_kephal[=e]_, the head, _pous_, _podos_, the foot.]
CEPHALOPTERA, sef-a-lop't[.e]r-a, _n._ a name formerly used for a genus of rays. [Gr. _kephal[=e]_, the head, _ptera_, wings.]
CERAMIC, se-ram'ik, _adj._ pertaining to pottery. [Gr. _keramos_, potter's earth.]
CERASINE, ser'a-sin, _n._ the insoluble portion of the gum which exudes from the cherry, &c. [L. _cerasus_, Gr. _kerasos_, the cherry-tree.]
CERASTES, se-ras't[=e]z, _n._ a genus of poisonous snakes having a horny process over each eye. [L.; Gr. _kerast[=e]s_--_keras_, a horn.]
CERATE, s[=e]'r[=a]t, _n._ a compound of wax with other oily or medicinal substances in such proportions as to form a stiff ointment.--_adj._ C[=E]'RATED.--_n._ CERO'MANCY, divination from figures produced by melted wax when dropped into water. [L. _cer[=a]re_, _cer[=a]tum_, to cover with wax, _cera_, wax.]
CERATITIS, ser-a-t[=i]'tis, _n._ inflammation of the cornea.--Also KERAT[=I]'TIS.
CERATODE, ser'a-t[=o]d, _n._ the horny skeletal substance of sponges--also CER'ATOSE.--_adjs._ CERAT'ODOUS, CER'ATOSE.
CERATOID, ser'a-toid, _adj._ horny.
CERAUNIC, se-raw'nik, _adj._ pertaining to, or produced by, thunder.--_ns._ CERAU'NITE, a belemnite; CERAU'NOSCOPE, an apparatus for imitating thunder and lightning in ancient mysteries. [Gr. _keraunos_, a thunderbolt.]
CERBERUS, ser'b[.e]r-us, _n._ (_myth._) the monster that guarded the entrance to Hades, a dog with three, according to some a hundred, heads.--_adj._ CERB[=E]'RIAN. [L.--Gr. _Kerberos_.]
CERCARIA, ser-k[=a]'ri-a, _n._ the technical name applied to an embryonic form of many flukes.--_adj._ CERC[=A]'RIAN. [Gr. _kerkos_, a tail.]
CERE, s[=e]r, _v.t._ to cover with wax.--_n._ the bare waxlike patch at the base of the upper part of the beak in birds.--_adj._ CER[=A]'CEOUS, of or like wax.--_ns._ CER[=A]'GO, a wax-like substance (bee-bread) used by bees as food; CERE'CLOTH, CERE'MENT, a cloth dipped in melted wax in which to wrap a dead body: a winding-sheet or grave-clothes generally.--_adjs._ C[=E]'REOUS, waxy; C[=E]'RIC.--_ns._ C[=E]'RIN, C[=E]'RINE, the portion of wax which dissolves in boiling alcohol: a waxy substance obtained by boiling grated cork in alcohol; C[=E]'ROGRAPH, a writing on wax: an encaustic painting.--_adjs._ CEROGRAPH'IC, -AL.--_ns._ CEROG'RAPHIST; CEROG'RAPHY, the art of writing or engraving on wax.--_adj._ CEROPLAS'TIC, modelled or moulded in wax.--_n._ the art of modelling in wax.--_n._ CER'OSINE, a wax-like substance produced on the surface of certain species of sugar-cane. [L. _cera_, cog. with Gr. _k[=e]ros_, wax; Gr. _graphein_, to write, _plassein_, to mould.]
CEREAL. See CERES.
CEREBRUM, ser'e-brum, _n._ the front and larger part of the brain.--_adjs._ CEREBELL'AR, CEREBELL'OUS.--_n._ CEREBELL'UM, the hinder and lower part of the brain.--_adj._ CER'EBRAL, pertaining to the cerebrum.--_ns._ CER'EBRALISM, the theory that all mental operations originate in the cerebrum; CER'EBRALIST.--_v.i._ CER'EBRATE, to show brain action.--_n._ CEREBR[=A]'TION, action of the brain, conscious or unconscious, marked by molecular changes in the cerebrum.--_adjs._ CER'EBRIC, cerebral; CEREB'RIFORM, brain-shaped.--_ns._ CER'EBRIN, a name given to several nitrogenous non-phosphorised substances obtained from the brain; CEREBR[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the cerebrum.--_adj._ CER'EBRO-SP[=I]N'AL, relating to the brain and spinal cord together.--CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES, the two great divisions of the cerebrum. [L. _cerebrum_, the brain; prob. cog.
with Gr. _kara_, the head, _kranion_, the cranium.]
CEREMONY, ser'e-mo-ni, _n._ a sacred rite: the outward form, religious or otherwise: any empty form without inwardness: pomp or state; a portent or omen.--_adj._ CEREM[=O]'NIAL, relating to ceremony.--_n._ outward form: a system of ceremonies.--_n._ CEREM[=O]'NIALISM, adherence to outward form.--_adv._ CEREM[=O]'NIALLY.--_adj._ CEREM[=O]'NIOUS, full of ceremony: particular in observing forms: precise.--_adv._ CEREM[=O]'NIOUSLY.--_n._ CEREM[=O]NIOUSNESS.--MASTER OF CEREMONIES, the person who directs the form and order of the ceremonies to be observed on some public occasion.
[Fr.--L. _caerimonia_, sanctity.]
CERES, s[=e]'r[=e]z, _n._ the Roman name for the Greek Dem[=e]t[=e]r, goddess of tillage and corn.--_adj._ C[=E]'REAL, relating to corn or edible grain.--_n.pl._ C[=E]'REALS, the grains used as food, such as wheat, barley, &c. [L. prob. from root of _cre[=a]re_, to create.]
CEREUS, s[=e]'ri-us, _n._ a large genus of cactuses, including some of the most imposing forms. [L., 'waxen.']
CERGE, s[.e]rj, _n._ a large wax-candle burned before the altar.--Also CIERGE, SERGE. [O. Fr.,--L. _cereus_--_cera_, wax.]
CERINTHIAN, ser-in'thi-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Cerinthus_, one of the earliest heretics in the Christian Church, against whose crude Gnosticism the Gospel of John was written, according to Irenaeus.
CERIPH. Same as SERIF.
CERISE, ser-[=e]z', _n._ and _adj._ a light and clear red colour. [Fr., 'cherry.']
CERIUM, s[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a rare metal found in the mineral C[=E]'RITE, which is its hydrated silicate. [Named from the plant _Ceres_.]
CERN, s[.e]rn (_Shak._). CONCERN.
CEROMANCY. See CERATE.
CEROON. See SEROON.
CEROPLASTIC. See CERE.
CERTAIN, s[.e]r't[=a]n, or s[.e]r'tin, _adj._ sure: not to be doubted: resolved: fixed: regular: inevitable: some: one.--_advs._ CER'TAINLY, (_Scot._) CER'TY, CER'TIE.--_ns._ CER'TITUDE, CER'TAINTY.--'A CERTAIN PERSON,' implying some degree of contempt; A LADY OF A CERTAIN AGE, of an age best not stated accurately--at least no longer young.--FOR CERTAIN, assuredly.--MORAL CERTAINTY, a conviction so justifiable that one is morally entitled to act on it. [O. Fr.,--L. _certus_--_cern-[)e]re_, to decide.]
CERTES, s[.e]r't[=e]z, _adv._ certainly: in sooth. [Fr.]
CERTIFICATE, s[.e]r-tif'i-k[=a]t, _n._ a written declaration of some fact: a testimonial of character or definite statement of qualifications.--_v.t._ to give a certificate.--_ns._ CERTIFIC[=A]'TION; CERTIF'ICATORY, a certificate--also _adj._--_n._ CER'TIFIER, one who certifies.--_v.t._ CER'TIFY, to make known as certain: to inform: to declare in writing:--_pr.p._ cer'tifying; _pa.p._ cer'tified. [Fr. _certificat_--L.
_certific[=a]re_, _certus_, and _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
CERTIORARI, s[.e]r-shi-o-r[=a]'ri, _n._ the writ by which, since the abolition of imprisonment for debt and the consequent disuse of the better-known writ, _habeas corpus_, causes are removed from inferior courts of record into the High Court of Justice. [Low L., 'be informed of'--_certior_, comp. of _certus_, certain.]
CERULEAN, se-r[=u]'le-an, _adj._ sky-blue: dark-blue; sea-green.--_adj._ CER[=U]'LEOUS. [L. _caeruleus_.]
CERULEIN, s[.e]r-[=u]'l[=e]-in, _n._ a coal-tar colour chiefly used in dyeing cotton fabrics, producing fast olive-green shades.
CERUMEN, se-r[=u]'men, _n._ the yellow waxy matter secreted in the ear.--_adj._ CER[=U]'MINOUS. [L. _cera_, wax.]
CERUSE, s[=e]'r[=oo]s, or ser-[=u]s', _n._ white-lead, the native carbonate of lead.--_n._ C[=E]'RUSITE. [Fr.,--L. _cerussa_, conn. with _cera_, wax.]
CERVICAL, s[.e]r'vi-kal, _adj._ belonging to the neck. [Fr.,--L. _cervix_, _cervicis_, the neck.]
CERVINE, s[.e]r'v[=i]n, _adj._ relating to deer. [L. _cervinus_, _cervus_, a stag.]
CESAREAN. See CaeSAREAN.
CESAREVITCH. See CZAR.
CESPITOSE, ses'pi-t[=o]s, _adj._ turfy: growing in tufts.--Also CES'PITOUS.
[L. _cespes_, _cespitis_, turf.]
CESS, ses, _n._ a tax, a local rate.--_v.t._ to impose a tax.--OUT OF ALL CESSE (_Shak._), excessively, immoderately. [Shortened from ASSESS.]
CESSATION, ses-[=a]'shun, _n._ a ceasing or stopping: a rest: a pause.
[Fr.,--L. _cessation-em_. See CEASE.]
CESSE, ses, _v.i._ (_Spens._). Same as CEASE.
CESSION, sesh'un, _n._ a yielding up.--_n._ CES'SIONARY, one to whom an assignment has been legally made.--CESSIO BON[=O]RUM (_Scots law_), before 1880 a debtor's surrender of his estate to his creditors in return for a judicial protection from imprisonment in respect of his debts. [Fr.--L.
_cession-em_. See CEDE.]
CESSPOOL, ses'p[=oo]l, _n._ a pool or hollow in which filthy water collects. [Acc. to Skeat, from Celt. _soss-pool_, a pool into which foul messes flow. Cf. Scot. _soss_, a mixed dirty mess.]
CESTOID, ses'toid, _n._ one of a family of flat worms of internal parasitic habit, having a long strap-like body divided into numerous segments: a tapeworm.--Also CESTOID'EAN. [L. _cestus_, Gr. _kestos_, a girdle, a strap, and _eidos_, form.]
CESTRACION, ses-tr[=a]'si-on, _n._ a generic name for the hammer-headed sharks. [Formed from Gr. _kestra_, a weapon.]