]

Capoch (?), n.; pl. Capoches (#). [Cf. Sp. capucho, It. cappucio, F. Capuce, capuchon, LL. caputium, fr. capa cloak. See Cap.] A hood; especially, the hood attached to the gown of a monk.
[ Webster]

Capoch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capoched (?).] To cover with, or as with, a hood; hence, to hoodwink or blind. Hudibras.
[ Webster]

Capon (kāp'n or kāpŭn; 277), n. [OE. capon, chapoun, AS. capūn (cf. F. chapon), L. capo, fr. Gr. kapwn akin to koptein to cut, OSlav. skopiti to castrate. Cf. .] A castrated cock, esp. when fattened; a male chicken gelded to improve his flesh for the table. Shak.
[ Webster]

The merry thought of a capon. W. Irving.
[ Webster]

Capon, v. t. To castrate; to make a capon of.
[ Webster]

Caponet (?), n. A young capon. [R.] Chapman.
[ Webster]

Caponiere (?), n. [F. caponnière, fr. Sp. caponera, orig., a cage for fattening capons, hence, a place of refuge; cf. It. capponiera. See .] (Fort.) A work made across or in the ditch, to protect it from the enemy, or to serve as a covered passageway.
[ Webster]

Caponize (?), v. t. To castrate, as a fowl.
[ Webster]

Caporal (käp�räl), n. [Sp. See , n.] One who directs work; an overseer. [Sp. Amer.]
[Webster Suppl.]

Capot (?), n. [F.] A winning of all the tricks at the game of piquet. It counts for forty points. Hoyle.
[ Webster]

Capot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capotted.] To win all the tricks from, in playing at piquet.
[ Webster]

Capo tasto (?). [It. capotasto.] (Music) A sort of bar or movable nut, attached to the finger board of a guitar or other fretted instrument for the purpose of raising uniformly the pitch of all the strings.
[Webster Suppl.]

Capote (?), n. [Sp. capote (cf. F. capote.), fr. LL. capa cape, cloak. See .] A long cloak or overcoat, especially one with a hood.
[ Webster]

Capouch (?), n. & v. t. Same as .
[ Webster]

Cappadine (?), n. A floss or waste obtained from the cocoon after the silk has been reeled off, used for shag.
[ Webster]

Cappaper (?), See , n., also , n.
[ Webster]

Cappeak (?), n. The front piece of a cap; -- now more commonly called visor.
[ Webster]

Cappella (?), n. See .
[ Webster]

Capper (?), n. 1. One whose business is to make or sell caps.
[ Webster]

2. A by-bidder; a decoy for gamblers. [Slang, U. S.]
[ Webster]

3. An instrument for applying a percussion cap to a gun or cartridge.
[ Webster]

Capping plane (?). (Join.) A plane used for working the upper surface of staircase rails.
[ Webster]

Capra (?), n. [L., a she goat.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ruminants, including the common goat.
[ Webster]

Caprate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of capric acid.
[ Webster]

Caprella n. a genus somprising the skeleton shrimp.
Syn. -- genus Caprella.
[WordNet 1.5]

Capreolate (?), a. [L. capreolus wild goat, tendril, fr.caper goat: cf. F. capréolé.] (Bot.) Having a tendril or tendrils.
[ Webster]

Capreoline (?), a. [L. capreolus wild goat, fr. caper goat.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the roebuck.
[ Webster]

Capreolus n. a genus of deer including the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus).
Syn. -- genus Capreolus.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Capri (?), n. Wine produced on the island of Capri, commonly a light, dry, white wine.
[Webster Suppl.]

Capric (?), a. [L. caper goat.] (Chem.) Of or pertaining to capric acid or its derivatives.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Capric acid (also called decanoic acid), C9H19.CO.OH, Coloq. Caprylic acid (also called octanoic acid), C7H15.CO2.H, and Coloq. Caproic acid (also called hexanoic acid), C5H11.CO2.H, are fatty acids occurring in small quantities in butter, cocoanut oil, etc., united with glycerin; they are colorless oils, or white crystalline solids, of an unpleasant odor like that of goats or sweat.
[ Webster]

Capriccio (kȧprētch�), n. [It. See .] 1. (Mus.) A piece in a free form, with frequent digressions from the theme; a fantasia; -- often called caprice.
[ Webster]

2. A caprice; a freak; a fancy. Shak.
[ Webster]

Capriccioso (kȧprētchōs�), a. [It.] (Mus) In a free, fantastic style.
[ Webster]

Caprice (kȧprēs), n. [F. caprice, It. capriccio, caprice (perh. orig. a fantastical goat leap), fr. L. caper, capra, goat. Cf , , , v. i.] 1. An abrupt change in feeling, opinion, or action, proceeding from some whim or fancy; a freak; a notion. “Caprices of appetite.” W. Irving.
[ Webster]

2. (Mus.) See .

Syn. -- Freak; whim; crotchet; fancy; vagary; humor; whimsey; fickleness.
[ Webster]

Capricious (kȧprĭshŭs), a. [Cf. F. capricieux, It. capriccioso.] Governed or characterized by caprice; apt to change suddenly; freakish; whimsical; changeable. “Capricious poet.” Shak. “Capricious humor.” Hugh Miller.
[ Webster]

A capricious partiality to the Romish practices. Hallam.

Syn. -- Freakish; whimsical; fanciful; fickle; crotchety; fitful; wayward; changeable; unsteady; uncertain; inconstant; arbitrary.

-- Capriciously, adv. -- Capriciousness, n.
[ Webster]

Capricorn (?), n. [L. capricornus; caper goat + cornu horn: cf. F. capricorne.] 1. (Astron.) The tenth sign of zodiac, into which the sun enters at the winter solstice, about December 21. See .
[ Webster]

The sun was entered into Capricorn. Dryden.
[ Webster]

2. (Astron.) A southern constellation, represented on ancient monuments by the figure of a goat, or a figure with its fore part like a fish.
[ Webster]

Coloq. Capricorn beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Carambucidæ; one of the long-horned beetles. The larvæ usually bore into the wood or bark of trees and shrubs and are often destructive. See , .
[ Webster]

Caprid (?), a. [L. caper, capra, goat.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the tribe of ruminants of which the goat, or genus Capra, is the type.
[ Webster]

Caprification (?), n. [L. caprificatio, fr. caprificare to ripen figs by caprification, fr. caprificus the wild fig; caper goat + ficus fig.] The practice of hanging, upon the cultivated fig tree, branches of the wild fig infested with minute hymenopterous insects.
[ Webster]

☞ It is supposed that the little insects insure fertilization by carrying the pollen from the male flowers near the opening of the fig down to the female flowers, and also accelerate ripening the fruit by puncturing it. The practice has existed since ancient times, but its benefit has been disputed.
[ Webster]

Caprifole (?), n. [L. caper goat + folium leaf.] The woodbine or honeysuckle. Spenser.
[ Webster]

Caprifoliaceous (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the Honeysuckle family of plants (Caprifoliacæ.
[ Webster]

Capriform (?), a. [L. caper goat + -form.] Having the form of a goat.
[ Webster]

Caprigenous (?), a. [L. caprigenus; caper goat + gegnere to produce.] Of the goat kind.
[ Webster]

Caprimulgidae n. [L. capris goat + mulgere to milk.] a widely distributed natural family of nocturnally active birds including the whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus), the chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis), and the common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor); -- called popularly the goatsuckers or nightjars. The nighthawks are sometimes active during the day.
Syn. -- goatsuckers, nightjars, family Caprimulgidae.
[PJC]

The family . . . is alternately known as the nightjars (derived from the churring sounds of several species -- jarring the night air), or goatsuckers, a nonsense name that should be discontinued as it has its origin in the preposterous myth that the birds sucked the milk of nanny goats until they were dry. Terence Michael Short (Wild Birds of the Americas)

Caprimulgiformes n. an order of birds including the goatsuckers (Caprimulgidae), frogmouths, and the oilbird (guacharo) (family Steatornithidae).
Syn. -- order Caprimulgiformes.
[WordNet 1.5]

Caprimulgus n. the type genus of the Caprimulgidae, including the whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus) and the chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis).
Syn. -- genus Caprimulgus.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

Caprine (?), a. [L. caprinus.] Of or pertaining to a goat; as, caprine gambols.
[ Webster]

Capriole (?), n. [F. capriole, cabriole, It. capriola, fr. L. caper goat. Cf. , v. i. , , .] 1. (Man.) A leap that a horse makes with all fours, upwards only, without advancing, but with a kick or jerk of the hind legs when at the height of the leap.
[ Webster]

2. A leap or caper, as in dancing. “With lofty turns and caprioles.” Sir J. Davies.
[ Webster]

Capriole, v. i. To perform a capriole. Carlyle.
[ Webster]

Capriped (?), a. [L. capripers; caper goat + pes pedis, foot.] Having feet like those of a goat.
[ Webster]

Prev Next

Concept Explore Home

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z